Are Moving Blankets Soundproof? (Explained)
Moving blankets have evolved over time and are now used for more than just transporting furniture. They have become a popular choice for soundproofing due to their effectiveness in reducing noise levels. Although these blankets are not the best solution for soundproofing a home or apartment, they certainly have some benefits.
Here we will go through various advantages and disadvantages that are related to using moving blankets for soundproofing. So if you’re looking for a way to reduce sound using these blankets, keep reading this article and see how they can help you. Let’s start!
Are Moving Blankets Soundproof? Moving blankets can’t be used to soundproof a room completely, but they can significantly reduce noise levels. They are not designed to block noise. Their thick, dense construction helps absorb sound waves. However, acoustic caulk, drywall, or fiberglass can be used to soundproof a room.
Therefore, if you’re looking for a way to achieve good soundproofing and enhance the acoustics of a room, moving blankets may not be the best choice. However, there are several methods that you can use to leverage these blankets effectively and lessen noise and echoes to some extent.
What Are Moving Blankets?
Moving blankets are heavy-duty cloth coverings that wrap and protect furniture during transportation. These blankets are affordable and come in various types, and some of them can be used for soundproofing. Padded and unpadded moving blankets are the most commonly used blankets for soundproofing.
However, there are also cotton or polyester blankets that are not recommended as they offer no noise reduction benefits. For effective noise reduction, it’s best to opt for moving blankets with padding.
These blankets have padding on each side that can absorb sounds and prevent excessive noise within a room or an apartment. By acting as insulators between where the sound originates and where it is traveling, padded moving blankets are much more effective at reducing noise compared to unpadded models.
Related Article: 8 Best Soundproofing Fabrics
How Effective Are Moving Blankets For Soundproofing?
Moving blankets are a cheap and efficient way to soundproof (this refers to heavy moving blankets) a room. They can also be used as a carpet to reduce the noise from footsteps and provide extra cushioning for thin carpets.
Moving blankets are not only helpful for indoor soundproofing areas but also for outdoor activities. They are an excellent way to reduce noise during parties, home projects, or other events. You can attach these blankets using duct tape for extra protection during these activities.
Moving Blankets For Soundproofing
Moving blankets are made of cotton and polyester mesh materials, designed to protect furniture during transport. They offer a great solution for those who want to move furniture without worrying about scratches or dents on their belongings.
Not only are moving blankets ideal for their intended purpose, but they also provide some degree of soundproofing benefits. Due to their weight and thickness, they can absorb sound waves and reduce unwanted noise in a room.
While they don’t completely soundproof a space, they can provide some level of noise-canceling, making them useful for windows and rooms with gaps where sound waves enter the space.
There are 3 options to choose from when it comes to applying moving blankets for soundproofing:
- Lightweight moving blankets
- Regular moving blankets
- Heavy moving blankets
These options provide varying degrees of sound absorption, allowing you to select the most suitable one for your needs.
1. Lightweight Moving Blankets
When it comes to soundproofing a room using moving blankets, it’s important to consider the weight of the blanket. Lightweight moving blankets are light, and they lack mass. For that reason, they don’t provide the best soundproofing results.
While lightweight moving blankets are not the best choice for soundproofing, they can still be useful for some home acoustic treatments. Keep that in mind when purchasing lightweight moving blankets.
2. Regular Moving Blankets
If you’ve already added adhesive foam tape on a window and you’re still experiencing unwanted noise, a classic moving blanket could be the perfect solution to reduce noise. By placing a moving blanket instead of a curtain, you can absorb sound waves to some extent that may have slipped past your previous acoustic treatments.
It’s important to note that moving blankets are not soundproof on their own. They can complement other soundproofing measures by absorbing sound waves, but they should not be relied upon as the sole solution for a noisy environment. Adding a moving blanket to your acoustic treatment plan can be a cost-effective way to reduce unwanted noise further and improve the overall comfort of your space.
3. Heavy Moving Blankets
Heavy moving blankets can be used to deaden the sound that enters the room. Due to their high mass, heavy blankets are effective at absorbing sound waves, which can help to deaden unwanted vibrations and echoes before they can produce noise.
One of the key advantages of heavy-moving blankets is their ability to significantly reduce noise coming from the background, making them an excellent choice for spaces like recording studios and private rooms.
