How Thick Should Acoustic Panels Be? And Why It's Important?

One of my favorite things about this job is my work with people, customizing their sound environment. One of the most crucial elements of designing acoustical solutions is understanding what you need and how much of it you need. That starts with understanding the science behind acoustics.

Acoustic panels are a go-to acoustic solution for almost every space. Of course, you have to know what you’re looking for and how thick your acoustic panels should be. So, let’s break that down. Here’s everything you need to know to answer the question: “How thick should acoustic panels be?”

We’re proud to offer a range of acoustic panels, primarily in 1” and 2” thicknesses, which are ideal for almost any scenario. Unfortunately, choosing the right one isn’t as straightforward as it may seem. It’s all about understanding your space, the sounds within it, and how you interact with those sounds.

Here’s our general rule of thumb. If you’re dealing with mostly people talking or normal voices, 1” panels are ideal. They primarily absorb the frequencies most often associated with human speech and should be more than enough to complete the job.

However, they might not be the best fit for areas with lots of music or environments with lower-frequency sounds. In these cases, the 1” panels might absorb the higher frequencies, which leaves the lower ones to bounce around and create a ton of unwanted acoustic reverberance.

For a more comprehensive sound absorption, especially in spaces with varied audio ranges like music studios or home theaters, 2” panels are the way to go. 2” panels are adept at soaking up a wider range of frequencies, especially the challenging low-frequency sounds. I might even recommend these in a situation where you have a male speaker with a lower frequency voice because sometimes, 1” panels aren’t enough.

At Acoustical Solutions, we offer the best acoustic panels on the market, each designed to cater to diverse needs and design aesthetics. Here are my top picks for almost any project:

Understanding the role of acoustic panels is crucial. They are designed to absorb sound, not to block it. This means they manage echo and reverberation within a room, to create a more pleasant and peaceful sound environment. It’s all about enhancing the quality of your sound by managing its behavior within your space.

When looking at a sound wavelength, you can see that it’s a series of peaks and valleys that represent everything from low to high frequencies. Well, there’s an acoustic rule we follow as sound technicians called the “Quarter Wave Rule” that simply states, you need a quarter of that distance to start the absorption process, but you need 100% of it to absorb that wave’s energy in its entirety.

Over the years, we’ve had the privilege of tackling a variety of acoustic challenges and applying our expertise with both 1" and 2" panels. The following case studies are not just testimonials of our products’ effectiveness, but also a showcase of our ability to tailor solutions to specific needs:

Choosing the right acoustic panels can be a challenging process if you aren’t familiar with acoustics, but it’s something we excel in. Here at Acoustical Solutions, we’re here to help you find the perfect match for your space, no matter your needs or the size and challenge of your space.

Contact us today to learn which acoustic panel thickness is right for you!