Meeting Room vs. Meeting Pods: Which Is Right for You?
A meeting room suits regular group meetings, while a meeting pod gives one to a few people a closed, quiet space for calls, one-on-ones and small huddles without building a new room. Collaboration is vital in the workplace. Working as a team to come up with new concepts, solve problems, and handle daily tasks can help promote honest and direct communication in order to increase output and productivity.
As a result, it's crucial that businesses encourage collaboration in the workplace by allocating spaces like conference rooms and office pods. This makes it possible to set up an office where employees can communicate, focus, and complete their tasks.
Below, we compare meeting rooms and office pods and look at the different types of pods available on the market.
What Is the Difference Between Meeting Rooms and Office Pods?
A meeting room is a specialized area that's separated from the rest of the office and used for private meetings and interviews. You can recognize one when you see it, whether it's in a hotel or your office building.
A traditional meeting room will likely have a big table surrounded by chairs; however, meeting rooms can differ in size depending on their common goals and the organization.
Let's now look at meeting pods. These standalone workstations offer a modern balance between open workplaces and cubicles. Open-plan offices spread widely through the 2000s and 2010s, and with them came the need for a quiet place to take a call or hold a short meeting.
As a result, work pods for open office layouts can be easily implemented into small or large spaces. Privacy pods for offices can, therefore, be easily added to small or big rooms. They allow companies to add private meeting pods without incurring high building costs.
Here's a summary. Meeting rooms are common office spaces designated for meetings and interviews. In order to get the same results without undergoing major renovations, office pods are external units that can be added to open-plan office designs.
What Is a Meeting Pod?
Meeting pods for offices, often referred to as work pods, acoustic pods, or just office pods, are enclosed booths that give one to six people a quiet room inside an open office. Most have acoustic wall panels, a glass door, a ventilation fan, lighting and power, so a call or a short meeting stays private and the rest of the floor stays undisturbed.
The same idea works at home. A backyard office pod gives a remote worker a closed room for calls away from the house.
A studio pod does the same with more room for gear, while indoor booths do the job on an office floor.
Multipurpose office pods can also be used for a variety of purposes, from a dedicated quiet space to a room for one-on-one conversations. These office meeting pods are a useful addition to any office, serving as a space for private meetings or focused work.
Are Meeting Pods an Alternative to Meeting Rooms?
Office meeting pods, also known as meeting booths, offer a convenient alternative to meeting rooms.
They suit Zoom meetings and video conferences because acoustic panels cut the echo, and many include LED lighting and a monitor mount. A pod can stand in for a small meeting room or serve as a private booth between meetings, and it moves with the team if the office layout changes.
The Best 15 Meeting Pods for Offices
Because individual office pods don't need a lot of room or expensive equipment, such pods are also more affordable than a conventional office meeting room. A meeting pod for an office can be a better choice to think about if you're facing privacy problems in your office.
1. Autonomous
The Autonomous WorkPod is a 102 sq ft prefab office for a backyard rather than a booth for an office floor, so it suits a remote worker or a small business that needs a closed room for calls and client meetings outside the house. It has a sloped ceiling, a built-in bookshelf, a full-height glass door with three side windows, and six insulated layers; other furniture is sold separately. If you'd like a different size of backyard room, the company also offers other prefab ADUs.
| Spec | Autonomous WorkPod |
|---|---|
| Size | 102 sq ft |
| Ceiling height | 6.8' to 9.3' (sloped) |
| Insulation | 6 layers, 45-100°F comfort range |
| Door and windows | Full-height glass door, 3 side windows, 5/16 inch tempered glass |
| Electrical | 2 wall outlets, 1 floor outlet, ceiling light, ventilator |
| Furniture | Bookshelf included; desk, chair and other furniture not included |
| Weight capacity | 2.9 tons |
| Installation | 1-2 days, no concrete slab |
| Warranty | 1 year |
For meetings of one or two, Autonomous also makes Spaceship, an indoor pod sized for one person. It handles a video meeting with the camera on and nobody walking behind you, or a two-person sync with the door closed, but it is not a room for a team.
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Spaceship has a 10 mm glass door with a full seal, felt walls and ceiling, 30 dB of speech reduction (preliminary), and two 8-inch roof vents that move 180 CFM. Inside are 38 sq ft of floor, two outlets, USB-C PD 100 W and Ethernet. For a team of three or more, compare the multi-person pods further down this list.
2. Thinktanks
Thinktanks is different from the other suppliers of workspace pods. This pod is transparent, but you can rest assured that the conversation remains private.
Because of the absence of distractions in this quiet environment, your team will be more productive.
You can work in peace and quiet as it is soundproof. There are spaces for one, two, four, and more people. Unlike the budget prefab office sheds built for backyards, this booth stands indoors, with thermostatically controlled ventilation to keep you comfortable while working. Since Thinktanks' booth isn't permanently fixed in one place, you can move it as needed.
3. Poppin
Poppin is a fantastic addition to the market for phone booths. The PoppinPod includes plugs or a built-in power outlet to ensure that you can use it to charge your device. You can choose a standing or a sitting PoppinPod. This will be an easy way to expand your office without having to spend time on construction.
4. TalkBox
TalkBox is a private booth with sanitary features you can buy for your staff. Indeed, these pods come with UVC germicidal lighting to protect your employees from germs. You can have sound and visual privacy mounts for monitors, sliding doors, and more.
TalkBox always comes with ventilation, lighting, and charging ports for USB and power charging stations. To get more from your booth, add-on features including turnkey solutions, custom graphics wraps, enhanced privacy glass, HEPA-air filtration, and monitor or laptop mounts are available.
5. Zenbooth
The office meeting pods at Zenbooth are all-inclusive office spaces. Zenbooth lists the Zenbooth Solo at $5,490 and the Zenbooth Duo at $10,490. If you need an office meeting room, the Zenbooth Quad is a 7 x 7 ft meeting booth at $16,490.
It's soundproofed to keep your conversations private. The Zenbooth has space and floodlights, and if you're not happy with it, you can return it within 30 days. You can also take advantage of features like the desk's height adjustability, integrated dimmable LED lighting, and airy ventilation system.
6. Orangebox
A meeting area, a personal workplace, and a conference pod can all be found inside the Orangebox Air Acoustic Pod. As a result, you won't have to worry about someone listening in on your meetings or overhearing your conversations.
Unlike previous privacy booths, the Orangebox Air has removable panels that allow it to change its look. The top power option includes a monitor bracket, a straight glass magnetic whiteboard, and other features. You can choose the dimensions that you need for your company’s comfort. If you'd like to find out the price of the pod, you must request it through the website.
7. ROOM
ROOM provides several styles of specially constructed chambers. It allows companies to benefit from less expensive, more adaptable, and environmentally friendly workspace alternatives.
The ROOM offers a plug-and-play installation, and you can add it to any space available. ROOM lists its phone booths from $6,495 and its larger Room Collection from $16,995, and the price changes with the workspace and aesthetic options you choose.
Essentially, ROOM's pods contain a motion-activated light sensor, soundproofing that has been independently certified by a third-party lab, a dual-fan ventilation system, and an easy installation feature.
The company offers several accessories, such as a chair, for an additional fee. This office pod is available in white and black, and the assembly is meant to be "quick and easy," as it ships flat.
8. Loop Phone Booths
The soundproof Loop Phone Booths let you work without being concerned about your privacy. Loop's booths do indoors what a backyard office privacy pod does at home: they give you a closed room for a team meeting or private calls. It has a modern design that will look great in any office. The price varies, so you will need to request a quote.
9. Hush Office
Like the name of this company, it will allow you to work in peace without getting distracted. Hushoffice booths arrive ready-made, so unlike a studio shed you don't have to wait long or deal with construction work, which makes them an easy addition to your office.
10. FLYDESK
FLYDESK offers pods readily installable in your flex office now. These pods provide a quiet area with power outlets and USB ports for your devices. Additionally, the pods/booths can be managed and booked by integrating with the FLYDESK app.
In contrast to other pods, FLYDESK pods are designed to maintain a low profile wherever you put them, ensuring that your meeting or call is as peaceful and quiet as possible. Two choices are available from FLYDESK: a custom-branded meeting room for your business or a FLYDESK Pod that is linked to a FLYDESK network and draws visitors from its community.
11. Zenbooth
Although the Zenbooth Quad is bigger than the Duo, it is still made to be as small as possible to fit into your workspace.
With a 7 x 7 ft interior, the Quad works for everything from a strategizing area to a recharge room.
This space can be arranged in a variety of ways to meet your needs and those of your employees.
Insulated walls and echo absorption panels keep loud noises and outside disturbances out, and two ventilation fans keep the air moving through longer group sessions.
12. Kastaway
Despite being more of a booth than a pod, this item nonetheless offers great levels of acoustic protection because of its high sidewalls. The Kastaway units have a comfortable, homey feel due to their soft seats and back cushions, which promote a calm, relaxed environment.
These units have been designed exclusively by the well-established David Fox Design studio. A canopy can be added to hang over the top of the unit which adds a unique look and helps improve the overall acoustics.
13. Calmo
The Calmo two-person pod is made to help individuals and small groups focus. This pod is composed of toughened laminated glass and has grade-one locksets. It is well-built.
Even though it only has a white surround and black door frames, the inside of the pod is comfortable and well equipped. This pod is fully equipped with USB charging ports, data points, motion-activated LED lighting, and ventilation fans to keep the air moving and users feeling refreshed.
14. Mod Edge
These pods are intended for the younger generation, who prefer a cozier, more “homey” work environment. In order to bring gentler, calmer colors into the office, the Mod Edge Greet Pod includes a specialized new colorful RAL palette.
The integrated facilities arch, which houses the PIR- (Passive Infrared Sensor) driven LED strip lighting and air circulation systems, is part of the overall design and suits dynamic working goals.
It also has strong acoustic features because of its 0.32-inch sound-absorbing ceiling tiles, 0.87-inch glazed doors, and 0.87-inch double-glazed panels.
15. Harbour
People who are returning to the office and need a quiet place to work away from the bustle of an open-plan office can find the Harbour Work Pod a good fit. The Harbour Work Pod is a fully furnished pod with ambient lighting, an air circulation fan, and glass walls that block out unwanted noises and light.
Additionally, power modules can be added as optional extras, ensuring a steady flow of power to electric devices whilst working peacefully.
FAQs
What is a meeting pod?
A meeting pod is an enclosed, freestanding booth that gives one to six people a quiet room inside an open office. Most have acoustic wall panels, a glass door, a ventilation fan, lighting and power, and arrive as a kit that goes together without building work.
Are meeting pods cheaper than meeting rooms?
Usually, yes: a pod costs less than building a room because it needs no new walls, wiring runs or construction permits. As an example, Zenbooth lists its one-person Solo at $5,490 and its 7 x 7 ft Quad meeting booth at $16,490, before furniture and screens.
How many people fit in a meeting pod?
They range from one-person booths to rooms for four to six. One-person pods work as phone booths for calls and focus, two-person pods handle a one-on-one, and four-to-six-person pods replace a small meeting room. Check the seat count and the inside floor area before you order.
Are meeting pods soundproof?
They reduce sound rather than block it completely. Sealed glass doors, felt-lined walls and dense wall panels keep normal speech from carrying across the office, but a raised voice or a speakerphone can still leak out. Compare the speech reduction figure in dB each maker lists.
Do meeting pods need ventilation?
Yes, every closed pod needs active ventilation. Two or more people in a sealed booth warm the air and use up fresh air quickly, so look for built-in fans that pull fresh air in and push stale air out, and ask the maker for the airflow and fan noise figures.
Can a small meeting pod work as an individual office pod?
Yes, a one- or two-person pod works as an individual office pod for calls, video meetings and focus work. Spaceship, for example, is a one-person indoor pod that also fits a two-person sync with the door closed.
Conclusion
A soundproof office pod might help your employees feel more relaxed and reduce anxiety. When coworkers cannot overhear our private conversations or when we have the choice to leave the noise behind, we feel freer and more self-assured.
If employees prefer to work together in large groups, they may want to stick to the traditional meeting room. However, if they want to work independently, take calls or meet in twos and threes, a meeting pod is the better fit.