In large cities, noise pollution is driving growing demand for apartment soundproofing — from neighbours, corridors, and the shared floors and ceilings of condominium buildings. Choosing the right material for each location (wall, ceiling, floor) makes the space quieter without inflating the budget. Below are 10 common soundproofing and sound-absorbing materials, with their properties and where each fits best.

Note: many of these materials insulate against both sound and heat. “Sound insulation” (blocking sound transmission) and “sound absorption” (absorbing sound within the room) are two different functions — they usually need to be combined for good results.

1. EPS foam

Made from expandable polystyrene beads, EPS insulates well against both sound and heat, is lightweight and affordably priced. It is commonly used as lining or cladding for ceilings, walls and floors. Its advantage is easy installation; its drawback is limited fire resistance, so placement needs consideration.

2. Vibration-damping rubber

Synthetic damping rubber sheets, free of HCFC/CFC, provide good sound insulation and vibration damping, and are safe for health. They are especially effective against impact noise and vibration — well suited as floor underlay or as a resilient layer between structural elements.

Panel-type soundproofing materials for apartment walls and ceilings

3. XPS boards

Extruded XPS foam has higher rigidity and compressive strength than EPS, and resists water, mould and termites. It is used for sound and thermal insulation in walls, ceilings, floors and roofs — a good fit wherever mechanical durability and moisture resistance are required.

4. PE-OPP foam and EVA foam

Two effective heat- and sound-insulating foams: they block radiant heat well, reduce noise significantly, have a clean surface that is easy to wipe down, resist mould, and install quickly. They are typically used as underlay beneath flooring or behind wall panels.

5. Rockwool (mineral wool)

Produced from molten rock and ore, rockwool insulates well against sound and heat and withstands temperatures up to around 1,200°C — one of the standout fire-resistant materials. It is usually packed inside plasterboard partitions, ceilings and service shafts, and is a balanced choice between acoustic performance and fire safety.

Rockwool packed inside a partition for sound insulation and fire resistance

6. Ceramic fibre wool

Alumino-silicate ceramic fibre withstands very high temperatures (1,260–1,800°C) with outstanding durability. It is mainly used in extreme-heat environments (kilns, industrial equipment); in apartments it appears only in specific spots that require heat resistance.

7. Glasswool

Lightweight glass fibre with good sound absorption and thermal insulation at a reasonable price. It is commonly packed inside plasterboard walls and ceilings to absorb sound. During installation it must be fully encased and handled with protective gear, as the fibres can cause irritation.

8. Acoustic plasterboard

Perforated or purpose-made acoustic plasterboard, combined with a wool layer behind it, reduces echo within a room. It is popular for ceilings and partitions, finishes easily and can be painted to match the interior.

9. Acoustic foam (wedge/egg-crate)

Foam with a wedged or egg-crate surface designed for sound absorption — it soaks up reflections within the room and reduces echo. It suits music rooms, home offices and small recording spaces. Note that acoustic foam absorbs sound; it does not block sound passing through a wall.

10. Vulcanised rubber / specialist acoustic barriers

Vulcanised rubber sheets and high-mass (mass-loaded) acoustic materials block sound transmission effectively thanks to their weight. They are typically used on party walls shared with neighbours or on floors requiring high impact-noise insulation.

Installing a soundproofing layer for apartment floors and walls

Match the material to the location — and build the layers correctly

Soundproofing performance depends on a technically correct layer build-up, not on any single material: party walls need high-mass materials to block transmission; floors need a damping layer against impact noise; ceilings and private rooms need added absorption. Building the layers wrong (for example, sticking acoustic foam on a wall and expecting it to block a neighbour’s noise) rarely meets expectations.

AIC designs and builds apartment interiors under a single-point design-build model, with over 10 years in the trade (since 2016 under the predecessor Nhan Viet; AIC was founded in 2019). From the apartment’s current condition, AIC advises on the right soundproofing solution for each location, produces a BOQ estimate within roughly 4 working hours, and hands over with a warranty of up to 24 months. See our apartment interior design and build service and the article on engineered wood types in interiors.

Frequently asked questions

Which material blocks neighbour noise best?

For sound passing through a party wall, favour high-mass materials (vulcanised rubber, mass-loaded panels) combined with a rockwool or glasswool layer inside the partition. Wedge or egg-crate acoustic foam only absorbs echo inside your own room — it cannot block noise from next door.

What is the difference between sound insulation and sound absorption?

Sound insulation stops sound transmitting through the structure (walls, floors); sound absorption soaks up reflections inside the room to reduce echo and boominess. A genuinely quiet space usually needs both.

What should be used to soundproof an apartment floor?

Floors mostly suffer impact noise (footsteps, dragged chairs), so favour a damping layer such as damping rubber or resilient foam beneath the finish, combined with a floating-floor build-up where high performance is required. The exact solution depends on the building’s floor structure.