HANGING & WALL MOUNTING

Put up acoustic panels on a metal stud wall

Fit acoustic panels safely on any wall type, using the right fixing for metal studs, timber studs, or masonry behind.

AB-01Plan the layout and work out what's behind the wallDecide where the panels go and mark the top corners with a pencil, working out from a level baseline. Tap along the wall — a hollow sound means stud wall, a solid thud means masonry or dot-and-dab. Run a stud detector or fridge magnet slowly across the wall to pick up screw heads in a line; that line is a stud or metal track. Drill one 2mm test hole in an inconspicuous spot: pale timber dust means a timber stud, fine grey swarf means metal, and brick-red dust means solid masonry.
1 each · Tape measure
1 each · Stud detector or strong magnet
1 each · Pencil
AB-02Find your stopcock and consumer unit before you drillCables and pipes can run almost anywhere in a wall, not just in the marked safe zones — a detector helps but misses deep cables, metal conduit, and anything behind metal-backed plasterboard, and a metal stud frame confuses cheap detectors further. Find your stopcock now, usually under the kitchen sink, and check it turns freely so you can shut water off fast if you hit a pipe. If you have any doubt at all once you start drilling, isolate the circuit at the consumer unit first, and turn the water off before cutting into anything that could carry water.
AB-03Mark out panel positions and check with a levelHold each panel (or its template) against the wall and mark fixing points at the corners or centre back, depending on the panel's fixing style. Leave a 10-15mm gap between panels for a clean look. Check every line with a spirit level before drilling anything — a panel that's out by a few mm shows badly at this scale.
1 each · Spirit level
1 roll · Masking tape
AB-04Fixing into a TIMBER stud wallOnce you've confirmed timber dust from your test hole, mark the true centre of the stud — not the edge, or the screw can miss or split the wood. Drill a 3mm pilot hole, then drive a 4mm x 40mm wood screw straight in. This gives a solid fixing for most panel weights without any plug needed.
8 each · Wood screws 4mm x 40mm
1 each · Drill bit 3mm
AB-05Fixing into a METAL stud wallIf your test hole brought out fine grey swarf, you've got metal studs. Fix directly into the metal track with a self-drilling metal-stud screw (3.5mm x 25mm) — no pilot hole needed, it cuts its own thread. If your marked point falls between studs, use a metal toggle or hollow-wall anchor rated for the panel's weight, not a plain plastic wall plug or ordinary wood screw — both strip straight through 0.5mm steel and pull out. A heavier panel, or one people might catch or lean on, needs a timber noggin fitted between the studs first, or a fixing through to masonry behind if there is one — a metal stud alone won't hold that kind of load.
8 each · Self-drilling metal stud screws 3.5mm x 25mm
4 each · Metal toggle / hollow-wall anchor (rated for panel weight)
AB-06Fixing into masonry, dot-and-dab, or lath and plasterFor solid brick or block, drill with a 6mm masonry bit to 45mm depth, fit a red wall plug, and drive a 40mm screw. For dot-and-dab plasterboard, the board sits on foam dabs over an air gap before the masonry — use a fixing at least 75mm long with a matching plug so the screw reaches solid masonry, not just the plasterboard skin. For lath and plaster, the old lime plaster is fragile — drill a small pilot hole first and check what comes out; if you hit a timber lath, fix into it directly, otherwise use a plasterboard-rated toggle fixing and avoid heavy panels unless you can find a noggin.
1 each · Masonry drill bit 6mm
8 each · Red wall plugs
8 each · Screws 40mm
8 each · Long fixings 75mm (dot-and-dab)
AB-07Hang the panels and check they're secureLift each panel onto its fixings or cleat, checking against your marked lines. Recheck level once every panel is up, since small errors add up across a row. Give each panel a firm tug once fitted — it should not shift or flex away from the wall.
6 each · Acoustic panels
AB-08Tidy upVacuum masonry or plasterboard dust from the floor and skirting straight away, before it gets trodden in. Wipe the wall down and check no screws or offcuts are left underfoot. Store any spare fixings in a labelled bag in case a panel needs adjusting later.
1 each · Dust sheet
1 each · Vacuum cleaner (with brush attachment)

Some links may earn us a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Save this as a project

Back to all guides