A 200 m² office ceiling requires between £2,400 and £44,000 worth of acoustic panels depending on the product selected — a cost range of 18x for functionally equivalent acoustic performance. The cheapest option (generic 20 mm mineral wool, NRC 0.85, plain white, no brand name) costs £12/m² supply. The most expensive (micro-perforated timber veneer with concealed mineral wool backing, NRC 0.80, bespoke finish) costs £220/m² supply. Both reduce reverberation. The question is what you get for the extra £208 per square metre.
This guide compares 14 specific acoustic panel products from 7 manufacturers on the metrics that matter: price per square metre, NRC rating, octave-band performance at 250 Hz and 125 Hz (where cheap panels fail), fire classification, sustainability credentials, warranty, and aesthetic options. Every price is a 2026 UK distributor list rate, supply-only, ex-VAT.
The Master Comparison Table
This table compares ceiling tiles at a standardised specification: 600 x 600 mm module, tegular or square-lay edge, mounted in a standard 24 mm exposed grid system (ASTM E795 Type A mounting). NRC ratings are manufacturer-published values tested per ISO 354:2003. Prices are Q1 2026 UK supply-only.
| Product | Manufacturer | Substrate | Thickness | NRC | alpha 250 Hz | alpha 125 Hz | Fire Class | Price (£/m², supply) | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Generic mineral wool tile | Various / own-label | Stone wool | 15 mm | 0.55 | 0.30 | 0.15 | A1 | £8–£12 | None / 1 yr |
| Generic mineral wool tile | Various / own-label | Stone wool | 20 mm | 0.85 | 0.55 | 0.20 | A1 | £12–£18 | None / 1 yr |
| Armstrong Dune eVo | Armstrong | Mineral fibre | 15 mm | 0.55 | 0.28 | 0.12 | A2-s1,d0 | £14–£20 | 15 yr |
| Armstrong Ultima+ | Armstrong | Mineral fibre | 19 mm | 0.90 | 0.65 | 0.30 | A2-s1,d0 | £22–£38 | 30 yr |
| Armstrong Optima | Armstrong | Glass fibre | 20 mm | 0.95 | 0.70 | 0.35 | A2-s1,d0 | £32–£48 | 30 yr |
| ROCKFON Tropic | Rockwool | Stone wool | 15 mm | 0.85 | 0.55 | 0.20 | A1 | £18–£25 | 15 yr |
| ROCKFON Sonar | Rockwool | Stone wool | 20 mm | 0.90 | 0.65 | 0.25 | A1 | £30–£42 | 15 yr |
| ROCKFON Color-all | Rockwool | Stone wool | 20 mm | 0.90 | 0.65 | 0.25 | A1 | £42–£65 | 15 yr |
| Ecophon Gedina E | Saint-Gobain | Glass wool | 15 mm | 0.85 | 0.55 | 0.20 | A2-s1,d0 | £22–£30 | 15 yr |
| Ecophon Focus E | Saint-Gobain | Glass wool | 20 mm | 0.90 | 0.70 | 0.30 | A2-s1,d0 | £28–£45 | 25 yr |
| Ecophon Master Rigid E | Saint-Gobain | Glass wool | 40 mm | 1.00 | 0.85 | 0.55 | A2-s1,d0 | £42–£60 | 25 yr |
| Knauf AMF Thermatex Alpha | Knauf | Mineral fibre | 19 mm | 0.90 | 0.65 | 0.28 | A2-s1,d0 | £24–£36 | 15 yr |
| OWA Cosmos | OWA (Armstrong sub-brand) | Mineral fibre | 15 mm | 0.70 | 0.40 | 0.15 | A2-s1,d0 | £12–£18 | 10 yr |
| Autex Quietspace Panel (wall) | Autex | PET fibre | 25 mm | 0.75 | 0.40 | 0.15 | B-s1,d0 | £40–£65 | 10 yr |
Key Observations
- NRC 0.85+ costs £18/m² minimum from branded suppliers. Generic 20 mm mineral wool achieves NRC 0.85 at £12–£18/m², but without manufacturer warranty, fire test certification specific to the batch, or technical support.
