Quick answer: NRC (a score from 0 to 1 for how much sound a panel soaks up), the Noise Reduction Coefficient, is a number from 0 to 1 that shows how much sound a material soaks up across the main speech pitches. 0 means it reflects everything; 1.00 means it soaks up almost everything. For acoustic panels, 0.7 and above is good. Our Flexi™ panels are rated up to NRC 1.00. NRC doesn't cover bass, and placement still matters.

Key takeaways

  • NRC 0 = reflects; NRC 1.00 = soaks up almost all mid/high sound.
  • Good acoustic panels: 0.7+.
  • NRC ignores low bass; check thickness for music rooms.

How is NRC calculated?

It's the average absorption (how much sound gets soaked up) at four pitches (250, 500, 1000 and 2000 Hz), rounded to the nearest 0.05. Those cover most of the speech range. Our 25 mm Flexi™ panels are NRC 0.80 and our 50 mm panels are NRC 1.00.

What is a good NRC?

See the table for common materials. Hard surfaces like glass and tiles sit near 0. Good acoustic panels are 0.7 or more. Our Flexi™ panels are rated up to 1.00.

Not sure what your room needs? Send us a photo on WhatsApp or request a free quote. We'll tell you how many panels, where they go and the price. See our acoustic panels Singapore and recent projects.

Approximate NRC of common surfaces

  • Glass, concrete, tiles · Approx. NRC: 0.00–0.05
  • Plasterboard · Approx. NRC: about 0.05
  • Carpet on concrete · Approx. NRC: about 0.2–0.3
  • Thin acoustic foam · Approx. NRC: about 0.3–0.6
  • Fabric acoustic panels · Approx. NRC: 0.7–1.00 (Flexi™ up to 1.00)
What an NRC rating means infographic

What NRC doesn't tell you

  • Bass: below 250 Hz isn't included. See thicker panels.
  • Placement: a high-NRC panel in the wrong spot does little.
  • Quantity: NRC is per area; you still need enough panels. See how many panels.

Is NRC the same as STC?

No. STC (a score for how well a wall blocks sound) measures how well a wall blocks sound passing through (soundproofing). NRC measures absorption. A panel with NRC 1.00 still does not stop noise from next door. See treatment vs soundproofing.

What we see on real jobs

NRC alone does not decide a quote. Two panels with similar NRC can perform very differently in a room depending on how many there are and where they go, so we always size the job around the room, not the number.

Get a straight answer for your room

Send us a photo or a short video of the room on WhatsApp (+65 8930 1905). We'll reply with whether panels are the right fix, how many you need, where they go and the price. If it's really a soundproofing problem, we'll tell you.

WhatsApp us a photo · Request a free quote · See prices

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