Hard floors, glass walls and open ceilings look sharp in a modern office, but they bounce sound around the room. Conversations carry, calls blur together and meeting rooms ring with echo. Acoustic panels soak up part of that sound before it reflects again. This guide explains what panels can and cannot do, compares wall panels, tiles, ceiling products and screens, and covers where to put them, with seven products and prices.
The wall products here come from our acoustic wall panels range, with sizes and ratings taken from the product pages.
What acoustic panels can and cannot do
Sound in a room either bounces off a surface or is absorbed by it. Hard surfaces such as glass, concrete and plasterboard reflect most of it, which builds the echo, or reverberation, that makes a busy office feel loud. Soft, porous panels absorb part of the sound that reaches them, so less of it reflects back into the room.
Absorbing echo is different from blocking sound. Stopping noise travelling through a wall, door or ceiling depends on how the building is constructed, not on what is fixed to its surface. Panels make a room calmer and speech clearer, but they will not soundproof it or make a conversation private.
Some products state an NRC, or noise reduction coefficient. It rates how much sound a surface absorbs, from 0 for none to 1 for nearly all. For calls and conversations that need privacy, an enclosed booth does what panels cannot, as our guide to acoustic pods and phone booths explains.
Wall panels, tiles, shapes and timber slats
Walls are the easiest place to start, because panels go where people can reach and see them.
The SANA Acoustic Panel (from $311) is a large 2800 × 1225mm sheet made from 60% recycled PET fibre. It comes in 12mm or 24mm thicknesses and more than 20 colours. It is designed to reduce echo and improve speech clarity, and it can go on a wall or a ceiling. The surface is pinnable, so it can double as a noticeboard.
The Autex Peel N Stick Acoustic Tiles (Pack of 6) ($373) go up without glue, tools or framing. Each pack holds six 600 × 600mm tiles that cover 2.16 square metres. The tiles have an NRC of 0.40, and the surface takes pins and hook-and-loop fasteners, which suits staff areas and project walls.
Decorative shapes turn acoustic treatment into a wall feature. The Sana Acoustic Shapes Hexagons - Pack of 6 ($244) are 12mm thick and hang with the supplied hook and loop wall tabs. Choose Shadow, Moonlight, Frost or a mixed pack with two of each.
Timber slats bring warmth to a meeting room or reception wall. The Wooden Slat AcoustiQ Panel ($196) bonds 12mm MDF slats to a 9mm polyester fibre base, making a 21mm thick panel that measures 2730 × 600mm. The slats are 27mm wide with 13mm gaps, in White Oak, Mid Oak or Ebony veneer. It mounts on a wall or a ceiling.
Ceiling tiles, hanging panels and freestanding screens
In an open-plan office, the ceiling is often the largest hard surface in the room, and it sits above everyone.
The AcoustiQ Trelis Ceiling Tile - Sonus (from $58) fits a compatible ceiling grid, which is project specific and sold separately. The tiles are Australian made, 10mm or 20mm thick and sold in packs of four. Nominal sizes are 600 × 600mm or 1200 × 600mm, in 44 colours, with an NRC between 0.35 and 0.90.
Hanging panels suspend from the ceiling over desks, walkways and collaboration areas. The AcoustiQ Hanging Panel (from $814) comes 1200mm or 1800mm wide, in 10mm or 20mm thicknesses, with a hanging kit. It is Australian made, rated 0.35 to 0.90 NRC, and available in patterns such as Hexagon, Pebble, Slots, Swirl and Triangle.
Freestanding screens add absorption where people sit, and they can be moved when the layout changes. The Acoustic Screens - Free Standing Screen (from $323) is a 50mm thick panel on silver stabilising feet, with no fixing to walls or desks. It comes in grey or blue pinnable fabric, 1500 or 1800mm wide and high. Desk-mounted versions are in our screens and acoustics range.
