The Best Acoustic Panels for Sound Dampening

editor’s pick

Dekiru Acoustic Panels (12-pack)

While most sound-dampening panels are all function and little form, these acoustic panels from Dekiru actually look great. These one-foot hexagonal panels fit together neatly for noise reduction in studios, home theaters, offices, or gaming rooms. We like them for the latter use because they’re extremely thin (.4 inches), so they’ll fit behind a desktop gaming setup. But, even though they’re so thin, they block almost all noise with an NRC rating of 0.92. You can also choose between a few different colors, depending on your room’s decor, and you get 12 panels with each package.

ultra quiet

ATS Acoustics Panel

These ATS panels are another attractive sound-dampening solution, and they block essentially all noise with an NRC rating of 1. That means that virtually 100% of sound will be absorbed by these panels. Made from a solid wood frame and jute (a vegetable-based fabric) these panels are built to last (they also blend in better than those “egg crate” foam panels).
These sound-dampening panels work in everything from conference rooms to music rooms to bedrooms, blocking out ambient noise from chatty colleagues and noisy neighbors alike. Some users say the black color absorbs both sound and light, while helping to reduce reflection from large screens and monitors.

Art3d Wood Slat Acoustic Panels (4-pack)

Acoustic panels are great, but, if we’re being honest, sometimes they’re not the most aesthetic. These wood texture panels, on the other hand, actually look great. They look just like modern wood panel slats, but underneath the surface is sound-absorbing foam. You also get to choose between several wood colors, including walnut, teak, and cherry.

art sound panels

Bubos Art Acoustic Panels (8-pack)

If you want sound-dampening without your room looking like a music studio, check out these Bubos acoustic panels. They’re made to look like wall art, blending in with your decor without looking like, well, acoustic panels. But, despite their civilian looks, the art panels boast an NRC of 0.9, which should absorb almost all sound.
Measuring 48 inches tall by 12 inches wide, the eight-pack here should be enough for most spaces (as long as you don’t need wall-to-wall coverage). Because they’re so good-looking and aren’t meant for total coverage, we think these work best for living rooms and home theater setups.

for drums

TroyStudio Thick Acoustic Foam Panels (6-pack)

Drummers need serious sound-dampening equipment (if they want to stay on good terms with any neighbor or housemate). These TroyStudio acoustic panels are up for the task, working great for drum rooms, as well as music studios, offices, or home theaters.
The package includes six 12-by-12 panels, but they’re quite inexpensive, so we suggest buying a few packages to cover the walls and ceiling. Noise reduction is very solid with an NRC of 0.8, so you should get better sound (without echo) and the ability to jam without upsetting anyone.

for offices

Pro Studio Acoustics Panels (12-pack)

Another worthwhile set of acoustic panels is this pack from Pro Studio. They’re easy to install and great for home offices with a softer NRC rating of 0.65, which is more than enough for phone and computer audio but not so much that you’ll feel disconected from the outside world. Made in the USA, the panels come in a pack of 12, and each measures a square foot. They also come in two colors — half the panels are black and half are blue — adding some liveliness to your walls.

great value

Audiosoul Acoustic Panels (52-pack)

Value depends on your personal needs and preferences, but this package of acoustic panels from Audiosoul is a pretty great deal. You get 52 one-square-foot panels — enough to cover at least one or two, if not more walls — all for $40. And they’re very solid too, despite the low price, effectively reducing even very loud noise. Customer reviews are excellent as well, with the panels boasting a 4/5-star Amazon rating with more than 5,000 reviews.

highly-rated

Fstop Labs Acoustic Panels (12-pack)

These acoustic panels from Fstop Labs are another very highly rated option from Amazon. They currently have a 4/5-star rating and almost 4,000 reviews, with users pleased with the way the panels look and their effectiveness. Some users did say that the panels take a while to expand after they’re unwrapped (about a day or two) so don’t expect to use these right away.

great colors

Ekkogo Acoustic Panels (12-pack)

Another set of more aesthetic acoustic wall panels is this 12-pack from Ekkogo. You get to choose from 21 color options, including subdued colors like black and grey, as well as more bold, fun options like turquoise, candy red, “70’s orange,” and sky blue. But they’re not all looks: The panels boast an NRC of 0.95, ensuring great noise reduction no matter how loud you (or the outside world) gets.