Few office decisions shape the workday as much as the layout. Cubicles and shared desking (often called benching or teaming stations) are the two most common ways to set up an open office, and each one solves a different problem. The right answer depends on how your people work, how often they're in the office, and how much floor space you have to work with.
This guide walks through the real trade-offs so you can choose with confidence, or combine both in one plan.
What counts as a cubicle, and what counts as shared desking?
A cubicle is a workstation defined by panels. The panels can be low for an open feel or tall for more privacy, and they usually support work surfaces, storage, and power. Each employee typically has an assigned station.
Shared desking puts several people along a common work surface with little or no paneling between them. Some offices assign those seats. Others use them as unassigned or "hot" desks for hybrid staff who come in on different days. Browse both styles in our cubicles and teaming and benching categories.
Where cubicles work best
Cubicles shine when focus and privacy matter. Panels cut down on visual distraction and soften noise, which helps people who spend the day on calls, handle sensitive information, or do detailed work.
Privacy and focus: Taller panels give people a sense of their own space and reduce interruptions.
Personal storage: Overhead bins, pedestals, and tackboards keep files and supplies at each desk.
Built-in power and cable management: Panel systems can route power and data cleanly to each station.
Room to personalize: An assigned station lets employees set up the space the way they work best.
The trade-offs: cubicles take more floor space per person than benching, panels add cost, and a dense layout with tall walls can feel closed in. Panel heights and finishes go a long way toward avoiding that boxed-in look.
Where shared desking works best
Shared desking fits teams that collaborate constantly or don't all come in every day. With fewer panels between seats, it's easy to turn and talk, and a long run of desking usually fits more people in the same footprint.
Space efficiency: More seats per square foot, which matters when rent is a big line item.
Flexibility: Benching adapts easily as teams grow, shrink, or reorganize.
Collaboration: Open sightlines make quick conversations and teamwork natural.
Clean, modern look: Fewer panels keep the room bright and open.
The downsides are the reverse of the cubicle's strengths: less privacy, more noise, and less personal storage. Unassigned desks also need clear habits, like a clean-desk policy and lockers or mobile storage, so people aren't hunting for a place to put their things.
Questions to ask before you choose
How do your people spend their day?
Count how many roles are heads-down, on the phone, or handling confidential work. Those people usually do better with panels. Teams that work together all day often prefer benching.
How many people are in the office at once?
If hybrid schedules mean the office is rarely full, shared desks can cut the number of stations you need. If everyone is in every day, assigned seating is usually simpler.
What does your floor plan allow?
Measure the space and note columns, windows, outlets, and walkways. A layout drawing quickly shows how many stations of each type fit comfortably.
The hybrid layout: using both
Many offices land on a mix. Cubicles go to roles that need privacy, benching goes to collaborative teams, and nearby meeting rooms or quiet spaces handle calls and focused work. Mixing compatible finishes and work surface heights keeps the office looking unified even when the station types differ.
If timing matters, ask about our Quick Ship options, which are stocked for faster delivery than custom orders.
Ready to plan your office layout?
Crown Office Furnishings has helped businesses furnish their offices for more than 70 years. Visit our Tulsa showroom at 8532 E 41st St to see options in person, or call (918) 663-6704 to talk through your space, headcount, and timeline. You can also contact us online with a floor plan or a few photos, and we'll help you narrow the choices before you buy.