18 Best Soundproofing Materials For Home, Office And More

When it comes to soundproofing projects, there are so many material to choose from. For the average joe, it might not be that straightforward to figure out which one to use. After trying out dozens of projects in and around the house, I think it makes sense that I share all the best soundproofing materials that one can use.

This is especially so when you want to be hands-on and carry out your own DIY jobs. They can range from very basic stuff like installing a door sweep to slightly more complicated ones such as soundproofing your air vents or chimney.

There’s one thing in common though: the following list of soundproofing materials is suitable for almost every project you wish to undertake at home or in the office.

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What is a soundproofing material?

Let us first understand a bit more about how sound works first as well as the basics of soundproofing. It is unfortunately not as simple as slapping a piece of thick material to block sound off.

In very simple terms, sound is a pressure wave that is created by a vibrating object. When you tap your finger on the table, walk around the house, or watch TV, sound is being created. When that energy reaches our ears, we are then able to register it as a sound.

Knowing this fact, we can then think about how we can reduce sound. Somewhere during its journey to our ears, we need to have something in between to stop it or to absorb it.

That is where soundproofing materials come into the picture. Depending on the transmission mode and frequencies, there are different tools you can make use of to reduce sound’s impact on your daily life.

Soundproofing vs Sound absorbing: Myth dispelled

From my conversations with several friends and acquaintances, it seems that many assume that soundproofing and sound absorption is the same thing. That is actually inaccurate. 

Sound absorption is just an element of soundproofing, and its main purpose is to improve the acoustics of a room. On the other hand, soundproofing techniques are used to prevent sound from leaving and entering a room.

Think of it this way: You may want to reduce the amount of echo reverberating in a room, so you use sound absorption materials. In another scenario, you might want to prevent sounds from interfering with your studio recordings, so you would employ techniques accordingly to stop sound from flowing in and out.

Types of Soundproofing Materials

Here, we take a look at some of the most common types of soundproofing materials that are suitable for a range of soundproofing projects such as for your room, bathroom, car, and even in the office.

Read on to find out the different qualities and the best scenario to use them.

Sound Absorbing – As mentioned earlier, sound absorption is used more as a way to improve the acoustics of a room rather than a soundproofing object. It is not as effective as the next 3 qualities, so you should consider combining a few different material to achieve a better overall result if soundproofing is on your mind. 

Sound Dampening – Essentially, damping is the act of removing vibrational energy from an object. We can add materials to a surface area so that vibration effects can be greatly reduced or even stopped immediately. One example is Green Glue, which is a compound that can greatly dampen sound. It is often used in between 2 layers to stop sound from transmitting from one side to the other. It is especially good at dealing with low frequency noise.

Sound Decoupling – This particular technique is mostly left to professionals, but I think it deserves a mention here too. Decoupling involves separating two sides of a structure so that they vibrate independently of each other. This means that sound will not be able to pass through to the other side. Tools that are most often used are resilient channels, which are great at dealing with impact noises as well as low frequency noises. 

Adding Mass – This is probably the most commonly thought of step when people are quizzed about soundproofing, and yes, it is highly effective. The logic is that a big and heavy object is good at blocking off noise, especially airborne sounds such as music or people talking.  Many times, a large piece of furniture can do the trick well. This technique does not, however, work well with impact noise. 

Adding distance – this does not involve the use of any equipment, but it is a soundproofing technique nonetheless. The further away a sound source is from you, the less you will hear the sound as the energy is lost across a greater distance. This might not be so practical in a small house or apartment though, so other methods above should be used.

Here is a quick overview of the commonly used soundproofing materials:

1. Mineral wool
2. Door sweeps
3. Mass loaded vinyl (MLV)
4. Sound deadening paint
5. Acoustic Partitions
6. Acoustic foams
7. Acoustic caulk
8. Green Glue noiseproofing compound
9. Soundproof window film
10. Soundproof fiberglass
11. Weatherstripping tape
12. Acoustic curtains
13. Floor underlayment
14. Moving blankets
15. Sound deadening spray
16. Dry wall
17. Resilient channel
18. Anti vibration floor mats

List of the Best Soundproofing Products

1. Acoustic Mineral Wool Insulation

If this article is encouraging you to finally start a home studio (or should I say a room studio), this mineral wool insulation is the only defence you can have to keep your neighbour from knocking down your door. 

