FocusPod Solo™
FocusPod Solo Plus™
FocusPod Duo™
FocusPod Team™
FocusPod Meet™
FocusPod Max™What Is an Office Pod?
Definition
What is an office pod?
The plain answer, the terminology, how they actually work, and what they cost in Australia.
An office pod is a freestanding, soundproof enclosure placed inside an existing office floor to provide private space for calls, focused work or meetings. It does not attach to the floor, walls or ceiling, runs from a standard power outlet, and is treated as furniture rather than building work — so it needs no builder, electrician or council approval. Sizes run from one person to six, costing roughly $7,595 to $14,995 ex GST in Australia.
How they work
Mass and sealing, not absorptionA pod is a sealed box: acoustic panels on a steel or aluminium frame, with a glazed door closing onto a gasket seal, and acoustic underlayment beneath.
Sound reduction comes from mass and sealing, not from absorption. This is the thing most people get wrong. Foam on a wall absorbs reflections inside a room and does almost nothing to stop sound leaving it. Containing a conversation requires a continuous sealed barrier, which is why the door and its seal matter more than the panel thickness.
Because the box is sealed, it also needs powered ventilation. Air is exchanged continuously by fans in the roof, typically turning over the internal volume every two to four minutes. Without that, a pod becomes uncomfortable within about twenty minutes and stops being used.
What they're called
Same product, different namesOffice pod
The broad term, covering everything from a one-person booth to a six-person meeting room.
Phone booth
The one-person size, sized for calls rather than a full working day.
Meeting pod
Anything from two to six seats, usually with a table.
Acoustic booth
The technical name. Refers to construction rather than use, and is what appears on test reports.
Privacy booth
Emphasises confidentiality rather than noise. Common in HR, legal and healthcare.
Soundproof pod
Popular but misleading. What you are buying is measured sound reduction, not silence.
How performance is measured
ISO 23351-1Speech level reduction in booths is measured under ISO 23351-1, which sorts results into classes. Class A is the highest, corresponding to around 30 dB of reduction.
In practice, Class A means a normal speaking voice inside is not intelligible outside. Someone a metre away hears that a conversation is happening but cannot make out the words.
A decibel figure quoted without naming the standard behind it tells you nothing. Ask any supplier for the standard and the report number.
What's inside one
The parts that matter
Ventilation
Fans in the roof exchange the air continuously, typically every two to four minutes. The specification to ask for is airflow in cubic metres per hour, and whether it runs when the pod is empty.
The door and its seal
Usually full-glass with a magnetic close onto a gasket. This is where cheap pods fail and where you hear it first, regardless of what the panels are made of.
Power and lighting
A single standard outlet runs everything: LED lighting, ventilation, internal power points and USB. No dedicated circuit and no electrician.
Occupancy sensing
Lighting that switches on as someone enters and off after a period without movement. On better pods the ventilation cycles when vacant too.
What they cost in Australia
2026For reference, here is the full range with published prices. Most suppliers in this category do not publish, so compare carefully and insist on quotes broken into pod, delivery, installation and furniture as separate lines.
| Model | Solo | Solo Plus | Duo | Team | Meet | Max |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 1 person | 1 person | 2 people | 2 people | 4 people | 6 people |
| Exterior W×D×H | 1080 × 1000 × 2338 mm | 1600 × 1375 × 2338 mm | 1600 × 1375 × 2338 mm | 2300 × 966 × 2338 mm | 2300 × 1785 × 2338 mm | 2600 × 2605 × 2338 mm |
| Interior W×D×H | 942 × 960 × 2146 mm | 1462 × 1335 × 2146 mm | 1462 × 1335 × 2146 mm | 2162 × 926 × 2146 mm | 2162 × 1745 × 2146 mm | 2462 × 2565 × 2146 mm |
| Floor space | ~1.0 m² | ~2.2 m² | ~2.2 m² | ~2.2 m² | ~4.1 m² | ~6.77 m² |
| Weight | 290–335 kg | 442–502 kg | 442–502 kg | 504–564 kg | 635–700 kg | 852–970 kg |
| Ventilation | 0–70 m³/h | 0–110 m³/h | 0–110 m³/h | 0–110 m³/h | 0–218 m³/h | 0–327 m³/h |
| Air change | ~1.6 min | ~2.3 min | ~2.3 min | ~2.3 min | ~2.2 min | ~2.4 min |
| Power draw | 40 W | 52 W | 52 W | 60 W | 120 W | 120 W |
| Price from | $7,595ex GST, delivered | $10,595ex GST, delivered | $10,695ex GST, delivered | $11,695ex GST, delivered | $12,995ex GST, delivered | $14,995ex GST, delivered |
| Installation | + $995 ex GST | + $1,295 ex GST | + $1,295 ex GST | + $1,395 ex GST | + $1,495 ex GST | + $1,795 ex GST |
Common questions
Asked by real buyersWhat is an office pod?
An office pod is a freestanding, soundproof enclosure that sits inside an existing office floor to provide a private space for calls, focused work or meetings. It does not attach to the building, runs from a standard power outlet, and is treated as furniture rather than building work.
What is the difference between an office pod and a phone booth?
Size and use. Phone booth usually describes the one-person version sized for calls. Office pod is the broader term covering everything from a single booth up to a six-person meeting room. Both are the same category of freestanding acoustic enclosure.
How do office pods work?
A pod is a sealed box built from acoustic panels on a steel or aluminium frame, with a glazed door on a gasket seal. Sound is reduced by mass and sealing rather than absorption. Powered ventilation exchanges the air continuously, and integrated lighting and power outlets run from a single standard plug.
Are office pods soundproof?
Not completely — nothing is. A well-built pod reduces speech by up to 30 dB, which is enough that a normal speaking voice inside is not intelligible outside. You may hear that someone is talking. You will not hear what they are saying. The measurement standard is ISO 23351-1, and Class A is the highest band.
How much does an office pod cost?
In Australia, between roughly $7,595 and $14,995 ex GST for the pod itself, depending on size, with delivery included by a reputable supplier. Installation typically adds $995 to $1,795, and furniture from $449.
Do office pods need ventilation?
Yes, and it is the specification that most decides whether a pod actually gets used. A sealed enclosure without powered air exchange becomes uncomfortable within about twenty minutes. Look for a stated airflow figure in cubic metres per hour and an air change interval.
Are office pods worth it?
They solve a specific and expensive problem: nowhere private on an open floor. If people are taking calls at their desks, booking six-person meeting rooms for one-to-one conversations, or walking outside to speak confidentially, a pod fixes all three at a fraction of the cost of building a room — and unlike a fitout, it comes with you at the end of the lease.
Next: the full range and prices · how to compare suppliers · pod versus building a room · one-person phone booths
Working out whether you need one?
Tell us what is happening on your floor — where calls get taken, what meeting rooms get used for. We will tell you honestly whether a pod helps, and what size.