The Best Materials for Soundproofing - A Comprehensive Guide

What is the best soundproofing material? Mineral wool, soundproof fiberglass, or maybe acoustic panels? This all depends on your needs and goals. In this article, we explore the world of soundproofing materials and present the best ones. If you wish to build a quiet home office or design your home studio, we invite you to read on.

What Is the Best Soundproofing Material? Our List

So, without any further ado, let’s take a look at the best soundproofing materials together. Which ones are the best and worth considering when you need a fully soundproof room?

• Acoustic panels – First on the list are acoustic panels, a good soundproofing material, but you need to pay attention to the ones you purchase. Panels differ in effectiveness based on their thickness and the particular materials used, so they can vary from slightly sound absorbing to fully soundproofing. Their main advantage, however, is the design – you’ll find acoustic panels in many shapes and sizes, so you can mix them into your decor seamlessly.
  
  
• Rockwool – Mineral wool, also known as rockwool, is one of the most commonly used soundproofing materials in residential and commercial settings. It has to be placed within walls, though, so it’s not a solution if you wish to soundproof an already existing room. However, if you’re building an extra wall or whole room, you should consider filling it with rockwool.
  
  
• Soundproof fiberglass – Also known as glass wool, this is yet another material with which you may soundproof your walls only from within. It’s fire resistant, it keeps heat in, and it turns soundwaves into heat through vibration; therefore, you can be 100% sure that a proper layer of this material will make your room completely quiet. However, again this won’t do the trick if you want to soundproof an already existing room – for that, there are other solutions.
  
  
• Green glue – An innovative and effective soundproofing material, green glue is a viscoelastic compound that converts sound energy into heat. Applied between layers of drywall or other building materials, it acts as a damping material, reducing the transfer of sound vibrations. It can be used both between the layers if you’re just building the wall or to cover the holes in the existing walls.
  
  
• Soundproof mats – Soundproofing the walls is insufficient, you still need to prevent the noise from coming through other ways: doors, windows, or the floor. Soundproof mats are the perfect choice for the last one from this list. They will prevent any sound from coming or leaving your room and decrease the noise of humming and vibration of the objects put on them – they’re perfect for an industrial setting.
  
  
• Strong, solid wooden doors – When it comes to doors, there are a few solutions, but surprisingly the best option is the most natural one: get strong, thick doors. Outdoor, weatherproof ones should be an excellent choice for that – they will eliminate most of the noises coming in/out. Make sure that your door has rubber seals around the edges – otherwise, you might need to invest in additional equipment, like a soundproof door sweep.
  
  
• Acoustic foam – It might not be the most aesthetic or effective solution, however, it has one major advantage: it is flexible. You may cut out acoustic foam to put it into places where no other material would fit in, so it deserves its place on this list as the most effective support.
  
  
• Acoustic plaster – In nature, this is a DIY acoustic panel. This solution can be both extremely effective and aesthetic, which would normally make it the best soundproofing material available. However, it requires extensive skills to be installed properly, so unless you are a sound technician or wish to hire one, you should opt for other solutions.
  
  
• Soundproof wallpaper – Will it do the trick alone? No. However, like acoustic foam, it is a great support. Soundproof wallpaper will mix into your decor and provide the extra soundproofing properties if other means, like rockwool, were insufficient. Therefore, we believe that it is a good soundproofing material in particular situations, and it is worth keeping it in mind.
  
  
• Soundproof curtains – These are an inexpensive material for window soundproofing. Such curtains are usually considerably thick and have good soundproofing properties, which makes them an excellent choice if you wish to have a window in your room but to be able to cut off any sounds from behind it at the same time.

The Takeaway

What is the best soundproofing material? Now you know the answer. You may select from a plethora of different materials, many of which will be more effective in particular situations. Bear in mind that it is easier to soundproof a room while building it than afterward – plan the materials and insulation that you will use beforehand.