Call Centre and BPO Workstations: Sizes, Partitions and Layout Tips
Short answer: A call centre workstation is typically 900 to 1,050 mm wide and 600 mm deep per agent, with a fabric-faced partition about 1,200 to 1,350 mm high at the front and sides to contain voice noise. Rows are arranged back-to-back or in linear runs with team leaders at the ends. Because the floor runs in shifts, specify tougher tops, thicker edge banding and stronger hardware than for a normal office.
A voice process floor asks more of its furniture than almost any other office. Seats are narrower, people talk all day, and the same desk may be used by three agents in twenty-four hours. Pune has a large BPO and support sector across Hinjewadi, Kharadi, Viman Nagar, Yerawada and Hadapsar, and the same design points come up on every project.
What size is a call centre workstation?
| Use | Width per seat | Depth |
|---|---|---|
| Voice process, single screen or thin client | 900 mm (3 ft) | 600 mm |
| Voice or chat process, standard | 1,050 mm (3.5 ft) | 600 mm |
| Back office, dual monitors | 1,200 mm (4 ft) | 600 mm |
| Team leader desk | 1,200 to 1,500 mm, often L-shape | 600 mm |
| Supervisor or QA station | 1,500 mm with a view of the row | 600 to 750 mm |
Desk height is about 750 mm. Going below 900 mm width is possible on paper but makes seats cramped and raises noise, since agents sit closer together.
Which partition height and type work best?
| Process | Partition height from floor | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Outbound voice, high call volume | 1,350 to 1,500 mm | Fabric over acoustic core, front and both sides |
| Inbound voice, support | 1,200 to 1,350 mm | Fabric-faced front and side screens |
| Chat, email, back office | 1,050 to 1,200 mm | Fabric or laminate front screen; low or no side screens |
- Side screens matter. Sound from the neighbour on each side is closer than from the person opposite. Side partitions that project at least to the front edge of the desk make a clear difference.
- Soft faces absorb. Laminate and glass reflect voices back into the floor.
- A glass strip at the top keeps sight lines for supervisors while holding the height.
Common call centre layouts
| Layout | Description | Advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Linear, double-sided | Agents face each other across a central partition | Highest density; simple cabling |
| Linear, back to back | Rows face partitions, backs to the aisle | Supervisors see screens from the aisle |
| Cluster or pod of 4 to 8 | Small teams grouped with their lead | Team identity; easier coaching |
| Zigzag or staggered | Seats offset so nobody faces a neighbour directly | Better voice separation |
Team leaders are usually seated at the end of each run with a view down the row. Pod options are covered in our post on cluster and 120-degree workstations.
How much space per agent?
- Work area alone, including chair space and share of the aisle: about 20 to 25 sq ft per agent with 900 to 1,050 mm desks
- Overall, including training rooms, cafeteria, lockers and breakout: about 45 to 60 sq ft per agent
- Main aisles about 1,200 to 1,500 mm, since shift changes move many people at once
- About 900 to 1,000 mm behind each chair
Occupancy and exit requirements for the building apply on top of these figures and must be checked.
Built for shift use: what to specify
- Tops. 25 mm board with a hard-wearing laminate; a rounded or post-formed front edge is kinder on forearms and resists chipping.
- Edge banding. 2 mm PVC on all exposed edges.
- Frame. Metal legs or a steel sub-frame stand up to constant use better than board gables.
- Partitions. A rigid frame fixed to the floor or desk structure; removable fabric tiles that can be replaced when soiled.
- Storage. No pedestals; a locker for every agent. See the office lockers guide.
- Headset hook and a small shelf for personal items.
- CPU or thin-client holder fixed under the top, off the floor, with ventilation.
- Chairs. Rated for continuous shift use, with adjustable height and lumbar support.
Cabling on a BPO floor
Each seat needs power and data, and many operations require network cabling to be separated and secured. Plan:
- A lockable raceway at desk level or below, with separate channels for power and data
- Feed points at the start of every run from a raised floor, floor boxes or ceiling drops
- Enough sockets per seat for the computer, monitor and phone or headset base
- Covers that prevent agents unplugging or tampering with connections
- Access for IT to trace and replace cables without dismantling desks
More detail is in our office cable management guide.
Noise control beyond the partitions
- Acoustic ceiling tiles or baffles; the ceiling is the largest reflecting surface
- Carpet tiles on the work floor
- Acoustic panels on walls, especially opposite glass
- Training, briefing and break areas enclosed and away from the floor
- Noise-cancelling headsets
Support spaces to plan alongside
- Training rooms for new batches
- Briefing or huddle areas for shift handovers; see meeting room types explained
- Locker area near the entrance, since many operations restrict phones and bags on the floor
- Cafeteria sized for staggered breaks
- A quiet room or wellness room
- Supervisor and QA stations with a view of the floor
Common mistakes
- Squeezing seats below 900 mm
- Laminate or glass partitions with no absorbent surface
- No side screens on voice seats
- Board legs and thin edge banding on a 24-hour floor
- Open cabling that agents can reach
- Too few lockers
- Narrow aisles that jam at shift change
BPO workstations made in Pune
We manufacture call centre and back-office workstations at our workshop in Dhanori, with partitions and raceways made to the floor plan, and install across Pune including Hinjewadi, Kharadi and Hadapsar. Reference sizes are in our office furniture dimensions chart. See the office furniture range.
Frequently asked questions
What is the standard size of a call centre workstation?
About 900 to 1,050 mm wide and 600 mm deep per agent, at a height of about 750 mm.
What partition height is best for a call centre?
About 1,200 to 1,350 mm from the floor for most voice processes, and up to 1,500 mm for high-volume outbound calling, with fabric-faced front and side screens.
How much space does each call centre agent need?
About 20 to 25 sq ft in the work area and about 45 to 60 sq ft overall when training rooms, cafeteria and lockers are included.
Talk to Encore Interiors
Encore Interiors designs, manufactures and installs office furniture from its own workshop in Dhanori, Pune.
Address: Survey No. 19, 3/1, near Shard Lawns, Madhav Nagar, Dhanori, Pune, Maharashtra 411015
Phone: +91 89799 31695, +91 75076 17409
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