---
title: "Office Partitions 2026: Types, Prices and Acoustics"
description: "Office partitions cost about £180–£320 per linear metre for stud walls and £350–£1,000 for glass in London in 2026. Types, acoustic ratings and lead times."
canonical: https://officerefurbishmentlondon.com/guides/office-partitions
last_updated: 2026-10-08
---

# Office Partitions: Types, Prices and Acoustic Ratings

Updated 10 October 2026. By Office Refurbishment London.

Office partitions in London typically cost £180 to £320 per linear metre for a plasterboard stud wall, £350 to £600 for single-glazed glass and £600 to £1,000 for double-glazed acoustic glass, supplied and installed to a standard ceiling height and excluding VAT.

| Partition type | Typical London cost (supplied and fitted) | Typical sound reduction (Rw) | Best for |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Plasterboard stud, single board | £180–£320 per linear metre | Around 35–45 dB | Stores, comms rooms, general division |
| Acoustic stud, double board with insulation | £250–£450 per linear metre | Around 45–55+ dB | Meeting rooms, HR and private offices |
| Single-glazed glass | £350–£600 per linear metre | Around 32–38 dB | Open, light meeting spaces |
| Double-glazed acoustic glass | £600–£1,000 per linear metre | Around 40–50+ dB | Boardrooms, confidential rooms |
| Glass door set (frame, door, ironmongery) | £900–£2,000 each | Depends on seals | Entrances to glazed rooms |
| Acoustic phone booth or pod | £4,000–£12,000 each | Varies by model | Calls and focus work |

Prices rise with ceiling height, fire rating, manifestation, integrated blinds and out-of-hours installation. [Office Refurbishment London](https://officerefurbishmentlondon.com/) designs and installs partitions as part of refurbishments and fit-outs across London.

## What types of office partition are there?

**Plasterboard stud partitions.** A metal stud frame faced with plasterboard, then decorated. They are the most economical way to form solid walls, can carry shelving and screens, and can be upgraded with extra layers of board and insulation for sound or fire performance.

**Glass partitions.** Frameless or slim-framed glazing in single or double glazed form. They keep light flowing across the floor and make a space feel open while giving acoustic separation. Glass must be safety glass and usually needs manifestation, the frosted strips or graphics that stop people walking into it.

**Demountable partitions.** Proprietary systems, glazed or solid, designed to be taken down and reconfigured. They can cost more initially but can be reused or moved, which can help with future changes and with reinstatement at the end of a lease.

**Folding and sliding walls.** Operable walls that split a large room into smaller ones. Good acoustic versions are heavy and need structural support.

**Pods and booths.** Freestanding units for phone calls, video calls and focused work, which avoid building permanent rooms.

Work out a budget for your own floor area, scope and location with our [office fit-out cost calculator](https://officerefurbishmentlondon.com/tools/office-fit-out-cost-calculator).

## How much do office partitions cost?

Partitions are usually priced per linear metre at a standard ceiling height, around 2.7 to 3 metres. A typical eight-person meeting room needs around 10 to 14 linear metres of partition plus a door. As a rough guide:

| Example | Specification | Indicative London cost |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Small store room | 6 m stud partition and solid door | £2,000–£3,500 |
| Four-person meeting room | 8 m single-glazed glass and glass door | £3,700–£6,800 |
| Eight-person meeting room | 12 m single-glazed glass and glass door | £5,100–£9,200 |
| Confidential office | 10 m acoustic stud with acoustic door | £3,400–£6,500 |
| Boardroom | 16 m double-glazed acoustic glass and door | £10,500–£18,000 |

These figures cover the partition only. A new room also usually needs lighting, power, data and ventilation changes, which can match or exceed the partition cost.

## What acoustic rating do office partitions need?

Sound insulation is measured as a weighted sound reduction index, Rw, in decibels. Higher numbers block more sound. As a broad guide:

- **Around 35 dB Rw:** normal speech can be heard and partly understood through the wall.

- **Around 40 to 45 dB Rw:** normal speech heard faintly; raised voices can be understood. Suits most meeting rooms.

- **Around 45 to 50+ dB Rw:** good speech privacy for interviews, HR and confidential calls.

Laboratory ratings are rarely achieved on site, because sound travels around partitions through ceiling voids, raised floors, ducts and gaps at junctions. This is called flanking. A good acoustic design closes those paths with barriers in the ceiling void and floor, acoustic seals on doors and careful detailing. Our guide to [acoustic office partitions](https://officerefurbishmentlondon.com/guides/acoustic-office-partitions) covers this in more depth.

We cover the details in separate guides: [glass office partitions](https://officerefurbishmentlondon.com/guides/glass-office-partitions-london), [demountable partitions](https://officerefurbishmentlondon.com/guides/demountable-office-partitions) and [office flooring](https://officerefurbishmentlondon.com/guides/office-flooring-london).

## Are glass partitions or stud walls better?

|  | Glass partitions | Plasterboard stud walls |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Light and openness | Excellent | Blocks light |
| Acoustics | Good with double glazing | Very good with insulation and extra board |
| Cost per linear metre | £350–£1,000 | £180–£450 |
| Privacy | Needs manifestation or film | Full privacy |
| Wall space for screens | Limited | Good |
| Reuse at lease end | Possible with demountable systems | Usually removed as waste |

Many offices mix the two: solid walls for stores, comms rooms and confidential offices, glass for meeting rooms facing the open floor.

