Last updated: May 1, 2023 at 12:59 pm
It’s important to know what fabrics will work the best when soundproofing any kind of building or room. Some fabrics work better, in terms of quality sound insulation, than others depending on what they’re made from.
Whether you’re decorating your own house or soundproofing a building, we’ll walk you through the best soundproofing fabrics in the following article. It’s worth noting that in general, fabrics alone won’t sounnproof completely, but should be used in combination with other methods.
IN THIS ARTICLE
10 Best Soundproof Fabrics
1. Velvet Fabric
Velvet fabric has excellent sound absorbing qualities. It’s particularly useful for soundproofing windows due to the velvet fabric’s ability to hang. It’s recommended to double up on this fabric if you’re using it for windows.
Two layers of velvet fabric will work wonders for absorbing sound, and you can get this fabric in a wide range of colours and styles too. Heavyweight velvet fabric will work best for this purpose.
Keep in mind that it’s not always true that velvet must be extremely thick and heavy to be of good quality. An added benefit to using velvet is that the material is flame-retardant.
2. Acoustic Fabric
Acoustic fabric works differently from other soundproofing fabrics as it brings acoustic benefits. While this means that sound can travel through acoustic fabric with no interference, it can also block materials that are placed between rooms.
This kind of material is often used in the music industry due to its acoustic benefits. Acoustic fabric can be used on curtains so it’s perfect for decorating and soundproofing a house.
The way it operates is that it improves the quality of the sound in the room and prevents it from spreading around the room.
3. Wool Fabric
Wool fabric is a great material that can be used for soundproofing. It’s most popular for making carpets, meaning it’s soft and durable to be walked on, along with having soundproofing qualities when applied to any room.
The reason why wool is one of the best soundproofing fabrics is that it can come in a range of different shapes and sizes. Along with carpets, wool fabric can be used in a music studio as a soundproofing method.
4. Mass Loaded Vinyl
Mass loaded vinyl might just be the most popular option when it comes to soundproofing fabrics. While it can be more costly, it’s extremely efficient in terms of soundproofing, sound absorption, and noise reduction when applied to any room.
Mass loaded vinyl reduces airborne noise, and when installed under carpet, can also reduce impact noise. If you’re using this material to soundproof walls, it can dissipate sound while travelling through it which means that noise will not be able to get in or out of your walls.
Along with this, this type of material can be painted so it’s a good option for walls. The best use of mass loaded vinyl is by applying it in sheets within the drywall. Another option is to fasten it to the exterior wall.
5. Hessian Fabric
Hessian is traditionally made of natural fibres. However, modern hessian is more finely woven fibres. Hessian fabric contains a weave pattern that is open which allows air and sound to easily pass through it. It’s often wrapped around acoustic panels for this reason.
The fabric enables sound travel, and it stops sound from escaping the room in which it’s placed. A benefit of hessian fabric is that it can offer more breathability compared to other fabrics. If you want even better results, it’s recommended that you add an extra soundproofing material underneath. With two materials working to stop sound from entering and escaping, you’ll get better results.
6. Velour Fabric
Velour is made of cotton, polyester, synthetic fibres, or a blend of textiles. It’s is a cheaper alternative to velvet that is just as effective in soundproofing abilities. It looks and feels very similar to velvet but it’s much more affordable.
Along with this, it’s more durable and thinner than velvet fabric. It can be used for a wide range of things such as wall hangings and window coverings due to its blocking and acoustics capabilities.
Velour fabric can control any noise that leaves the room. It’s most popular in theatres, cinemas, and clubs. It can also be used to cover sound absorbing panels since it’s so breathable.
7. Foam Fabric
Foam fabric is a wonderful option because the material absorbs sound and doesn’t reflect it. It’s a soft material so it’s perfect for absorbing sound. You can use foam fabric in any room you wish to soundproof.
Acoustic foam has been made specifically for sound absorption and will work much better than any other foam. Having said this, the normal foam will still work in absorbing sound as long as every noise you’re making stays in the room.
8. Cotton Duck Fabric
Cotton duck fabric is made from 100% cotton of a finer weave. The fabric weighs only 10oz per square yard. It’s light in weight, it’s breathable, durable, and resistant to rips. You can get cotton duck fabric in a wide range of colours so it’s perfect for designing a building and soundproofing it at the same time.
The material is affordable and washable, along with being able to tumble dry it. Another reason why it’s a good choice for soundproofing is that it’s easy to cut and fold, so you can easily use it for a DIY panel.
9. Muslin
Muslin is an ancient cotton fabric. The material is light in weight and extremely breathable. Along with this, it’s easy to cut and sew so it’s great for any DIY soundproofing projects. It’s acoustically transparent and great for sound absorbent devices or audio speaker covers.
Muslin is lighter than a lot of other soundproofing fabric options. It’s recommended that you use a batting underlay to help prevent any rips that may occur as the fabric doesn’t stretch. Along with this, it will make for a smoother finish.
10. Guilford of Maine
Guilford of Maine is available in a wide range of colours and it’s a wonderful option for acoustic use.
They’re aesthetically pleasing so they’re a good option when decorating and soundproofing a room or area. The fabric is acoustically transparent and used to wrap sound absorbing acoustic panels.
What is Soundproofing?
Soundproofing is when noise is blocked out / reduced and not able to enter or leave a building or room. This can be done using materials to reduce and absorb sounds.
When you soundproof a room or area, you’re essentially blocking sound waves or vibrations from penetrating walls and thus, entering and leaving the room or area. While sound cannot be blocked entirely in some situations, often soundproofing means reducing and absorbing sound from entering and leaving the fabrics that are used for this process.
It’s important to figure out what fabrics work best so that you can reduce noise to the best of your ability.
Conclusion
It’s important to consider all options when choosing what fabrics to use for soundproofing. Many fabrics have positives and negatives but, depending on what you’re searching for, some of the positives often outweigh the negatives and will work the best for you and your project.
