Back 30 to 40 years ago, soundproofing an office was easier when all cubicles came with soundproofing by default. All the walls were absorptive, and sound was controlled quite well. Over time, things changed. Some of the change was due to new design aesthetics in modern offices. Some of it was the desire for a more open office. Some of it was to driving down the overall cost. As with any story about change over time, it’s complicated. But the end result isn’t complicated. Today a cube with effective sound control is hard to find, and if you can find one the fits your needs – chances are it costs 2x what a comparable cubicle without acoustical materials will cost you.

For all of you in desperate need of cubicle soundproofing, reducing cubicle noise IS DOABLE. It also can be done very cost-effectively. With soundproofing, you can reduce the noise in your open office by 50% or more. 50%!! There are two key factors driving the reduction:

1. The first factor is the actual absorption you are adding to each cubicle. By surrounding people with absorptive materials, more sound is absorbed instead of reflected off hard surfaces. Less reflected sound means less overall noise in the space. Acoustic panels are a common solution.
2. The second factor gets into a field calls psychoacoustics. When people perceive the area around them as quieter, they tend to speak quieter. If everyone is speaking just a little bit quieter in their cubes, less overall noise is being put into the space which further reduces the noise level.

Here are the steps we recommend for acheiving these two keys and getting soundproof cubicles in your office space:

1. Fill the core of the cubicles with sound absorbing material
2. Add sound absorbing material to the cubicle walls
3. Treat the ceiling above the cubicles with acoustic material
4. Try out a sound masking machine

If your cubicles are in an environment where people are on the phone or otherwise spending a lot of time speaking, effective acoustical treatment is an absolute MUST to get the most productivity out of your team.

Step #1: Fill the core of the cubicles with sound absorbing material

Utilize an acoustically absorbing material like CelluZorbe or EcoVerb, which can be placed inside the cubicle partitions to significantly help absorb and prevent sound from reflecting back into the room. Reducing reflected noise helps reduce the overall noise level in the space.

Step #2: Add sound absorbing material to the cubicle walls and other hard surfaces.

This can be done by applying acoustic panels or foam to the parts of the cubicle that you are facing. People tend to like using acoustic panels because they are not only used to absorb the sound but also can be styled to fit the aesthetic of your workspace. A product that we have that works great for both sound and aesthetics is our PolyZorbe Hexagon Panels.

Step #3: Treat the Ceiling above the cubicles with sound absorbing material

If you want to treat more than just one cubicle at a time, treating the ceiling above all the cubicles is a great solution. Using ceiling tiles that are made for improving acoustics and reducing the noise level is an easy way to step up your ceiling soundproofing game. We recommend our BlocknZorbe Ceiling Tiles, but you can also read our how to guide on soundproofing a dropped ceiling.

Step #4: Try out a noise masking device

If you aren’t able to add any materials to your space, or you really just want to make sure you are blocking out all the other noises around you, then using a noise masking device is the way to go. Noise masking can help wash out other background noises with white noise, and leads to a less distracting work environment.

There are 4 questions you need to ask to determine the best soundproofing treatment for your cubes:

1. Are the faces of the cubes perforated?
2. Would I prefer to treat the face of the cube or the top of the cube?
3. Do I want the acoustical material to be tackable?
4. Do I care what it looks like?
   

Are the Cubicle Panels Perforated

If the panels are perforated, there are tiny little holes that will allow sound to pass through the face. Most cubicles do not have perforated panels, but if yours are… this is an extremely easy and cost-effective fix.

For perforated cubes, you just need to fill the cavity behind the perforations with absorptive material. The most cost-effective option here is CelluZorbe, which is a panel we make out of recycled newspapers (no itch – you could sleep on it). If you’d like the material to be tackable, you can upgrade to the CelluZorbe 13lb HD version, which is denser.

Would I prefer to treat the face or the top of the cube?

Depending on your situation and preferences, you likely lean towards treating either the top of the face of your cubicles. If you’d prefer to treat the top of the cube, we recommend our BlocknZorbe Sound Panels which both block and absorb sound. The 2” thick version is best for cubicle applications. The panels come 2’ x 2’ or 2’ x 4’ standard, but they can be cut to other sizes. The also can be painted. They are easy to attach to the top of the cube – the preferred method just depends on your cubicle.

If you’d prefer to treat the face, there are so many options! Here’s a quick list plus a table where we outline the key characteristics:

• BlocknZorbe again good, durable option. People choose it often because it’s waterproof and super easy to keep clean.
• CelluZorbe or CelluZorbe 13lb HD are the most cost-effective options, and will get the job done. CelluZorbe also can be used as “hidden absorption” and stuffed in a variety of places if the budget is tight but you’d rather not see the material.
• EcoVerb acoustic panels are a bonded cotton panel that comes in 6 different colors.
• PolyZorbe polyester panels come in 12 different colors, and are more decorative and high-end looking.
• Acoustic Pro fabric wrapped panels can be done with any fabric you choose, and also fit in that high-end look.
  

The absolute best way to combat sound is through distance, the farther you are from a noise, the harder it is to hear. In cubicles, to help with speech privacy, your goal should be to increase the distance between employees. This doesn’t necessarily mean bigger workstations. Find ways to place desks inside the workstation that not only increase distance between employees but also face them away from each other as to create a less direct path for sound when people are talking.

Use this same creative thinking when setting up the cubicles themselves. Orient employees so that they face away from each other and away from the entryways to their cubicles. Create more distance by staggering cubicles rather than having them directly opposite each other. Not only will this increase speech privacy but will also help you determine how to reduce echo in a room. One of the most effective and low-cost ways to increase speech privacy is by simply breaking the line of sight between employees. As they say, out of sight, out of mind. By blocking employees' view of each other, not only will they feel like they have more privacy at their workstation, but they're less likely to be distracted and engage in conversation that would disrupt their coworkers.

Electronic background masking

Install an electronic background masking noise and play it uniformly throughout the office. This often takes the form of white noise and shouldn’t exceed 50 dB, and should be as set as low as possible below that figure. Sound masking is a great strategy for creating a relaxing environment and even works with pets, specifically for a soundproof dog crate. As general guidance, as long as unwanted conversations are at least 10 dB below the background noise, almost no one is annoyed. Once these conversations are 5 dB above the background noise, almost everyone wants them to can it.

Although adding noise to a room sounds counter-intuitive, this low, unobtrusive sound acts as a blanket for the rest of the crowd noise happening in your office. Background noise should never exceed 50 dB! Any higher and people tend to raise their voice to speak over the masking noise, defeating the purpose of masking in the first place.

Encourage employees to adapt their workstations to make noise levels comfortable for themselves. Things like personal white noise machines and desk fans can help individuals create a comfortable sound environment. Noise cancelling headphones are the absolute most effective personal solution to sound blocking, and have the added benefit of signaling to coworkers that you’re busy!

WE CAN HELP!

There are dozens of variables that can affect the needs for your open office space. The building, the type of work you do, the equipment in the office… it all can matter. We’d love to help you find solutions for your office. Contact us and we’ll ask you a few questions about the size of your space, the types of noise you’re dealing with, and the speech levels you’re aiming for. We can work with you to offer customized recommendations to turn your office into an audible oasis.