Office Phone Booths and Office Pods: Everything You Need to Know

• Office phone booths solve immediate privacy problems. They provide compact, sound-insulated spaces for calls and short virtual meetings without taking up valuable meeting rooms.
• Office pods offer scalable flexibility. From 1-person focus pods to large modular meeting rooms, office pods create adaptable, construction-free solutions for hybrid offices.
• When choosing an office phone booth or pod,  consider acoustic performance, ventilation, connectivity, mobility, and future flexibility to ensure your investment supports long-term workplace needs.
  

Contents: 

• What is an office phone booth?
• 5 reasons you need an office phone booth
• What is an office pod?
• 4 reasons you need office pods
• Office pods vs office phone booths vs pod meeting rooms
• Things to consider when choosing a phone booth or office pod

On Monday, the bean-to-cup coffee grinder behind your desk is sweet-sweet music to your ears. Mildly hungover colleagues close one eye and aim jittery fingers at that start button every four minutes. But your focus is just fine.

By Wednesday, things are different. Dick from sales is whispering the quarterly projections to your Head of Marketing on the other side of the office. How dare they! Don’t they know whispers travel further than regular speech? AAARGH.

Yup. We mere humans have very different needs from one day to the next. Open-plan offices don’t exactly respect your individuality. Yes, scattering us on a factory floor seemed like a great idea to bring everyone together for collaboration. But it has the opposite effect, according to a study by the Royal Society.

But this may actually have the opposite effect. According to a study by the Royal Society, open offices reduce face-to-face interactions by 70% and increase electronic communications (to pick up the slack) by 20% to 50%.

Don’t get me wrong. I love open-plan offices. There’s an abundance of space to stare into when I’m thinking. And it makes me feel like I’m part of a broader community of like-minded people who are all desperately trying to ignore each other.

At its core, open-plan offices fit more people and save loads of space. They’re not going anywhere—it’s a money thing. But how do you make distracting open-plan offices more productive? The key is flexible office spaces.

Enter office pods and phone booths from stage left. These can transform your office overnight—reducing noise, creating focus spaces and private areas, and best of all, they don’t require permanent construction.

In this guide, we take an in-depth look at this useful addition to the workplace, and why you might want to add a phone booth or meeting pod to your office.

What do you call these room-in-room things anyway?

“Soundproof telephone box”? “Freestanding phone pod”? They go by many names, which shows how popular they’ve become. At Furnify, we prefer clarity, so here’s a handy naming chart.

What is an office phone booth?

An Office Phone Booth is a compact, single-user acoustic cabin that provides a quiet escape for phone or video calls. They usually have a shelf for laptops or notebooks, and space for a perch or barstool.

Unlike the Tardis, they’re intended for quick calls and don’t provide all the creature comforts. Generally speaking, office phone booths will have these features: 

• Basic phone booths are fully enclosed and have lighting.
• Some models come with power sockets or charging ports.
• High-end versions add air-conditioning, sensor-activated lighting, ventilation, and germ-killing UV lights.
• Some phone booths have castors so they can be moved around your open-plan office.

Like the Tardis, however, you never know where it’ll be next — but chances are, near my desk.

5 reasons you need an office phone booth

1. Office noise

It’s difficult to focus on a call in a noisy office, and just as hard for the person on the other end. If you’re talking loudly on the phone in an open-plan office, you’re part of the noise problem. A booth fixes that.

2. Private conversations

Private matters should stay private. Salary negotiations, HR discussions—or that awkward doctor’s call—belong in a booth, not at the water-cooler.

3. Movable convenience

Need quiet spaces in a workshop or brainstorming session? Wheel a couple of phone booths to the conference room and you’ve got instant privacy.

4. Free up meeting rooms

How many times has a meeting room been booked for a one-person call? Phone booths free up your larger spaces for actual meetings.

Related Reading: How Can I Create a Workplace That Inspires Creativity and Innovation?

5. Farts

Yes, really. That three-bean curry from Curry Boss was delicious, but now you’re trapped among judgmental colleagues. A soundproof phone booth with good air treatment solves the problem. Just don’t pass out pretending to call your mum.

Semi-enclosed phone booth alternatives

Not every workspace needs a fully enclosed phone booth. If you are looking for lighter, more flexible options, consider:

• Desk screen booths: These semi-enclosed setups use three acoustic panels around a workstation to reduce visual and sound distractions. Upholstered screens help absorb background noise while remaining open at the front for accessibility. They are a cost-effective way to create focused work zones without installing a full office pod.
• Privacy lounge chairs: Also known as chair pods, these high-backed, upholstered lounge chairs create a cocoon-like space for calls, quiet work, or informal conversations. They provide acoustic shielding and visual privacy without full enclosure, making them ideal for breakout areas or collaborative spaces.
  

Both options increase privacy and comfort while maintaining flexibility. They do not require ventilation, integrated power, or complex installation, and they can be repositioned easily as your office layouts evolve.

Book a free consultation with our office phone booth experts. We’ll help you explore the best booth options for your workspace.

Book a Consultation

What is an office pod?

An office pod is a freestanding, sound-insulated room within an open-plan office that provides private, quiet space for working, taking calls, or holding small meetings. Sizes range from single-user phone booths to larger meeting pods designed for team collaboration.

Let’s clarify the terminology. At Furnify, all of our phone booths are office pods, but not all office pods are phone booths. 

• A phone booth is typically designed for one person and focused on calls or video meetings.
• Office pods can accommodate one person or multiple people and can be designed as solo pods, small meeting rooms or collaborative spaces.

Explore our range of office pods at Furnify.

Single-user versions are called work pods or focus booths. They include a desk, chair, power, and connectivity for longer sessions.

Explore our collection of meeting pods.

Meeting pods accommodate two or more people and can include whiteboards, screens, and video-conferencing tech. Pair them with Seryph Meeting Chairs for added comfort.

Explore our collection of large pods.

Large pods, as the name suggests, bring groups of people together for discussions and creative collaboration. They feature sound suppression, good ventilation, and designer flair.

4 reasons you need office pods

1. Quiet and privacy

Pods keep noise out, noise in, and conversations private. They’re ideal for focused work, brainstorming sessions, and confidential discussions like reviews or health-related talks.

2. Quick and cheap to relocate

Pods are freestanding—no construction needed. Some even have built-in castors. Move them wherever needed, disassemble when you move offices, and reassemble elsewhere.

3. No construction, just assembly

Forget permits, dust, and downtime. Pods assemble in hours instead of days and can be repositioned anytime without damage or paint fumes.

4. No dilapidation costs

Pods don’t alter the building, so you won’t face lease-end restoration bills. Just pack them up and take them along.

What is a modular office pod?

Learn more about our modular pods at Furnify.

Modular pods are made of interchangeable prefabricated units. You can expand or reconfigure them as your needs grow. For example, the Cell Pod V2 Meeting Pod System uses extruded aluminium frames and demountable panels — you can turn a single-user pod into a 10-seater room by adding modules.

Related Reading: Breaking Down the Time and Money-Saving Benefits of Modular Office Pods

Office pods vs office phone booths vs pod meeting rooms

The terms office pod, office phone booth, and pod meeting room are often used interchangeably, but they serve different purposes depending on team size, space, and use case.

7 Things to consider when choosing a phone booth or office pod

When selecting an office phone booth or pod, it helps to understand the core features that impact performance, comfort, and long-term flexibility. Try to keep these six points in mind:

1. Acoustic privacy

Look for: an acoustic rating above 28dB.

The goal is quiet privacy. For elite sound isolation, StudioBricks leads with ratings around 45dB—perfect if you record audio or host webinars. For general office use, aim for at least 32dB to keep conversations private.

Related Reading: The Ultimate Guide to Privacy Pods for Your Workplace

2. Built-in ventilation

Look for: integrated air-conditioning or similar.

Small spaces heat up quickly. Quality ventilation keeps air fresh and temperatures even. Systems like those in Cell Pods circulate air efficiently, while models like the Silent Room S and Air3 Work Pod manage airflow through advanced designs.

3. Lighting

Look for: adjustable LED lighting and PIR sensors.

Dimmable lights reduce glare during presentations, and motion sensors save energy by turning lights and fans off automatically when unoccupied.

4. Power and connectivity

Look for: multimedia tools and connectivity that suit your needs.

Power sockets, USB ports, whiteboards, HDMI and LAN connections, and integrated video tools make pods practical and future-ready. Some even include built-in booking systems.

5. Customisation options

Look for: customisation that fits your brand.

Choose finishes that reflect your company’s identity—change upholstery, colours, or add branded graphics. Modular pods can be reused for recruitment, interviews, or events.

6. Safety

Look for: adherence to fire-safety and building standards.

DIY builds might sound tempting, but safety glass, fire-retardant upholstery, and compliant materials are non-negotiable. Choose certified pods and let Uncle George go fishing instead.

There’s a movie in there somewhere—but the takeaway is simple: choose life, choose compliance, and choose a proper office pod.

7. Hybrid work features

Look for: features that create a professional environment for video conferencing and remote collaboration.

Well-lit interiors, acoustic control, and integrated video tools help ensure calls and virtual meetings feel seamless and distraction-free. Some pods also include occupancy indicators or booking systems to support hybrid office use.

Popular office pods for modern workspaces

At Furnify, we offer a range of office pods designed to suit teams of different sizes, office layouts, and working styles. We have a solution to fit any space, whether you need a compact phone pod for private phone calls or a larger meeting pod for private team collaboration. 

• 1-Person Pods: Ideal for phone calls, video meetings, and focused work, 1-person office pods provide acoustic privacy without taking up much floor space. These compact office pods can be designed as mobile booths, making them easy to move and position around the workplace.
• 2-Person Pods: Designed for private 1:1 conversations or small collaborative sessions, 2-person pods offer flexibility without the need to build permanent walls. They’re a practical option for confidential discussions and informal meetings.
• 4-Person Pods: For teams that need a dedicated space for hybrid meetings, 4-person office pods function as self-contained pod meeting rooms. With built-in ventilation, lighting, and connectivity, they support both in-person collaboration and video conferencing.
• Large Pods: Larger office pods accommodate 6+ people and are ideal for businesses looking to create flexible meeting rooms without construction work. Many models are modular or semi-mobile, making them suitable for evolving workplace layouts.

Our team are experienced specialists in office phone booths and office pods. Start a chat, give us a call, or send us a message to discuss your current workspace challenges and future plans. We’ll help you find the right pod solution to improve privacy, productivity, and flexibility in your office.