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How to Reduce Noise in an Apartment as a Renter

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True soundproofing means building work you cannot do in a rental. What you can do is reduce noise a surprising amount by sealing the gaps sound sneaks through, adding soft mass where it counts and arranging the room so noise has less to bounce off. Start with the biggest leaks and work inward.

Work out what kind of noise you have

Airborne noise, such as voices, music, traffic and television, travels through air and slips through gaps around doors and windows. Impact noise, such as footsteps, dropped objects and furniture scraping, travels through the building structure itself. Renter fixes work much better on airborne noise, so identify which one is bothering you before spending money.

Stand near each wall, window and door at the time the noise is worst. Sound that is loudest near the front door or window frame points to gaps. Sound that seems to come from the ceiling or floor is usually impact noise from neighbours and is harder to reduce.

Seal the gaps first

Even a small gap lets a lot of sound through. A self-adhesive door sweep or draft stopper along the bottom of the front door, and removable weatherstripping around the door frame, often make the single biggest difference for hallway noise and cost very little.

Windows are next. Removable window insulation film, rope caulk and foam weatherstripping around loose frames cut both drafts and street noise. These can all be peeled away when you move out, but test adhesives in a corner first.

Add soft mass and absorption

Heavy, lined curtains hung close to the window and wider than the frame block and absorb far more sound than thin panels. Pair them with a tension rod or adhesive brackets if you cannot drill. Thick rugs with rubber pads underneath absorb echo in the room and reduce the sound of your own footsteps for the neighbours below.

Place bookshelves filled with books, wardrobes and upholstered furniture against the shared wall. They add mass and break up reflections. Soft wall hangings and fabric panels reduce echo, which makes remaining noise feel less intrusive even if it does not stop it passing through.

Mask what you cannot block

Some noise will get through regardless, especially low bass and footsteps. A white noise machine or a quiet fan provides steady background sound that makes intermittent noise far less noticeable, particularly at night.

If noise is excessive, check your lease for quiet hours and talk to the neighbour or landlord politely and in writing. Many buildings have rules about rugs on upper floors, and a landlord may fix failing door seals or windows as maintenance.

Reduce the noise you make, too

Good relationships with neighbours make noise easier to resolve. Felt pads under chair and table legs, a rug under your desk chair and closing doors gently all cut the impact noise that travels to the apartment below.

Keep speakers and televisions off shared walls and place them on furniture rather than directly on the floor. Isolation pads under a subwoofer stop bass travelling through the floor, which is often the most complained-about apartment noise.

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