If you are looking for ways on how you can soundproof your living space, then you might probably come across suggestions about egg cartons being used for soundproofing.
However, if it is your first time, you might not sure enough whether or not egg cartons are really effective for soundproofing.
Well, in this post, I will be talking about whether or not egg cartons are effective in soundproofing space.
So, is using egg cartons for soundproofing effective? Egg cartons are helpful in preventing the sound from echoing in the room. But these materials are useless when used in soundproofing projects.
If you are reading this article, there is a high chance that you are looking for affordable materials for your soundproofing projects.
Then you probably come across egg cartons. The reason why there are so many recommendations is that many people used these cheap materials for soundproofing.
Looking at the structure of egg cartons, there is a very good reason to believe that they can block outside noise due to its round shape.
But the truth speaks the opposite. Egg cartons are not really effective in soundproofing space. But they can help to dampen the sound inside the room.
However, if you are dealing with minimal noise issues, using egg cartons can surely help. But if you have more intense outside noise problems, you should not expect this material to totally eliminate the problem.
There are reasons why using egg cartons for soundproofing does not work. In this post, I will also be sharing with you some affordable materials you can use as an alternative to egg cartons.
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Why Using Egg Cartons for Soundproofing is Not Effective?
If you are searching online for soundproofing materials, you can see that a lot of recommendations include egg cartons.
In fact, you see many people use egg cartons on their music studio walls. This is where the confusion comes from.
Because egg crates are commonly used in sound dampening projects, most people might think that the egg crates are great soundproofing materials.
But it is not the case. Soundproofing is different from sound dampening.
Soundproofing is the process of blocking the outside noise from entering the room or space. Sound dampening, on the other hand, is the process of preventing the sound from echoing around the room.
The reason why egg cartons are commonly used in recording studious is that they are good at reducing echo. So they are sound dampening and not so much as soundproofing materials.
This means that egg cartons are helpful if you want to regulate the sound within the room but certainly not for reducing the disturbing outside noise from entering the room.
If you are living in a noisy residential space, using egg cartons will certainly won’t help in eliminating impact noise. In fact, even the so-called soundproofing materials are sometimes not capable of blocking low-frequency noise.
Low-frequency noises are strong enough to pass through the wall of the building penetrating the living space. This means that, if you want to block low-frequency noises, you need to use stronger and more effective soundproofing materials, such as you’d use to soundproof a gaming room.
However, if your goal is to minimize echo in the room, egg cartons will do. As long as the purpose is to just dampen the sound, this very affordable material can get the job done.
If you are building your home studio, egg cartons can be great supplementary material. I suggest that, for better results, you should not only treat the studio with egg cartons alone though. You should use real soundproofing materials such as acoustic panels, soundproofing blankets, curtains, weatherstrips, and other similar materials.
Real Soundproofing Materials that Have Similar Look to Egg Cartons
The other reason why most people think that egg cartons are great for soundproofing is that this material is similar to soundproof acoustic panels (click here to see this material on Amazon).
If you take a look at soundproof acoustic panels, you’ll notice their structures similar to egg cartons. However, a similar structure does not mean similar functionality.
The surface structure or shape of acoustic panels are designed to reduce or eliminate echo in the room. But acoustic panels are designed not only for sound dampening but also for soundproofing.
If your goal is to soundproof your room, you probably should choose acoustic panels over egg cartons.
Acoustic panels though are, of course, a little bit pricey compared to egg cartons. But it is worthy of every penny that you spend. You’ll get better results when using soundproofing materials designed for this purpose.
The best thing about acoustic panels is that they are not only great for soundproofing but also for sound dampening. This means that using these materials, you’ll be able to achieve both blocking the outside noise and also prevent the inside sound to echo in the room.
Since egg cartons and acoustic panels have similar surface structures, you can easily combine the two. As mentioned, egg cartons are good supplementary soundproofing materials.
Are There Cheap Alternative Soundproofing Materials to Egg Cartons?
In most cases, people use egg cartons because these materials are inexpensive and some of the most accessible materials.
But because egg cartons are not effective in soundproofing a room, you might want to consider other affordable materials as an alternative to egg cartons.
Fortunately, there are some soundproofing materials that are designed for soundproofing purposes. At this point, I will be sharing some of those materials.
1. Consider Using Soundproof Curtains
One of the best alternatives to egg cartons is soundproof curtains. These materials are also some of the most affordable soundproofing materials you can use for your project.
If this is your first time to do a soundproofing project, you might be surprised to know that curtains could also function as soundproofing materials.
But you read it right. In fact, curtains are commonly used in soundproofing windows and other weak portion of the room. There are great soundproofing curtains (click here to see these curtains on Amazon) you can use for your project.
Soundproofing curtains are normally thick and made of special materials making them great insulators of sound. Not only soundproofing curtains are a good tool to block outside noise, but they are also a good material to regulate the amount of light entering the room.
What I love about soundproofing curtains is that they are super easy to install requiring no technical knowledge. This means that you don’t have to spend money to hire professionals to do so.
