Sound-absorbing panels change acoustics, not just sightlines
A clear acrylic divider blocks sightlines but does nothing for noise; a panel built from felt or acoustic foam absorbs some of the sound bouncing between an open desk and its neighbour, which matters more in a shared home office or a small apartment than the visual privacy alone. We compare panel material, clamp mounting security on different desk edge thicknesses, and panel height and coverage against a seated line of sight.
felt material · rounded edges · sound-absorbing
A felt desk divider panel offering two-sided privacy screening and sound absorption, with rounded edges for safety.
Best for: A shared desk or open-plan setup where both visual privacy and some noise reduction matter.
≈ £31 / 36 €
grey · compartmented divider panel
IKEA's ÖVNING desktop divider, a grey panel with built-in compartments, sold through third-party Amazon sellers.
Best for: A simple, inexpensive visual divider with light storage, for anyone already comfortable with IKEA's flat-pack furniture.
≈ 22 €
opaque PVC · clamp-mount, no drilling · removable
An opaque PVC desk divider panel with a tool-free clamp mount, marketed for sound dampening in offices, call centres and exam settings.
Best for: A quick, damage-free installation where complete visual privacy matters more than sound absorption.
≈ £40 / 42 €
recycled polyester · height-adjustable · pinboard surface
A top-tier acoustic desk divider made from recycled polyester fibre, height-adjustable, with a surface that doubles as a pinboard.
Best for: An open-plan or shared workspace where genuine sound absorption and an adjustable privacy level both matter.
≈ 229 €
A stable panel of decent height creates a real visual and acoustic separation. The quality of the material decides the effect you get.
A light panel is enough to mark a visual boundary in a shared space, which is often the real need.
It attenuates nearby reflections and direct conversation. It does not isolate: the sound passes over, under and around it.
High enough to break the seated line of sight, without depriving the workstation of light. That is the main trade-off.
Thick felt absorbs part of the high frequencies and of voices. The effect is real and modest, in proportion to the surface.
By clamps on the edge of the top in most cases. Check the clamp's permissible thickness before buying.
It controls the background and absorbs part of the reverberation. A use that has become very frequent.
Felt panels accept it, which is an appreciated secondary use. Acrylic panels do not.
It can block an airflow or mask a light source. Worth checking before fixing it permanently.
A desk panel attenuates nearby reflections and isolates nothing: the sound passes over, under and around it. Choose the height that breaks the line of sight without darkening the workstation, and check the desktop thickness the clamps will take.
Only the specifications at least four models out of five state. A column that is more empty than full compares nothing.
| Model | Price | Amazon reference |
|---|---|---|
| IKEA ÖVNING | 22 € | B09Q23Z3PV (identical on 4 markets) |
| ForceRoute Felt Divider | 31 € | B0HDD2J1YD (identical on 4 markets) |
| Kanduo PVC Panel | 40 € | B0FQ1W1MYC (identical on 5 markets) |
| Ergotopia Acoustic Panel | 229 € | B0CVL8926G (identical on 5 markets) |
Specifications: manufacturer sheets and Amazon product pages. Prices and availability: Keepa. No product on this site has been physically tested.
Most recent revision in this category: August 29, 2026.
Prices quoted in these summaries are dated readings. The live price is shown next to each product.
