Soundproof Partitions: What STC Rating Do You Actually Need?

Published 2026-04-18 • 4 min read

STC (Sound Transmission Class) is the standard rating used to describe how much a wall or partition reduces sound passing through it. Higher STC means better sound blocking — but higher ratings also cost more, so it helps to know what level you actually need.

General STC Guidelines

• STC 30 or below — normal speech is easily understood through the wall
• STC 35 — loud speech is audible but not clearly understood
• STC 40-45 — loud speech is muffled and mostly unintelligible; suitable for most cabins and meeting rooms
• STC 50+ — used for recording studios, high-privacy clinical rooms, and similar specialist needs

For typical office cabins and small meeting rooms, an STC 35-40 partition is usually sufficient. For boardrooms handling confidential discussions, HR/OPD rooms, or spaces next to a noisy area (a pantry, a server room), STC 40-45 is a safer target.

What Actually Affects the STC Rating

The core material (mineral wool vs standard infill), glass thickness and glazing gap, door seals and thresholds, and how well the partition is sealed at the floor/ceiling junction all matter as much as the headline STC number on a spec sheet — a partition can underperform its rated STC if installation quality is poor.

Get an Acoustic Assessment

We assess the specific noise sources and privacy needs of your space before recommending a partition build-up — reach out for a site visit anywhere in Delhi, Gurgaon, Noida, Greater Noida, Dwarka or Faridabad.