Best Ceiling Soundproofing Systems of 2024
When it comes to the best ceiling soundproofing, you want to compare different systems. Understand exactly what you need your ceiling soundproofing to achieve before you buy a system. Here we compare the best systems of 2024 and take a dive into the pros and cons.
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Compare the best ceiling soundproofing systems
| Ceiling System | Sound Blocked | Installation Level | Price per m2 | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MuteClip Double Gold | 20dB | Intermediate | £115 | Sound Reduction |
| MuteClip Double Silver | 19dB | Advanced | £110 | Price per dB Reduced |
| MuteClip Board Bronze | 11dB | Intermediate | £56 | Best Budget Solution |
What is ceiling soundproofing?
Ceiling soundproofing is a mix of materials layered together to block noise. Ceiling soundproofing can just block airborne noise (music and talking), or just impact noise (footsteps), or, both. Like all soundproofing, ceiling systems stop noise getting out and getting in so you benefit on both sides.
The pros of a decoupled ceiling system
In ceiling soundproofing, there is a bit of benefit to decoupling the ceiling (floating ceiling). Only a decoupled system will be able to resist impact vibrations coming through from the floor above. A decoupled ceiling uses sound isolation clips, like MuteClips, to detach the layer of soundproofing panels away from the original ceiling.
If you have impact (footsteps) noise from above, you can’t block this by simply screwing soundproof panels directly to your ceiling. A direct-to-ceiling system like that should only be used to block airborne noises like talking and music.
The best Ceiling Soundproofing Systems 2023
Issues Comparing Ceiling Soundproofing Data
The problem with comparing soundproofing systems is that the data can be easily made to look good. If you don’t know what to look for, you’ll get caught out! We show our figures as the improvement a system made to an existing structure. However, most places inflate this figure by showing the improvement reading, which includes the structure’s natural resistance to sound.
Let me give you an example. Ceiling A resists 30dB of airborne noise and 18dB of impact noise before treatment. After treatment, the readings are 45dB of airborne resistance and 28dB of impact resistance. This is the improvement reading. Here at iKoustic, we would tell you that the system achieves a 15dB airborne improvement and 10dB impact improvement. However, many places will just give you the reading after treatment, which is a much larger figure and not illustrative of the improvement it will give you.
To add to the chaos, very few places offer the pre-treatment reading, even in their product data sheet. This means you could purchase a system with a great reading, only to find it hardly works. Without knowing the starting figure for the resistance to sound, you’re never going to know how good the improvement reading actually is! If you can’t find the pretreatment figure, reach out and ask for it. If they won’t provide it, I would shop elsewhere. If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
The pros and cons of the best ceiling soundproofing systems 2024
Features and Benefits
| Sound Reduction | 20dB Ctr |
| Suitable for | Timber Ceilings |
| Layers of mass | 3 |
| System width | 74mm |
| Works for | Noisy neighbours, TV noise, music studio |
| Installation Level | Intermediate |
| Decoupling Device | MuteClip |
| Price per m2 | £115 |
| Best pro | High sound reduction |
| Con | System is 74mm thick |
No.1 Best Ceiling Soundproofing Pick
MuteClip Double Gold
The best ceiling soundproofing solution can block your noisy neighbours while also protecting rooms above from noise below.
The best ceiling soundproofing offers comprehensive defense against both impact (footsteps) and airborne noises (talking or music). It will prevent sound from entering and escaping your room through the ceiling. We have used this in flats where noise from above is a common issue.
The gold system can offer a high reduction in impact noise because it uses a MuteClip and channel system. This decouples the new ceiling from the original structure by suspending it from the clip and channels. Each clip acts like a mini shock absorber and isolates the vibrations from above, so you aren’t disturbed below.
Something we love about this system, is that it can be customised for different ceiling types. We can upgrade it to save space, offer space for pipework, level uneven beams, or, to fit metal framed ceilings. You can find our guide to ceiling sound isolation clips here.
What we like most
System draw backs
Features and Benefits
| Sound Reduction | 11dB Ctr |
| Suitable for | Timber Ceiling |
| Layers of mass | 3 |
| System width | 74mm |
| Works for | Noisy neighbours, TV noise, music studio |
| Installation Level | Moderate |
| Decoupling Device | MuteClip |
| Price per m2 | £110 |
| Best pro | Cheapest for reduction |
| Con | Harder installation |
2nd Best Ceiling Soundproofing 2024
MuteClip Silver
The second best ceiling soundproofing only makes a small compromise in performance and saves a few pounds per m2 of your budget!
Our Silver system for timber ceilings is another decoupled system to resist impact noise as well as airborne noise. However, this system has a slightly lower grade of visco-elastic membrane than the gold system. This results in 1dB less of sound reduced.
The change of material also makes the system slightly harder to install. When we have spoken to our specialist installers they say the material handles more stiffly so it can be a little more difficult to manipulate into position.
That said, this system does offer a saving of £3 per m2, which is significant for such a high sound reduction. Like the Gold system, the silver solution can be upgraded with different MuteClips to allow for cables in the ceiling, or, to reduce the space lost.
What we like most
System draw backs
Features and Benefits
| Sound Reduction | 11dB |
| Suitable for | Timber Ceilings |
| Layers of mass | 1 |
| System width | 34mm |
| Works for | Airborne Noises |
| Installation Level | Easy |
| Decoupling Device | None |
| Price per m2 | £56 |
| Best pro | Incredible value |
| Con | No impact reduction |
3rd Best Ceiling Soundproofing 2024
MuteBoard Double
For those who only want to block airborne noises, our third pick is best for you! This saves space and budget while reducing talking, music and TV.
Taking third place is the bronze system, our super budget-friendly ceiling soundproofing solution. This is a direct to ceiling option, so it is excellent against airborne issues. This system shouldn’t be used for issues with footsteps because it hasn’t got a decoupling device, like the MuteClip.
The benefits of this system are less head space lost, as it only uses 34mm of your room height. It’s significantly cheaper per m2 and will give you a reduction that will be perceived as more than a halving of the original noise.
Another big win for this system is that it’s easy to install as it is made from three layers that are screwed directly to the ceiling joists. This system is best for those who don’t want airborne noise traveling upstairs, such as a bedroom above a loud kitchen or lounge.
What we like most
System draw backs
