What open plan office space really means
An open plan office replaces private offices and tall cubicles with shared space: rows of desks or low-panel workstations, with meeting and focus rooms carved out around them. The goal is easier communication, more daylight across the floor and better use of every square foot.
The risk is equally clear. Without enough privacy and quiet space, people put on headphones, book every conference room for solo work, or stay home. A successful open plan is not the absence of walls. It is a deliberate mix of open and enclosed space.
When open plan works, and when it does not
Open plan tends to work well for
- Teams that collaborate constantly, such as sales, customer success, product and creative groups
- Companies growing fast that need to add seats without rebuilding walls
- Hybrid offices where attendance varies and desks can be shared
- Floors with good daylight that tall panels would block
Be cautious with open plan for
- Roles that handle confidential calls or documents, such as HR, legal and finance
- Work that needs long stretches of deep concentration
- Teams that spend most of the day on the phone
Most offices land on a hybrid: an open core for collaborative teams, lower-panel workstations for focused roles, and enclosed rooms for everything that needs a door.
Benching vs. workstations vs. a mix
Your furniture choice sets the density, the noise level and the budget.
| Option | How it works | Strengths | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Benching | Long shared worksurfaces on a common frame, often with a center spine for power | Highest density, easy to add seats, very open feel | Little personal storage, more noise and visual distraction |
| Low-panel workstations | Individual stations, such as 6'x6', with panels at or just above seated eye level | Personal storage, some privacy, still bright and open | Uses more floor area per person than benching |
| Mixed plan | Benching for collaborative teams, workstations for focused roles | Matches furniture to how each team works | Needs careful zoning so loud and quiet groups are separated |
What drives the cost of an open plan
For individual stations, the biggest factor is the tier. Here are the three options for a 6'x6' workstation:
| Tier | Lead time |
|---|---|
| Liquidation-grade | As little as 72 hours in stock |
| Remanufactured | Usually 7-14 days |
| New | 4-6 weeks |
Within a tier, station size, panel height, finishes and power all move the price. Benching is quoted by configuration, so ask for it alongside workstations and compare the cost per seat. On any open plan, keep these lines in the budget:
- Quantity: open plans tend to be large, and larger orders are quoted together with your quantity reflected in the written quote.
- Installation: based on the number of stations, building access and the complexity of the layout.
- Delivery: based on your address, building access and the size of the order. Freight is quoted per project elsewhere nationwide.
- Electrical: excluded, and open plans often need more floor or ceiling power feeds than you expect.
Every project is quoted individually. Request a free quote and free space plan.
Layout principles for a better open plan
Zone by noise, not by org chart
Put the phone-heavy teams together and away from focus-heavy teams. Place kitchens, printers and entries at the loud end of the floor.
Give every open seat a nearby escape
Plan small phone rooms and focus rooms close to open areas. If people have to walk across the building to take a call, they will take it at their desk instead.
Use panel height on purpose
Low panels between facing desks block direct eye contact without blocking light. Taller panels along main aisles cut the distraction of foot traffic.
Plan power before furniture
Without walls, power has to come from the floor, the ceiling or the furniture itself. Decide early, because it affects which benching or workstation systems you can use.
Protect circulation
Keep main aisles clear and wide enough for egress. Dense benching runs can creep into walkways if nobody checks the final dimensions.
Open plan planning checklist
- Map which teams collaborate and which need quiet.
- Count peak-day attendance and projected growth.
- Decide on assigned, shared or bookable seating.
- Choose benching, workstations or a mix for each zone.
- Set a ratio of enclosed rooms to open seats.
- Confirm power and data routes with your electrician.
- Pick tiers by zone, matching lead time to your move date.
- Check aisle widths and egress with your building.
- Plan storage: lockers, pedestals or shared files.
Next steps
Our free office space planning turns this checklist into a layout you can get quoted. Browse pre-owned office furniture for benching, tables and storage, and see more planning resources in our guides. If going open plan means clearing out old private-office furniture, our liquidation service can walk it for free and recommend the best route for it.
Frequently asked questions
Is benching cheaper than cubicles for an open plan office?
Benching usually fits more people in the same area because it uses shared worksurfaces and little or no panel walling. Whether it costs less per person depends on the product, the grade (liquidation-grade, remanufactured or new), surface size and quantity. Ask for both in the same quote and compare the cost per seat.
How do you control noise in an open plan office?
Mix in low panels or screens between facing desks, group loud and quiet teams apart, and add small enclosed rooms for calls. Soft surfaces such as fabric panels, rugs and acoustic ceiling treatment also help absorb sound.
Can I use pre-owned furniture in an open plan layout?
Yes. Pre-owned workstations and benching work well in open plans, especially when a whole matching lot comes from one floor. Office Station grades pieces A like new, B very good or C good, and we sell as an independent reseller, so manufacturer warranties generally do not transfer.
How long does it take to furnish an open plan office?
It depends on the tier. Liquidation-grade stock can be ready in as little as 72 hours, remanufactured usually takes 7 to 14 days, and new takes 4 to 6 weeks. Installation is scheduled once the order and delivery date are set.
Should every employee get an assigned desk?
Not always. If attendance is well under full headcount most days, shared or bookable desks can reduce the number of stations you buy. Keep some assigned seats for people in the office daily, and plan enough capacity for your busiest day.
