Guide · · Updated · 5 min read
How to choose an office phone booth: a practical checklist
Sound insulation, ventilation, lighting, power, size and delivery: a practical checklist of what to check before you buy an office phone booth.
A phone booth solves one problem well: it gives one person a private, quiet place for calls without booking a meeting room. Before buying, work through these points so the booth you choose actually gets used.
1. Sound insulation
Look for a stated sound-insulation figure and ask how it was measured — ideally as a speech level reduction to ISO 23351-1. It should keep your conversation private from people standing outside and cut open-office noise enough to hear a call clearly. Our phone booth is rated at 38–40 dB (the manufacturer's stated figure) and uses double-glazed tempered glass in the door. Read how soundproof is an office pod? for what the numbers mean.
2. Air and light
People only use a booth if it's comfortable for more than five minutes. Check that it has active ventilation (a fan that moves air, not just vents) and lighting that switches on by itself. A motion sensor means the light and fan run when someone is inside and switch off when they leave.
3. Power and charging
Calls drain batteries. A socket at desk height and a wireless charging pad let people plug in a laptop and charge a phone while they talk.
4. Standing or seated
- Standing-height desk with a bar stool: best for calls and short video meetings; keeps the footprint small.
- Seated, with a bench or an office chair: better for focused work and longer calls — see our work pods.
5. Where it will go
Measure the floor space, the ceiling, the doors and any lift on the route from the loading point to the final position. Leave room for the door to swing open. Our Solo Phone Booth is 105 × 105 × 224 cm (W × L × H) and needs 1.10 m² of floor — compare every model on our office pod sizes page, and follow our guide on how to measure for an office pod. Place it near where people sit, but away from main walkways so the queue doesn't block a corridor.
6. Lead time and delivery
Many pods are made to order. If you need the space now, ask whether the booth is in stock and whether it arrives assembled or as flat-packed panels that need a fitter.
