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Rectangular Room Acoustic Planner

Estimate Sabine RT60 and first axial frequencies from rectangular dimensions, named-band equivalent absorption, and an entered sound speed.

Use this result well

Inputs that matter
Measured rectangular interior length/width/height, sourced total equivalent absorption in square feet for one named band/configuration and entered sound speed
Output to expect
Volume, surface area, ideal Sabine RT60 and the first axial frequency along each dimension with all assumptions retained
How it works
Apply the imperial Sabine relation 0.049V/A and f₁=c/(2L) independently to the three rectangular dimensions
  • Preserve the absorption source, band, material area/mounting basis, occupancy/configuration, environmental conditions and uncertainty; laboratory coefficients may not reproduce a practical sound field.
  • Do not treat one RT60 and three axial frequencies as a seat-response map, target, treatment design or measurement. Use the applicable method/specification and calibrated real-room measurements for acceptance.

Choose your path

Built around the job you need to finish

Create one ideal rectangular-room Sabine and first-axial-frequency record from measured dimensions, sourced band-specific equivalent absorption and entered sound speed without designing or certifying the room.

Home listener scoping a rectangular room

Record a transparent baseline before buying treatment.

Measure interior dimensions, name the band/configuration, source total equivalent absorption and enter condition-appropriate sound speed.

Gets an ideal hypothesis without a universal target or product prescription.

Acoustic consultant documenting assumptions

Keep geometry, band, absorption provenance, environment and model limitations auditable.

Save every input and compare the ideal RT60/axial frequencies with calibrated measurements at defined positions.

Can explain divergence without retrofitting coefficients to force agreement.

Reviewer of an irregular or coupled room

Know when the rectangular/Sabine baseline is incomplete.

Document openings, coupled spaces, nonparallel/flexible boundaries, furnishings and occupancy, then select a more appropriate method or professional review.

Does not treat the result as a seat map, treatment design or acceptance measurement.

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Reference & details

How it works

Record geometry and conditions

Measure the interior length, width, and height in feet and enter the sound speed for the environmental conditions being modeled. Openings, coupled spaces, sloped/nonparallel surfaces, furnishings, and boundary construction can make the rectangular model incomplete.

Volume = length × width × height; surface area = 2(LW + LH + WH)

Enter total equivalent absorption

Provide a sourced total equivalent absorption area in square feet for one named octave or one-third-octave band and one occupancy/configuration. The tool does not invent a material coefficient or transfer one band to another.

RT60 = 0.049 × volume ft³ ÷ equivalent absorption ft²

Calculate only first axial frequencies

The three outputs are the first ideal axial frequency along each dimension. They are not peak/null magnitudes, listening-position predictions, tangential/oblique modes, treatment prescriptions, or measurements.

f₁ = entered sound speed ÷ (2 × dimension)

Updated: August 2026

Example Scenarios

With 120 sabins in the named 500 Hz band and 1,130 ft/s entered sound speed, the ideal record reports 1,440 ft³, 792 ft², 0.588 s RT60, and first axial frequencies near 37.67, 47.08, and 70.63 Hz.

Keep separate records for the same room before and after a documented furnishing, occupancy, or treatment configuration. Compare the model with band-by-band measurements at defined positions; do not present the arithmetic as the measured change.

Use the result only as a rectangular baseline when openings, alcoves, nonparallel surfaces, flexible boundaries, coupled volumes, or substantial furnishings are present. An acoustics professional or measurement workflow may need a different model.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Averaging unrelated absorption coefficients into one room-wide value

Use a traceable total equivalent absorption for the named band and configuration, and retain material area, mounting, test/source, occupancy, and uncertainty records.

Treating one RT60 and three axial frequencies as a treatment design or room certificate

Define use and acceptance criteria, measure the actual room band by band at specified positions/configurations, and involve the responsible acoustics, construction, electrical, fire, accessibility, or equipment professional where required.

FAQ

Use a traceable band-specific source or derive a documented total from appropriate test data and areas with expert judgment. Published laboratory coefficients may not reproduce a practical field, so keep the source, band, mounting, area, occupancy, and uncertainty visible.

Sound speed varies with environmental conditions. Requiring the value keeps the mode assumption explicit rather than hiding a universal constant.

No. A target depends on room use, volume, standard/specification, frequency band, occupancy/configuration, audience, accessibility, and acceptance method. Obtain the applicable requirement separately.

No. It lists only the first ideal axial frequency per dimension. Magnitude and spatial response depend on source/listener positions, boundaries, damping, openings, coupled spaces, equipment, and frequency-dependent behavior.

No. ISO 3382 measurement procedures and project-specific requirements govern real room measurements. This planner is an estimate for scoping and comparison, not acceptance evidence.

About Rectangular Room Acoustic Planner

This bounded worksheet combines two ideal models: Sabine reverberation time from room volume and an entered total equivalent absorption area, and first axial frequencies from rectangular dimensions and an entered sound speed. It does not derive absorption from material labels, predict response at a seat, size treatment, or certify a finished room. Preserve the named frequency band, source of every input, occupancy/configuration, and real measurement evidence.