Meeting pod sizes: how much space for 4 to 7 people?

A meeting pod has to fit three things: the people inside, the floor it stands on and the route it takes to get there. Here are the sizes of our two meeting pods, the published sizes of four other models sold in the UK, and what to check before you order.

The short answer

• Meeting Pod 1–4: up to 4 people, 126 × 220 × 220 cm (W × L × H), 2.77 m² of floor.
• Meeting Pod 1–7: up to 7 people, 250 × 220 × 220 cm, 5.50 m² of floor.

Those are the pods themselves. Add space in front of the door for it to open and for people to step in and out, and keep walkways clear.

Our two meeting pods side by side

When you compare pods from different suppliers, check which side each one quotes first — some list the long side as the width. Compare the floor area and the longest side rather than the order of the numbers.

Enclosed and open pods are treated differently, too. According to building-standards consultancy Sweco, a fully enclosed pod brought into an office counts as a material alteration under the Building Regulations, while open pods — without a roof, or with an open side — are judged case by case.

Floor area per person

Dividing each pod's floor area by the most people it's designed for gives a rough idea of how roomy it will feel:

• Meeting Pod 1–4: 2.77 m² for 4 people — about 0.69 m² each.
• Meeting Pod 1–7: 5.50 m² for 7 — about 0.79 m² each, or about 0.92 m² each with six people inside.

These are external sizes, so the space inside is smaller once you allow for the walls. We confirm our pods' internal sizes on the call.

Heights and ceilings

Both our meeting pods are 220 cm tall. Measure from the floor to the lowest point above the spot — beams, light fittings, ducts and sprinkler heads included.

Sweco advises a 500 mm clear zone around smoke detectors and says pods should not encroach on it. If a detector sits directly above the spot, that means at least 50 cm between the top of the pod and the detector — so a 220 cm pod needs 270 cm to the detector.

Ventilation per person

An enclosed meeting pod needs mechanical ventilation. Sweco's figure for enclosed pods is 10 litres per second per person, or 1 litre per second per m² of floor, whichever is more. For pods of this size the per-person figure is always the larger one:

• 4 people: at least 40 l/s.
• 6 people: at least 60 l/s.
• 7 people: at least 70 l/s.

Ask any supplier for the fan's airflow in litres per second. We confirm our meeting pods' airflow with you on the call.

Hearing the fire alarm

Acoustic lining keeps sound out as well as in. Sweco's guidance is that the fire alarm should reach at least 60 dB inside a pod — the same as a small enclosed room — so check this with your fire alarm contractor. Our guide to office pods and Building Regulations also covers linings and door access.

Getting a 250 cm pod into the building

Width is what catches people out. The Meeting Pod 1–7 is 250 cm wide and the Meeting Pod 1–4 is 220 cm long; assembled, neither would pass through a standard single door. So we agree the delivery format and the route in with you on the call, before anything is booked.

Before the call, measure:

• Every door on the route: clear width and height with the door fully open.
• Corridors and any tight turns.
• The lift car's internal width, depth and height, its door opening, and its load limit (ask your building manager).
• Stairs, if there's no lift.
• The final spot: floor area, ceiling height and room for the door to open.

Our guide on how to measure for an office pod has a checklist, or use the fit checker to see which pods fit your space.

1–4 or 1–7?

• Choose the Meeting Pod 1–4 if most of your meetings are two to four people — stand-ups, one-to-ones, interviews and hybrid calls — or floor space is tight.
• Choose the Meeting Pod 1–7 if you regularly meet as a team of five, six or seven, or want a boardroom-style table for client calls.
• Not sure? Add both to your basket: the prices appear straight away, and we'll talk through your space on the call.