Easy Ways to Soundproof Interior Doors (+ best interior doors for noise reduction)

Troubled with the noise through your hollow interior doors?

I know exactly how it feels.

Today, I’ll share some of my tips on how to minimize noise that flows through the interior doors of your home.

Whether you’re looking to find the best door for noise reduction or you’re looking for tips to soundproof interior doors, I have you covered.

Without any further ado, let’s get started, shall we?

Things You Will Need: At a Glance

1. Put Soundproofing Blankets

Soundproof blankets are a cost-effective solution to deal with noise entering your space.

These sound-absorbing materials are thick enough to be able to absorb the any noise coming their way.

The first layer of the blankets allows the sound to easily penetrate through them to the inner dense layers. These dense layers absorb most of the sound vibrations and minimize noise to a great extent.

Thus, installing them on the doors of your room will surely show you positive results. Moreover, these are very easy to install as well as remove whenever needed.

My favorite soundproofing blanket is this one from Audimute. It absorbs sounds efficient and comes with a quick hanging knob for easy installation.

You do not need to burn a hole in your pocket for purchasing an acoustic blanket. It will barely cost you about $30 to $50 to get a good quality blanket.

In most of the cases, a single layer of these blankets is enough to limit the noise level but if you are still getting some residual sound, then you might go about adding another layer of these blankets.

2. Use Acoustic Panels

Another solution to soundproofing your noisy interior doors is to add some soundproof panels. Acoustic panels are of two types – foam acoustic panel and the other made of fiberglass.

Both the panels are well known for their ability to reduce the overall noise in a room but fiberglass has got an extra edge over foam panels.

Acoustic foam panels are able to reduce echo very well whereas fiberglass is able to effectively block noise. Fiberglass panels are available in a variety of designs and colors from where you may select as per the decor of your room. Foam panels, on the other hand, have got a plain sober look.

This acoustic panel from Bubos is highly-dense and blocks out noise efficiently.

But if you are looking for a comparatively cheaper acoustic panel to soundproof your sliding interior doors then, foam panels are better since fiberglass panels are a bit costly.

They work by absorbing sound vibrations present inside a room and prevent reverberations. Fiberglass acoustic panels are waterproof and shockproof. Hence, it will not get damaged pretty soon and you will not need to spend money very frequently on them.

Here’s how to install them:

• Accurately measure the dimensions of your door.
• Cut the panels into pieces based on the measurements taken using a sharp knife
• Apply an adhesive such as the green glue and fix the panel on the concerned region and you are done!

Acoustic panels also prove to be very beneficial for those who work in the studios and music industry.

3. Seal The Holes And Cover The Gaps (Weatherstripping and Door Sweep)

You can easily seal the door by using weatherstripping tape.

All you need to do is peel off the backing and apply them directly to the concerned region. It is an inexpensive method of soundproofing your door.

Besides weatherstripping, you can also go about using a door sweep. The main components used in its fabrication are rubber or plastic mixed with aluminum.

This weatherstrip has an excellent sealing and resistance and comes with a strong adhesive backing.

Door sweeps are meant to cover the bottom of the door and prevent any exterior noise from invading the room. In addition to this, door sweeps also benefit you in many other ways.

If you using air conditioner inside your room, it will not allow moisture from going out and hence the amount of energy needed to cool the room will be reduced significantly. It also prevents insects and pollutants from entering into your personal space. It also reduces thermal leak.

It might make it slightly difficult to slider the doors—it’s a minor inconvenience though.

This door sweep should fit most door types and fits gaps up-to 1-inch. Plus, it’s super-easy to install.

Here’s how to install a door sweep:

• Loose the screws on the door sweep using a screwdriver or drill holes if there is none present in it previously
• Take accurate measurements of the door and cut the door sweep with precision and accuracy
• Now, position the door sweep at the bottom of the door and tighten the screws

Prefer video instructions?

Well, here you go:

Installing a Door Sweep. Seal Gap, Keep Drafts & Bugs Out! -Jonny DIY

4. Door Panel Reinforcement

Most of the interior doors are not adequately reinforced and so, the doorknob can easily break from off the jamb if the door is hit hard.

To avoid such things from happening, we can install a door panel. Besides serving the above-mentioned purpose, it will also help to reduce the overall noise created by the squeaky hollow doors.

Here’s how to install it:

• Firstly, remove the screws attached to the striker plate and discard it.
• Place the new striker plate built of a much stronger material like steel on the positions from where the old plate was removed and mark the outline using a pencil.
• Cut the wood based on the marking made and check if the striker plate fits perfectly.
• Fix the striker plate to the door jamb by tightening the screws.

5. Install Door Trimming

Another inexpensive yet effective method to block unwanted sounds is to install door trim. It can be carried out pretty easily.

Here’s the installation process:

• Firstly, wipe the wood perfectly with wood conditioner, stain and polyurethane sealer. Give sufficient time for all the layers to dry well before you put the next layer.
• Apply some primer and on drying, color the trim with the paint of your choice.
• Measure the dimensions of your door accurately using a tape measure.
• Cut the trim into pieces based on the measurements taken using a miter saw.
• In order to fit the trim perfectly, cut the ends at an angle of 45-degrees.
• Apply wood glue to the trim and fit the sides together with precision.
• Lastly, position the trim on the door and fix it using the nail gun.

Here is a short video to help you do the task with more ease and confidence.

