How much does it cost to soundproof a wall? (2024)

We all deserve peace and quiet in our homes, however noise form neighbours or even from our own adjoining rooms can be a nuisance and affect our quality of life. The World Health Organisation links environmental noise exposure to a range of health effects, including sleep disturbance, stress and heart disease. The good news is that effective wall soundproofing products are available to soundproof walls and add sound insulation to existing walls, helping to restore peace and quiet to your home. Importantly, the cost of wall soundproofing doesn't have to cost the earth.

The cost of soundproofing one standard wall (4m width x 2.3m height) would be between £700 to £1200 for materials, plus £200 to £300 for installation to complete the job. Prices are dependent on the chosen wall soundproofing system, as the higher performing soundproofing systems include more layers of soundproofing materials and are therefore more expensive than the direct to wall systems.

It's worth noting that the wall soundproofing solutions supplied by The Soundproofing Store are suitable for a DIY install, therefore reducing any installation costs. The above cost estimates for wall soundproofing solutions do not include any costs for modifying any existing structures or surfaces.

All factors considered, most homeowners pay between £900 to £1,400 in total, depending on the chosen wall soundproofing solution.
While the above wall soundproofing estimates will give homeowners a good idea of what they can expect to pay to soundproof a wall, the actual price will vary based on several factors. The quality of the soundproofing materials, the experience of the installers and the location of the project can all affect the price. The complexity of the project and the size of the project can affect the price as well. Homeowners should be sure to receive a full estimate in advance of any wall soundproofing, (in writing) before work on the project begins so that there are no pricing surprises down the road.

The cost of the soundproofing wall materials depends on the type of soundproofing materials used, but it is generally measured in terms of length, or number of pieces. For example, different pieces may be sold by roll or by the sheet. The cost of labour is generally calculated per day, though there may be a minimum requirement.

The majority of wall soundproofing systems can be broken down into two variations:

1. Thin, direct to wall soundproofing

2. Independent stud wall / clip soundproofing systems

Direct to wall soundproofing systems:

• These should include high mass materials and importantly, a combination of high mass materials. A combination will always perform better, due to different types of mass blocking different sound frequencies better than others.
• Secondly, there needs to be a layer to dampen the sound energy/vibrations from travelling through the high mass materials. For example, two plasterboard's fixed directly to a wall will only give a small improvement due to only one type of mass and no layer to dampen the sound vibrations. (This can be achieved with acoustic foam or vibration dampening materials).
• Direct to wall systems are often used for blocking normal levels of airborne domestic noise problems such as people talking, and low levels of TV. They wouldn't be as effective at blocking lower bass noises such as music, dogs barking and snoring and wouldn't work against impact noise, such as footsteps.
  

Independent stud wall soundproofing systems:

Independent stud wall and clip systems perform better than direct to wall soundproofing systems and are normally recommended for louder and more excessive levels of noise (also used for music studios). Due to their construction being decoupled from the existing wall means vibrations can not pass into the new soundproofing structure. (However, there is a loss of space - up to 150mm), or 120mm if using the slimmest independent wall soundproofing solution available - the ReductoClip System.

You can then apply traditional resilient bars or the higher performing ReductoClip and furring bars (which offer up to an extra 9dB improvement over traditional resilient bars).

These systems are normally recommended for excessive levels of noise such as home cinemas, recording studios and live musical instruments.

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  Photo By: John Doe

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As discussed, there are different performing wall soundproofing systems at varying prices, depending on the type and level of noise needing to be soundproofed against and depending on the size of the wall.

Beware of cheaper alternatives that won't soundproof walls effectively and in the long run will simply be a waste of money. It is worth taking the time to speak to an expert so they can discuss your individual noise issue in more detail and provide the correct advice and most appropriate soundproofing system. Not doing so may well result in a disappointing result and unwanted expense.

If you'd like a more detailed breakdown of the cost to soundproof walls, floors and ceilings, take a look at the below blog. One thing is for sure, soundproofing is definitely a cheaper option than moving house!

If you found this blog useful, you may be interested in reading our blog onHow to Soundproof a Wall Against Noisy Neighbours: