How much of the room should be covered with acoustic panels?

For a mixing room: 25-40% of wall and ceiling area. For a recording room: 15-25% (you want some liveness). For a vocal booth: 40-60%. Over-treating makes a room sound dead and uncomfortable. Start with 20-25% and add more if needed.

Where should I place acoustic panels first?

Priority order: 1) First reflection points on side walls and ceiling, 2) Behind the monitors, 3) Rear wall, 4) Above the mixing position (cloud). Use the mirror trick — sit at the mixing position and have someone slide a mirror along the wall. Where you can see a monitor in the mirror is a reflection point.

What size panels are most effective?

60×120cm (2×4 ft) is the most common and practical size. This is wide enough to catch reflections and fits standard mineral wool dimensions. Thickness of 50-100mm is ideal for mid and high frequency absorption. For bass, thicker panels or dedicated bass traps are needed.

Can I make acoustic panels myself?

Yes, DIY panels are popular and cost-effective. Use 50-100mm Rockwool or mineral wool in a timber frame, covered with acoustically transparent fabric. Total cost per panel is typically £15-30 compared to £60-150+ for commercial panels of similar performance.

Acoustic Panel Calculator — Number & Size of Panels Needed

Calculate the number and size of acoustic panels needed for a room.

Room Length

Internal clear length of the room (wall to wall).

Room Width

Internal clear width of the room (wall to wall).

Room Height

Floor-to-ceiling height. Floor is excluded (use a rug instead of panels).

Target Coverage

Fraction of wall + ceiling area to treat. Mixing room 25–40%, recording room 15–25%, vocal booth 40–60%.

Panel Width

Width of a single panel. 60cm suits the common 60×120cm (2×4 ft) panel.

Panel Height

Height of a single panel. 120cm suits the common 60×120cm (2×4 ft) panel.

How We Calculate This

Surface Area

Walls = 2(L×H) + 2(W×H)

Ceiling = L × W × (ceiling inclusion %) (default 100%)

The floor is excluded — it is treated with a rug, not panels.

Panels Needed

Panels = ⌈(Total Area × Coverage%) / Panel Area⌉

Rounded up to the next whole panel.

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Calculators

Room Dimension Calculator

Check room dimension ratios against recommended values for even modal distribution in your studio. Free online room ratio calculator.

Monitor Placement Calculator

Calculate optimal studio monitor speaker positions using the equilateral triangle method for accurate stereo imaging in your studio.

Bass Trap Calculator

Calculate bass trap thickness and effective low-frequency absorption range for room corners. Essential for studio acoustic treatment.

Reflection Point Calculator

Find first reflection points on your studio walls and ceiling for precise acoustic treatment panel placement. Free online calculator.

Isolation Calculator

Calculate sound isolation rating (STC/Rw) from wall construction layers and total mass. Estimate noise reduction between studio rooms.

Last updated: February 2026

All calculations are estimates based on standard formulas. Always verify results for critical applications.