The 12 best materials for soundproofing walls

*Review of the best according to the editors. About the selection criteria. This material is subjective, not an advertisement and does not serve as a guide to purchase. Before buying, it is necessary to consult with a specialist.

Noise insulation in the walls of houses and apartments is designed to protect the home from outside sounds (passing cars, music from neighbors, repairs, etc.). d.). For office buildings, additional wall filling is even more important so that employees can work in silence. What materials are considered the best for noise insulation and what masters say about them in reviews, you can learn from our review.

Rating of the best materials for noise insulation of walls

The best materials for soundproofing walls

In compiling the top 12, we took into account such characteristics as: the density of materials, sheet thickness, their strength when vertically arranged in a wall. More experts paid attention to the flammability, smoke formation and toxicity of the filler, as well as customer reviews. We hope that this review will help you better understand the features of modern products and choose the most suitable for a particular location.

SoundGuard EcoSoundGuard

Rating: 5.0

SoundGuard brand noise insulation in the first place. The board fully lives up to its name “Eco”, as it is created from cardboard and sand, by pressing. The product is supplied in 1200×800 mm dimensions, and the cross-section of the panel is only 13 mm. The material is obtained with a density of 17.9 kg/m³. In addition to noise insulation, it also helps to insulate walls, because it has low thermal conductivity 0.17 W/mS. Buyers in reviews like the fact that the material is pretty strong and the panel can be mounted to the wall without additional framing, as in the case of mineral wool. Although the boards consist of fragile components, they can withstand static loads up to 65 kg/m². But due to the presence of cardboard inside, they moderately contribute to combustion and smoke formation.

According to experts, the material is the best, because it provides noise isolation from airborne sounds up to 36 dB. It is a high indicator, with which other products can not compete. If you have noisy neighbors, consider this wall filler.

Advantages

• low toxicity class T1;
• installation without framing;
• does not thicken the wall too much;
• low thermal conductivity.

Disadvantages

• moderately supports combustion;
• inconvenient to transport flat slabs;
• facilitates the smoke in the room in case of fire.

TECSOUND FT-75

Rating: 4.9

In second place, the product from the Spanish brand TECSOUND, which consists of a single layer of felt with high delay of sound waves (acoustic type) and a membrane that serves to bind the material. In terms of noise insulation, the filler shows a delay of external sounds up to 22 dB. In addition, insulation reduces vibration and can be applied in places near construction, or the work of various machines and machinery. The thickness of the material 14 mm does not make the walls massive. The layer is able to stretch out and is characterized by frost and heat resistance. Buyers in reviews like that the wall filler has a lifespan of 10 years.

We mentioned this material as the best in terms of ease of installation. It is not supplied in slab form, but in rolls 5.5h1.2 m. This makes it easy to transport and allows you to cut the segment exactly to the height of the wall. The presence of plasticizers in its composition makes it extremely flexible – it can even upholster overhangs, beams and other irregularities.

Advantages

• pronounced damping properties;
• thickness of 14 mm;
• easy transportation of the roll;
• 10 years warranty.

Disadvantages

• high cost;
• deteriorates from moisture;
• belongs to strongly flammable group G4.

ZIPS-III-Ultra

Rating: 4.8

Material for mounting to the wall belongs to the third generation and has a total cross section of 42 mm. It consists of a layer of mineral wool and gypsum fiber board, which acts as a rigid base. When finished on the inside of the wall, along with the mounting system, plasterboard and the final layer of putty, the thickness of sound insulation will be 5.5 cm. The material is available in the form of boards of size 1.2h0.6 m. Sound insulation index reaches 11-13 dB airborne. Joints between the boards are required to be treated with sealant. In reviews, customers report that the canvas on the walls effectively muffles noise from the loud neighbor’s music using a subwoofer, children’s running, household sounds.

A feature of this sound insulation is the latest development – the placement of 8 blocks on the surface of the sheet, protruding over the leaf at 10 mm. They are created from imported polyurethane and are designed to absorb vibrations and sounds with a frequency of 100 Hz. It is the best option for soundproofing walls in gymnasiums, hotels, assembly halls and kindergartens. Another product worth paying attention to the owners of apartments, adjacent to the elevator shafts.

Advantages

• rigid construction;
• effectively absorbs vibration from loud music;
• in the kit fasteners;
• Fiberglass does not fall down because it is attached to the substrate.

Disadvantages

• The weight of the entire board is 19 kg;
• when insulating a wall takes a thickness of 5.5 cm;
• high cost.

