The Ultimate Guide to Commercial Wall Panels

Why Wall Panels Matter

Most commercial spaces focus acoustic treatment on the ceiling, and for good reason — it's the biggest exposed surface. But walls cause problems ceilings can't solve. Sound bouncing between parallel walls creates flutter echo. Hard wall surfaces in conference rooms, classrooms, and open offices reflect speech back with enough energy to make conversations muddy and unintelligible.

Wall panels absorb that reflected energy. In many spaces — especially rooms with hard floors and large windows — wall treatment is the difference between a functional acoustic environment and an uncomfortable one. The cost of bad acoustics in lost productivity alone justifies the investment.

Types of Acoustical Wall Panels

Fabric-Wrapped Panels

The traditional choice. A rigid fiberglass core (typically 1" to 2" thick) wrapped in acoustical fabric. NRC ratings from 0.80 to 1.05 depending on thickness and mounting method. Available in hundreds of fabric colors and textures. These are the panels you see in conference rooms, theaters, and churches everywhere.

Felt Wall Panels

Made from compressed PET felt (often recycled plastic bottles). Thinner profile than fabric-wrapped panels, moderate NRC (0.30–0.60), but with outstanding design flexibility. Available in dozens of colors, can be cut into custom shapes. See our felt wall panel products and the felt vs foam comparison.

Stretch Wall Systems

A track system mounted to the wall with fabric stretched over it. Acoustic infill sits behind the fabric. Creates a seamless, upholstered look without visible panel edges. Great for large continuous walls. Learn more on our stretch wall panel page.

Wood Wall Panels

Slatted wood panels with acoustic felt or fiberglass behind the slats. Sound passes through the gaps and gets absorbed by the backing material. Premium look. We install systems from 9Wood, Rulon, and Armstrong. Read our wood ceiling and wall guide for manufacturer details, and see wood grille wall panels and wood plank wall panels.

Soundproofing Panels

Heavy, mass-loaded panels designed to block sound transmission rather than absorb it. Used between rooms, not as decorative surface treatment. Different purpose than acoustical panels. Details on our soundproofing panel page.

Materials Deep Dive

The core material determines acoustic performance:

Fiberglass: Best absorption. NRC 0.85–1.05 at 1" thickness. The gold standard for acoustic panels. Rigid boards (Owens Corning 703, Johns Manville Inusul-Shield) are the typical core.
PET Felt: Moderate absorption. Sustainable (made from recycled bottles). Self-finished — no wrapping needed. Thinner profile.
Mineral Wool: Good absorption, excellent fire resistance. Heavier than fiberglass. Common in European-manufactured panels.
Foam: Lower acoustic performance than fiberglass at the same thickness. Cheaper. Less durable. We generally don't recommend foam for commercial applications — here's why.

NRC Ratings and Performance

Wall panel NRC depends on material, thickness, and mounting method. Air gap behind the panel dramatically improves low-frequency absorption. A 1" fiberglass panel directly on the wall rates around NRC 0.80. The same panel with a 1" air gap hits NRC 0.95+.

For a deeper understanding of these numbers, read our NRC and CAC ratings guide and NRC/CAC resource page.

Installation Methods

How panels mount to the wall affects both performance and aesthetics:

Adhesive: Construction adhesive directly to drywall. Fastest. No air gap. Lowest NRC of mounting methods.
Z-clip/French cleat: Metal clips create an air gap and allow panels to be removed. Our preferred method for most commercial installations.
Impaling clips: Metal pins on the wall, panel pushes onto them. Semi-permanent. Good for fabric-wrapped panels.
Track system: For stretch wall systems. Aluminum track screwed to wall, fabric tensioned into track.

Applications by Industry

Wall panels show up differently in every building type:

Healthcare: Vinyl-wrapped or cleanable fabric panels in patient rooms and corridors. HIPAA speech privacy in exam rooms. See healthcare wall panel solutions and HIPAA acoustic privacy guide.
Offices: Open-plan spaces need wall treatment on columns, partition walls, and perimeter walls to supplement ceiling absorption. Read our office wall panel guide and open office acoustics solutions.
Education: Classrooms need wall panels at reflection points to meet ANSI S12.60 requirements. Impact-resistant panels in lower grades.
Restaurants: Often combined with ceiling baffles. Decorative felt or wood panels on feature walls. See why restaurants are too loud.

Costs and Budgeting

Wall panel costs vary widely by type:

Fabric-wrapped fiberglass: $8–$20/SF installed, depending on fabric selection and panel size
PET felt panels: $10–$25/SF installed, depending on design complexity
Stretch wall systems: $15–$35/SF installed, depending on wall height and fabric
Wood slat panels: $25–$60/SF installed, depending on species and manufacturer

Most rooms don't need wall panels on every surface. Treating 25-40% of wall area at strategic reflection points delivers most of the acoustic benefit. For overall project budgeting, see our commercial ceiling and acoustic cost guide.

Design Options

Modern wall panels are design elements, not just acoustic treatments:

Custom shapes and sizes — hexagons, triangles, organic curves
Printed fabric — logos, artwork, patterns
3D sculptural panels — felt, wood, or fabric in dimensional designs
Color-matched to interior design palette
Integrated lighting and signage

See our wall panel design and selection guide for inspiration.

Wall Panels vs Ceiling Treatment

The ceiling is almost always the first place to treat. It's the largest surface and affects the whole room. Wall panels come in when:

Ceiling treatment alone isn't enough (flutter echo between parallel walls)
The ceiling is exposed structure and can't take tiles
Speech privacy requires wall-level absorption (exam rooms, offices)
The design calls for wall-level visual interest

For a broader look at ceiling vs wall vs both, read our open concept office ceiling guide or the baffles vs tiles comparison.

Getting Started

Elite Acoustics Inc installs all types of commercial wall panels across Sacramento and Northern California. We help architects and building owners select the right panel system for their space, budget, and aesthetic goals.