7 Cheap Soundproofing Products That Get The Job Done

Soundproofing can be pretty expensive especially if you’re trying to soundproof a large area like all the walls in a room or an entire car.

This can add up to a significant sum of cash. At the same time, buying cheap soundproofing products that don’t do a good job is the worst mistake you can make because you’ll end up spending even more money overall.

Since this is a frequent question, I wanted to share with you some very affordable soundproofing products that actually work. Also I’ll share with you exactly how to use them to maximize their capabilities.

All of the soundproofing materials you’re about to see are available through big retailers like Amazon, and I’ll provide links to each one so that you can check out their price and customer reviews as well.

1. Mybecca Wedgy Acoustic Panels – Affordable Option For Walls

Mybecca foam panels are regularly used in recording studios. In fact I’ve noticed a couple of popular Youtubers use them as well. Secular Talk is one of them:

Here is another popular Youtube channel that uses these panels. Switch to 3:14 to check them out:

You can get 12 of these 12” by 12” panels in one package for a very affordable price through Amazon (click here to check out the price and user reviews). One package of these panels covers 12 square feet. They’re 1 inch thick, which is the standard thickness for foam panels.

They’re used both for improving the acoustics in the room by reducing the echo and also for soundproofing. In order to soundproof a wall or a door with these panels, you should cover the entire area.

Are there any downsides to these acoustic panels? Not really. You might prefer a different design though (flat or egg-shell). Also, some more expensive panels have fire retardant capabilities, which makes them safer in case of a fire. But as far as durability and soundproofing goes, these panels work just as well.

If you want to see more acoustic panel recommendations, and the best way to install panels without causing damage to walls and doors, check out this comprehensive guide.

2. Soundproofing Weatherstrip For Doors And Windows

Weatherstrips are an awesome solution for getting rid of gaps between the door and the door frame, as well as window and window frame. A lot of noise can travel through this free space, so by sealing off these gaps you can expect a serious reduction in noise.

Sealing gaps with weatherstrip (link to Amazon) is easy. First close your door or window, and then check where the gaps are between it and the frame. Then apply the strip on the frame to seal the gaps.

Close the door/window again and check if there are any gaps left. If not, the problem is solved. If they’re still present (highly unlikely) do another round with the strips. That’s all there is to it.

Even if you do other things to soundproof your home, I highly advise you do this as well. Having thin walls and hollow doors is one thing. But having gaps and cracks leave the room completely vulnerable to sound traveling in and out.

3. A Standard Door Sweep

For the interior doors there is an additional gap that needs to be sealed. It’s the one between the door and the floor.

You’ll notice that your front door doesn’t have this gap, but your interior doors most likely do. This gap doesn’t serve any functional purpose but it allows a ton of noise to seep through.

To get rid of it, upgrade your door with an affordable door sweep like this one (link to Amazon). You’ll notice a significant reduction in sound coming in and out of the room once you’ve taken care of this bottom gap (along with the other ones along the frame).

4. NICETOWN Noise Reducing Curtains

Noise reducing curtains are a great way to add density to windows while keeping them functional.

They also provide one other major benefit: thermal insulation.

So not only do heavy curtains add an additional barrier that protects you from traffic noise and that of your neighbors’ kids playing ping-pong in the backyard, you also don’t have to heat your place as much during the winter or sweat as heavy during summer time.

All noise reducing curtains are pretty thick. So the main thing to focus on when buying is length and width. Basically, the more of the window area they can cover, the better results you’ll get since the sound is blocked across a larger area.

That’s why it’s important to choose curtains that can stretch down to the floor and that can also cover a few inches beyond the window frame in terms of width.

These NICETOWN noise reducing curtains (aff link to Amazon) fit the bill for most windows and they’re the most popular ones at the moment with 4200+ positive reviews. They’re pretty affordable as well.

Another positive thing is that you can hang them above the door or to create a small acoustic booth for podcasting or singing.

Still, their main purpose is to be used for windows. If you’ve identified that a lot of the aggravating noise is passing through your window(s), a combination of weatherstrips and these curtains would probably fix the problem completely.

That doesn’t mean you couldn’t hear ANY sounds from the outside. But their volume would be reduced to a point when they’re not bothersome.

However, if you’re dealing with some seriously loud noise because you live near a construction site, an amusement park or an airport, then I’ve got 4 additional window solutions for you in this article.

5. Anti-Vibration Pads for your Washer

Why was the washing machine laughing? Because it was taking the piss out of the pants.

But you know what the real joke is? The awful racket coming from your washing machine while its extracting the piss.

This is especially true if your machine is stationed on a hard surface like ceramic tiles. Seriously, using some sort of soft material between the washer and a hard surface floor makes a huge difference in reducing vibration noise.

You can use old towels for starters, but they don’t look very nice and they collect dust over time. And trust me, once you’ve put em there, you won’t feel like washing them ever again.

Once you’re ready for an upgrade, I suggest getting these anti-vibration pads for washers (link to Amazon). They’re made from hard rubber that absorbs vibrations and keeps the machine in place so that it doesn’t “walk” all over the floor while performing its duty.

6. Roxul Rockwool Insulation Batts

These insulation batts are excellent for filling up stud wall cavities. Just like noise reducing curtains, you can expect significant thermal insulation together with noise reduction by installing these batts into your wall.

Another benefit of these mineral wool batts (link to Amazon) is their flexibility. They’re not stiff like fiberglass board. This makes it easier to stuff them into wall cavities during remodeling projects.

If you’ve got some handyman talent, you can transform these batts into effective soundproof panels as well. That way you can use them on the surface of a wall or a door instead of placing them inside the wall.

But beware, rockwool boards contain tiny particles that can irritate lungs and sinuses. That’s why they’re primarily used INSIDE the walls. If you want to make panels out of them, you need to cover them with airtight fabric. And make sure you wear a mask while making the panels.

To make soundproof panels by yourself you’ll need:

• Mineral wool board or fiberglass board
• a spray adhesive
• screws
• a stapler
• airtight fabric of your choice

This DIY project requires experience and tools, unlike the other ones I’ve mentioned. If you’re still interested though, check out this video to see how it’s done. But in addition, don’t use porous cloth like the gentleman in this video, but denser, airtight fabric.

Better yet, don’t make soundproof panels from rockwool at all! For on-wall soundproofing use professional acoustic panels, and use rockwool for inside the walls where it’s most effective.

7. Green Glue Noiseproofing Compound

Green glue is all the rage among soundproofers these days and there’s good reason for it.

Just like mineral wool boards, green glue is also primarily used inside the walls. It’s super practical because it’s in a caulking style tube which makes applying it in walls and small spaces easy.

Green glue is especially effective against low frequency vibration noise when applied between two layers of regular drywall, which you can get for $10-$12 each in Home Depot. This is far more affordable than buying commercial pre-damped drywall panels, and it’s just as effective.

Also, some areas are hard to soundproof using large material. These include gaps in walls, ceilings, spaces around electrical boxes and screw holes.

All of these areas can be effectively soundproofed with green glue (link to Amazon).

To Conclude

Soundproofing projects are pretty straightforward. First you identify where the noise is coming from and then cover the area with adequate soundproofing material.

Try to apply the material as close to the noise leakage as possible. For example, if you have trouble with noise coming from the room above you, it’s better to soundproof the floor in that room than to soundproof the ceiling in the room below.

Another example: if you’re playing drums in the garage, it’s better to soundproof the drums or the garage than to soundproof the other rooms in the house.

I hope you find these tips and product recommendations helpful. If you’ve got any questions or advice that you’d like to share, you can do so in the comment section below. – Luka Baron