A team of four needs somewhere to sit, and the room is rarely as big as the floor plan suggested. Four separate desks leave awkward gaps, while a 4 person workstation puts four desks on one shared frame. Many come with screens, cable access or both. The real decision is the shape: a pod, a row or a cluster.
This guide compares the three layouts using six workstations and their stated sizes, then covers screens, cables, power and planning a small office. More sizes and finishes are in our 3 and 4 person workstations range.
Pod, row or cluster: three ways to seat four people
A back-to-back pod puts two people on each side of a shared centre screen. The Eternity 4 Person Double Sided Workstation with Screens - Oak (from $1,488) is a good example. Each person gets a 750mm deep worktop, 1200mm, 1500mm or 1800mm wide, at a desk height of 730mm. Pinnable fabric screens 500mm high and 30mm thick run down the middle, and recessed legs leave full leg access along the desks.
A single-sided row lines all four people up along one wall or window, facing the same way. The Eternity 4 Person Single Sided Workstation with SHUSH30 Aluminium Framed Screen - Oak (from $2,024) has the same 750mm depth per user and 730mm desk height. Its 500mm high fabric screens have aluminium frames. The run is 4800mm, 6000mm or 7200mm long, to suit desks 1200mm, 1500mm or 1800mm wide.
A four-way cluster turns the desks outwards from a shared centre. The Axis 4-Person 90 Degree Workstation (Plus-Layout) (from $2,229) sets four desks in a plus layout on a fixed frame with 50x50mm square legs. Its worktop sizes are listed as 1800x1800mm with a 600mm or 750mm depth, at a 715mm worktop height. It carries a 140KG weight rating and a 10-Year Warranty.
In short, a pod suits the middle of a room, a row suits a long wall and a cluster suits a squarer space.
4 person workstation sizes and overall footprint
The overall size matters more than the desk size, because it decides what fits between walls, columns and doors. With 1200mm desks, the Eternity pod measures 2400mm by 1530mm, while the Eternity row stretches to 4800mm by 750mm. That is roughly the same floor area in a very different shape. Some pages list only worktop sizes, so allow for the frame and screens as well.
| Workstation | Layout | Desk size per person | Overall size | Screens |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eternity 4 Person Double Sided with Screens | Back-to-back pod | 1200, 1500 or 1800mm wide, 750mm deep | 2400, 3000 or 3600mm wide, 1530mm deep, 1200mm high | 500mm high pinnable fabric, included |
| Eternity 4 Person Single Sided with SHUSH30 Screen | Single-sided row | 1200, 1500 or 1800mm wide, 750mm deep | 4800, 6000 or 7200mm wide, 750mm deep | 500mm high fabric with aluminium frames, included |
| Axis 4-Person 90 Degree (Plus-Layout) | Four-way cluster | 1800x1800mm, 600 or 750mm deep | Not stated | None listed; works with Axis screens |
| SHUSH30 Double Sided 4 Person Round Leg | Back-to-back pod | 1200, 1500 or 1800mm wide, 750mm deep | Not stated | 30mm slimline, 1200mm or 1500mm high, included |
| Deluxe Rapid Infinity 4 Person Corner Pod | Four-way corner pod | 750mm deep top for each position | 3030 x 3030mm to 3630 x 3630mm, 730mm high | Included |
| Anvil 4-Person Double-sided | Back-to-back pod | W1200mm x D600mm to W1800mm x D750mm | Not stated | None listed; works with Anvil screen systems |
Screens between and around the desks
Screens give each person a defined space and cut visual distraction across the desk. Low screens, like the Eternity's 500mm fabric dividers, keep a pod open enough to talk over. Taller screens suit people who spend the day on the phone.
The SHUSH30 Double Sided Workstation - 4 Person - Round Leg - Oak (from $1,575) offers two screen heights: 1500mm for more privacy or 1200mm for easier communication between users. Its 30mm slimline screens have a full fabric pinnable surface.
