Resilient Bar Calculator — Bars, Screws & Acoustic Gain
Calculate resilient bars, screws and estimated acoustic improvement for sound-isolating wall and ceiling systems.
Total length of wall or ceiling
Height (wall) or width (ceiling)
Per 3m resilient bar
Per individual screw
How We Calculate This
This calculator determines the number of resilient bars, screws and estimated acoustic improvement for a sound-isolating wall or ceiling system.
The formula
Rows = Wall height ÷ Bar centres + 1
Total bar length = Rows × Wall length
For a 3.0m × 2.4m wall at 400mm centres: rows = 2400 ÷ 400 + 1 = 7. Total bar = 7 × 3.0 = 21.0m = 7 × 3m bars.
Acoustic improvement
- Single 15mm on bar: ~5 dB improvement
- Double 15mm on bar: ~10 dB improvement
- Single 19mm plank on bar: ~7 dB improvement
Actual performance depends on the base wall/ceiling construction, mineral wool infill and sealing of flanking paths. Based on Robust Details and manufacturer test data from British Gypsum and Knauf.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Last updated: March 2026
All calculations are estimates. Verify with your supplier.