Why Acoustic Panel Pricing Is So Opaque
Specifying acoustic treatment involves navigating a deliberately opaque market. Manufacturers rarely publish retail prices. Distributors quote differently to architects, contractors, and end users. Lead times and regional availability shift pricing by 20–40% between markets. This guide cuts through that opacity with verified 2026 price data across 20+ products, giving you a realistic budget baseline whether you are writing a specification or comparing contractor quotes.
All prices are stated in GBP supply-only ex-VAT unless noted. Installed costs add labour, fixings, and access equipment — typically £15–£40/m² depending on ceiling height and panel type. US dollar equivalents: multiply by approximately 1.27. Euro equivalents: multiply by approximately 1.17.
Price Tiers at a Glance
Acoustic products fall into four commercial tiers. Understanding which tier your project needs prevents over-specification (paying for performance you do not need) and under-specification (buying products that fail to hit targets).
| Tier | Supply-Only Cost | NRC Range | Typical Products |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | £6–£18/m² | 0.55–0.75 | Mineral fibre drop tiles, basic foam |
| Mid-range | £20–£55/m² | 0.75–0.90 | Suspended baffles, fabric panels, Ecophon Focus |
| Premium | £55–£120/m² | 0.85–0.95 | Designer clouds, perforated wood, specialist baffles |
| Bespoke/High-end | £120–£250+/m² | 0.80–0.99 | Custom fabricated panels, diffuser-absorber combinations |
Budget Tier: £6–£18/m² Supply-Only
Armstrong Dune Supreme — from £9/m²
The workhorse of commercial acoustic ceilings. A 600×600 mm mineral fibre tile, NRC 0.75, Class A fire rating, compatible with all standard T-grid systems. It covers an enormous share of UK and European commercial fit-outs because it is inexpensive, widely stocked, and delivers acceptable performance in most office environments.
Performance: NRC 0.75 at 600×600 mm, αw 0.75 (ISO 11654), Class A fire (BS EN 13501-1). Price: £9–£14/m² depending on quantity. Grid not included (add £4–£6/m² for new installation). Best for: General office refurbishment where budget is primary constraint and NRC 0.75 is sufficient to meet targets.
Rockfon Sonar — from £11/m²
Stone wool core with a smooth white surface, available in 600×600 and 600×1200. NRC 0.90 at 20 mm thickness — notably better than mineral fibre at comparable price. Excellent humidity resistance (99% RH rated), making it suitable for kitchens, leisure, and healthcare.
Performance: NRC 0.90, αw 0.90 (ISO 11654), Class A1 fire (non-combustible stone wool core). Price: £11–£17/m² supply-only. The step up from Armstrong Dune for 15–20% more cost but significantly better absorption. Best for: Any project where NRC 0.90 is required but budget is constrained, particularly humid environments.
Rockwool/Knauf Board DIY Panels — from £8/m²
Semi-rigid mineral wool boards (50–100 mm) sold as raw insulation but widely used as acoustic wall treatment wrapped in fabric. At 50 mm, NRC reaches 0.90–0.95 for mid-to-high frequencies. Bass performance (below 250 Hz) is limited without an air gap.
Performance: NRC 0.90–0.95 (50 mm on wall), significantly better with 100 mm air gap behind. Price: £8–£12/m² for board. Add £5–£10/m² for fabric and frame material. Best for: Budget treatment studios, podcast rooms, home offices. Excellent performance-per-pound if DIY installation is acceptable.
Mid-Range Tier: £20–£55/m² Supply-Only
Ecophon Focus C — from £28/m²
Ecophon's most common office tile. Glass wool core (25 mm), E-edge for standard T-grid. NRC 0.90. Sound absorption class A per ISO 11654. Light reflectance 0.86. The dominant specification in Scandinavian-influenced office design, where RT60 targets are routinely 0.4–0.6 seconds.
Performance: NRC 0.90, αw 0.90, Class A fire (Euroclass A2-s1,d0). Tested per ISO 354. Price: £28–£38/m² supply-only. Volume pricing (500+ m²) typically brings this to £24–£32/m². Best for: Offices requiring NRC 0.90 with clean aesthetics and broad availability of accessories.
Ecophon Master Matrix — from £45/m²
Free-hanging island tiles or baffles suspended below the structural ceiling. Available as 600×600 to 1200×2400 panels or as linear baffles. Particularly effective in open-plan offices with exposed concrete ceilings where a dropped ceiling is not feasible.
Performance: NRC 0.95 (both faces active in free-hanging installation). Effective absorption coefficient per face: typically 0.90–0.95 at 500–2000 Hz. Price: £45–£65/m² (flat islands), £55–£80/m² (linear baffles), plus suspension system. Best for: Offices and restaurants with exposed structure where visual interest is desired alongside acoustic performance.
Armstrong Optima OB — from £32/m²
Open-plan baffles in 300 mm widths, available in 600–2400 mm lengths. Board-and-batten aesthetic. NRC 0.90. Armstrong's answer to Ecophon Master Matrix at slightly lower price. Supports both vertical and horizontal installation.
Performance: NRC 0.90 per face. Class A fire. Price: £32–£48/m² of treated area (baffles create shadows — actual panel area is 30–40% of floor area treated). Best for: Cost-conscious projects requiring baffle aesthetic without full Ecophon pricing.
Autex Quietspace — from £38/m²
New Zealand-manufactured polyester fibre panels made from 60% recycled PET. Available in 48 colours, 12 mm and 24 mm thicknesses. NRC 0.85 at 12 mm, NRC 0.95 at 24 mm. Popular in workplace and education projects where colour is part of the design language.