Home Depot: How to Install Door Trim

6. Buy a Solid Door (Door Replacement)

Barn-door Sliding Doors

If none of the aforementioned methods provide you the best results, then replacing the door entirely might be the last option.

Hollow doors can generally be made soundproof using few layers of soundproof curtains and sealing the gaps and crevices. But even after doing all these tricks, if your door still passes some noise within the room, then replacing the hollow door with a solid one might be the last option.

The only negative fact about this method is that you need to spend some a bit more compared to other methods mentioned above to get a brand new door for your house. Approximately it might cost you around $350.

But this will surely benefit you in the long run as it is better able to reduce noise compared to hollow interior doors. Solid doors are very dense and hence curbs noise transfer.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the STC Rating?

All sound dampening substances are given an STC (Sound Transmission Class) rating which gives an indication of the amount of noise that the material can stop from invading an area. Thus, the higher the rating, the more effective is the sound deadening material.

The materials which have an STC rating of less than 20 are able to cut off only a small fraction of the noise. Substances with an STC rating of 30 to 35 are able to block low speech only and not loud sounds.

If you have to deal with loud noises, then you must try those products which have an STC rating ranging between 40 and 50.

In extreme cases, purchasing a sound dampening material with an STC rating in the range of 50 to 60 is the best option.

2. What Kind of Doors are Best for Soundproofing?

Most interior doors are hollow and constructed of thin veneers. This allows a lot of disturbance from outside and adjacent apartments from entering into your personal space.

Hence, choosing a thick door like solid wood or solid-core doors is one of the best ways to stop getting disturbed as well as disturbing others with loud sounds.

These doors are very dense and can act as an effective barrier to noise. Solid-core doors are comparatively cheaper as they are manufactured using cheaper yet effective noise-canceling materials like MDF (medium-density fibreboard) and wood veneer.

You can also go about purchasing a soundproof door that is lined with lead and comprises a sound-reducing board.

Selecting the perfect door is important but what is even more crucial is the fitting of the door. If any gaps are left in any part then it will easily emanate sound and the user will fail to achieve the main objective.

Here’s a good resource to help you learn more about it.

3. Do Solid Interior Doors Reduce Noise?

Yes, solid interior doors are pretty dense and are able to baffle noise that strikes its surface.

Hollow interior doors are light and have honeycomb interior which does not allow much insulation of noise which creates all the trouble. One of the easiest solutions to solve this issue is to simply pop off the hollow door and replace it with a solid door.

By perfectly fitting the solid door and by adding wallboard on both sides of it, you can ensure almost no transmission of sound on either side of the door.

Also, these doors have got a much higher STC rating which further confirms their efficiency at soundproofing your room from external noise.

4. How Can You Tell If a Door is Hollow or Solid?

Generally, most of the doors in the old apartments are solid doors, and the other doors attached to the bedroom, bathroom, and, inner quarters of the house are hollow doors.

But if you want to get a perfect idea about your door type, you can simply drum a nail. If it sounds hollow then it is a hollow door.

Also, solid doors are made by joining several pieces of wood together to make them thick and have easily noticeable seams.

Hollow doors are covered with veneer and the grain does not flow to the adjacent surface naturally. You can easily check for this if the door is not painted and conclude whether it is solid or hollow.

5. How Much Do Soundproof Doors Cost?

You will have to spend some fortune to get soundproof doors for your apartment. Traditional soundproof doors cost approximately $5000 and have a good STC rating.

But, you will also find soundproof doors with a price value of $3000 to $3500.

The price will also depend on the STC rating of the door. The higher is the rating, The more will be its price.

This piece of research gives you a good idea of the overall cost involved.

6. What is the Best Material For Interior Doors?

Different buildings and apartments have to face different levels of noise. Depending on the amount of sound that pervades into your personal space, you can go about choosing doors that can baffle all the disturbances.

Some of the best woods for interior doors are cherry, maple, walnut, mahogany, and juniper. Excellent quality doors with good sound insulation can be built out of these woods.

It is preferred to go about purchasing solid wood doors as they are very dense and resistant to termite attacks. The door is thick enough to absorb the vibrations and distortions and maintain the tranquillity of the room.

But it should be kept in mind that solid wood doors are subject to expansion and contraction due to variation in temperature. It is advised not to use them for the bathroom and other areas that have a lot of moisture.

Another wonderful alternative is a solid-core door which is comparatively cheaper and provides excellent sound and temperature insulation.

7. What is the Door Silencer?

Door silencer is a great solution for the doors which rattle and create unnecessary noise when they are closed. It is a small cone or rod-shaped piece of rubber which can be affixed to the frame of the door to prevent it from creating any noise while using it.

The flat end of the door silencer acts as a shock absorber by absorbing all the vibrations when you close the door and dissipates the energy.

Depending on the amount of sound the door creates, you may need to use multiple silencers to get the desired output.

Door silencers are extensively used in hospital rooms, offices, and in the rooms for babies and small kids.

8. How Do You Lubricate Door Hinges?

In order to repair the squeak of the hinges all you need is a silicone spray and grease.

Silicone sprays are long-lasting and less sloppy. They can easily penetrate the grime to properly lubricate the hinge.

Here are the steps you can follow:

• All you need to do is find the hinge pin and take it out. In case you are having any difficulty, you can use a screwdriver to pull out the pin.
• Clean the pins properly and apply the lubricant
• Put the hinge pin back to its place and you are done!