If you frequently drive long distances on highways, you would agree with me that the noise from the road and engine is bothersome. Although it doesn’t affect your car’s performance, it can detract from the enjoyment and make it more exhausting.
Soundproofing is one of the most effective ways to mitigate these unpleasant sounds, which involves using sound-deadening materials to reduce external noise and create a more pleasant driving experience.
However, with numerous options available, selecting the ideal DIY sound-deadening material for cars can be challenging.
Fortunately, I’ll be sharing the top FIVE best automotive sound-deadening materials that have personally assisted me in reducing road noise and improving the overall driving experience.
5 DIY Sound Deadening Material for Cars
| Rank | Porduct | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Dynamat 10455 Self-Adhesive Sound Deadene | Stop Speaker Distortion |
| 2. | Noico 80 mil Car Sound Deadening Mat | Coverage 36 sq.feet |
| 3. | Fatmat Self-Adhesive MegaMat Sound Deadener | Install Kit |
| 4. | HushMat 10200 Ultra Black Foil Door Kit | Damping Pad |
| 5. | B-Quiet Ultimate The Best Viscoelastic | total thickness 1.5mm |
Road Noise: Where Does It Come From?
Before I dive into products and tricks to help make your car quieter, it’s important to understand where those disturbing noises come from.
Moving components
The main source of nasty sounds seeping into your car is the engine. Sometimes, the noise might be a good indication of an engine problem or insufficient fuel supply. Another source of pesty sound is faulty mufflers. So, it’s always important to lubricate your car engine and other moving parts to reduce the rattling noise.
The Road
Not all roads are smooth and bump-free. Driving on roads with bad surfaces tends to generate a lot of noise. Rough roads are one of the main causes of traffic, which leads to annoying noise pollution.
The culmination of sounds of horns and engines from beleaguered cars can be maddening.
Tires
This is another source of noise that can leak into your car. Tires generate a lot of friction as they move against the rough road surface. When your tires are not properly inflated, it traps more air pockets between the pavement and tire treads, causing a loud pop noise.
Benefits of Soundproofing Your Car
Not all cars come with a significant degree of soundproofing. While luxury cars from Mercedes are soundproof, most regular vehicles are not. This means you have to deal with the pesky road and engine noise for a prolonged period.
So, if you are still unsure of Soundproofing your car, here are some of the most compelling reasons:
Lower interior noise
While driving, cars without any soundproofing let in different types of noise. This makes it nearly impossible to have a normal conversation with your companions. You have to speak louder and lean toward the listener. Else, you might repeat yourself a few more times.
Driving in such a lousy environment makes you feel exhausted and fatigued. Soundproofing dampens the noise for a peaceful driving experience. With the noise from the road, tire, traffic, engine, etc., being suppressed, it’s easier to hold a conversation or make phone calls without screaming your lungs out.
Privacy
This is one big advantage of having your car soundproofed. Truthfully, only a few people choose to soundproof their vehicles for privacy.
However, it can come in handy when having sensitive conversations. You don’t have to worry about strangers overhearing your conversations. This means you can receive your calls on loudspeakers and feel confident to discuss confidential information with passersby.
Improved focus
It’s hard to concentrate in noisy environments. For a long drive, it can be annoying—noises from vibrations, traffic, fancy tires, and exhaust overlapping and causing a nuisance. Loud noise can easily distract you and lead to an avoidable accident.
If this is a problem for you, car soundproofing is the way to go. You don’t have to deal with the ugly consequences of driving in a noisy cabin for long.
Better Sound Quality
With so much noise seeping into your car, it’s hard to enjoy your music’s niceties. Loud external noise tends to detract from the sound quality of your car’s stereo. Thus, drowning the bass or making your favorite podcast inaudible.
This is one of the main advantages of car soundproofing. It significantly improves the sound quality. You can feel the thumping bass without having to increase the volume. The best part, your music is also contained, which means you won’t be causing noise pollution as you drive past others.
DIY Sound Deadening Materials for Cars
1. Dynamat 10455 Self-Adhesive Sound Deadener
The Dynamat 10455 Self-Adhesive Sound Deadener is my top pick for car soundproofing – and the reasons are not far-fetched. It’s the most versatile and practical DIY automobile sound-deadening product on this list.
It’s the ultimate choice for car owners looking for a ready-to-use option. This product has a superior sticky performance thanks to its extra sticky, patented Butyl rubber core. It stays in place securely.
On top of that;
This unit features a proprietary blend of a 4 mil aluminum layer and Butyl rubber core for an unparalleled soundproofing performance. It delivered noticeably better stereo quality, minimized the road noise, and got more bass and louder music.
