Can You Soundproof a Room With Egg Cartons?

No one wants to hear their neighbor’s music blasting through the walls or the sound of their dog barking all day long.

Not only is peace and quiet good for your sleep but also your mental health in general. But when all your noise complaints fall on deaf ears, you will have no choice but to take matters into your own hands. This means soundproofing your room or your entire home.

The obvious choice for soundproofing is acoustic insulation, which is made of fiberglass, rock wool, or other sound-absorbing materials. But if you are on a tight budget, maybe you could use those styrofoam egg trays.

They’re much cheaper, and they seem to work, right? Let’s find out.

Do Egg Cartons Work?

Egg cartons are not soundproof. They’re not even sound-resistant, and they will not do anything to prevent sound from entering or leaving your room. However, they might muffle the sound a little bit through the following means.

1. Sound Deflection

When sound waves hit an egg box, they deflect off in different directions. This means that less sound enters or leaves the room.

2. Diaphragm Absorption

Egg boxes have a lot of small air pockets. When sound waves hit these pockets, they create friction, which absorbs some of the sound.

3. Sound Reflection

The surface of an egg box is very irregular, meaning that sound waves reflect off in different directions, which reduces the amount of sound that enters or leaves the room but only by an insignificant amount.

Therefore, if you’re looking for a cheap way to reduce noise, egg boxes might not help. What’s more, egg cartons all over your walls won’t look too good. The process of gluing the cartons to your wall is also very cumbersome and time-consuming.

All in all, egg cartons on your wall will waste your time and do nothing to soundproof your space.

4 Great Alternatives You Can Use to Soundproof Your Home

Instead of egg cartons, consider the following for soundproofing your room.

1. Soundproofing Blankets

If you want to soundproof your room quickly and easily, soundproofing blankets are the way to go. You can hang them on your walls or doors like regular blankets.

They’re made of heavy, sound-absorbing materials like vinyl or mass-loaded vinyl that block out sound. Soundproofing blankets are available at most home improvement stores for around $20 to $50.

2. Soundproofing Curtains

Soundproofing curtains are another easy way to soundproof your room. These work in a similar way to soundproofing blankets, but they’re thinner and can be hung up like regular curtains.

What’s more, soundproofing curtains come in a variety of colors and styles, so you can find a set that fits your home’s décor. These curtains typically cost between $30 and $100.

3. Rigid Fiberglass Panels

If you’re looking for a more permanent soundproofing solution, rigid fiberglass panels are the way to go. You can attach them to your walls using adhesive or screws. Rigid fiberglass panels are made of dense materials that block out noise. They typically cost between $30 and $50 per panel.

4. Acoustic Foam Panels

Acoustic foam panels are another permanent soundproofing solution. Like rigid fiberglass panels, they can be attached to your walls using adhesive or screws. However, acoustic foam panels are made of sound-absorbing materials that absorb noise instead of blocking it out.

This makes them ideal for reducing echoes in a room. Acoustic foam panels typically cost between $30 and $60 per panel.

5. Weatherstripping for Doors

If you’re looking for a way to soundproof your doors, weather stripping is the way to go. This is a narrow strip of rubber or foam that you attach to the bottom of your door to create a seal that prevents sound from entering or leaving your room.

6. Soundproofing Paint

This is a special type of paint that contains sound-absorbing materials like fiberglass or ceramic particles. You can apply soundproofing paint to your walls just like regular paint. A gallon typically costs between $50 and $70.

However, it’s worth noting that soundproofing paint doesn’t work as well as other soundproofing methods. That is because it only absorbs a small amount of sound. It also takes multiple coats to be effective, so it’s not the most practical option.

7. Soundproofing Drywall

If you’re soundproofing a new room or building, soundproofing drywall is the way to go. Soundproofing drywall is a special type of drywall that contains sound-absorbing materials like fiberglass or mineral wool. It’s more expensive than regular drywall, but it’s much more effective at soundproofing your space. A sheet typically costs between $40 and $60.

8. Anti-Vibration Pads

If you have noisy appliances in your home, like a washing machine or dishwasher, anti-vibration pads can help. These are special pads that you place under your appliances. They’re made of sound-absorbing materials that reduce the amount of noise your appliances make. Anti-vibration pads typically cost between $20 and $50

The Verdict

So, can you soundproof a room with egg cartons? The short answer is no.

While egg cartons can help reduce noise, they’re not the most effective soundproofing method. If you’re looking for a way to soundproof your room, we recommend using soundproofing blankets, curtains, panels, or any other method we mentioned above.

Featured Image Credit: Tongpradit Charoenphon, Pixabay