Sound in offices is measured in decibels (dB). A quiet private office sits around 35-40 dB. A typical open-plan office ranges from 55-70 dB. For context, normal conversation is about 60 dB, and sustained exposure above 65 dB significantly reduces concentration and increases errors. The difference between a well-treated and poorly-treated open plan can be 10-15 dB — which feels like a 50% reduction in perceived noise.

Three factors drive office noise: sound generation (people talking, phones ringing, keyboards), sound reflection (hard surfaces like glass, drywall, and hard flooring bounce sound around), and sound transmission (noise traveling through walls, ceilings, and HVAC systems). Effective acoustic treatment addresses all three through sound masking (white/pink noise systems), sound absorption (ceiling tiles, panels, soft furnishings), and sound blocking (high panels, phone booths, architectural walls).

The most cost-effective acoustic interventions: add acoustic ceiling tiles if you have exposed ceilings (NRC rating of 0.70+ recommended), install desk-mounted privacy screens with sound-absorbing cores, place soft furnishings (rugs, upholstered lounge pieces) in open areas, and provide phone booths or focus rooms for calls and concentrated work. A sound masking system ($2-5/sq ft installed) is often the single highest-impact investment.