How To Build Your Own DIY Acoustic Panels | Black Ghost Audio

Shipping costs are something you need to keep in mind when looking at store-bought panels. Depending on how many panels you buy, shipping costs can almost double the price.

List of Required Tools

Lots of DIY acoustic panel build guides out there provide unrealistic tool and material costs. They either assume you have all the tools you need, or neglect to factor in small materials costs that add up.

I want to provide you with a realistic cost assessment, so I’ve included every possible tool and material that you might need. There’s a chance that you already have access to some of the following tools, which will drop the price down even lower.

• Drill ($99)
• Countersink Drill Bit Set ($9.99)
• Circular Saw ($61.99)
• Staple Gun ($17.87)
• Hammer ($10.99)
• Speed Square ($8.97)
• Tape Measure ($8.98)
• Work Gloves ($13.60)
• Dust Masks ($9.99)
• Clamps ($19.98) - Optional
• Laser Level ($37.97) - Optional

Minimum Total Price: $241.38

Use this link to quickly add the tools from this list to your Amazon cart.

List of Required Materials

Material costs are scalable, meaning that if you want to build more than 6 panels, you can simply buy more materials. Once you have the tools you need, you’re looking at spending about $33.83 per panel or less.‍

• 23/32 in. x 4 ft. x 8 ft. Plywood Panel ($30.28/9 panels)
• ROCKWOOL SAFE n SOUND Insulation (23-in W x 47-in L) ($70.48/8 panels)
• Fiberglass Screen ($15.28/8 panels)
• Felt Fabric ($4.89/panel) or Guillford of Main Fabric ($14.95/panel)
• Adhesive Spray ($10.99/4 panels)
• Wood Glue ($4.39)
• Wood Screws ($12.80/6 panels)
• Nail Gun Staples ($6.99)
• Drywall Anchors ($10.99) - Refer to In-Article Instructions
• Flush-Head Screws ($4.99) - Refer to In-Article Instructions
• Flush Mount Brackets ($8.99/5 panels) - Wall-Mounted Option
• Furniture Bumpers ($6.99) - Wall-Mounted Option
• Screw Eye Hooks ($6.89/3 panels) - Ceiling-Mounted Option
• Carabiners ($8.99/3 panels) - Ceiling-Mounted Option
• Extension Chain ($5.91/1 panel) - Ceiling-Mounted Option

Minimum Total Price for 8 Acoustic Panels: $270.66 ($33.83/panel)

Use this link to quickly add many of the materials from this list to your Amazon cart.

Project Completion Time

Beyond the cost of this project, you need to take into account the time investment. If you plan to build these acoustic panels by yourself, it’s probably going to take a few days.

Most people reading this guide likely enjoy DIY projects, want to remain budget-conscious, and are looking for a fun weekend activity. However, if you make a killing at your day job and don’t like building things, it may make more sense to just buy store-bought acoustic panels. With that said, let's dive into how to make acoustic panels.

Step-by-Step Building Instructions

Whether you're a seasoned DIYer or someone just dipping their toes in the water, the following instructions will be easy to follow. You'll learn what size to cut the wood, how to build the frames, add support strips, install insulation, and wrap your acoustic panels in fabric. Ready your tools, roll up your sleeves, and prepare to transform your home studio.

1. Cut the Wood

The first thing you need to do is cut up a 3/4” thick 4’ x 8’ piece of plywood. Lots of plywood comes in a 23/32” thickness, which is fine as well. The missing 1/32” won’t make a significant difference when assembling the panels.

When you go to Home Depot to purchase your plywood, ask an employee to cut the 4’ x 8’ piece of plywood into four separate pieces. This will allow you to fit the plywood pieces into your car and cut them down to size at home. Home Depot won’t cut plywood to less than 8” wide, which is why you’ll need a circular saw.

Note: Do not purchase MDF board instead of plywood, even though it’s slightly cheaper. Home Depot won’t cut MDF board for you because the particles it produces can cause respiratory issues. You shouldn’t cut MDF board yourself either for the same reason.

Print off the following image and hand it to a Home Depot employee so they know how to correctly divide your plywood sheet. The width of the blade they use to cut the panels will make each section slightly smaller than noted, as will cutting the panels down further with your circular saw. The plywood strips may end up just shy of 3” wide, but it shouldn’t affect your ability to pack the acoustic panels with the insulation being used later on.

From one sheet of plywood, you’ll be able to cut the plywood strips you need for 9 acoustic panels. You can cut eighteen 47” x 3” plywood strips from the two larger plywood sheets, and eighteen 24-1/2” strips from the remainder of one of the larger plywood sheets and the two smaller plywood sheets.

The smaller 24-1/2” strips will cap off the ends of the longer plywood strips, adding 3/4” to the top and bottom of your wooden assembly. The height of the frames will end up at 48-1/2” tall.

The inside of the frame measures in at 47” x 23”, which is the perfect size for the ROCKWOOL SAFE n SOUND insulation being used. Each bag of SAFE n SOUND contains 8 units of 3” thick, 47” x 23” insulation.

2. Assemble the Frames

To assemble the frames, you’ll need a drill, a countersink drill bit set, a speed square, wood screws, and some wood glue.

A countersink drill bit will create a pilot hole that will help prevent the wood from cracking when you install the screws. It will also create a divot in the wood for the screw heads to rest in, making sure they sit flush with the surface of the frame.

Use your speed square to mark 4 holes on the face of your 24-1/2” plywood strips. Each one of these holes will be offset 3/4” from the long side of the strip, and 3/8” from the short side.

Your 47” plywood strips will require two pilot holes centered on each end. Offset the holes 3/4” from each side so that they align with the holes in your 24-1/2” plywood strips.

Apply a bead of wood glue to the end of your 47” plywood strips right before you screw them together with the 24-1/2” plywood strips. The wood glue will strengthen the final product. Wipe up excess wood glue with a cloth to avoid making a mess.

Repeat this process until you’ve finished assembling all of your frames.

3. Add Support Strips

You can add two optional support strips to brace the inside of your frames if you’d like; if you have excess plywood it’s certainly a good idea.

The support strips will be roughly 23” x 3”, but you should measure the empty space on the inside of your frames to ensure a tight fit.

To make the following steps easier, consider using a pair of clamps to hold your support strips in place while you drill the pilot holes. Apply a bead of wood glue to the parts of your plywood strips that will contact the frame before installing your strips using wood screws.