Where is Microsoft's headquarters? Inside the tech giant's corporate campus
While Apple (AAPL) may be known for its spaceship-shaped Cupertino headquarters and Amazon (AMZN) operates out of three glass-enclosed spheres in Seattle, Microsoft (MSFT) distinguishes itself with a leafy green base that leans more "futuristic college" than sterile design showpiece.
Its recently redesigned 500-acre campus boasts 125 buildings dedicated to collaboration, innovation, and sustainability - seamlessly nestled amongst forests, green spaces, and wildlife. The setting feels more like a wellness center than a tech hub and has inspired many of the company's greatest hits, including Windows 95, Microsoft Office, and Microsoft Azure.
But Microsoft's current, idyllic HQ is thousands of miles from where it all began.
How many headquarters has Microsoft had?
Since its foundation in 1975, Microsoft has had only three corporate headquarters: The first was in Albuquerque, New Mexico. After MSFT co-founder Paul Allen moved to the city to work for the software division of MITS, he scouted out a rather unassuming building near the New Mexico State Fairgrounds that would serve as what was then called Micro-Soft's first home base.
Bill Gates would soon drop out of Harvard and follow his friend to New Mexico - a plaque still marks the old headquarters today.
However, it was hard to entice top-level engineering talent to the arid Sunbelt city, so Allen, Gates, and the company that would become known as Microsoft relocated to Bellevue, Washington, in 1979. Both Gates and Allen had grown up in the Seattle area, and the state had no income tax - a big plus for their growing business.
At the time, Microsoft had only 15 employees, and Gates and Allen were able to fit operations into the Old Bank Building in downtown Bellevue. As the company took off, it expanded into an office park at 10700 Northrup Way off Highway 520.
But by 1986, Microsoft had 1,153 employees and again needed more space. One month before its historic IPO, Microsoft moved 8 miles down the road from Bellevue to Redmond, Washington, to a 30-acre lot that once housed Depression-era chicken farms.
Through the years, the company added acreage and clusters of buildings that would come to be known as its "villages." Today, Microsoft's Redmond campus is home to about 50,000 employees (roughly 20% of MFST's total workforce) and houses the company's Gaming, 365, AI, Cloud, Windows, and Security divisions.
CEO Satya Nadella and the executive leadership team also have offices there.
What are some unique features of Microsoft's Redmond headquarters?
Lake Bill is named after Bill Gates and was the site of many post-project celebrations - often, project managers would be thrown into the pond after a successful product launch.
In 2017, renowned architect Pete Nelson built 3 treehouse meeting "rooms" on the campus, set twelve feet above the ground. These innovative workspaces feature "charred wood" walls, wide-open skylights, and a "gingerbread house feel" and help connect employees with their natural surroundings and foster collaboration.
Related: History of Microsoft: Company timeline & facts
Some of Microsoft's other thoughtful design touches include a campus-wide outdoor Wi-Fi network and weatherproof benches that discreetly house electrical outlets.
The campus also has several indoor-outdoor cafeterias and outdoor gas fireplaces that "attract an after-work crowd," according to the company website.
And while Microsoft's corporate campus is breathtaking, nothing is better than being able to work from the comfort of your own home - something Microsoft's executives understand. That's why they continue to allow MSFT workers to have hybrid work setups, working as many as to 2 days a week from home, while employees at other tech giants, like Amazon, had to return fully to the office in 2024.
Just one more reason why Microsoft employees love where they work.
By the way, Microsoft's move to Redmond had a very inflationary effect on the area itself, causing Redmond's property values to skyrocket, increasing 228% since 2012 alone. Today, the town's median home price is a whopping $1.47 million, and Redmond is considered among the most expensive places to live in America.
Can I tour Microsoft's headquarters?
The general public is welcome to visit the Microsoft Visitor Center and Store, which has exclusive merchandise not available anywhere else. It's located in Building 92 of the Redmond campus, and tours of the Visitor Center and Store are available by calling (425) 703-6214.
Visitors are allowed on other parts of the Microsoft campus only if they are sponsored by a Microsoft employee.
Dow company histories:
- History of Apple: Company timeline and facts
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- History of Nike: Company timeline and facts
What is Microsoft's address?
The address of Microsoft's headquarters is:
One Microsoft Way
Redmond, Washington 98052-6399
Related: Microsoft's logo over the years: A timeline of innovation
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This story was originally published April 23, 2026 at 5:29 PM.