By improving sound quality, these blankets can help create an environment that is more comfortable and more conducive to focused work. Whether you’re dealing with street noise or other sources of unwanted sound, using heavy moving blankets you can effectively create a more peaceful environment.
Using Moving Blankets As A Soundproof Material
Many wonder if moving blankets are a good solution for quickly soundproofing a space. The reality is that while these blankets have a high mass, they cannot completely block outside noises entering a room.
However, they can absorb some sound waves, leading to a moderate improvement in a room’s overall sound quality. To make the most of moving blankets as sound absorbers, it’s important to know how they can be used. With that in mind, here are some tips for using moving blankets to improve a room’s acoustics:
1. Use Them As Soundproof Curtains
When reducing unwanted noise in your home, your windows are a key area to focus on. They can be a significant source of unwanted noise. To address this issue, choosing the appropriate acoustic treatments that can prevent sound from passing through is important.
One solution is to use moving blankets as a curtain on your window. While they cannot be considered completely soundproof, moving blankets can absorb some level of noise, improving a room’s overall sound quality.
However, it’s worth noting that these blankets are not as visually appealing as traditional curtains. Despite this, the benefits of using moving blankets as acoustic treatments can outweigh any aesthetic concerns, especially in areas where noise reduction is a top priority.
2. Use Them To Soundproof Your Doors
If you’re looking for a way to improve the sound quality of a room, a moving blanket can be an excellent option for your doors. In homes, doors are often not heavy enough, so they can’t effectively block noise from outside. By placing a moving blanket on your door, you can improve the thickness and density, which can help prevent sound waves from entering your room.
While a moving blanket may not provide complete soundproofing, it can be a cost-effective way to improve the overall acoustics of a space. So, if you’re looking for a quick and easy solution for noise reduction, adding a moving blanket to your door can be a smart choice.
3. A Barrier Between Two Floors
If you live in an apartment or a building, noise from the neighbors from the floor below can be a problem. This is particularly the case if you have an apartment upstairs and your neighbors below can hear every step you take. While some people use costly carpets to absorb footfall noise, others look for more affordable solutions.
One of them are moving blankets. By placing them on the floor in areas where footfall noise is particularly bad, you can create a barrier that absorbs the noise and prevents it from traveling through the floor. This can help to reduce the impact of footfall noise on your neighbors and improve the overall acoustics of your apartment.
Related Article: 6 Best Soundproof Floor Mats
What Are Soundproofing Results By Using Moving Blankets?
If you want to reduce unwanted noise in a room, you must understand how soundproofing works. Material from which moving blankets are made are ineffective at blocking sound that enters or leaves a space. Therefore, we can say that by using a moving blanket, you will not be able to soundproof a room.
Moving blankets can absorb sound waves, but they can’t block noise, which is different. This is because they are made of polyester and woven cotton, which have minimal gaps for sound waves to pass through.
One thing to remember is that moving blankets are made of heavy material. The weight of a moving blanket is usually around 4 lbs (1.8 kg). Due to its density and thickness, it can absorb sound waves to some level. If you want to learn more, be sure to watch this YouTube video:
In the table below you can see some of the soundproof materials that can be used to soundproof a room instead of moving blankets:
| Material | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Mass Loaded Vinyl (MLV) | Very good at blocking sound | Expensive, heavy, and difficult to install |
| Acoustic Foam Panels | Great at absorbing sound waves | It requires professional installation |
| Fiberglass Insulation | Affordable and easy to install | It may cause skin irritation if not used properly |
| Soundproof Curtains | Easy to install, can also improve room decor | Not as effective as MLV or other materials. |
| Mass Loaded Vinyl Mat | Easy to install, good absorbing abilities | Not as effective as MLV may be less durable |
Final Thoughts
As you can see in this article, moving blankets can absorb sound to some extent, but not completely. Although adding additional layers to thinner or less expensive blankets may be necessary, moving blankets can offer a good level of sound reduction. If you want to minimize unwanted noise, you can hang them up in various locations, such as the ceiling, floor, windows, walls, and doors.
While acoustic blankets are a more professional option, moving blankets are a budget-friendly alternative that can help to soundproof a room in a pinch. I hope this article has helped you, and if you have any additional questions, feel free to contact us.