In a four-way cluster, the screens usually form a cross, so each person is screened in front and to one side. The Deluxe Rapid Infinity 4 Person Corner Workstation Pod with Screens - Profile Leg (from $2,916) gives four people a corner desk each, with a 750mm deep top for every position. It comes in three sizes, from 3030 x 3030mm to 3630 x 3630mm, on a 60mm x 30mm profile leg with a double support rail.
For more screen heights and finishes, compare our workstations with screens.
Shared frames, legs, cables and power
On a four-person workstation, neighbouring desks share legs and rails, so there are fewer legs to knock and the desks stay aligned. The Anvil 4-Person Double-sided Desk Workstation (from $944) seats two people on each side of one frame with 50x50mm triangular loop legs. Worktops run from W1200mm x D600mm to W1800mm x D750mm, at a 715mm worktop height. Cable management mounts to the worktop or the frame, and the modular system can be extended as your team grows.
Every desk needs a way for cables to drop below the top. Look for scallops along the back edge, as on the Eternity and SHUSH30 tops, or a cable entry hole, like the 80mm hole in each Deluxe Rapid Infinity top. A pod in the middle of a room also needs power from somewhere. The SHUSH30 page notes that ceiling to workstation power poles are sold separately, so plan the power feed with your electrician before the desks arrive.
Plan storage at the same time. A mobile pedestal under each desk keeps personal items close, and a shared cupboard at the end of a row holds files and stationery. The Axis frame works with Axis storage elements if you want a matching look.
Fitting a four-person pod into a small Australian office
Small Australian offices often come with narrow corridors, small lifts and the odd column mid-floor. Mark columns, doors and windows on a plan, then check the overall size of each option against it. A 2400mm by 1530mm pod often fits where a 4800mm row will not, and a row often suits a long window wall better.
Leave enough room behind every chair for someone to push back and stand, and keep walkways to doors and exits clear. Turn desks side-on to large windows where you can, because afternoon sun on west-facing glass makes monitors hard to read in summer. Keep pods away from air-conditioning vents that blow straight down onto a desk.
Deliveries go to the ground-floor entrance, and all six of these workstations arrive flat-packed. Each product page has a Delivery line naming its metro cities, and all six list metro Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide. For layouts beyond four people, see our guide to office workstation layouts for one to eight people.
4 person workstation — frequently asked questions
How much space does a 4 person workstation need?
With 1200mm desks, a back-to-back pod such as the Eternity takes 2400mm by 1530mm, while the matching single-sided row takes 4800mm by 750mm. Add room behind each chair and a clear walkway around the outside.
What is the difference between a single-sided and a double-sided workstation?
A single-sided workstation seats everyone along one side, facing the same way. A double-sided workstation joins two rows of desks at the back, so pairs of people face each other across a centre screen.
Do four-person workstations come with screens?
Some include screens and some are sold as desks only. The Eternity, SHUSH30 and Deluxe Rapid Infinity workstations in this guide include screens, while the Anvil and Axis pages list none and say each works with its own screen system.
Can you add more desks to a workstation later?
Yes, if it is a modular system. The Anvil page says its modular system can be extended as your team grows, and the SHUSH30 double-sided workstation can grow into runs of any length.
Shop the range
Every workstation in this guide is listed below in the order it appears. Our office workstations collection holds more layouts and sizes.
- Eternity 4 Person Double Sided Workstation with Screens - Oak (from $1,488): a compact back-to-back pod with 500mm fabric screens for a small team
- Eternity 4 Person Single Sided Workstation with SHUSH30 Aluminium Framed Screen - Oak (from $2,024): a straight run of four screened desks for a long wall or window
- Axis 4-Person 90 Degree Workstation (Plus-Layout) (from $2,229): a plus-shaped cluster that gives four people their own desk on one frame
- SHUSH30 Double Sided Workstation - 4 Person - Round Leg - Oak (from $1,575): a back-to-back pod with 1200mm or 1500mm screens for more privacy
- Deluxe Rapid Infinity 4 Person Corner Workstation Pod with Screens - Profile Leg (from $2,916): a screened corner pod with a 750mm deep top for each person
- Anvil 4-Person Double-sided Desk Workstation (from $944): the lowest-priced pod here, a modular frame for teams adding screens later
Metro delivery is a flat $75 per order, and prices include GST.
