Last reviewed: 2026-07-14 · Checked against the standards it cites · Editorial policy
Yes. Acoustic slat panels can be cut to size on site with ordinary tools, or ordered cut-to-size and made to measure from the factory so they arrive ready to fit. On-site trimming suits standard walls and tidy edge cuts; factory cut-to-size or bespoke acoustic panels suit non-standard walls, angled ceilings and awkward openings, and cut down waste.
- Panels can be cut on site or ordered made to measure. Factory cut-to-size suits non-standard walls, angled ceilings and awkward openings and cuts waste; on-site trimming suits scribing to uneven edges.
- Cutting changes area, not behaviour. Absorption per square metre is unchanged — a smaller piece simply does less because there is less of it — so plan against the wall area you want to cover.
- Panels absorb in-room echo, they do not soundproof. They reduce reverberation and echo within the room; they do not block noise passing between rooms.
- A rating belongs to the tested build-up, not your bespoke piece. An αw, NRC or absorption class is measured on one configuration to a standard such as ISO 354, against a named test report.
Cutting slat panels to fit: edges and openings
Acoustic slat panels are timber slats fixed to a flexible backing board with acoustic felt behind and between them, so they trim cleanly to your wall. Cut across the backing in the gaps between slats to shorten a panel, and rip or remove a whole slat rather than leaving a thin sliver when you narrow one. For sockets, switches, pipes and light fittings, mark the opening on the back, drill a starter hole and cut it out with a jigsaw, working from the rear so the face does not chip. The full method, tools and edge sealing are covered in our guide on cutting acoustic slat panels.
Factory cut-to-size vs on-site trimming
Cut to size acoustic panels ordered from the factory arrive at your measured dimensions with edges already squared and, where offered, sealed. That keeps dust and waste off site, gives repeatable results across many identical cuts, and is worth it for full-height feature walls or ceilings where hand-cutting large numbers of panels is slow.
On-site trimming gives you flexibility: you can scribe a panel to an uneven skirting, adjust for a wall that turns out to be out of square, and make small last-minute corrections as you fit. In practice many jobs mix both — order the bulk cut to size and keep a saw handy for the final scribe cuts around edges and corners.
Does cutting reduce how much sound a panel absorbs?
The absorption comes mainly from the porous felt and the gaps between the slats, and that behaviour per square metre does not change when you cut. What changes is area: a piece cut smaller has a little less absorptive surface, so it simply does less than a full panel because there is less of it — not because it works differently.
For that reason, plan against the wall area you want to cover rather than the size of your offcuts. Work out how many panels and how much coverage your room needs first — our guide on how many acoustic panels you need walks through it — then decide how to cut them to fit. And keep the goal in mind: these panels absorb sound to reduce echo and reverberation within the room; they do not soundproof or block noise passing between rooms.
Made-to-measure and bespoke panels for non-standard walls
Made to measure acoustic panels are built to dimensions you specify, which suits walls that standard panel sizes do not divide neatly — raked or sloped ceilings, chimney breasts, columns, stair voids and curved reception walls. Bespoke acoustic panels can go further, adapting slat spacing, board size or backing to a particular design or awkward run.
Give the maker accurate survey measurements and flag anything out of square, along with the position of sockets, switches and fixings. The more the panels are prepared to your actual wall, the less you cut on site and the cleaner the finished edges and corners look. When you fit them, follow the same fixing and layout principles in our guide on how to install acoustic slat panels.
Does cutting change the finish or the tested figures?
The decorative face and slat profile look the same whether a panel is cut in the factory or on site — the appearance of the finish is unaffected by re-sizing, and sealing any exposed cut edge keeps joints and reveals tidy. What you should not carry across is the acoustic rating.
An αw value, NRC figure or sound absorption class is measured on one specific build-up — the panel with its felt, backing and mounting or air gap — in a laboratory to a standard such as ISO 354. That figure belongs to the tested configuration as supplied, against a named test report. A cut-down, re-sized or re-configured panel is not the tested article, so treat any published rating as applying to the build-up it was actually measured on rather than to your bespoke piece.
Frequently asked questions
Can you order acoustic panels cut to size?
Yes, where the supplier offers it. Cut-to-size acoustic panels are made to your measured dimensions and arrive ready to fit, with edges squared and often sealed. This keeps dust and offcuts off site and gives repeatable results across many panels, which helps on large feature walls and ceilings. Provide accurate measurements and note anything out of square before ordering.
Is factory cut-to-size better than cutting on site?
Each has its place. Factory cut-to-size is cleaner, faster for repeated cuts and reduces waste, so it suits bulk runs and full-height installs. On-site trimming lets you scribe to uneven skirting, adjust for walls that are out of square and make small final corrections as you fit. Many jobs order the bulk cut to size and finish the edge and corner cuts by hand.
Does cutting a panel to fit lower its αw rating?
Cutting does not change how the material absorbs sound per square metre — a smaller piece simply covers less area, so it does less overall because there is less of it. The published αw or NRC figure, though, was measured on a specific tested build-up and applies only to that configuration against its test report. Treat a cut-down or bespoke piece as covering area rather than as carrying the tested rating unchanged.
Can you get bespoke acoustic panels for a sloped or curved wall?
Yes. Made-to-measure and bespoke acoustic panels can be built for raked ceilings, curved reception walls, chimney breasts, columns and other non-standard surfaces. Supply accurate survey measurements and mark sockets, switches and fixing points so the panels are prepared to your actual wall. This reduces on-site cutting and gives cleaner edges and corners.
- Acoustic slat wall panel — The everyday slat panel — timber slats on an acoustic felt backer, for warm, quiet walls.
- Wide slat acoustic panel — A broader slat and rhythm — the same acoustic backer, a calmer, more contemporary face.
- Mini slat acoustic panel — A fine, tightly-spaced slat rhythm — a crisp, contemporary detail on the same acoustic backer.
Specifying acoustic panels?
Order finishes to see and hear, model the room with the reverberation calculator, or send us the spaces and targets for panel selection and a quote. Every figure we give is backed by a named test report.