## Do office partitions need building regulations approval?

New partitions change the layout, so they can affect means of escape, fire separation, ventilation and accessibility. Most office fit-outs that add rooms need Building Regulations approval, and the fire strategy needs to be checked. Partitions forming protected corridors or enclosing certain rooms may need fire-rated construction and fire doors. Your landlord will also usually need to approve partitions in a licence for alterations. Our guide to [planning permission and building regulations](https://officerefurbishmentlondon.com/guides/office-refurbishment-planning-permission-building-regs) explains the process.

For specific questions, see our guides to [office carpet tiles](https://officerefurbishmentlondon.com/guides/office-carpet-tiles-london) and [suspended ceiling installation](https://officerefurbishmentlondon.com/guides/suspended-ceiling-installation).

## How long do partitions take to install?

| Stage | Typical time |
| --- | --- |
| Site survey and design | 1–2 weeks |
| Glass and door manufacture | 4–8 weeks after drawings are approved |
| Installation of a few rooms | Several days to two weeks |
| Larger floors | 2–6 weeks, often alongside other trades |

Glass lead times are usually the critical item. Stud partitions can be built faster, which is why they are sometimes used to keep a programme on track.

## Do partitions need to be fire rated?

Some do. Partitions that form part of a protected escape route, enclose a stair or lift lobby, or separate higher-risk rooms such as comms rooms or kitchens may need a set period of fire resistance, often 30 or 60 minutes. That affects the choice of board, glass and doors, and every penetration for cables or ducts must be fire stopped. Fire-rated glass is considerably more expensive than standard safety glass. Your fire strategy identifies which partitions need a rating, and the installer should provide evidence that the system has been tested in the form it is built.

People reading this often go on to ask about [areas of London we cover](https://officerefurbishmentlondon.com/london-areas).

## How can you keep partition costs down?

1. Plan rooms against the building grid, so partitions meet window mullions and ceiling tiles neatly.

2. Group meeting rooms together to share walls.

3. Use single glazing where privacy matters less, and save double glazing for rooms that need it.

4. Consider pods for calls instead of building many small rooms.

5. Reuse existing sound partitions.

6. Think about reinstatement: demountable systems can reduce strip-out at the end of the lease.

## What about manifestation, film and blinds?

Glass partitions need manifestation at two heights to make them visible, and many businesses use this for branding. Frosted or patterned films add privacy, typically at a fraction of the cost of changing the glass. Integrated blinds sit between the panes of double-glazed units and give privacy on demand, at a premium.

## Get a partition quote

We measure up, check the ceiling and floor voids, and quote for the partitions and the services each room needs. [Request a quote](https://officerefurbishmentlondon.com/#enquire) and we will arrange a survey. For whole-project costs, see our [UK office refurbishment cost guide](https://officerefurbishmentlondon.com/guides/office-refurbishment-cost-uk) and our guide to [Cat B fit-outs](https://officerefurbishmentlondon.com/guides/cat-a-vs-cat-b-fit-out).

## Frequently asked questions

### How much do office partitions cost per metre?

In London, typically £180 to £320 per linear metre for stud walls, £350 to £600 for single-glazed glass and £600 to £1,000 for double-glazed acoustic glass.

### How much does a glass meeting room cost?

The partition and door for an eight-person room is often £5,100 to £9,200 in single glazing, plus lighting, power, data and ventilation.

### What is a good acoustic rating for a meeting room?

Around 40 to 45 dB Rw suits most meeting rooms. Confidential rooms usually need around 45 to 50 dB or more, with flanking paths closed.

### Do office partitions need building regulations approval?

Often, yes, because new rooms affect fire escape, ventilation and accessibility. Your landlord will usually need to approve them too.

### Can office partitions be reused?

Demountable systems can be taken down and reused, which can reduce costs when layouts change or at the end of a lease.

## Related guides

- [Acoustic Office Partitions: Ratings, Types and Costs](https://officerefurbishmentlondon.com/guides/acoustic-office-partitions)
- [Office Fit-Out Cost per Sq Ft and per m² in London (2026)](https://officerefurbishmentlondon.com/guides/office-fit-out-cost-per-sq-ft-london)
- [Cat A vs Cat B Fit Out: What’s the Difference? (2026)](https://officerefurbishmentlondon.com/guides/cat-a-vs-cat-b-fit-out)
- [Demountable Office Partitions: Cost and Reuse](https://officerefurbishmentlondon.com/guides/demountable-office-partitions)
- [Glass Office Partitions London: Systems and Costs](https://officerefurbishmentlondon.com/guides/glass-office-partitions-london)
- [Office Fit-Out Cost Calculator London (2026)](https://officerefurbishmentlondon.com/tools/office-fit-out-cost-calculator)
- [Office refurbishment and fit-out in London](https://officerefurbishmentlondon.com/)
- [Areas of London we cover](https://officerefurbishmentlondon.com/london-areas)

Next step

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