In the US, the average cost of soundproofing a room is $1,800 or from $1,000 to $2,600. However, the final amount will mainly vary based on your chosen soundproof material and area size.
Speaking of area size, many soundproof pros also charge clients between $10 and $30 per square foot for installing sound-dampening insulators within the walls and ceilings of the room.
And for a detailed explanation of soundproofing costs, the factors that influence them, and the costs to handle the work yourself, continue reading this cost guide.
What is soundproofing?
Soundproofing is a type of building work that aims to reduce sounds going from one space to another in a house.
To shield rooms from sounds, especially at night, certain acoustic insulation is added within the shared boundary, adding to the boundary’s mass and density.
Most modern homes have sound insulation in their walls, ceilings, floors, doors, and/or even windows. This reduces unwanted noise, echoes, and vibrations throughout the house.
Are there different types of soundproofing?
Yes, soundproofing a room can be achieved in two ways: by absorbing the sound from inside the room and by reducing the sound coming from the outside.
It’s important to note, however, that sound can’t be completely blocked out, although you can drastically reduce it.
Below, we’ll take a look at the two types of soundproofing and the materials to be used for the tasks:
- Absorbing Sounds
Absorbing sounds requires the use of a soft material like a dense foam. It can be placed inside or outside the wall depending on your choice.
Both will have the same effect, as the soundwaves will travel and be cushioned by the foam or other soft material, thereby lowering the room’s noise.
You can use acoustic tiles and panels for sound absorption as well. Note that they come in various materials, sizes, and shapes.
Among the other soundproofing materials are fiberglass, mineral wool, polyester, and foam. All of these are very absorbent and are completely wrapped in fabric, making for terrific sound absorbers.
- Reducing Sounds
If doing the previous type has failed in blocking out the noise from outside, then one can try reducing it instead.
These can be done by adding acoustic secondary walls, room dividers, foam, and curtains in the room.
Usually, the best sonic-reductive materials are fiberglass and wood, but there are plenty more options out there.
Though minimal, another factor that increases the noise coming in is air. So, to reduce the noise, it would help to fill or block the small holes that let air pass through to your house.
Also, an excellent and easy way to block outside sounds is to build double doors or walls with air space between them.
With this, when the external noise comes in, it will have to go through these two heavy structures, which can eliminate some of the soundwaves.
How is soundproofing made?
The standard way of soundproofing a room is to take out its existing drywall or ceiling, insulate it, attach a resilient channel (a metal strip) along the studs, and fasten the new drywall or ceiling.
Now, the resilient channel is the key part here, as it acts as a barrier between the drywall and the studs. So when the soundwaves from inside the room hit the wall, the wall will vibrate alone and the noise vibration won’t transfer to the studs.
Price Factors that Affect Soundproofing Cost
1) Material
As mentioned earlier, your choice of soundproofing material affects the total price greatly. Let’s look at the many options available and see how much they can cost you:
- Foam – Foam insulation can be sprayed into the small areas of your walls, windows, and doors. It generally costs $1 to $3 per square foot.
- Acoustic Foam – This is a specially made foam in order to block the noise. It’s very effective and costs higher than ordinary foam at $10 to $100 per panel.
- Acoustic Tiles – These tiles are fibrous materials that are soft and sound-dampening. Also, they can give your room or hallway a beautiful, consistent finish.
The standard tile size is 20 x 20 inches, and each one costs $10. And if the area to be tiled is sizable, you could spend expensively with this option.
- Soundproof Drywall – It’s an excellent material to reduce sounds coming into the room due to its multiple layers. A panel of soundproof drywall costs about $40.
- Soundproof Curtains – A set of these thick drapes can eliminate outdoor noises stylishly and without much effort. Buying one set of soundproof curtains should not go beyond $100.
- Blown or Loosefill Insulation – This is a dense and clumpy material injected into floorings and ceilings to soundproof them. Having a flooring contractor install it will cost you around $40 to $200.
- Textured Paint – If you need to renew your room’s paint job, you can have a painter use textured paint, which will reduce sound transmission and prevent it from reverberating outside of the space.
This will set you back $250 to $300.
- Vinyl – Mass-loaded vinyl (MLV) is another great material for soundproofing. This dense, roll-like material can stop soundwaves in their tracks.
They’re quite flexible and can be used to line your walls, ceilings, and flooring. Installation costs $2 to $5 per square foot or around $150 per 40 square feet of the material.
2) Type of Room
Besides the soundproofing, the type of room you want to insulate against sound will affect the price.
Most homeowners hire a contractor to soundproof their noisy rooms and garages. But some get them to do it for their home theatre and gym too.
So allow us to elaborate on these below and look at their average rates:
- Bedroom
If you live in an apartment, you’ll likely be disturbed by the noises from your neighbors or outside. It, therefore, becomes vital to soundproof your walls, ceilings, doors, windows, and flooring.
Soundproofing a 100-square-foot room can cost you somewhere from $300 to $1,500.
- Garage
The garage is an extension of the house where loud noises mostly start from. This is where the car starts in the morning, you rock out your electric guitar, and metal parts frequently clang.
As most garages don’t have an extra barrier to cut sounds, you and your family can get distracted or surprised even, sometimes.
You can expect to spend higher on sound-insulating your garage walls and/or door. The cost for this can run from $300 to $6,500.
- Home Theater
Having a theater or small personal cinema at home typically requires larger soundproofing work because the sounds from both inside and outside have to be curbed.
Everyone would want to have a great time watching a movie they like with friends and not be disturbed the slightest bit.
Basic soundproofing costs more or less $1,000, or if you want a stronger sound barrier with all walls and ceilings absorbing the sound, you would have to spend higher more than $10,000.
- Gym
Soundproof pros can charge its clients between $300 and $1,000 for insulating a gym. Most of the work will focus on the floor in order to minimize the sound of heavy weights hitting the surface.
In addition, since most likely you will listen to loud music while working out, acoustic panels will have to be installed for your walls and ceilings.
3) Size of the Room
Generally, clients can pay around $10 to $30 per square foot for soundproofing any room.
For just machine-blowing loose-fill insulation into your apartment or condominium walls, ceiling, or flooring, the price is significantly less at $1 to $1.50 per square foot.
4) Labor
Labor costs must be considered when you’re getting your house soundproofed. It will also add up to the price.
Calling a soundproof specialist will be more expensive, costing between $75 and $200 per hour, whereas getting a general contractor can cost you less at $50 to $150 per hour.
Furthermore, on a per-room basis, labor should cost you roughly $200 to $400. Keep in mind that different companies use different pricing models.
5) Job Complexity
Finally, the overall cost of the project can go up if the job is complex. That’s since the work will take more time and manual work to finish due to certain variables.
For example, you may need to have a larger area than normal soundproofed. Or some areas are hard to access, have walls that need to be demolished, and debris that need to be hauled away afterward.
And oftentimes, the contractor has to obtain a permit and license to perform the soundproofing work legally and ensure they meet the set and high standards of the governing authority.
How much does it cost to soundproof a room myself?
The materials alone can drive the costs up to $1,000.
A DIY soundproofing job is only good for easy and safe tasks, say, setting acoustic tiles or panels into place, hanging soundproof curtains, and using textured paint.
Other than that, it would be best to rely on a professional because it would most likely take you more than a week, considering that you have no previous or have just a bit of experience in soundproofing.
Some of the jobs that you have to call a qualified and experienced pro for are installing more complex materials like mass-loaded vinyl, fiberglass tile, soundproof drywalls, and loose-fill insulations.
More Building Contractors Lists
The following list may contain builders that know skilled and experienced soundproofing pros. Feel free to check them out: