For apartment renters dealing with generator noise, traffic, loud neighbors or constant street activity, achieving a quieter home does not always require an expensive renovation. The right materials, used in the right places, can make an apartment more comfortable without changing its structure.

But there is an important distinction to understand before spending money. Soundproofing is about reducing sound transmission between spaces, while sound absorption mainly reduces echoes and reverberation inside a room. Acoustical Solutions makes the same distinction in its guide to affordable soundproofing materials.

That difference matters because a foam panel may make a room sound less echoey without doing much to stop a generator outside the window. For renters, the most practical strategy is usually to combine inexpensive materials that seal gaps, add absorption and, where possible, provide additional mass.

Hence, in this article, Tribune Online looked into 10 of the best cheap soundproofing materials for apartment living, based on established acoustic principles and practical residential applications.

Weatherstripping tape

Weatherstripping is one of the cheapest places to start because gaps around doors and windows can allow sound to leak into an apartment.

The material is designed to create a tighter seal around moving parts, reducing the openings through which air, and therefore airborne sound can pass. Building Science Education similarly identifies gaps around windows and doors as important leakage points and recommends appropriate air-sealing methods.

So, for a noisy apartment, applying removable weatherstripping around a bedroom window or door can be a sensible first step.

Door draft stoppers

The gap underneath an apartment door can become an obvious pathway for outside noise. A door draft stopper is inexpensive, removable and simple to use.

It will not transform a lightweight door into a sound-rated barrier, but closing that opening can reduce sound leakage. Acoustical Solutions also recommends draft stoppers as a low-cost approach to addressing door gaps.

For renters, this is particularly useful because it does not require drilling or permanent alterations.

Heavy curtains

Thick, closely woven curtains can help reduce reflections inside a room and provide some additional attenuation around windows. They are especially useful when combined with proper window sealing.

However, the word “soundproof” can be misleading here. Curtains are primarily absorptive rather than true sound barriers. The Whole Building Design Guide (WBDG) identifies drapes and other soft finishes as ways to provide sound absorption inside occupied spaces.

Rugs and thick carpets

Hard tile and other reflective flooring can make a room sound louder by allowing sound to bounce around the space. A thick rug with a suitable underlay can absorb some of those reflections and reduce footfall noise.

The effect is more noticeable with impact sounds than with a distant generator. WBDG notes that carpet is particularly effective for footfall noise, although it should not be mistaken for a complete substitute for other acoustic treatments.

For a rental apartment with bare floors, a rug is therefore both a practical furnishing choice and a modest acoustic improvement.

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Moving blankets

Heavy moving blankets are another inexpensive option for temporary acoustic treatment. They can be hung over doors, placed behind furniture or used as an additional soft layer around particularly reflective areas.

Their usefulness comes primarily from their mass and absorptive properties, not from some special ability to “stop” all sound. Acoustical Solutions includes moving blankets among its budget-friendly options for temporary noise control.

They are particularly attractive to renters because they can be removed when moving out.

Acoustic foam panels

Acoustic foam is often marketed as a soundproofing product, but its main job is usually sound absorption.

Its porous structure can reduce reflections and reverberation, making speech, music and other sounds less harsh inside a room. It is therefore more useful for controlling room acoustics than blocking a loud generator outside.

CSI Creative explains that sound-absorbing materials work by dissipating some of the energy carried by sound waves, with performance depending on the material, thickness, room and type of noise.

For renters, removable foam panels can improve a room’s acoustic feel, but expectations should remain realistic.

Polyester or felt acoustic panels

Felt and polyester-fiber panels offer another renter-friendly way to control reflections. These fibrous materials can absorb sound energy and are often easier to integrate into a living space than exposed foam.

CSI Creative identifies polyester fiber and other fibrous materials among materials used for acoustic absorption. That their performance varies with thickness, construction and placement.

They are particularly useful on large, reflective walls in rooms that sound empty or echoey.

Mass-loaded vinyl

Mass-loaded vinyl, commonly called MLV, is different from foam and fabric because it is designed primarily as a sound-blocking barrier.

Its relatively high mass in a thin form makes it useful in certain wall, floor and ceiling assemblies. Acoustical Solutions describes MLV as a thin, heavy barrier for reducing airborne sound transmission.

For a renter, however, MLV is less convenient than curtains or weatherstripping because achieving meaningful performance usually requires proper installation within or as part of a building assembly. It should not be treated as a magic sheet that can simply be taped to a wall.

Bookshelves filled with books

A fully loaded bookshelf can contribute some mass and help break up reflections from a wall. It is an inexpensive option because the primary materials may already be part of your home.

Still, calling a bookshelf a “soundproof wall” would be inaccurate. A substantial building assembly provides much greater sound isolation than furniture placed against it. WBDG notes that effective acoustic strategies distinguish between absorbing sound within a room and blocking transmission between spaces.

Think of a bookshelf as a supporting treatment rather than a replacement for proper sound isolation.

Fiberglass acoustic panels

Fiberglass is widely used in professional acoustic products because its fibrous structure can absorb sound effectively. CSI Creative includes fiberglass among established sound-absorbing materials.

For home use, it is better to choose a properly manufactured, fabric-covered acoustic panel rather than handling exposed fiberglass yourself. The goal is to obtain the acoustic benefit without creating an indoor air-quality or handling problem.

How to choose the right material

The best material depends on where the noise is coming from.

If noise is entering through a door or window, start with weatherstripping and draft sealing. If the room itself is echoey, rugs, curtains, foam, felt or other absorptive materials are more relevant. If the problem is serious airborne transmission through a wall, a material such as MLV may be part of a more substantial sound-isolation system.

This is why buying the most expensive acoustic product is not necessarily the best solution. The WBDG also identifies three broad acoustic strategies: absorbing sound, blocking transmission and masking unwanted sound.

What works best for generator noise?

Generator noise can be particularly difficult because engine sounds often contain low-frequency components. Lightweight absorptive materials may improve the sound inside a room without completely blocking the source.

For a renter, it makes sense to start at the likely entry points: seal gaps around the noisiest window or door, add a substantial curtain, and then use rugs or absorptive furnishings to reduce reflections. If the generator is extremely close to the building, a professional assessment may be necessary for a meaningful improvement.

The best cheap soundproofing materials for apartment living are not necessarily the products with the word ‘soundproof’ printed on their packaging. Their effectiveness depends on the type of noise, the construction of the apartment and where the material is installed.

Affordable options such as weatherstripping, draft stoppers, heavy curtains, rugs, moving blankets and acoustic panels can improve comfort when used appropriately. More specialized materials such as MLV and fiberglass can provide greater acoustic benefits when incorporated into properly designed assemblies.

Persistent environmental noise is also more than an annoyance. The World Health Organisation recognises excessive environmental noise as a public-health concern associated with problems including sleep disturbance, annoyance and cardiovascular and cognitive effects.

For renters, the goal does not have to be perfect silence. It is to make the home noticeably calmer, using affordable materials that match the actual acoustic problem.