Reverberation Time Calculator

Estimate room reverberation time, also called RT60, using room dimensions and average absorption. This calculator shows room volume, surface area, equivalent absorption area, RT60 result, room category, and calculation steps.

Calculate Reverberation Time

RT60 = 0.049 × room volume ÷ absorption area
Your result will appear here.

How the reverberation time calculator works

Room volume:
The calculator multiplies room length, width, and height to estimate the total room volume.

Surface area:
The calculator estimates the total surface area of the walls, ceiling, and floor.

Absorption area:
The total surface area is multiplied by the average absorption coefficient to estimate equivalent absorption area.

Why use a reverberation time calculator?

A reverberation time calculator helps estimate how live, echoey, dry, or controlled a room may sound. It can be useful for studios, offices, classrooms, home theaters, churches, music rooms, restaurants, and meeting spaces.

This calculator gives a simplified estimate. Professional acoustic design may require frequency-band absorption data, furniture details, audience absorption, air absorption, and measured room response.

Reverberation time formula

The calculator uses a simplified Sabine-style formula:

RT60 = 0.049 × V ÷ A when using feet

RT60 = 0.161 × V ÷ A when using meters

Reverberation time calculator tips

Frequently asked questions

What is reverberation time?

Reverberation time, often called RT60, is the time it takes for sound in a room to decay by 60 dB after the sound source stops.

What is a good reverberation time?

For speech rooms, a shorter reverberation time is usually better. Many classrooms, offices, and meeting rooms work best around roughly 0.4 to 0.8 seconds, depending on size and use.

How do you reduce reverberation time?

Add absorption such as acoustic panels, carpet, curtains, upholstered furniture, ceiling treatment, or other sound-absorbing materials.

Is reverberation time the same as echo?

No. Reverberation is the buildup and decay of many reflections. Echo is usually a distinct delayed reflection that can be heard separately.