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Sound absorbers for offices and open-plan workspaces

Offices get quieter when hard surfaces are combined with broadband absorbers: ceiling rafts and acoustic ceilings lower the overall level, while wall absorbers and screens damp direct reflections between workstations. A practical rule of thumb is 0.15 to 0.25 m² of absorber per square metre of floor area at αw ≥ 0.8.

The most common mistake in open-plan offices is a hard ceiling above a large, reverberant room. Because the ceiling is the largest free surface, it delivers the most absorption per square metre. Only after that do wall and screen solutions against direct speech transfer between neighbouring desks pay off.

Last updated: 28 June 2026

products
147
datasets total
1,896
absorption coefficient
αw up to 1.0
stored per product
Measurement data

Office sound absorbers with measurement data

Broadband and high-absorption products (αw ≥ 0.6), sorted by absorption coefficient.

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  • Acospray DC1αw 1.00

    Acosorb

    Acospray DC1

  • Acospray DC3αw 1.00

    Acosorb

    Acospray DC3

  • aPerf® padαw 1.00

    BK Raumakustik

    aPerf® pad

  • aPerf® panelαw 1.00

    BK Raumakustik

    aPerf® panel

  • aPerf® panel colourαw 1.00

    BK Raumakustik

    aPerf® panel colour

  • aPerf® woolαw 1.00

    BK Raumakustik

    aPerf® wool

  • B11 Archisonic Feltαw 1.00EPD

    B11

    B11 Archisonic Felt

  • Green Lineαw 1.00

    Acosorb

    Green Line

  • LinePerf®αw 1.00

    BK Raumakustik

    LinePerf®

  • Schallsauger ALU LINE SKY HORIZONTALαw 1.00

    SCHALLSAUGER (KASPER GmbH)

    Schallsauger ALU LINE SKY HORIZONTAL

  • Schallsauger FRAMELESS BAFFLEαw 1.00

    SCHALLSAUGER (KASPER GmbH)

    Schallsauger FRAMELESS BAFFLE

  • Schallsauger FRAMELESS BAFFLE BAFFLEαw 1.00

    SCHALLSAUGER (KASPER GmbH)

    Schallsauger FRAMELESS BAFFLE BAFFLE

Office absorber types compared

Office absorber types compared
EffectTypical αwMountingBest for
Acoustic ceiling / raftLowers the overall level across the room0.8–1.0Suspended or surface-mountedOpen-plan offices, baseline treatment
Wall absorberDamps early reflections, complements the ceiling0.8–1.0Wall-mountedMeeting rooms, walls between desks
Screen / partitionBlocks direct speech transfer between desks0.7–1.0 (both sides)Freestanding or desk-mountedOpen space, flexible desks
Furniture absorber / acoustic artTargeted addition, design accent0.5–0.9Wall or freestandingSmall offices, retrofits

How much absorber area does an office need?

A practical starting point is 0.15 to 0.25 m² of high-performance absorber (αw ≥ 0.8) per square metre of floor area. A 100 m² office therefore needs roughly 15 to 25 m² of absorber, starting at the ceiling. Use the upper end for tall rooms or many hard surfaces (glass, concrete, screed).

For a reliable design, reverberation time is calculated. The Acoustic Index reverberation calculator uses each product's stored measurement data directly.

What to look for in the measurement data

The decisive figure is the weighted sound absorption coefficient αw, ideally backed by a reverberation-chamber measurement. An αw of 1.0 means practically complete absorption in the rated range. Also check the mounting type (direct vs. with an air gap), because an air gap markedly improves low-frequency performance.

Fire safety is rarely critical in offices but mandatory in escape routes. The fire class (A1 non-combustible to F) is filterable.

Frequently asked questions

Which sound absorber is best for an office?+

The most effective option is a broadband acoustic ceiling or ceiling raft with αw ≥ 0.8, because the ceiling is the largest free surface in the room. Wall absorbers and screens then damp the direct speech transfer between workstations. The combination of ceiling plus wall gives the best result per square metre invested.

How many sound absorbers does an open-plan office need?+

A rule of thumb is 0.15 to 0.25 m² of high-performance absorber (αw ≥ 0.8) per square metre of floor area. A 100 m² office therefore needs about 15 to 25 m² of absorber, preferably on the ceiling. For an exact design, reverberation time is calculated.

What does the αw value mean?+

αw is the weighted sound absorption coefficient, a single number between 0 and 1. The higher it is, the more sound the material absorbs. αw = 1.0 corresponds to practically complete absorption. It is derived from a reverberation-chamber measurement and makes products directly comparable.

Do screens really help against office noise?+

Yes, screens that absorb on both sides block direct speech transfer between neighbouring desks and reduce distraction. They do not replace ceiling absorption, though: without a damped ceiling the room stays reverberant overall. Screens work best as a complement to an acoustic ceiling.

What does an office acoustic solution cost?+

Prices depend on product, area and mounting and are requested directly from the manufacturer. Acoustic Index is manufacturer-neutral and lists measurement data, not prices. The manufacturer profile links through to the supplier. The database helps you find technically suitable products before you enquire.

Do office absorbers need a fire rating?+

In ordinary offices fire safety is rarely mandatory, but it is required in escape routes and certain public buildings. The decisive figure is the fire class (A1 non-combustible to F). You can filter by minimum fire class in the search.

Find matching office absorbers

Compare all products for office acoustics with measurement data and filter by αw, material and fire class.

Office absorbers in search
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