- Low-frequency performance costs a premium. The cheapest tile with alpha ≥ 0.50 at 125 Hz is the Ecophon Master Rigid at £42–£60/m². All tiles under £30/m² have alpha ≤ 0.30 at 125 Hz — meaning they provide minimal bass absorption. For rooms where low-frequency control matters (meeting rooms with male-dominant speech, music rooms, AV presentation rooms), thicker or higher-density tiles are necessary despite the 2–3x cost premium.
- Fire rating is free with mineral/glass wool. Stone wool (ROCKFON) achieves Euroclass A1 (non-combustible) inherently. Glass wool (Ecophon, Armstrong) achieves A2-s1,d0 inherently. Neither requires fire-retardant treatment, so there is no fire-rating cost premium. PET fibre panels (Autex) achieve only Euroclass B and may require additional fire documentation in some applications.
- The warranty gap is significant. Generic tiles offer 0–1 year warranty. Armstrong and ROCKFON offer 15 years. Ecophon and Armstrong Ultima/Optima offer 25–30 years. Over a 20-year building lifecycle, a tile with a 15-year warranty that needs replacement at year 16 generates a double cost that erases any initial saving from choosing the cheaper product.
Price-Performance Ratio Analysis
To compare products meaningfully, we need a metric that relates cost to acoustic performance. The most useful is cost per sabin — the cost of one unit of absorption.
Cost per sabin = Price per m² / NRC
| Product | Price (£/m²) | NRC | Cost per Sabin (£) | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Generic mineral wool 20 mm | £15 (mid) | 0.85 | £17.65 | 1 |
| ROCKFON Tropic | £21.50 (mid) | 0.85 | £25.29 | 2 |
| Ecophon Gedina E | £26 (mid) | 0.85 | £30.59 | 3 |
| OWA Cosmos | £15 (mid) | 0.70 | £21.43 | — (low NRC) |
| Armstrong Dune eVo | £17 (mid) | 0.55 | £30.91 | — (low NRC) |
| Knauf AMF Thermatex Alpha | £30 (mid) | 0.90 | £33.33 | 4 |
| Armstrong Ultima+ | £30 (mid) | 0.90 | £33.33 | 4 |
| ROCKFON Sonar | £36 (mid) | 0.90 | £40.00 | 6 |
| Ecophon Focus E | £36.50 (mid) | 0.90 | £40.56 | 7 |
| Armstrong Optima | £40 (mid) | 0.95 | £42.11 | 8 |
| ROCKFON Color-all | £53.50 (mid) | 0.90 | £59.44 | 9 (colour premium) |
| Ecophon Master Rigid E | £51 (mid) | 1.00 | £51.00 | 10 (performance premium) |
| Autex Quietspace | £52.50 (mid) | 0.75 | £70.00 | 11 (aesthetic premium) |
Generic 20 mm mineral wool wins on pure cost-per-sabin at £17.65. ROCKFON Tropic offers the best branded value at £25.29. The cost-per-sabin roughly doubles as you move from budget to premium products.
However, cost-per-sabin at mid-frequency tells only part of the story. A tile that costs £17.65 per sabin at 500 Hz but provides minimal absorption at 125 Hz may require supplementary bass treatment costing an additional £15–£25/m² — eliminating the apparent saving.
Worked Example: 200 m² Office Ceiling — Three Scenarios
To make the comparison concrete, here are three fully priced specifications for the same 200 m² office ceiling. The room is a typical UK commercial office: 20 m x 10 m x 2.7 m ceiling height, carpet tile floor, painted plasterboard walls, target RT60 ≤ 0.6 s per WELL v2 Feature 74.