Performance: NRC 0.85–0.95 depending on thickness. Fire rating: Group 1-S (AS 1530.3) and Class 0 UK. No formaldehyde, hypoallergenic. Price: £38–£55/m² supply-only. Best for: Education, workplace, healthcare where sustainability credentials (recycled content) and colour variety matter.
Zentia (formerly Armstrong) Colortone — from £22/m²
Mineral fibre tiles with factory-applied colour. Available in 40 standard colours. NRC 0.75. Allows coloured acoustic ceilings without the cost premium of fabric-wrapped panels. Widely used in retail and hospitality where aesthetic differentiation is required at low cost.
Performance: NRC 0.75, Class A fire. 600×600 and 600×1200 available. Price: £22–£30/m². Best for: Retail, hospitality, education where coloured ceiling is specified but budget is tight.
Premium Tier: £55–£120/m² Supply-Only
Rockfon Mono Acoustic — from £65/m²
A monolithic acoustic ceiling system: seamless plaster finish with concealed stone wool core. Looks like a standard painted plaster ceiling but delivers NRC 0.65–0.85 depending on perforation pattern. Used extensively in healthcare and education where a clinical white ceiling is architecturally required but acoustic performance is non-negotiable.
Performance: NRC 0.65–0.85 (pattern dependent). Class A1 fire. Seamless appearance allows integration of services. Price: £65–£95/m² installed (system price, includes substrate). Best for: Healthcare, galleries, premium offices where a traditional ceiling appearance is required.
Ecophon Super G — from £72/m²
Ecophon's highest-performing standard product: 40 mm glass wool with special glass veil surface. NRC 0.95, excellent low-frequency performance (αs 0.85 at 250 Hz, 0.65 at 125 Hz). The go-to specification for music rooms, drama studios, and any space where reverberation control at bass frequencies is critical.
Performance: NRC 0.95, αw 0.95. Superior 125 Hz absorption compared to thinner tiles. Price: £72–£95/m². Best for: Music rooms, drama studios, lecture theatres, any space with 125 Hz RT60 requirements.
Baux Acoustic Pulp Tiles — from £80/m²
Swedish manufacturer making acoustic tiles from 100% recycled paper pulp. Hexagonal and square formats, 29 colours, NRC 0.80–0.90. High sustainability credentials (cradle-to-gate carbon is negative due to recycled content). Popular in premium workplace and hospitality where ESG reporting drives material selection.
Performance: NRC 0.80–0.90 (shape and edge treatment dependent). Euroclass E fire. Price: £80–£120/m². Best for: Premium workplace, hospitality, retail where sustainability story and design differentiation justify the cost premium.
Troldtekt Wood Wool — from £55/m²
Danish manufacturer producing wood wool cement boards. Available in natural, painted, and coloured finishes. NRC 0.60–0.85 (profile dependent). Popular in education and sports facilities where impact resistance is required alongside acoustic performance.
Performance: NRC 0.60–0.85. Class A1 fire (cement binder). Impact resistant. Price: £55–£85/m². Best for: Schools, sports halls, public buildings where durability and natural aesthetic are required.
Perforated Timber Panels (Bespoke) — from £110/m²
Perforated MDF or plywood with acoustic backing. A 15% perforation ratio with 50 mm rockwool behind gives NRC 0.65–0.75. 25% perforation with 100 mm backing gives NRC 0.80–0.90. Used in concert halls, theatres, and premium boardrooms.
Performance: NRC 0.65–0.90 depending on specification. Variable — always request ISO 354 test data. Price: £110–£200/m² bespoke fabricated and finished. Best for: Concert halls, theatres, premium boardrooms. Never accept manufacturer estimates without third-party test reports.
Installed Cost Breakdown
Supply-only pricing covers material delivery to site. Installed cost adds:
| Component | Typical Cost |
|---|---|
| Labour (T-grid ceiling installation) | £8–£15/m² |
| Labour (wall panel installation, clips/fixings) | £12–£20/m² |
| Labour (baffle suspension system) | £18–£35/m² |
| Grid/suspension system | £4–£8/m² |
| Access equipment (up to 4 m) | £2–£4/m² |
| Access equipment (above 4 m) | £6–£15/m² |
| Acoustic testing post-installation | £800–£2,500 per day |
A typical 200 m² open-plan office needing 80% ceiling coverage (160 m²) and 20% wall treatment (40 m²):
- Ecophon Focus C ceiling: 160 m² × £33 supply = £5,280
- Grid system: 160 m² × £6 = £960
- Labour (ceiling): 160 m² × £12 = £1,920
- Autex wall panels: 40 m² × £45 = £1,800
- Labour (walls): 40 m² × £16 = £640
- Total installed: approximately £10,600 (£53/m² of floor area)
Specification Checklist: What to Request from Any Supplier
When obtaining quotes, require the following documentation:
- ISO 354 test report (not manufacturer estimates) for the exact product thickness and installation method
- NRC value and breakdown by octave band (125, 250, 500, 1000, 2000, 4000 Hz)
- Fire classification certificate to EN 13501-1 (Euroclass) or BS 476 for UK projects
- Lead time confirmation in writing — many premium products have 8–14 week lead times
- Product substitution clause — define acceptable equivalents (same αw class and fire rating)
- Warranty — typically 10 years for mineral fibre, 5 years for fabric products
How to Calculate How Much Treatment You Need
Rather than estimating by feel, use AcousPlan's RT60 calculator to determine exactly how many m² of treatment are required to reach your target reverberation time.
- Enter room dimensions (length, width, height)
- Select room type — this sets the RT60 target automatically from the relevant standard
- Add existing surface materials (carpet, concrete, glass, plasterboard)
- The calculator shows your current predicted RT60 and how much additional absorption is needed
- Use the material library to find products that close the gap, and read off the required area