Open plans save space and help teams collaborate, right up until someone needs to take a call about a contract, a patient or a performance review. Office phone booths have become the go-to fix. They work well for some offices and poorly for others. This guide compares five privacy options, including booths and higher-panel cubicles, so you can match the solution to how your people actually work.
First, figure out what kind of privacy you need
"We need more privacy" can mean very different things. Pin down which one applies before spending money.
- Speech privacy. Others should not understand what is being said on a call.
- Noise relief. The person on the call should not be distracted by the room.
- Visual privacy. People want fewer eyes on their screen and less motion in their line of sight.
- Focus time. Someone needs a quiet stretch for heads-down work, not a quick call.
Next, count call patterns. Are calls short and occasional, or long and constant? The answer usually decides between booths and workstation changes.
Five privacy options compared
1. Single-person phone booths
An enclosed, one-person pod for calls and video meetings. Booths give the strongest speech privacy of any furniture option because they fully enclose the speaker. They are a good fit for short, sensitive calls in an otherwise collaborative room. The limits: one person at a time, a line forms when calls cluster, and they need a clear spot on the floor with room for the door.
2. Two to four person meeting pods
Larger enclosures with a small table and seating. Pods handle quick huddles and group video calls without booking a conference room. They take a meaningful chunk of floor area, so they make the most sense where meeting rooms are scarce.
3. Higher-panel cubicles
Raising panel height around workstations gives people privacy where they already sit. Taller panels block sight lines and absorb some sound, although open-top stations will not stop voices the way an enclosure does. For teams on the phone most of the day, such as support, sales or intake, this is often more practical than asking people to walk to a booth for every call. It also scales: every seat gets the benefit.
4. Converted small rooms
An underused office, storage room or oversized closet can become a call room with a small desk and chair. If a room already has walls, a door, light and ventilation, it may be the least expensive enclosed option. Adding soft surfaces helps with echo.
5. Zoning and acoustic layout
Sometimes the fix is rearranging, not buying. Move phone-heavy roles away from high-traffic areas and the breakroom, create a designated quiet zone, and use storage units or panels as buffers between loud and quiet teams. This costs little and makes every other option work better.
Side-by-side comparison
| Option | Speech privacy | Visual privacy | People served at once | Best when |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phone booth | High | High | One | Calls are short and occasional |
| Meeting pod | High | High | Two to four | Small meetings compete for rooms |
| Higher-panel cubicles | Moderate | High | Every seated employee | Most of the team is on calls all day |
| Converted room | High, if door and walls are solid | High | One or a few | You have unused enclosed space |
| Zoning and layout | Low to moderate | Moderate | Whole floor | Noise comes from poor adjacencies |
What higher-panel cubicles cost
Office Station publishes 6'x6' workstation prices, furniture only:
- Liquidation-grade: $615 per station, in stock in as little as 72 hours
- Remanufactured: $1,245 per station, usually 7 to 14 days
- New: $1,920 per station, 4 to 6 weeks
Taller panels use more material, so your quote reflects the heights you choose. Prices exclude electrical, delivery and installation. Installation is $95 per workstation with a $495 minimum, and volume pricing is 5% off at 20 or more stations, 8% at 50 or more and 12% at 100 or more. Greater Phoenix delivery is $195 central or $295 metro, with freight quoted per project elsewhere.
Pre-owned stations from brands like Herman Miller, Steelcase, Knoll and Haworth are sold with condition grades of A like new, B very good or C good. Office Station is an independent reseller, and manufacturer warranties generally do not transfer to pre-owned furniture.
Price higher-panel workstations
Planning checklist for any privacy upgrade
- Count peak simultaneous calls on a normal day.
- List roles that handle confidential conversations.
- Measure floor space for booths, including door swing and approach.
- Confirm power, lighting, ventilation and accessibility needs with building management.
- Check whether existing workstations can take taller panels.
- Map loud zones such as the breakroom, entry and printer area.
- Pilot with one team before rolling out across the floor.
Next steps
Office Station offers free space planning, which is a good way to test booths, taller panels and zoning on your actual floor plan. Browse used cubicles or the full range of pre-owned office furniture. If new privacy workstations are replacing old low-panel stations, the liquidation estimator shows how a written net offer, resale value minus removal cost, could offset the change. More planning articles are in the guides library.
Average market rate Prices subject to availability and project pricing.
Frequently asked questions
How many office phone booths do I need?
It depends on how often people take calls and how long those calls run. Watch a typical day and count how many people are on calls at the busiest moment. If calls are frequent and all day, booths alone may not be enough, and more private workstations may work better.
Are phone booths better than cubicles for privacy?
For a short confidential call, an enclosed booth gives more sound privacy than an open-top cubicle. For people who are on the phone most of the day, a booth is not practical because they need privacy at their own desk. Higher-panel cubicles give ongoing visual privacy and cut some noise without requiring anyone to move.
What do I need to plan for with a phone booth?
Check the footprint and door swing, ventilation and lighting, power for devices, accessibility and whether your building or local code has requirements for enclosed spaces. Some booths need electrical connections. Confirm the details with your landlord or building management before ordering.
How much do higher-panel cubicles cost?
Office Station publishes 6'x6' workstation prices of $615 liquidation-grade, $1,245 remanufactured and $1,920 new, furniture only. Panel height and components affect the final price, so use the quote builder for your configuration. Prices exclude electrical, delivery and installation.
Can I reuse my existing workstations for more privacy?
Sometimes. Depending on the system, taller panels or stackers may be added to existing stations. Share photos and panel measurements during a free space planning conversation to see what is realistic.
Average market rate Prices subject to availability and project pricing.
