A dielectric radar absorbing material's performance is based on the type of dielectric material, electrical loading, and:

The performance of a dielectric radar absorbing material is significantly influenced by its thickness. This is because the thickness of the material directly affects its absorption characteristics, including how well it can attenuate radar waves over various frequencies. A thicker layer of absorbing material tends to provide better absorption of radar waves, as it increases the interaction surface area and allows for more energy to be dissipated as heat.

The choice of thickness is critical in the design of radar-absorbing materials because it must be optimized to match the radar frequency to be effectively absorbed while ensuring that the overall weight and aerodynamic properties of the aircraft are maintained. Maintaining the right balance enables the material to effectively minimize radar returns, which is crucial in low observable aircraft designs.

Other factors like color, surface texture, and cost generally do not play as vital a role in the functional performance of dielectric materials regarding radar absorption. Color might influence other aspects, such as camouflage or visual detection, and surface texture can affect the aerodynamic properties, but neither primarily dictates the material's radar absorption capability as thickness does. Cost is a practical consideration in material selection but does not impact performance directly.