Room Absorption Calculation
Using the Sabine equation (ISO 3382-2:2008 Annex A.1):
- Volume: 540 m³
- Existing absorption (floor + walls, no ceiling treatment): 35 sabins
- Required total absorption: A = 0.161 x 540 / 0.6 = 145 sabins
- Absorption deficit: 145 - 35 = 110 sabins
- With NRC 0.85 tile: Treatment area = 110 / 0.85 = 129 m² (65% ceiling coverage)
- With NRC 0.90 tile: Treatment area = 110 / 0.90 = 122 m² (61% ceiling coverage)
Scenario A: Budget (Generic Mineral Wool)
| Item | Specification | Quantity | Unit Rate | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ceiling tile | Generic 20 mm mineral wool, NRC 0.85 | 130 m² | £15/m² | £1,950 |
| Grid system | Standard 24 mm exposed T-bar | 200 m² | £12/m² | £2,400 |
| Installation labour | Grid + tile laying | 200 m² | £28/m² | £5,600 |
| Edge trims, waste, fixings | 10% allowance | — | — | £995 |
| Total | £10,945 | |||
| Cost per m² of floor area | £54.73/m² |
Scenario B: Mid-Range (ROCKFON Sonar)
| Item | Specification | Quantity | Unit Rate | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ceiling tile | ROCKFON Sonar 20 mm, NRC 0.90 | 122 m² | £36/m² | £4,392 |
| Grid system | ROCKFON Chicago Metallic 24 mm | 200 m² | £14/m² | £2,800 |
| Installation labour | Grid + tile laying | 200 m² | £30/m² | £6,000 |
| Edge trims, waste, fixings | 10% allowance | — | — | £1,319 |
| Total | £14,511 | |||
| Cost per m² of floor area | £72.56/m² |
Scenario C: Premium (Ecophon Focus E)
| Item | Specification | Quantity | Unit Rate | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ceiling tile | Ecophon Focus E 20 mm, NRC 0.90 | 122 m² | £38/m² | £4,636 |
| Grid system | Ecophon Connect T24 | 200 m² | £16/m² | £3,200 |
| Installation labour | Grid + tile laying | 200 m² | £32/m² | £6,400 |
| Edge trims, waste, fixings | 10% allowance | — | — | £1,424 |
| Total | £15,660 | |||
| Cost per m² of floor area | £78.30/m² |
Cost Summary
| Scenario | Total Cost | Premium Over Budget | Acoustic Performance |
|---|---|---|---|
| A: Budget (generic) | £10,945 | — | RT60 0.59 s (passes WELL F74) |
| B: Mid-range (ROCKFON) | £14,511 | +32% (£3,566) | RT60 0.56 s (passes WELL F74) |
| C: Premium (Ecophon) | £15,660 | +43% (£4,715) | RT60 0.56 s (passes WELL F74) |
All three scenarios pass the WELL F74 target. The acoustic performance difference between Scenario A (RT60 0.59 s) and Scenario C (RT60 0.56 s) is inaudible — human hearing cannot detect RT60 differences smaller than 0.1 s (5% JND per ISO 3382-1:2009 §4.2).
The £4,715 premium of Ecophon over generic buys: a 25-year warranty (vs 0–1 year), Akutex-coated surface (easier cleaning, better light reflectance at 87% vs ~70%), certified Environmental Product Declaration (EPD), and the Saint-Gobain brand on the specification. Whether those attributes justify a 43% cost increase depends on the project's priorities.
Sustainability Comparison
For projects pursuing LEED, BREEAM, or WELL Materials Purity credits, the environmental credentials of acoustic panels matter. Here is how the major brands compare on key sustainability metrics.
| Metric | ROCKFON (Stone Wool) | Ecophon (Glass Wool) | Armstrong (Mineral Fibre) | Knauf AMF | Generic |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EPD published? | Yes (all ranges) | Yes (all ranges) | Yes (main ranges) | Yes (main ranges) | Rarely |
| Recycled content | 20–42% (basalt + recycite) | 55–70% (recycled glass) | 30–55% (varies by product) | 25–40% | Unknown |
| Carbon footprint (kg CO2e/m²) | 6–9 | 4–7 | 5–8 | 6–9 | Unknown |
| Cradle to Cradle certified? | Bronze–Silver | Silver–Gold | Not certified | Not certified | No |
| Take-back / recycling programme | Rockcycle (closed-loop) | Ecophon recycling (in-house) | Armstrong Ceiling Recycling | Limited | No |
| Red List Free (WELL Materials) | Yes | Yes | Most products | Some products | Unknown |
| VOC emissions (post-installation) | Very low (A+ French regulation) | Very low (A+ French regulation) | Low (A+ French regulation) | Low | Untested |
Ecophon leads on recycled content (55–70% recycled glass) and Cradle to Cradle certification (Silver–Gold). ROCKFON leads on the Rockcycle closed-loop recycling programme, which accepts any ROCKFON product at end of life and recycles it into new stone wool. Armstrong's recycling programme is well-established in North America but less available in Europe.
