How many acoustic panels does your room need? – Calculate coverage, plan for waste, and install optimally
You're planning to acoustically upgrade your room with high-quality acoustic panels – but you're wondering: How many panels do I actually need?
In this article, we'll show you step by step how to calculate the required quantity, what to look out for when cutting and why it makes sense to order one panel more than one panel too few.
Why the right amount is so important
Acoustic panels not only improve room acoustics – they also enhance the visual appeal of a space. To ensure your project is also technically sound, you should plan neither too tightly nor too generously.
Because: Too little surface area = barely audible effect. Too much = unnecessary costs. The good news? With a little preparation, you can quickly calculate the ideal amount.
How much area should I cover?
A good rule of thumb is to cover about 20–35% of the wall area with acoustic panels.
The more reverberant the room is (e.g. due to tiles, glass, high ceilings), the more space you should plan for.
Example:
A room with 4 x 2.5 m wall area = 10 m²
→ 30% of this = 3 m² panel area recommended
💡 Tip: In areas with particularly high reverberation (e.g. open-plan kitchens or hallways with lots of glass), the value can be up to 40% .
Panel dimensions & conversion made easy
Our standard panels are 2.75 m high and 0.6 m wide – this results in:
1 panel = 1.65 m² covering area
Example:
For 3 m² you need 2 panels (2 x 1.65 m² = 3.3 m²) For 6 m² wall area with 30% coverage:
→ 1.8 m² required = 2 panels For 20 m² wall area with 25% coverage:
→ 5 m² required = 3 panels + 1 reserve if necessary
Waste – please allow for this!
Cutting panels to size (e.g., around light switches, window reveals, or corners) usually results in waste. Minor unevenness in the room or asymmetrical installation patterns also require additional cut edges.
Our recommendation:
Plan for an additional 10–15%.
Or even better:
It's better to order one panel too many than too few.
Especially for projects involving multiple walls or ceiling installations, this saves you unpleasant delays caused by reordering.
➡️ Click here for our acoustic panels
Wall or ceiling? Differences in planning
- Wall mounting : Best along the first reflection points – behind desks, sofas or TV
- Ceiling mounting : Particularly effective in high-ceilinged rooms or large spaces (e.g., conference rooms). Plan for additional support and possibly ceiling anchors.
- Combination : Ceiling + one wall = ideal for a uniform sound improvement
What about the room size (in m³)?
Many people only think in terms of square meters – but the room volume (cubic meters) also influences the acoustics.
In particularly high rooms (e.g. old buildings) more panel area is often needed to significantly reduce reverberation.
The larger the room volume, the more area should be covered (up to 40%).
Typical room examples with recommendations
- Office (10 m² room, 2.5 m height) : 3 panels (approx. 5 m²), if necessary 1 additional
- Living room (20 m² room, 2.5 m height) : 4–5 panels (approx. 7–9 m²)
- Studio (15 m² room, 3 m height) : 5–6 panels (depending on acoustic goal)
Installation tips for perfect results
Vertical or horizontal?
Vertically, rooms appear higher, horizontally, they appear wider – both make sense acoustically.
- Use spirit level & tape measure – especially for large-area installation
- Apply dry before gluing or screwing
- Cut with a fine jigsaw – for clean edges without fraying
Our project packages – perfectly tailored to your project
Our project packages contain everything you need for assembly:
Screws, dowels, installation instructions – perfectly tailored to your wall type.
❗ Important: A reserve for waste is not automatically included.
Our recommendation: Order one more panel to be on the safe side.
➡️ Discover project packages here and start your project stress-free
Conclusion: Well planned is (almost) finished
With proper planning, you'll not only have enough material—you'll also save yourself hassle, time, and unnecessary reorders.
Calculate your area, consider wastage – and take one more panel with you.
Because if you install your acoustic panels carefully, you will benefit permanently:
More peace, more style, more quality of life.