This wool is meant to completely block any echo and acoustic effects. Think about it this way. If air can get through to any part of your home, sound can too. This to me is one of the best soundproofing material for ceilings.

The only catch is that it’s not like other common soundproof materials that you can use in an already built room or building. You have to include it in your room construction plan.

2. Door Sweep / Draft Stopper

If noise is your primary concern or if you are carrying out extremely noisy activity at your home, you may need to walk an extra mile to save yourself or your neighbours from resulting stress. 

The door sweep or draft stopper is the extra measure that you can take to eradicate noise pollution. 

These easy-to-install, multi-purpose, and affordable stoppers help you soundproof your doors while helping with energy conservation within the room. 

The only downside is that you need to refrain from moving your door much during the setting phase of 24 hours.

3. Mass Loaded Vinyl (MLV)

Using Mass Loaded Vinyl is one the best ways to add mass to a surface such as walls, doors, floors, and ceilings. They also work very well in cars and vans.

They are made to be very thin and dense, which means they do not take up much space but greatly increases the mass of a surface. 

By adding mass, you can achieve the effect of blocking out sound, but do take note they are not the best candidate if you are trying to get rid of impact noises.

Also, this product will not appeal to budget conscious homeowners.

Read more: Best MLV Brands

4. Sound Deadening Paint

The main difference between regular paint and soundproofing paint is that the latter contains latex. This gives the effect of having rubber “pellets” being inserted into holes in your wall, effectively blocking out noise. The actual efficiency of using soundproof paint is often being debated, but I do think that it has its merits. It sure beats trying to apply many coats of regular paint. 

5. Acoustic Partitions

These are most commonly seen around the office, where bosses hide behind to discuss their secret plans to take over the world. Partitions allow them to do so in privacy and prevent the conversation from leaking.

Jokes aside, they work really well when you need to have your own personal space to do some work or study. It could be in an open office or a shared room where each individual needs privacy. 

Read more: Best Acoustic Partitions

6. Acoustic Foam

For most users, this is the go-to solution for their soundproofing problem. 

Its biggest promise lies in absorbing echoes and acoustic feedback. 

Other benefits includes its ease-of-use, cost-effectiveness, and decorative potential. But these benefits come with a serious blow on the quality of soundproofing. 

This foam comes with a limited capacity to absorb sound with a significant portion that will stay in the air (and pass on to the next room). 

To maxmize the full efficiency of the acoustic foam panel, you should combine it with other soundproofing techniques.

7. Acoustic Caulk

This special caulking material is used mostly when constructing drywalls. They put the finishing touches to the gaps and effectively block out noise. It prevents air from entering and thus lowers the impact of noise.

8. GreenGlue noiseproofing compound

Similar to acoustic caulk, GreenGlue is used to seal up gaps and holes in a variety of settings such as walls, ceilings, drywalls, or even electrical boxes. 

Compared to regular caulk, the manufacturer has enhanced their soundproofing qualities and can also dampen vibrations. Many soundproofing professionals swear by it, and amateurs like myself have also benefitted from it greatly. 

9. Soundproof Window Film

Do you ever realize that your windows are actually one of the biggest culprits in letting noise into your home? Yes, it is true, and there are not really a lot of home based solutions you can use. People who really wants to get rid of noise through windows will have to engage a professional to install double or triple glazed windows, but that will cost a fair bit.

What can the rest of us do then? The humble window film can provide a simple yet effective solution. It has the effect of thickening your window glass, which you would know by now that adding mass and distance will help in reducing noise. Not the best solution, but a cost effective one nonetheless.

10. Soundproof Fiberglass

This acoustic material works better than acoustic wool as we can use it out of construction projects. So if you are given a well-constructed room and your goal is to only add to its soundproofing capacity, Acoustic fiberglass is a great option for you. 

It’s best features are increased soundproofing quality and ease-of-use. But you should shop around to look for the most affordable option as they can quickly burn a hole in your pocket.