For BREEAM credits, an EPD is typically required. This effectively eliminates generic unbranded tiles from projects pursuing BREEAM Excellent or Outstanding.
Wall Panels — Price Comparison
Wall panels operate in a different cost bracket from ceiling tiles because they require individual mounting, often in bespoke sizes, and their visible face quality must withstand close-range inspection.
| Product Type | NRC (50 mm) | UK Supply Price (£/m²) | Fire Class | Key Brands |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rigid mineral wool board (unfaced) | 0.90–1.05 | £8–£14 | A1 | Rockwool RWA45, Knauf Earthwool |
| Fabric-wrapped panel (50 mm, standard colours) | 0.85–1.00 | £55–£85 | B-s1,d0 (with treatment) | UK fabricators, Soundsorba, Sontext |
| Fabric-wrapped panel (50 mm, FR fabric, custom) | 0.85–1.00 | £75–£130 | B-s1,d0 | Bespoke specification |
| PET felt panel (12–25 mm) | 0.45–0.75 | £35–£70 | B-s1,d0 | Autex, BuzziSpace, FilzFelt |
| Printed acoustic panel (50 mm, digital print) | 0.80–0.95 | £95–£150 | B-s1,d0 | Custom specification |
| Timber slat panel (with mineral wool backing) | 0.70–0.90 | £120–£220 | C-s2,d0 to B-s1,d0 | Gustafs, Decor Acoustic, Woodfit |
| Micro-perforated metal panel (with backing) | 0.65–0.85 | £80–£140 | A1–A2 | Fantoni, Hunter Douglas |
The cost-performance sweet spot for wall treatment is the fabric-wrapped panel at £55–£85/m². It delivers NRC 0.85–1.00 at 50 mm thickness, looks professional in commercial environments, and is available from dozens of UK fabricators with 3–4 week lead times.
PET felt panels (Autex Quietspace, BuzziSpace) are popular with architects for their colour range and tactile quality, but their acoustic performance per pound is poor — NRC 0.45–0.75 at £35–£70/m² versus NRC 0.85–1.00 at £55–£85/m² for fabric-wrapped mineral wool. You pay more and get less absorption. For rooms where the RT60 calculation demands every sabin, PET felt panels are an expensive way to underperform.
When to Use Budget vs Premium Panels
Budget Panels Make Sense When:
- The room is back-of-house (storage, plant room, utility corridor) where appearance is irrelevant
- The project is temporary (pop-up office, event space, construction site welfare facility)
- The ceiling void is accessible and tiles will be frequently removed for M&E maintenance
- The client has explicitly prioritised cost over aesthetics and warranty
- The building lifecycle is short (< 5 years before planned refurbishment)
Premium Panels Make Sense When:
- The space is client-facing (reception, boardroom, showroom) where ceiling quality is visible
- The project requires BREEAM, LEED, or WELL certification (EPD + sustainability credentials)
- Healthcare or cleanroom applications require washable surfaces (Ecophon Hygiene range)
- The building lifecycle is long (> 15 years) and tile replacement cost must be avoided
- Fire rating requirements demand certified A1/A2 products with batch-traceable test reports
- The architect has specified the ceiling as a design feature requiring colour, shape, or non-standard dimensions
Try the Calculator
AcousPlan's material database includes 5,600+ acoustic products with tested NRC ratings and octave-band absorption coefficients. Enter your room dimensions, select your surfaces, and the platform calculates exactly how much treatment you need — eliminating overspecification and the cost waste that comes with it.
Related reading:
- Acoustic Panel Brands Compared: 7 Major Manufacturers — In-depth brand analysis with product range reviews
- Acoustic Treatment Cost UK 2026 — Room-by-room UK pricing with labour rates
- How Acoustic Panels Work: The Physics — Why porous absorbers work and how thickness affects low-frequency performance