Shumanet-ECO

Rating: 4.7

Next in the review is a product made of spatula fiber, where the binder is acrylic. The average sound absorption coefficient of the material is 0.85 according to NRC. SoundGuard is sold in packs of 4 inside. The dimensions of the leaf 1250h600h50 mm is convenient for laying against the wall. One pack can cover 3m² of area, so it is easy to calculate the amount of material in advance, so you don’t have to buy extra. For finishing use sheets of drywall, which is then putty and paint. In reviews, buyers like the fact that the material does not contain phenol and formaldehyde resins, which emit harmful fumes. the product is notable for its density of 30 kg/m³, which gives a quality noise insulation.

We found the filler for walls in terms of fire safety. This material belongs to the group HG, i.e.e. completely non-combustible and does not support combustion. Shumnet fiber is also used to create fireproof metal doors. With its help it is possible to perform reliable protection of walls and the entrance from the spread of fire, which is worth considering, especially in stores and offices, where there are a large number of people.

Advantages

• The density of 30 kg / m ³;
• easy to install;
• Does not combust and does not support such processes;
• easy transportation;
• resilient and unbreakable.

Disadvantages

• material is hygroscopic;
• You must fix the entire perimeter, because the wool can slip.

SoundGuard isocover

Rating: 4.6

This material for noise insulation is fully consistent with its name and looks like a carpet. Lining for insulation of walls consists of fiberglass lined with non-woven spunbond. Damper is available in rolls of 5×1.5 m, and its cross-section is 15 mm. Buyers in the reviews like the fact that transportation and installation of the material is quite easy. But users warn that it is important to qualitatively seal the place of the cut (usually the strip is cut into two parts in the case of ceilings 2.5 m high), because glass dust will fall out of it. The material absorbs impact noise up to 30 dB. In addition to sound absorption mat effectively fights the penetration of the cold, since its thermal conductivity is 0.038 W/mS.

We singled out the material as the best for walls due to the manufacturer’s warranty of up to 15 years. Due to the strong cover spunbond fiberglass longer does not crumble, so the next repair in the apartment will not have to do soon.

Advantages

• environmentally friendly material;
• high efficiency with a small thickness;
• pronounced vibration-damping properties;
• easy assembly.

Disadvantages

• the glass dust outlet opens up when cutting the strip;
• low density 1.46 kg/m³.

Soundline-dB

Rating: 4.5

Next in the review is a sheet material with which to insulate and eliminate unnecessary noise, and it can be used both on brick walls and on frame partitions. Plasma cutting plates are produced with dimensions of 1200×1200 mm and have section of 16.5 mm. Each panel weighs 30 kg, so it must be securely fixed to the wall with self-tapping screws at a pitch of 20 cm. In reviews, buyers like the material resistance to moisture, so the dampness on the walls will not cause damage to the insulation.

The main advantage of this product, for which it is recognized as the best, is the three-layer version at a thickness of 16.5 mm. Noise insulation consists of two gypsum fiber sheets connected with a special sealant. The latter not only plays the role of a binder, but also eliminates vibration due to its elasticity and resilience. The technology reduces transmission of both high and low frequency noise through the walls. The product has a record sound reduction rate of up to 68 dB.

Advantages

• sturdy construction;
• Increased fire safety;
• resistance to moisture penetration;
• Sound insulation 68 dB.

Disadvantages

• It is difficult to transport large panels;
• The weight of each plate is 30 kg;
• More difficult to cut to the size of the wall.

Wicanders Dekwall Melville

Rating: 4.4

Portuguese manufacturer Wicanders offers noise insulation made of cork veneer. It comes in the size of 60×30 cm in slabs. The surface of the material is coated with wax, which enhances water repellency. One package contains 11 sheets, which is enough to cover 1.98 m² of wall space. The panels are fixed on the adhesive, and then can be closed with drywall. In addition to sound insulation, the natural material prevents freezing. The panels do not have any harmful emissions, so it is safe to install them in children’s rooms and bedrooms. The manufacturer provides a 10-year warranty on it, which customers like in reviews. According to their reports, the slabs are easy to cut and not difficult to transport, as they are smaller than competitors’ sheet materials and weigh only 4 kg in a package.

We recognize the material as the best because of the section of 3 mm. If it is additionally covered with 9 mm gypsum plasterboard, the total thickness of the wall build-up will be 12 mm. It does not “steal” the useful space of the room and provides increased noise isolation. The material is particularly suitable for small rooms of 3-6 square meters.

Advantages

• light weight does not put stress on the walls;
• water-repellent surface;
• easy installation;
• high environmental purity of the material.

Disadvantages

• Sometimes breaks at the edges;
• high cost.

StopSound Eco

Rating: 4.3

And here is another material used for noise insulation of walls, which has in its composition polyester fiber. Two versions of 20mm and 50mm sheets are available, and one package can hold 6 or 15 units. Dimensions of blades are 120×60 cm. Synthetic polyester threads are environmentally friendly. Masters reviews like the fact that the installation of boards do not require personal protective equipment. The fibers do not cause itching and do not prick your hands. The package with 6 plates weighs only 5 kg, so the filler does not create excessive load on the walls.

