How to Reduce Noise in an Open Office

Open offices make it easier for teams to communicate and can give companies more flexibility in how they use their space. The downside becomes obvious as soon as several conversations, video calls and meetings happen at the same time.

Noise travels.

A conversation between two colleagues can distract someone working several desks away. A sales call can be heard across the room. Meeting areas without proper acoustic separation can add another layer of background noise.

For companies that want to keep the openness of their workplace without accepting constant noise as part of office life, the answer usually lies in better space planning, acoustics and separation.

Here are some practical ways to create a quieter open office.

Understand Where the Noise Comes From

Before adding acoustic products or changing the layout, identify the main sources of noise.

In many offices, speech is the biggest issue. Conversations are particularly distracting because our brains naturally try to process words, even when we are concentrating on something else.

Other sources may include video meetings, ringing phones, office equipment, people walking through busy areas and informal conversations around shared facilities.

Spend some time observing where these activities happen.

If employees regularly take calls beside colleagues doing focused work, the problem may be the layout rather than the overall noise level. If conversations from meeting rooms can be clearly heard outside, better acoustic separation may be needed.

Understanding the source helps avoid spending money on solutions that do not address the actual problem.

Create Different Zones for Different Activities

An open office does not have to mean that every activity takes place in the same space.

One of the most useful ways to control noise is to divide the workplace according to how people use it.

Areas intended for focused work should be separated from collaborative zones, meeting rooms and spaces where frequent conversations are expected. Social areas such as pantries should also be positioned carefully, particularly if employees nearby need to concentrate.

The distance between these zones can already make a noticeable difference.

Physical separation can take this further. An office partition wall can help prevent conversations and other sounds from travelling freely between different areas while maintaining a clear workplace layout.

Glass partitions are particularly useful where businesses want separation without making the office feel enclosed. They can preserve visual connection and allow natural light to travel through the workplace.

Use Acoustic Partitions Where Privacy Matters

Meeting rooms and private offices need more than visual separation.

If employees can hear a confidential conversation through the wall, the room is not providing enough privacy. The same applies when meetings regularly disturb employees working outside.

This is where the acoustic performance of the partition system becomes important.

A well-designed acoustic partition can reduce sound transmission between spaces, making it easier to hold meetings and conversations without disturbing the surrounding workplace.

Companies considering an office partition wall should look at the complete partition system rather than choosing based on appearance alone. JEB’s acoustic partition solutions, for example, are designed to address both spatial separation and acoustic requirements across workplace environments.

The right level of acoustic performance will depend on how the room is used. A general meeting space may have different requirements from an executive office, boardroom or room used for confidential discussions.

Add Sound-Absorbing Materials

Partitions help control sound moving between spaces, but the materials within each room also matter.

Hard surfaces such as glass, concrete and exposed ceilings can reflect sound back into a space. In an office with many reflective surfaces, even normal conversations may seem louder.

Sound-absorbing materials help reduce these reflections.

Acoustic ceiling treatments, wall panels, upholstered furniture and certain flooring materials can all contribute to a more comfortable acoustic environment.

This does not mean covering every surface with acoustic material. Placement matters. The goal is to identify areas where sound reflection is contributing to the problem and introduce absorption where it can make a meaningful difference.

For example, a collaborative area surrounded by hard surfaces may benefit more from acoustic treatment than a quiet corner already filled with soft furnishings.

Think Carefully About Glass Partitions

Glass is widely used in modern offices because it allows light to pass through and helps maintain a sense of openness.

However, not all glass partition systems provide the same acoustic performance.

The type of glass, number of glazing layers, framing system, seals and installation can all affect how well a partition controls sound.

This is particularly important for meeting rooms. A glass room may look private, but if conversations are clearly audible outside, employees may be reluctant to use it for sensitive discussions.

When selecting a glass office partition wall, consider acoustic requirements early in the design process. Trying to improve sound privacy after installation can be more complicated than specifying an appropriate system from the beginning.

Give Employees Spaces for Calls

Video calls have changed how offices sound.

Even employees who previously worked quietly at their desks may now spend several hours each week speaking in online meetings. When multiple people take calls in the same open area, background noise builds quickly.

Providing dedicated spaces for calls can help.

These do not always need to be full-sized meeting rooms. Smaller enclosed booths or compact rooms can give employees somewhere to take individual calls without occupying a larger meeting space.

The key is convenience. If a quiet space is too far from employees’ desks or constantly occupied, people will continue taking calls at their workstations.

Call spaces should therefore be planned according to how frequently teams actually use them.

Consider the Office Layout

Sometimes a small layout change can solve a surprisingly large noise problem.

Avoid placing quiet workstations directly beside meeting rooms, collaboration areas or heavily used walkways. Printers and other shared equipment can also be moved away from concentration zones.

Furniture can help create additional separation.

Storage units, shelving and screens can interrupt direct sound paths while giving different areas a clearer purpose. They will not replace an acoustic partition where strong sound separation is required, but they can help manage everyday office noise.

Desk orientation is worth considering too. Employees facing directly toward busy circulation areas are likely to notice more visual and acoustic distractions than those positioned away from them.

Don’t Forget Doors and Gaps

An acoustically rated wall will have limited impact if sound can easily travel through another part of the room.

Doors, gaps around frames, ceiling voids and poorly sealed junctions can all create weak points.

This is why acoustic performance needs to be considered as a complete system.

When planning meeting rooms or private offices, look at how walls, doors, ceilings and glazing work together. Proper installation is just as important as product selection.

If acoustic privacy is a priority, discuss the required performance with the partition specialist early rather than waiting until construction is nearly complete.

A Quieter Office Doesn’t Have to Feel Closed

Reducing office noise does not mean returning to rows of enclosed rooms.

A well-planned workplace can still feel bright, open and connected while providing enough separation for people to concentrate.

Start by understanding which activities create the most disruption. Separate quiet and collaborative areas where possible, introduce sound absorption where reflections are a problem, and use acoustic partitions for spaces that require stronger separation.

An office partition wall can be particularly effective when a workplace needs defined meeting rooms or private areas without losing natural light or visual connection.

The goal is not complete silence. Offices are social environments, and some background activity is normal. What matters is giving employees enough control over where they work, talk and concentrate.

When acoustics are considered as part of the overall office design rather than treated as an afterthought, an open workplace can support both collaboration and focused work much more comfortably.