Learning center / Wall acoustics

How brick walls sound, and why

What brick does to sound in a room, by frequency.

2 minute read · Updated Nov 2026

Very reflective, with a slightly irregular surface that scatters the highest frequencies a little.

Absorption by the numbers

A brick surface absorbs about 3% of the sound that hits it at 500 Hz (coefficient 0.03). A fabric-wrapped 2 in panel absorbs about 100%. Covering even a fifth of the wall with panels changes the room dramatically.

SurfaceApprox. absorption at 500 Hz
Brick0.03
Carpet on pad0.30
Heavy curtains0.50
1 in panel0.79
2 in panel1.14

Next: laying out panels on brick walls.