11. Weatherstripping tape

When it comes to sealing the gaps in windows and doors, weatherstripping tape is a fantastic choice. It is easy to use and is inexpensive.

Although it was not made strictly for soundproofing but rather insulation, it achieves the effect by sealing off gaps that allows air to enter. 

Just like regular tape, all you need to do is peel and stick at the spots you have identified. They come in various thickness so most of your problems can easily be fixed with this soundproofing material.

Related: 5 Best Weather Stripping for Soundproofing

12. Acoustic Curtains

Also known as thermal blackout curtains, acoustic curtains are the best material to help with reducing the noise coming in or going out of a room through doors and windows. 

Although these curtains are not as great as noise insulators, acoustic fiberglass, and acoustic wool, they are flexible and do not interfere with the functions of a window or door. 

In addition to sound blockage, these curtains also help with energy conservation in the room.

13. Floor Underlayment

In homes where the floor is made of engineered wood, laminates, or hardwood, noise is always going to be present. The way to reduce floor vibrations include several methods, one of which is installing a floor underlayment.

Although this step is usually done during the construction of the house or during a renovation, you can still try out this step on a smaller scale. Do this in a room which gets the highest foot traffic and one that affects the people below most. 

Installation is pretty simple too as the underlayment typically has a self adhesive layer, making this one of the best floor soundproofing materials.

14. Moving Blankets

Definitely one of my favorite tools to have around the house are moving blankets. Most people only employ them when moving homes, but they are actually great for soundproofing too. I use them often in my DIY soundproofing projects and always get a good result.

Moving blankets are thick and are excellent at sound absorption. I use them when the area is typically out of sight such as my utility room since they are not the best looking material around.

Take note though that they usually do not have grommets, so you have to figure out a way to hang them up. Large clips are my go to.

15. Sound Deadening Spray

Remember the MLV described above? This is basically the liquid version. I do not really see it being used around the house though, and I believe it was made mostly for car owners instead. 

They work great at getting to hard to reach spots in a vehicle and all you do is simply point and spray. After drying out, it forms a layer that acts like a MLV and reduces noise transmission pretty effectively, not to mention that it is super cost effective.

16. Dry Wall

You can either build your own and engage a professional to erect a drywall for you. They act as a sound barrier as it thickens and adds mass to room or wall. 

There are a number of ways you can construct your own drywall, but to receive the highest soundproofing benefit (increase STC rating), you should use GreenGlue as a sealant and include MLV sheets in between the walls. 

17. Resilient Channels

These are metal rails that are attached to studs and ceiling joists to decouple the drywall from the studs and it greatly enhances the noise blocking ability of your internal structure.

That said, this project is mostly done during the construction phase and would most likely require professional help. 

18. Anti-vibration floor mats

When it comes to reducing the impact of electrical appliances, an anti-vibration mat will do an excellent job. Machines such as the dryer and washing machine can emit a lot of noise when in use, and these rubber coasters can dampen the amount of vibration caused, thus eliminating the noise.

If you want to have an extra layer of noise reduction, you can also throw a moving blanket over the machine. 

Wrapping up the Best Soundproofing Materials

In this article, we looked at the most common soundproof materials used in homes and offices. These are the best materials because of their quality and performance. 

Is there such a thing as a cheap soundproofing material? Well, the answer is yes and no and it depends on what you are trying to achieve. 

The good thing is that most of the material above is readily available and you can get a quick estimate on the cost of soundproofing before you start.

Do you know of any other soundproofing material that is worth mentioning? Send me a message and I will add them to this list! 

Additional resources:

• Latest articles on Soundproofing Hacks
• Complete buying guides
• How to soundproof a door with household items
• How to soundproof a garage door from the inside? 3 easy ways to get started
• How to stop wind from blowing down chimney: 3 simple steps you can follow right now
• How to soundproof a room for drums: Turn it into a reality now!
• Does cardboard absorb sound? And how to maximize their effectiveness?
• 4 Best Mass Loaded Vinyl: What is best for you?
• AcoustiBlok Review: 2 Decades of Pro Soundproofing