A Look at Ceiling Soundproofing Prices
Less Noise From Footsteps and Furniture Movements
Prices For Several Options
Updated Ceiling Soundproofing Prices For 2021
Part of Our Guide to Soundproofing & Insulation Prices
Are you fed up with the levels of noise coming through your ceiling?
Are footsteps, furniture movements and other sounds disturbing you?
The good news is that ceiling soundproofing is a great way to block most of the noise and on this page, we’ll look at options and prices.
Do you have access to the room above your ceiling?
If you do, head over to our floor soundproofing page first as it’s easier, quicker and cheaper to soundproof a floor than a ceiling.
In March 2021, we took photos and measurements of rooms in our home and sent them to 8 soundproofing firms based in several places around the UK.
We wanted to know how much it costs to soundproof a ceiling and what options were available to us. Specifically, we wanted a basic low-budget option and a second option that provided better sound insulation for a higher price.
Our room had 18 square metres of ceiling, and we sourced prices for:
- The fitting of a rubber-like membrane to the existing ceiling followed by acoustic plasterboard panels finished with a plaster skim. This is a basic system that doesn’t require removing the existing ceiling panels, and the height loss is minimal, no more than 40mm.
- The second option is to fit a suspended ceiling hung below the original and held in place with clips. This detachment prevents vibrations from footsteps and furniture movement from travelling through to the lower ceiling panels. The space between the old and new ceiling plasterboard is filled with Rockwool, which blocks airborne noise from TVs and conversations.
There are other options but neither applied to our property so we won’t provide prices for them but will discuss them later in this guide.
This system is comprised of 15mm high-density plasterboard, 3mm rubber, 9mm of foam and another 3mm of rubber. It blocks both airborne noises and vibrations. There are dozens of similar systems on the market, but they all contain similar materials and can be fixed directly to the existing ceiling or hung like a suspended ceiling which creates a void that blocks even more vibrations. (Photo from Soundproofing Store)
This clip has a rubber grommet which reduces the vibrations that can transfer from the ceiling above to the new suspended ceiling below. Used in conjunction with acoustic plasterboard and a layer or two of rubber and foam panels, this system is far superior to a basic system whereby the panels are fixed directly to the existing ceiling. Creating a detached ceiling is crucial if you want to reduce the noise from vibrations.
Prices For Ceiling Soundproofing Materials
Like the one shown in the photo above, a rubber and foam plasterboard panel system costs around between £45 per sq metre for a basic setup and £65 per sq metre for a premium system (supply only).
The clip system, which includes a fixing bar, costs around £20 per square metre (supply only) but this price excludes the acoustic plasterboard, rubber/foam products and acoustic Rockwool.
Rockwool, which can be placed in the void between the old and new suspended ceiling and between the ceiling joists (if you have access to the joists), costs around £6 to £12 per square metre (supply only), depending on thickness.
The cost of sundries such as fixings, acoustic sealant, as well as the plaster skim and paint finish must also be considered.
Cost to Soundproof a Ceiling – This is What The Professionals Told Us
The prices above are for the supply-only of the materials and exclude the sundries and the installation fee.
They are handy if you want to know how the materials cost per square metre and great if you’re planning a DIY project or you know a good handyperson, but how much does it cost to get a professional to soundproof a ceiling?
We asked 8 soundproofing firms to give us a price for:
- The basic option – install 30-40mm of foam and rubber-backed high-density plasterboard to our ceiling and skim finish the surface.
- Install a clip and bar detachment system, Rockwool sound insulation and 30-40mm of soundproofing rubber/foam/plasterboard along with a skim finish.
Option 2 is the better system as it provides enhanced protection from both airborne noise and vibrations.
This is how much we were told ceiling soundproofing would cost per square metre, based on our double bedroom, which is 18 square metres.
Project 1 – Install a Basic Ceiling Soundproof System
This is a basic entry-level ceiling soundproofing system and is the bare minimum needed to reduce noise coming through the ceiling.
Here are the specifics of the project:
- Remove existing ceiling coving.
- Install 30-40mm of foam-backed high-density plasterboard to the existing ceiling.
- Tape up all joints.
- Seal all edges with acoustic sealant.
- Plaster skim ceiling and refit coving.
- