How To Soundproof a Bathroom Door? {5 Proven Ways}

Soundproofing a bathroom door is more important than ever before. The reason is simple and you all know it and that’s to maintain privacy.

No one, I mean no one wants to hear the sound coming from the bathroom, it is really a weird experience. After all, bathrooms are where we do private things like using the toilet or taking a shower.

So it also needs some soundproofing to prevent sound from coming out. The door is a good place to start since it allows the majority of sound to go out and come in as well.

To help you soundproof your toilet door effectively, I have brought 5 proven ways to soundproof a bathroom door.

The methods mentioned in this post are capable of cutting down by up to 25 dB, which is a significant improvement. Keep reading…

1: Install acoustic door sweep

Gaps, believe it or not, can be a real problem. Any gap, whether it’s big, small, or even tiny, allows sound to pass in and out through your bathroom door.

It’s really important not to ignore these gaps and cracks whether you are soundproofing condo door, nosie proofing barn door or any door and no matter how costliest option you opt for soundproofing your bathroom door, if there are gaps, then it won’t be as effective as it used to be.

Most of the bathroom doors I have soundproofed so far had gaps below, I mean between the floor and the door itself. You can fix this by installing an acoustic door sweep. 

Acoustic door sweeps are a bit more effective than regular ones but they do cost a bit more, around $50 or higher. When you’re looking for one, try to find the type that needs screws to attach it.

These tend to be stronger and can create a better seal to keep noise out and to in as well. If your bathroom door has gaps between the door and the frame, then seal them by applying weather stripping.

And if the door of your bathroom is old and has cracks or gaps on the door itself or on the sides, like the one you see in the picture below:

Then use acoustic caulk to fix them. (Learn about 15 hacks for soundproofing a door)

2: Use Audimute sound absorption sheet

If you are looking for an cheap way to make your bathroom door soundproof then consider using Audimute sound absorption sheet, it is pretty effective at absorbing and reducing sound.

It has a NRC rating of 0.85 which speaks about its effectiveness. NRC stands for Noise Reduction Coefficient. It’s a measure used to assess how effective a material or surface is at absorbing sound. NRC rating of 0.7 is considered good and the higher the better but it is ideally close to 1. (Know more about NRC)

To use this sound absorption sheet to soundproof your bathroom door, just purchase it from the official website of Audimute. 

Once you have the sheet, hang it using the hanging knob and screws that are included with the sheet. The installation process is very similar to curtains, it has 3 metal grommets at the top, which makes the installation so much easier.

Learn: How to soundproof Louvered doors?

3: Install soundproofing composite on your bathroom to make it soundproof

Installing soundproofing composite on your bathroom door to reduce the noise going out and coming in can be the most effective way if done correctly.

You may not have heard about this technique before, but trust me it works like crazy. Soundproofing composite is typically composed of multiple layers of soundproofing materials that work in synergy to provide superior sound insulation.

These can be materials such as mass-loaded vinyl, foam insulation, and sound-damping compounds. They are mainly designed to block sound and they are super good at it. 

To soundproof your bathroom door with soundproofing composite, first measure your door size and order a soundproofing composite accordingly.

Well, it is hard to find one that is perfect for your door, so it is better to get one that is bigger than your bathroom door’s size. You can purchase soundproofing composite from HomeDepot, a good quality composite will cost you anywhere between $6 to $17 per square foot.

Make sure to choose one that is thick. If you want to get the best result then go for a composite that is 1 inch thick. For top-notch results, consider using a product like “Quiet Barrier™ HD Soundproofing Composite.” It’s known for its exceptional sound-blocking abilities.

Now, let’s get to the installation process:

Step 1: Remove the door from its hinges and lay it flat on a clean, stable surface.

Step 2: Using your door’s measurements, cut the soundproofing composite to fit the door’s surface by using a utility knife.

Step 3: Now, apply heavy-duty adhesive on your door surface and spread it evenly.

Step 4: After applying the adhesive, place the soundproofing composite onto the door’s surface by aligning the edges and corners properly and then press it down firmly to ensure good adhesion. And give it a few hours to get dry and create a tight bond.

Step 5: Once the soundproofing composite is properly attached and secured, reattach the door to its hinges. And congratulations you are done!

Related: How to soundproof a Bifold door?

4: Install acoustic blankets on the outside to soundproof your bathroom door

Installing acoustic blanket to soundproof a bathroom is an effective solution. You all know what an acoustic blanket is. They are good at reducing high-frequency sound effectively, however, they are not that much effective at lowering low-frequency sound. 

I recently conducted a test to see how effective soundproof blankets are, and the blanket I used for this test reduced the noise level by 13 decibels.

The initial noise level was 65 decibels, and it dropped to 52 decibels, even though the blanket was a standard soundproofing blanket that I bought from Amazon for $99.

The good thing about using acoustic blankets is the versatility, I mean you have the option to install them on either inside or outside of the door, depending on your preference. 

While looking for a blanket for soundproofing, look for one from a reputable brand such as RYB Home or Audimute. 

However, if you have a big budget to invest in soundproofing your bathroom door then the “Quiet Quilt™ Outdoor Soundproof Blanket” would be the best option for you. It is costly but way more effective than the rest.

To install these blankets, you’ll need hooks or hangers placed on the door frame or the wall just above the door. Then, you can simply drape the blankets over the door from these hooks or hangers. It is as easy as that!

Blankets are perfect for soundproofing French doors, sliding door with glass, and for pocket door sound insulation.

5: Replace the door with a solid door

So if you are someone who does not like the idea of techniques that I have mentioned above and you are looking for a more permanent and long-term solution then replacing your bathroom door with a solid core door is the perfect solution for you.

Hollow doors, which are very commonly found in many homes, are very poor at blocking sound. According to Rachel Lodato, hollow-core doors have an STC rating between 21-25, which is why they are so poor at noise reduction. (You can learn more about STC rating from here)

STC stands for “Sound Transmission Class,” and it’s a measure of how good something is at blocking sound from one side to the other. It goes from 25 to 65 and the higher it is the better the material would be at noise reduction.

Here is an STC rating chart for different types of door and their sound-blocking capacities. 

As you can see in the above chart, soundproof doors are the most effective due to the fact that they are primarily made for this purpose and I would not recommend you install a soundproof door in a bathroom since there is no need for a soundproof door in a bathroom and they are also super expensive. (Related: cost of a soundproof door)

Instead, what I would recommend is replacing your hollow core bathroom door with a solid core bathroom door. 

It’s a practical, reasonable, and slightly affordable solution. Solid core doors are naturally better at sound blocking, and they can reduce noise levels by 16 decibels (dB), as I’ve personally tested and confirmed, compared to hollow core doors.

And if you apply any of the mentioned bathroom door soundproofing techniques such as installing an acoustic blanket, you will get a massive noise reduction. Learn more on how to make a hollow door soundproof.

Frequently Asked Questions

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