What Size Screws Do You Need for Acoustic Panels?
Updated
For Z-clip mounting, ATS Acoustics' kit uses #8 x 3/4 in. screws to fix the wall clips into plastic anchors and #6 x 1 in. screws to fix the panel clips into the wood frame (ATS Z-clip kit (opens in a new tab)). Pick the screw to match the hardware, not the panel's thickness.
If you're going into a stud instead of an anchor, you'll need a longer screw.
Rule: Screw length = what you're fastening + drywall thickness + 5/8 in. into wood, then round up to the next size sold.
That 5/8 in. is the minimum bite into wood framing that the Gypsum Association (opens in a new tab) sets for drywall screws. Into steel studs it's 3/8 in. A 3/4 in. wall clip screw through 1/2 in. drywall gets 1/4 in. into the stud at most, so it belongs in an anchor.
- Anchors: ATS drills a 3/16 in. hole and taps a plastic anchor in flush (ATS impaling clip instructions (opens in a new tab)).
- Ceiling clouds: Primacoustic calls for #6 to #14 screws, 1-1/2 in. long, into the ceiling anchors (Stratus manual (opens in a new tab)).
- Foam: skip the screws. Auralex uses 4 to 6 T-pins, 1-1/2 to 1-3/4 in. long (Auralex (opens in a new tab)).
How to install acoustic wall panels walks through the full mounting sequence. The soundproof panels guide explains what panels can and can't fix, and the soundproof panels FAQ answers more.