When choosing the best curtains for your soundproofing project, you need to consider a few things. One is choosing curtains with eyelets.
Curtains with this feature are easy to install. And the best thing is that they are a great addition to the existing interior design of your room.
2. Use Soundproof Blankets
If you don’t have access to soundproofing curtains shared above, you can use soundproofing blankets instead.
Soundproofing blankets (click here to see these blankets on Amazon) are thick enough to block the intruding outside noise. Not only that, but these blankets could also reduce the echo in the room.
Because these materials are thick and heavy, you might not be able to get the job done with help. I have tried this before and it was really heavy and difficult if you do it yourself.
Soundproofing blankets are also known as moving blankets. The name comes from the fact that it is commonly used to cover furniture when moving from one place to another.
In most cases though, the soundproof blanket is used mainly for sound dampening projects. But this material also works just fine for sound blocking.
However, the only drawback that I found with this material is its aesthetic feature. Because moving blankets are not designed for interior decoration, they might not be perfect to blend with the interior color and design of the room.
If soundproofing is the main goal, the aesthetic value should be secondary. As long as the disturbing noise is solved, it would be fine.
3. Apply Weatherstrip
Soundproofing will not be complete if the door or windows in the room remained the perfect spot for outside noise to enter.
One way to protect the door and window from outside noise is by using weatherstrip. Weatherstrip (click here to see this material on Amazon) is a great material to seal the gap between the door and the floor.
The gap beneath the door can become a source of noise. Not only that, if the gap remains unsealed, insects can also enter the room through it.
What I like the most about this material is that it is easy to implement especially when you’re dealing with the main door. If you apply it correctly, you will not only block the sound but also protect the room from the rain.
The weatherstrip is a great material to block the water from entering through the gap between the door and the floor.
The best part, this material is affordable. Correct installation will dramatically increase the chance of achieving success in a soundproofing project.
4. Use Anti-Vibration Pads
Another great alternative to using egg cartons for soundproofing is the anti-vibration pad. Anti-vibration pad (click here to see this material on Amazon) functions like acoustic foam panels.
Like acoustic panels, anti-vibration pads are thick and made from the same material. The only difference is that anti-vibration pads are made to moderate or control vibration.
If you installed this material on your wall, you’ll notice the dramatic decrease in noise and echo. This material is even more effective in blocking low-frequency noise.
Is the loud sound from your neighbors your biggest problem? Then the anti-vibration pad is the best answer.
5. Seal All the Holes on the Wall
Supposed that you already have applied all the tips mentioned above but you still hear the intruding outside noise. If this happens, it only means that you were not able to fix all the parts of the room that allow the noise to enter.
The common causes are the holes on the wall. You might not realize it but those small holes on the wall can detriment the success of your soundproofing project.
It is very important to check those holes and fix them. The best way to do it is by using Green Glue (click here to check this glue on Amazon).
This material works very well in sealing the small holes or gaps on the wall. It is formulated for a soundproofing project this makes the material a reliable solution.
When working with green glue, avoid having contact with this material with your finger. The glue is super sticky making it difficult to clean your fingers after using it.
6. Use White Noise Machine
If all the techniques shared above are not feasible for you, the last remedy will be to use a White Noise Machine (click here to see the white noise machine on Amazon).
This music producing machine is a great tool to make your room relaxing. What this device does is that it will play soothing music that will occupy your ear thus making the outside noise inaudible.
This is a perfect quick solution to the disturbing noise you been experiencing. The soothing sound from the white noise machine will allow you to gain focus again or to get enough sleep.
White noise machines are cheaper than actual soundproofing materials. This gadget is probably the quickest temporary solution to the noise problem you have been dealing with for a long time.
For better or best results, I suggest that you use a white noise machine as a supplement to other soundproofing materials. The combination of materials that I have mentioned above will certainly do the difference.
On Using Egg Cartons for Soundproofing
Using egg cartons for soundproofing is ineffective in most cases. However, egg cartons can be effective when used to prevent the sound from echoing the room.
In soundproofing, your main goal is to block the outside noise. Because of the structure of egg cartons, they are not effective when blocking the outside noise.
However, the uneven surface of egg cartons is perfect for preventing the indoor sound from echoing.
For soundproofing projects, I recommend using real soundproofing materials such as curtains, blankets, panels, and weatherstrips.
With creativity though I believe that even the egg cartons can be used for soundproofing. You just need to figure out how.
As far as I am a concern, there is no one way to soundproof a room or living space. In fact, many people found success even with unusual materials not being normally used for common soundproofing projects.
It is my hope that this post helps you figure out the best way you can get your soundproofing project done.
For more information about soundproofing, read my free Soundproofing Guide.
Related Questions:
Do egg cartons absorb sound? As mentioned, egg cartons do not absorb sound as much as real soundproofing materials. However, egg cartons can reduce the sound or prevent the sound from echoing in the room.
Do egg cartons work for acoustic treatment? Egg cartons can be a great addition to acoustic treatment. But I doubt it if these materials can be the ultimate acoustic treatment.
