Why Is Soundproofing So Expensive? – Here’s The Truth!

Did you just decide on soundproofing, and you’re not sure how much it would cost? Perhaps you have heard outsiders complain about the hike in the price of soundproofing materials, and you’re curious to know why the soundproofing project requires a lot of money. We’d discuss this in full detail in this blog post, kindly read on. So, “Why Is Soundproofing So Expensive?” 

Basically, there are quite a few reasons why soundproofing is so expensive. Those reasons are as follows:

• The size of the room or area to be soundproofed.
• The number and type of materials required.
• The amount of sound you want to block. 

These three reasons have a huge impact on determining the price of a soundproofing project. I’d discuss the reasons in detail later on in this article. So, if you want to know more about soundproofing costs and many more, keep reading.

Why are soundproof materials expensive? 

Soundproofing materials are expensive due to their quality and availability in the market. Literally, if you need soundproof materials to block low-frequency sounds, then that would be super expensive. 

But if you are blocking the high-frequency sound, you might not spend much – and in some cases, you might not spend at all. 

Soundproof materials like acoustic panels are very expensive because they are rare to get. Plus, there is a specific market that sells them. Due to this, you’d have to spend more than you thought it would cost. 

Moving forward, if you want a high-quality soundproof material that would fulfill its actual purpose, you must be ready to spend – this is because authentic soundproof materials cost a lot, and vice versa. 

Also Read: How Much Does It Cost To Soundproof A Room?

Why Is Soundproofing So Expensive? – Here’s The Truth!

As stated earlier, the three reasons that could cause soundproofing to be expensive are the size of the room, the number and type of materials required, and the amount of sound intended to be blocked. 

More detail would be provided below.

The size of the room or area to be soundproofed

Typically, before a room can be soundproofed, you’d have to consider the size of the room and the type of the room before you can choose the type of material to use. 

And regardless of these factors, you’d have to make use of two to three materials before that room or area can be well soundproofed. In some certain cases, you might have to rip the area before it can be soundproofed. Doing these will cost a lot of money, no doubt.

The number and type of materials required

If your soundproof project is soundproofing a wall, then depending on the square meters of the wall, you might have to purchase a lot of the soundproof materials that you intend to use. 

For instance, if you decide to use the normal drywall, each costs about $10 or $20 per panel. So, you might not really spend too much (out of your budget). But if you want to make use of soundproof materials like acoustic foam or mass-loaded vinyl, then you are going to break the bank.

Although there are cheap options that can be used such as curtains, furniture, and many more. 

The amount of sound you want to block

Finally, the amount of sound you want to be blocked from the room could cause soundproofing to be expensive. As aforementioned, blocking the high-frequency sound would cost less and would be easy to do. But dealing with low-frequency noise would cost a lot more. 

This is because, for low-frequency noises, you’d want to use thick soundproofing materials to keep the noise out, and vice versa.

However, since we all won’t be dealing with the same kind of noise, the materials and cost for soundproofing would differ per person. 

For instance, if you want to block the regular city or neighborhood noise, you can go for the budget-friendly soundproofing tip. But if you want to block high noises, you would have to increase your budget.

Related Post: How Do I Soundproof A Room For Cheap? 

How to reduce the cost of soundproofing

Having known the factors that could cause soundproofing to be expensive, you might be wondering if there’s anything you can do to reduce the chances of you spending a lot on soundproofing. And that is what brings us to provide the answer to how the cost of soundproofing can be reduced. 

Kindly take note of the following tips below for soundproofing. 

1. Make your findings

Before you decide to get the materials for soundproofing or before you think of hiring a professional to take on the soundproofing project, you should do your research to see if there are other options you could go for. 

Check for stores around you that sell cheap or alternative soundproofing materials and see if their prices are quite different from the ones online. Also, rather than making a quick decision to hire a professional, do your findings to see if the project is something you can do. 

2. Structure your budget

Structuring your budget helps you to ensure you don’t spend excessively. Write down the number of materials you would need and the cost, and make sure you don’t go overboard. 

Hence, if your budget sums up to $500, ensure you spend that amount and not more than that. In fact, you could try your best not to spend up to that. 

Is soundproofing really expensive?

There is no right or wrong to whether soundproofing is really expensive or not. Technically, the soundproofing cost depends on the area of the room, the size of the room, and the materials to be used. Hence, soundproofing can be expensive and soundproofing can be inexpensive. 

How much does soundproofing cost?

The cost of soundproofing could vary depending on a few factors such as the area of the room, the size of the room, the amount of labor, and the materials to be used. But on a rough estimate, soundproofing cost ranges from $350 to $6000. 

Below we’d dive into the cost of soundproofing some areas in a room.

1. Ceiling soundproofing

 The cost of soundproofing a ceiling mostly depends on the square by square-meter of the ceiling. But the price ranges from $1000 to $3000.

2. Wall soundproofing

Just like soundproofing a ceiling, the price to soundproof a wall depends on the labor, material, and square meter. But in general, the cost ranges from $1000 to $3000.

3. Floor soundproofing

It can be deduced that the size of the ceiling of a room is similar to the size of the floor of a room. Hence, the same factor could determine the price of soundproofing the floor. 

But in the case of soundproofing a floor, the price is usually higher. The price mostly ranges from $1000 to $6000. 

4. Window soundproofing

From my research, the price of soundproofing a window is more cheaper. As a matter of fact, you’d hardly spend $1000 if you do proper research before purchasing the materials. That being said, the price for soundproofing a window ranges from $385 to $1200.

FAQs

Why is acoustic foam so expensive?

The actual reason why acoustic foam is so expensive is that it is a rare/special product for soundproofing. Not all stores sell acoustic foam and the cost of producing this material is a lot. Hence, the price would be high, so they can get their profit from it. 

Acoustic foams are made of high quality for them to fulfill their purpose. Hence, they are either properly made, or they won’t be made at all. 

What are the advantages of soundproofing?

The good thing is soundproofing has a lot of advantages. This implies that you are wasting your money, you’re making a great investment. 

Below are a few advantages of soundproofing that you should know.

Stress is reduced

Based on research, noise breeds stress. Stress on the other hand results in the ability to focus, insomnia, and so on. Once you are able to cut out the noise, your level of stress would reduce.

Supplemented productivity 

For many of us, we find it difficult to get things done when there’s noise. And this makes our day unproductive. But when noise is absorbed, we’d be able to do things at the right time as planned.

Quality sound

When there’s noise, the most wanted sound lacks quality. You won’t be able to hear the right words. But when noise is dealt with, learning environments become conducive, there would be utmost attention, and the attention needed is drawn. 

What are the disadvantages of soundproofing?

Soundproofing also has some drawbacks, but it isn’t as much as the benefits. Here are the cons of soundproofing.

The cost

The cost of soundproofing can be quite discouraging. Depending on the area to be soundproofed, you might spend $1000 or more. However, the cost varies and can be reduced if proper research is done.

Soundproofing materials cannot withhold fire

Soundproofing materials are made to absorb sound and not to quench the fire. Hence, if any fire accident happens, the soundproof material used would be burnt. 

Conclusion – Why Is Soundproofing So Expensive?

After deciding to soundproof, the cost should also be considered, as it can be quite an expensive decision to make. However, there’s always a way around soundproofing at a cheap rate. 

All you have to do is set your budget, and take your time to do your research. And in the end, you’d find soundproofing to be worth it and slightly inexpensive.