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Acoustic Treatment Calculator

Calculate acoustic panel coverage for your target RT60

Panels Needed

19

Coverage

145.4 ft²

Current RT60

0.81 s

Acoustic Panels Needed

19

145.4 ft² (13.5 m²) coverage

Current RT60

0.81 s

Target RT60

0.35 s

Wall Coverage

30%

Frequency Analysis (RT60 after treatment)

250 Hz0.42 s
500 Hz0.37 s
1 kHz0.35 s
2 kHz0.34 s
4 kHz0.34 s

Room Details

Room Volume50 m³
Total Surface Area85 m²
Absorption Needed13.1 sabins

What You'll Need

RISEPRO Digital Sound Level Meter 30-130 dB

RISEPRO Digital Sound Level Meter 30-130 dB

$15-$224.3
View on Amazon
ProCase Noise Reduction Ear Muffs NRR 28dB

ProCase Noise Reduction Ear Muffs NRR 28dB

$15-$224.5
View on Amazon
BOSCH GLM20 Blaze 65ft Laser Distance Measure

BOSCH GLM20 Blaze 65ft Laser Distance Measure

$30-$504.6
View on Amazon
Stanley FatMax 25ft Magnetic Tape Measure

Stanley FatMax 25ft Magnetic Tape Measure

$20-$304.6
View on Amazon
TP-Link Deco XE75 WiFi 6E Mesh System 3-Pack

TP-Link Deco XE75 WiFi 6E Mesh System 3-Pack

$200-$3004.4
View on Amazon
Jadaol Cat 6 Ethernet Cable 100ft Flat 10Gbps

Jadaol Cat 6 Ethernet Cable 100ft Flat 10Gbps

$14-$204.6
View on Amazon
RISEPRO Digital Sound Level Meter 30-130 dB

RISEPRO Digital Sound Level Meter 30-130 dB

$15-$224.3
View on Amazon
ProCase Noise Reduction Ear Muffs NRR 28dB

ProCase Noise Reduction Ear Muffs NRR 28dB

$15-$224.5
View on Amazon
BOSCH GLM20 Blaze 65ft Laser Distance Measure

BOSCH GLM20 Blaze 65ft Laser Distance Measure

$30-$504.6
View on Amazon
Stanley FatMax 25ft Magnetic Tape Measure

Stanley FatMax 25ft Magnetic Tape Measure

$20-$304.6
View on Amazon
TP-Link Deco XE75 WiFi 6E Mesh System 3-Pack

TP-Link Deco XE75 WiFi 6E Mesh System 3-Pack

$200-$3004.4
View on Amazon
Jadaol Cat 6 Ethernet Cable 100ft Flat 10Gbps

Jadaol Cat 6 Ethernet Cable 100ft Flat 10Gbps

$14-$204.6
View on Amazon

As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Example Calculations

1Home studio (5m × 4m × 2.5m, drywall walls)

Inputs

Room Dimensions5m × 4m × 2.5m
Wall SurfaceDrywall (α = 0.06)
Target UseControl Room (RT60 = 0.35 s)
Panel Material2" Rigid Fiberglass (OC703)
Panel Size24" × 48"

Result

Panels Needed19
Coverage Area76.0 ft² (7.1 m²)
Current RT600.80 s
Wall Coverage16%

Volume = 50 m³. Floor (carpet) = 20 × 0.30 = 6.0. Ceiling + walls (drywall) = 20 × 0.06 + 45 × 0.06 = 3.9. Current absorption = 9.9 sabins. Current RT60 = 0.161 × 50 / 9.9 = 0.81 s. Target absorption = 0.161 × 50 / 0.35 = 23.0 sabins. Additional = 13.1 sabins. Panel area = 0.61 × 1.22 = 0.74 m² × 0.97 = 0.72 sabins each. Panels = ceil(13.1 / 0.72) = 19. (Actual calculation uses all inputs as entered.)

2Home theater (6m × 5m × 2.8m, concrete walls)

Inputs

Room Dimensions6m × 5m × 2.8m
Wall SurfaceConcrete (α = 0.02)
Target UseHome Theater (RT60 = 0.45 s)
Panel Material4" Acoustic Foam
Panel Size24" × 48"

Result

Panels Needed24
Coverage Area181.0 ft² (16.8 m²)
Current RT602.40 s
Wall Coverage27%

Volume = 84 m³. Concrete surfaces are highly reflective (α = 0.02), so the untreated RT60 is very long. Reaching 0.45 s requires substantial treatment coverage across walls and ceiling.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q

How many acoustic panels do I need for my room?

For a typical 5m × 4m home studio with drywall, you need about 8–12 panels (24"×48" each) of 2" rigid fiberglass to achieve a 0.35 s RT60. Coverage should be 25–40% of wall area. Larger rooms or harder surfaces require more panels.

  • Home studio (20 m²): 8–12 panels for RT60 = 0.35 s
  • Home theater (30 m²): 12–18 panels for RT60 = 0.45 s
  • Podcast room (10 m²): 4–6 panels for RT60 = 0.25 s
  • Coverage target: 25–40% of wall surface area
  • Add 2–4 bass traps in corners for low-frequency control
Room SizeTarget RT60Panel Count (24×48")Coverage
10 m² (vocal booth)0.25 s4–630–40%
20 m² (home studio)0.35 s8–1225–35%
30 m² (home theater)0.45 s10–1620–30%
50 m² (rehearsal room)0.70 s14–2015–25%
Q

What is the best material for acoustic panels?

Rigid fiberglass (OC703) and Rockwool (Roxul) are the most effective broadband absorbers. At 2" thickness they absorb 86–97% of mid-to-high frequencies. 4" panels extend absorption to 250 Hz and below, critical for bass control.

  • 2" OC703: α = 0.86 at 500 Hz, 0.97 at 1 kHz
  • 4" OC703: α = 1.00 across 500–4,000 Hz
  • 2" Rockwool: α = 0.80 at 500 Hz, nearly as good as OC703
  • 2" acoustic foam: α = 0.55 at 500 Hz (weaker than fiberglass)
  • Bass traps (corner-mounted): Best for frequencies below 300 Hz
Material (2" thick)α at 250 Hzα at 1 kHzCost per Panel
Acoustic Foam0.220.80$15–$30
Rockwool0.550.95$20–$40
Rigid Fiberglass (OC703)0.680.97$25–$50
4" Rigid Fiberglass0.991.00$40–$70
Q

Where should I place acoustic panels in a room?

Start with first reflection points on side walls and ceiling (mirror trick: sit at listening position, have someone slide a mirror along the wall until you see the speaker). Add panels behind the listening position and bass traps in corners. Avoid treating more than 50% of surfaces.

  • First reflection points on side walls (most critical)
  • Ceiling above listening position (2–3 panels)
  • Rear wall behind listening position (absorption or diffusion)
  • Front wall around speakers (reduce comb filtering)
  • Corners: Bass traps from floor to ceiling (all 4 corners ideal)
LocationPriorityTypeEffect
Side walls (reflection points)HighestAbsorptionReduces comb filtering
CeilingHighAbsorptionControls vertical reflections
CornersHighBass trapsReduces low-freq buildup
Rear wallMediumDiffusion or absorptionControls rear reflections
Front wallMediumAbsorptionReduces SBIR
Q

What is RT60 and what should my target be?

RT60 is the time for sound to decay by 60 dB. For a home recording studio, target 0.3–0.4 s. For a home theater, 0.4–0.5 s. The Sabine equation (RT60 = 0.161 × V / A) calculates this from room volume and total absorption.

  • Vocal booth: 0.2–0.3 s (very dry)
  • Control room: 0.3–0.4 s (accurate monitoring)
  • Home theater: 0.4–0.5 s (immersive but clear)
  • Classroom: 0.5–0.6 s (speech intelligibility)
  • Over-treating (RT60 < 0.2 s) sounds unnatural and fatiguing
Q

How do absorption coefficients work?

Absorption coefficient (α) ranges from 0 (fully reflective) to 1 (fully absorptive). A panel with α = 0.80 absorbs 80% of sound energy at that frequency. Total absorption in sabins = panel area (m²) × α. Higher α at low frequencies requires thicker panels.

  • α = 0: Perfect reflection (concrete, glass)
  • α = 0.5: Half of sound energy absorbed
  • α = 1.0: Complete absorption (anechoic treatment)
  • Coefficients vary by frequency (always check at 250, 500, 1k Hz)
  • NRC rating = average of α at 250, 500, 1k, and 2k Hz
Surfaceα at 500 Hzα at 1 kHzNRC
Concrete0.020.020.02
Drywall0.060.070.05
Heavy carpet0.300.400.35
2" fiberglass panel0.860.970.90

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Last Updated: Mar 25, 2026

This calculator is provided for informational and educational purposes only. Results are estimates and should not be considered professional financial, medical, legal, or other advice. Always consult a qualified professional before making important decisions. UseCalcPro is not responsible for any actions taken based on calculator results.

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