We marked the insulation as one of the best because of its density of 42 kg / m ³. Even at a cross section of 20 mm it contributes to the absorption of sound at 75 NRC. In the case of a thickness of 50 mm, the index increases to 90 NRC, so the material is suitable for walls bordering the stairwell. Thermal conductivity at 0.035 W/mS is also a plus in this operation.

Advantages

• low weight;
• easy installation;
• no phenol-formaldehyde;
• The material does not emit prickly dust and does not provoke itching.

Disadvantages

• flammability group G4
• In case of fire it produces smoke up to 50-500 m²/kg.

SoundGuard Mem
ane

Rating: 4.2

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The product has a cross section of 3.8 i 3.9 mm, for which it is recognized as the best. Compared to the cork backing, the advantage is that it is a flexible material, which is convenient to transport in a roll. One-piece sheets 2.5 m allow you to immediately cover the wall from floor to ceiling. With such a small thickness, sound proofing is only 28 dB.

Advantages

• dense structure;
• robust construction;
• can be used on any type of walls;
• Approved for use in temperatures from -60 degrees Celsius to 180 degrees Fahrenheit.

Disadvantages

• high cost;
• If you do not glue the joints, the effect of noise isolation is reduced.

Knauf AkustiKnauf

Rating: 4.1

This wall absorber is a mineral wool consisting of multidirectional fibers bonded with resin. Due to the large amount of air between the hairs, it forms a powerful barrier to sound flows, absorbing waves. Mounted soundproofing in the wall with a sealant, so that the sheets will not slide down under its own weight. The outside of the filler is closed with plasterboard. It is optimal to use insulation in wall partitions, because the section of 50 mm takes up useful space in the room, in the case of fixing to external walls. Buyers in the reviews like the environmental friendliness of the material, which has received official approval of the Research Institute of RAMS for the use of wadded boards in kindergartens, schools and hospitals.

This material is the experts considered the best ratio of density and noise insulation. At 15 kg / m ³ layer, together with the GFB sheet provides noise reduction up to 52 dB. Other materials capable of this weigh much more due to increased density.

Advantages

• the safe manufacturing technology Ecose;
• it completely eliminates household noise;
• does not require bonding the joints;
• The panels do not catch fire.

Disadvantages

• Wool can slip a little;
• the material is hygroscopic.

Rockwool Acoustic Batts pro Ultrafine 27h600h1000 mm

Rating: 4.0

In the penultimate place in the review is another kind of mineral wool, available in slabs of 60×100 cm. One package sells 12 pieces, which allows you to cover 7.2 m² wall. The manufacturer manufactures the noise insulation by bonding the fibers with different orientation. It increases the strength of the material and contributes to better sound absorption. The hairs sticking out in different directions reliably protect against high or low temperature transmission, because there is enough air between them. In terms of thermal conductivity boards show a low score of 0.034 W/mS.

In our opinion, the material is the best in terms of durability among its wadded counterparts, because it retains its shape and does not shrink behind the wall. This is due to a density of 60 kg / m ³ and a thickness of 27 mm. These characteristics will not allow the sound insulation to sag in places where there was no glue to form “windows” that let sound through.

Advantages

• completely non-combustible;
• chaotic arrangement of the fibers;
• No shrinkage throughout the life cycle;
• thermal conductivity 0.034 W/mS.

Disadvantages

• Is afraid of moisture;
• slightly crumbling at the corners during installation.

THERMOSOUNDPROOFING

Rating: 4.0

Completes the list of the best noise insulation, which is a needle-punched fiberglass, protected in a non-woven cover. This prevents dust from the fibers in the external environment. The product is available for wall insulation in the form of a mat with the following dimensions 10×1.5 m and a section of 14 mm. Weighs 26 kg roll, so at the initial stage of work is not very easy. Vibration-isolating capability to absorb vibrations from 60 to 4000 Hz. Total sound reduction through the wall is 29 dB. Despite the thin layer, insulation can reduce the transmission of cold into the room due to the thermal conductivity coefficient 0.038 W/mS.

Experts considered the material the best for the organization of temporary noise insulation of walls, which then have to dismantle. It is suitable for utility rooms, construction site huts and other structures. Unlike other types of sound insulation, this one is not glued to the surface, and screwed with self-tapping screws, so it can be easily dismantled and reused at other sites.

Advantages

• environmental safety;
• increased density of the material;
• Vibration-absorbing properties;
• withstands temperatures from -40 to +140 degrees.

Disadvantages

• high cost;
• One roll weighs 26 kg;
• Fiberglass dust comes out when you cut it.