Jodi Jacobson / Getty Images
Soundproof drywall dampens sound from outsideneighborsand sound from within the house.
What Is Soundproof Drywall?
Traditional drywall panels are made of gypsum sandwiched between layers of paper.
Jodi Jacobson / Getty Images
Soundproof drywall dampens or reduces sound but doesn’t entirely block it.
The center layer is a viscoelastic material that dissipates energy and sound waves better than gypsum alone.
Some brands claim sound-dampening levels equal to those of eight layers of standard drywall.
The Spruce / Kevin Norris
QuietRock
Introduced in 2003, Pabco’sQuietRockwas one of the first sound-dampening panels to reach the market.
The QuietRock EZSnapMold Resistantproduct easily scores and snaps and has mold-resistant ingredients.
QuietRock 530 is a 5/8-inch thick version forfire resistancewhen required by code.
SilentFX QuickCut is available in 4-foot by 8-foot or 4-foot by 10-foot sheets.
Both sizes are available in 1/2-inch and 5/8-inch thicknesses, the latter being a jot down X fire-resistant material.
The marks are placed at five points in 4-inch increments.
Higher STC numbers mean better soundproofing.
Does Soundproof Drywall Work?
Soundproof drywall dampens sound as well as multiple layers of traditional drywall.
One layer of conventional drywall is rated at STC 34.
This compares to a sheet of conventional 1/2-inch-thick drywall selling for about $20 per panel.
Soundproof drywall may be a good choice for select rooms like home theaters, offices, and bedrooms.
Use 1/2-inch soundproof drywall in most rooms.
Use 5/8-inch soundproof drywall in rooms where your local building code requires pop in X or fire-resistant drywall.
To soundproof an existing wall, you’re free to use soundproofing drywall or soundproof with conventional drywall.
The advantage of soundproofing drywall is that it offers more soundproofing and less thickness.
With the soundproofing drywall, costs will be higher.
But you’ll have fewer hassles with trying to make double layers of drywall work on your walls.
Another economical way to soundproof your wall is to add sound-dampening wall coverings.
Sound-absorbing materials in a room, like carpeting and dense furniture, can also be added.
U.S. General Services Administration.