Acoustic panels compared
| Panel type | Example | Size | Thickness | Stated performance | Fixing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Large wall or ceiling panel | SANA Acoustic Panel | 2800 × 1225mm | 12 or 24mm | Reduces echo, 60% recycled PET | Wall or ceiling |
| Peel-and-stick tiles | Autex Peel N Stick | 600 × 600mm, 2.16 square metres per pack | Not listed | NRC 0.40 | Self-adhesive backing |
| Decorative shapes | Sana Acoustic Shapes Hexagons | Pack of 6 | 12mm | Absorbs ambient noise | Hook and loop wall tabs |
| Timber slat panel | Wooden Slat AcoustiQ Panel | 2730 × 600mm | 21mm | Polyester base behind MDF slats | Wall or ceiling |
| Ceiling tile | AcoustiQ Trelis Ceiling Tile - Sonus | 600 × 600 or 1200 × 600mm nominal | 10 or 20mm | NRC 0.35 to 0.90 | Ceiling grid, sold separately |
| Hanging panel | AcoustiQ Hanging Panel | 1200 or 1800mm wide | 10 or 20mm | NRC 0.35 to 0.90 | Suspended with a hanging kit |
| Freestanding screen | Acoustic Screens - Free Standing | 1500 or 1800mm wide and high | 50mm | Privacy and noise reduction | Stands on its own feet |
Two plain measures help when comparing panels. Thickness matters because thicker absorbent panels generally soak up more sound, especially lower-pitched sound. Coverage matters because one panel on a large wall makes little difference, while treating more of the room's hard surfaces makes a bigger one.
Where to place acoustic panels in an Australian office
- Meeting rooms. Panels on the walls around the table cut the echo that makes meetings and video calls hard to follow.
- Open-plan areas. Ceiling tiles, hanging panels and screens deal with noise that spreads across the floor.
- Hard surfaces. Glass partitions, concrete and bare plasterboard reflect the most sound, so start near them.
- Colour and finish. The Trelis tiles and hanging panels come in 44 colours, and the SANA panel in more than 20, so panels can match the fit-out.
- Local making and delivery. The Trelis tiles and hanging panels are Australian made. Delivery is to the ground-floor entrance, items arrive flat-packed unless the product page says assembled, and each product page names the metro cities it delivers to.
Acoustic panels — frequently asked questions
Do acoustic panels soundproof a room?
No. Acoustic panels reduce echo inside a room, but they do not stop sound passing through walls, doors or ceilings. For private conversations, an enclosed booth or a meeting room with solid walls works better.
How many acoustic panels do I need?
It depends on the size of the room and how many hard surfaces it has. Treat the largest hard surfaces first, then add panels until the echo drops. As a guide to coverage, one Autex pack covers 2.16 square metres.
What does NRC mean on an acoustic panel?
NRC stands for noise reduction coefficient. It rates how much sound a surface absorbs, from 0 for none to 1 for nearly all, so tiles rated 0.40 absorb less than a panel rated 0.90.
Can acoustic panels go on the ceiling?
Yes. Ceiling tiles fit a compatible grid and hanging panels suspend from the ceiling. The SANA panel and the timber slat panel can be mounted on walls or ceilings.
Shop the range
Every product in this guide is listed below in the order it appears. For enclosed spaces, see our acoustic pods and phone booths.
- SANA Acoustic Panel (from $311): a large recycled PET panel for walls or ceilings, in 12 or 24mm
- Autex Peel N Stick Acoustic Tiles (Pack of 6) ($373): six peel-and-stick 600mm tiles with an NRC of 0.40
- Sana Acoustic Shapes Hexagons - Pack of 6 ($244): 12mm hexagon panels that hang with hook and loop tabs
- Wooden Slat AcoustiQ Panel ($196): timber veneer slats on a polyester base, for walls or ceilings
- AcoustiQ Trelis Ceiling Tile - Sonus (from $58): Australian made ceiling tiles rated 0.35 to 0.90 NRC
- AcoustiQ Hanging Panel (from $814): a suspended panel in six patterns and 44 colours
- Acoustic Screens - Free Standing Screen (from $323): a 50mm pinnable screen that stands on stabilising feet
Metro delivery is a flat $75 per order, and prices include GST.