The Dynamat Extreme comes with a total of 9 thin 36 sq ft sheets. However, you’d need more than one box to cover your car’s rear decks, floor, lids, roofs, doors, etc.
While most customers find this product a bit pricey, they are the most trustworthy brands offering top-quality insulation kits—no foul smell or challenging installation procedure.
Pros:
- Its peel-and-stick design makes installation a breeze
- Multiple large sheets to let you resize and minimize waste
- Ideal for cutting down the metal resonance
- Made in the USA
Cons:
- Slightly pricey
2. Noico 80 mil Car Sound Deadening Mat
Suppose you are in the market for a premium insulation kit to quiet down the external noise leaking into your car. In that case, the Noico 80 mil Car Sound Deadening Mat is the way to go.
This product is 1.5x thicker than its competitors. This makes it a clear winner when it comes to combating low-frequency resonance. Its thick and heavy design puts much-needed resistance to the noise path and effectively blocks them out.
Like the top-quality Dynamat Extreme, this model features Butyl for a foolproof installation. It’s self-adhesive. So, there are no technical procedures to install them on your car doors, floor, lid, trunk, and roof.
But that’s not all;
I love how the Noico has a special indicator to ensure you install these mats correctly, like a professional. The roller makes sure the insulation is done properly for the best result.
I was also pleased with the sizes these mats come in. They were a cinch to cut into desired sizes, which helped avoid having lots of small unusable pieces.
On the downside, this product is way pricer than the Dynamat Extreme. But remember its soundproofing performance is superior and provides better thermal insulation. Also, the roller is not included. This means extra cost, making this product very expensive for budget shoppers.
Pros:
- 80 mil nominal thickness for the best soundproofing results
- Thicker and heavier than most options out there
- Special indication on the aluminum foil for guided installation
- Can handle the high heat from car engine
Cons:
- On the pricey side
- Roller sold separately
3. Fatmat Self-Adhesive MegaMat Sound Deadener
Not everyone is willing to break the bank to soundproof their cars. And luckily, you don’t have to with the Fatmat Self-Adhesive MegaMat Sound Deadener. Yet, this product offers an impressive soundproofing performance that rivals the best-in-class Noico.
Coming with a nominal thickness of 70 mils, this unit is up there with some of the best in the market regarding sound insulation. It rocks a patented Butyl rubber compound with a protective layer of reinforced black-finished aluminum that drastically quiets down the external noise.
Also, the manufacturer claims that MegaMat has an anti-vibration membrane. From my experience, it did a decent job of absorbing and dissipating vibration while improving the overall acoustic of the car.
However, I find some things a bit tricky. Although I had no issue resizing the mat, removing the silicone release film was more challenging than the manufacturer stated.
On the brighter side;
Despite its lower price tag, this model comes with everything you need to install the mat correctly. The MegaMat is supplied with a knife, roller, and FatMat Sound Control Decal. That’s more value for money than you ever bargained for.
Pros:
- Includes everything you need to get started right away
- Affordable price point
- Improves car’s acoustic and stereo quality
- Available in different size options, from 10 to 100 sq ft.
Cons:
- Removing the silicone film can be a bit tricky
- It could be more adhesive
4. HushMat 10200 Ultra Black Foil Door Kit
HushMat 10200 Ultra is another affordable option for car owners seeking a quieter and more comfortable driving experience on a highway.
But that’s not why it stands out from the competition. This product is more than a sound insulator. It can withstand heat up to 400 degrees F. Thus, making a perfect choice for keeping the heat from the transmission tunnel out. This is a good alternative if you can’t afford the Dynamat Xtreme.
What’s more?
The highly sought-after sound deadener significantly reduces the amount of heat. This makes your car more energy efficient by up to 40%.
Another reason I love the HushMat 10200 Ultra is the sizable sheet that makes it a breeze to work with. Plus, they warp easily and are hassle-free to install in tight areas.
This made-in-the-USA effectively attenuates noise from low-frequency resonance up to 1000Hz. I noticed the rattling noise from playing songs with a lot of basses was gone while the bass was thumping without increasing the volume.
Pros:
- Dampens low-frequency resonant noise for a peaceful drive on highways
- Affordable price range
- The door slam feels more solid and audible
- Easy to cut with scissors and install on any surface without prepping
Cons:
- You might have to double the sheets for satisfactory results
5. B-Quiet Ultimate The Best Viscoelastic Sound Deadener
The B-Quiet Ultimate earns a place on my list for its flexibility, durable design, and reasonable;e design. This model features superior engineering. It stretches and wraps into tight corners.
