Acoustic Ceiling Baffles vs Rafts: What's the Difference?
Baffles and rafts both hang below the ceiling and both absorb sound - which is exactly why they get confused. They solve the same problem in different shapes, and the right one depends on what's already up in your ceiling void.
Ceiling baffles
Baffles are vertical, blade-like elements that hang in parallel rows, like fins. Because they're thin and vertical, they're often the easier option when a ceiling void is already full of ductwork, pipework and cabling - they can be threaded between services where a flat panel wouldn't fit. See our acoustic ceiling baffle installations for examples across London offices and gyms.
Ceiling rafts
Rafts are horizontal panels suspended flat, parallel to the ceiling, like floating islands or clouds. They expose a larger absorptive surface directly to the room below, and some designs absorb from both the top and bottom face. They tend to suit spaces with a clean, exposed-soffit aesthetic - offices, restaurants and reception areas - and can incorporate lighting into the same fixture.
Which one do you need?
If your ceiling void is already congested with services, baffles are usually the more practical and cost-effective choice per square metre. If you want a clean architectural ceiling with a 'floating panel' look, or the soffit is exposed and visible, rafts are the better fit. Either way, the right quantity and positioning comes down to the room's target reverberation time (RT60) - see our guide to NRC and RT60 for how that's calculated.
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