Last reviewed: 2026-07-14 · Checked against the standards it cites · Editorial policy
Comparing PET acoustic panels vs wood is largely a false choice, because many timber slat panels are themselves backed with recycled-PET acoustic felt — so the true contrast is a timber face bonded over that felt versus the same felt left exposed as the finished surface, not wood against plastic. Both are porous absorbers that soak up sound inside a room to cut echo and reverberation, and neither blocks sound passing between rooms — that is soundproofing, a separate problem. What actually drives how much they absorb, and which sound absorption class they reach, is the depth of the backer and any air gap behind it, far more than whether you see timber or felt on the face. The face mainly changes the look, the reaction-to-fire behaviour and the durability, so the acoustic figure — αw or NRC — and the Euroclass belong to the whole finished build-up and should be read from that panel's test report, never assumed from the material.
- PET vs wood is largely a false choice. Many timber slat panels are themselves backed with recycled-PET acoustic felt, so the real contrast is a timber face over that felt versus the same felt left exposed — not wood against plastic.
- Backer depth and air gap drive the absorption, not the face. Both are porous absorbers, and a deeper backer or a cavity behind it absorbs more, so the visible material tells you little about the acoustics.
- Neither type soundproofs a room. Both soak up sound inside a room to cut echo and reverberation; stopping sound between spaces is soundproofing, which depends on mass and construction.
- The face matters for look, durability and reaction to fire — the Euroclass under BS EN 13501-1, which is not fire resistance. Untreated timber typically sits around Class D, and the αw, NRC and Euroclass all belong to the whole finished panel and should be read from its test report.
PET acoustic panels vs wood: usually the same absorber underneath
The first thing to clear up is that this is rarely a contest between two different materials. A wood-slat acoustic panel is typically a row of timber (or wood-effect) slats bonded onto an absorptive backer, and that backer is very often a pressed board of recycled-PET (polyester) acoustic felt — the very same material sold on its own as an exposed PET acoustic panel. So the honest way to frame PET acoustic panels vs wood is a timber face over felt versus that felt left visible, not natural wood versus recycled plastic.
That distinction matters because the 'wood or plastic' framing pushes people toward the wrong decision. In both products the porous felt (or, in some ranges, a mineral-wool board instead) is doing the acoustic work; the timber is largely a finish laid over it. Which backer sits behind the face is the choice that actually moves the numbers, and that is covered in acoustic felt vs mineral wool backing.
Both are porous absorbers, and the backer does the acoustic work
PET felt panels and wood-slat panels are both porous absorbers: they convert sound energy to a little heat inside the material, reducing echo and shortening reverberation time so a room sounds calmer and speech is clearer. On a slat panel the timber itself is largely reflective, so the absorption happens in the backer and in the gaps between the slats — the mechanics are the same for an exposed felt face and are set out in how acoustic panels work. Neither type stops sound travelling between rooms; that is soundproofing, which depends on the mass and construction of the wall or floor, not on a fixed-on absorber.
What decides how much either one absorbs — and which sound absorption class it reaches — is the depth of the backer and any air gap behind it, not the material you see on the front. A deeper felt, or the same felt set forward on battens with a cavity behind it, absorbs more across the low and mid frequencies than a thin board fixed hard to the wall. Because that is true whether the face is timber or exposed PET, the face material tells you very little about the acoustics on its own.
Where the face genuinely matters: look, durability and fire
The real differences live at the surface. A timber slat face gives a warm, architectural finish that is hard-wearing and wipes clean, which is why it suits offices, hospitality and homes where a soft panel would feel out of place. An exposed PET felt face is softer and more recessive, comes in a wide colour range, is lighter and self-supporting, and often costs less — so it earns its place where colour, weight or budget lead. That is a genuine choice; it just is not an acoustic one.
Fire is the other place the face counts, and here the property is reaction to fire — the Euroclass under BS EN 13501-1 — which describes how a surface contributes to a fire's early growth and is not the same thing as fire resistance. Untreated timber typically sits around Class D, and reaching a higher class such as Class B generally needs a fire-retardant treatment or specific construction; PET felt is a thermoplastic whose class likewise depends on the specific product and any treatment. Either way, the class that counts is the one for the whole finished panel, evidenced by a test report — see Euroclass reaction to fire explained, and where a rated finish is required start from a fire-rated acoustic range rather than assuming the material is safe.
Reading the acoustic numbers: αw, NRC and the test report
Because the absorption is a property of the whole build-up, any single figure only means something when it is tied to a test. A weighted absorption coefficient (αw) or an NRC value — explained in what αw and NRC mean — should be quoted against a named ISO 354 test report for that exact panel and the mounting you will actually install, not offered as a headline claim. Treat any bare number with no report behind it as marketing rather than evidence, for a felt panel and a wood-slat panel alike.
This is also why comparing the two on face material misleads: a deep exposed-PET panel with an air gap can out-absorb a thin timber-over-felt panel fixed flat to the wall, and the reverse is just as possible. So compare tested build-ups, not surfaces — line up the αw or NRC for each product at the same mounting, and confirm the reaction-to-fire class on the same report, before you decide.
So which should you choose, PET or wood?
Start from the room, not the material. If the space needs to look considered and wear well — a boardroom, a reception, a living room — a wood-slat panel carries the design and the acoustics together, and it may well be recycled-PET-backed anyway. If colour, softer texture, lighter weight or a tighter budget lead — a studio wall, a schools or retail fit-out, a large ceiling area — an exposed PET felt panel often does the same acoustic job for less. Both can reach a similar absorption class with the right backer depth and air gap.
The deciding evidence is identical for either: the tested absorption for that exact build-up and mounting, and — in any occupied building — the reaction-to-fire class of the finished panel. Pick the face for the look, the fire setting and the budget; pick the backer and mounting for the absorption target; then confirm both figures on the test report before you commit — proven, not promised.
Frequently asked questions
Are wood acoustic panels better than PET felt ones?
Neither is simply better, and they are often the same panel underneath — many wood-slat panels are backed with recycled-PET felt. The face changes the look, durability and reaction-to-fire behaviour, while the depth of the backer and any air gap behind it drive how much sound is absorbed. Compare tested build-ups against an ISO 354 report at the same mounting rather than choosing on the face material.
Are wood slat acoustic panels actually made of plastic?
Often, in part. The visible slats are usually real timber or a wood-effect finish, but they are frequently bonded onto a recycled-PET (polyester) acoustic felt backer — so a wood-slat panel commonly contains PET, and the felt is what does most of the absorbing. That is why framing it as wood versus plastic is misleading; the more useful question is what backer sits behind the face.
Do PET or wood acoustic panels soundproof a room?
No. Both are porous absorbers that soak up sound inside a room to reduce echo and reverberation; neither blocks sound passing through a wall, floor or ceiling. Stopping sound between spaces is soundproofing, which depends on mass and construction and is governed by different standards, not by adding an absorber of either type.
Which absorbs more, PET felt or a wood-slat panel?
It depends on the build-up, not the face. Backer depth and any air gap behind the panel decide the absorption, so a deep felt panel with a cavity can outperform a thin wood-slat panel fixed flat to the wall, and vice versa. Compare the αw or NRC for each product against an ISO 354 test report at the mounting you intend to use.
- Acoustic slat wall panel — The everyday slat panel — timber slats on an acoustic felt backer, for warm, quiet walls.
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.