It’s perfect for dampening mechanical and structural vibrations from your car’s stereo, engines, or tires.
It also comes with an ultra-sticky Butyl rubber that keeps it in place. Plus, it makes installation a breeze. That aside, I love its heavy aluminum layer because of its tear-resistant properties. And it doesn’t give off any awful odors like other affordable options flooding the market.
Furthermore, its nominal thickness is 63 mil, but it still does a decent job. It abruptly lowers the amount of rattling, traffic, tire, and engine noise leaking into your cabin.
If you can’t afford my top-choice Dynamat Xtreme, you can still enjoy a peaceful, fatigue-free driving experience with the B-Quiet Ultimate.
Pros:
- Heat safe up to 293 Fahrenheit.
- Impressive stretching and warping ability
- Easy to install
- It features an anti-leak design for a superior soundproofing result
Cons:
- Adhesion was not as impressive as Dynamat Xtreme
How to Eliminate Annoying Car Noises?
Installing sound-absorbing materials is the most effective way to dampen the road and engine noise.
However, there are different ways to soundproof your automobile.
The three most effective methods are:
- Adding sound-deadening pads on the floor
- Sticking sound insulation pads on every door, including the boot
- Using sound-deadening materials for your car
Among these three options, DIY sound-deadening material for cars is the most economical option. You can easily purchase the best sound-deadening materials and install them yourself. This is a great option if you consider yourself handy.
How to Choose the Best DIY Sound Deadening Material for Cars?
Before purchasing a sound-deadening material from your local automobile store, here are important factors to consider to ensure you are making the right call:
Purpose
Sound-deadening materials can help isolate noise in two ways: absorbing or blocking. For the best soundproofing result, you want to use both functions of the material.
However, if you want to improve your speakers’ sound quality, I suggest purchasing a sound absorber. You would get that thumping, heart-pumping bass sound.
Type of Material
Soundproofing materials are made differently. The amount of vibrations, sound waves, and resonance absorbed varies depending on the materials. However, you might require more than one type of sound insulation material based on the problem.
Mats
These sound insulators come in small to large rectangular sizes to cover your car panels and floor.
Foams
Soundproofing foams are usually placed underneath the mats to improve their sound insulation perforation. They are bulkier and thicker, meaning more resistance to the path of noise. They are excellent sound absorbers and deliver better soundproofing results with mats.
Sprays
Cars have a lot of tricky spots that can leak noise. These spots are usually hard to reach, and options like laying foams and mats won’t work. In this case, it’s best to consider sound-deadening spray insulation. They provided the much-needed reach into your car’s corners and crevices.
Remember that sound insulation sprayers are not as effective as foam and mats in combating road and engine noise.
What’s more?
Soundproofing foams and mats double as thermal insulators. They do more than just block out the annoying noise. They can help with regulating your vehicle’s interior temperature. Thus, improving your car’s efficiency.
Nominal thickness
When it comes to DIY sound-deadening material for cars, you need to pay extra attention to its nominal thickness. In most cases, a thicker sheet will deliver better soundproofing performance.
For best results, consider a nominal thickness of at least 60 mils. However, you can even go for thicker mats up to 400 mils. Also, you can create multiple layers of these sound-deadening mats for improved sound isolation.
Number of sheets
Heavy-duty soundproofing materials will most likely come as one large sheet. While they are easy to cut into their preferred size and shape, it can be a lot of work. Plus, they are not beginner-friendly.
Luckily, there are options available in 10 – 30 sheets. They are easier to work with and perfect for beginners.
Related FAQs
There are several options for soundproofing your car. You can use sprays, damping mats, and insulation foams.
It depends. Acoustic foams are best for preventing sound waves from bouncing off by absorbing them. Other materials you can use include rock wool, fiberglass, cork, felt, polymers, etc.
While most manufacturers claim their sound-deadening material can help boost your stereo’s base response, I find it quite misleading. These materials only help quiet down the ambient noise for a clearer sound from your car speakers. This means you don’t get a thumping bass if your stereo can’t.
Conclusion
Driving in a noisy cabin can significantly affect your experience and health. Several studies have shown that prolonged noise exposure can cause hearing loss, among many other health complications.
So, if you drive long distances on a highway, it’s best to soundproof your car for a more comfortable driving experience.
However, you don’t have to break the bank to do this.
I’ve reviewed the top 5 best DIY sound-deadening materials for cars and included a detailed buying guide to ensure you make an informed decision.
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