How To Soundproof an Apartment Floor? {5 Proven Ways}

Living in an apartment can get pretty annoying when you have to put up with noisy neighbors or the hustle and bustle of traffic outside. 

I’ve been there, and I totally get how frustrating it can be. From upstairs to downstairs literally all produces annoying and frustrating noise, which is something that no one wants including me.

And when it comes upstairs, you can soundproof the ceiling, sure, but what about the floor? As you guessed it – soundproofing.

Now, to be honest, soundproofing a floor can be costly. But there are some renter-friendly, effective floor soundproofing techniques that don’t cost much. 

So in today’s article, I have brought you 5 tried-and-tested methods to soundproof an apartment floor. Let’s get into the details:

5 Proven Ways to soundproof an apartment floor  

1: Use interlocking rubber sheets

Plus, they also really do a nice job at reducing noise from downstairs. According to floorscan.co.uk, they can significantly cut down on noise traveling between floors.

And the best part is that – interlocking rubber mats are affordable, costing $1 to $2.5 per square foot. 

Well, you can also go with foam interlocking floor mats, but rubber mats have higher density, making them a bit more effective. On top of that, they are also easier to clean than cleaning foam ones.

2: Attach cork tiles to the floor using adhesive

If you’re working with a budget of less than $2 per square foot for soundproofing your floor, here’s a smart move: go for cork tiles attached with heavy-duty acoustic adhesive. It is the best way to soundproof a floor from noisy neighbors.

It is one of the popular flooring options that helps with soundproofing too. Cork is a natural sound absorber and a 12 mm thick cork sheet reduces noise by 34 dB, which is a standalone super effective but acoustic adhesive works as a sound dampening layer. 

According to wecork.com, cork is filled with 50% air which helps

it absorb vibrations and direct impacts better. Now, to pull off this technique, all you have to do is spread the acoustic adhesive evenly on the floor and then place the cork tiles on top of it. 

Keep in mind to leave at least a 10 mm gap on the edges and after installing the cork sheets, seal those gaps with some sealant to prevent flanking sound. And now your apartment floor is soundproof. If you are soundproofing a concrete floor then it would be even better.

3: Lay the thick carpet on the floor

Using carpet or rug is pretty straightforward to reduce a floor in a flat but it is usually not that effective. They are good at sound absorption but they suck at tackling those impact noises from downstairs. 

But if you want to get some relief from impact noises from traveling throughout the whole room, it can be a good option to go for. 

Price-wise, they are cheap and can also be folded easily when needed to move out, so it is completely renter-friendly. If you’re on the hunt for one, aim for at least 10 mm thickness and go for the rubber variety. That way, you’re getting some impact noise relief without breaking the bank.

4: Use MLV + Carpet

Using mass-loaded vinyl with a thick carpet is a top-notch way to reduce and make your floor quieter. You all know about carpet, and MLV is a super effective sound-dampening material. 

A layer of MLV can reduce noise by a whopping 30 dB and can dampen all the noises from downstairs and even your footsteps. MLV can cost up to $3 per square foot (according to soundproofdirect). 

So yeah, it requires a bit of investment initially, but trust me, it’s worth every penny. I’ve used it in various soundproofing projects, and its effectiveness has never let me down. 

To use this technique, all that is needed is to put some glue on the floor and lay the MLV over it. And make sure to seal the edges properly, this is very important. And then lay the carpet over it, and voila, your apartment is officially soundproofed.

5: Use two layers of rubber mat

If you are looking for an option to soundproof your apartment floor for music then I recommend laying two layers of rubber mat with acoustic adhesive.

Rubber mats are super effective at absorbing and dampening sound. It works best for soundproofing wooden floors and even better for concrete ones. Plus, you can also use it for soundproofing attic floors.

But if you are soundproofing your floor for music then you need to go the extra mile and use two layers of rubber mat with acoustic glue. 

Now, fair warning, this method can dig a bit into your wallet, ranging from $4 to $7 per square foot for soundproofing goods. Anyway to use this technique follow these steps:

1. Clear off any dust or debris from the floor and make sure it’s nice and even.
2. Then put glue on the floor and spread it evenly using a putty knife.
3. Roll out the first layer of rubber mat and give it a good roll with a roller to make sure it’s sticking like glue (pun intended).
4. Repeat the process: glue, spread, and roll for the second layer of rubber mat.
5. If you spot any sneaky gaps on the sides, seal the deal with some acoustic sealant.

Apartment floor soundproofing FAQs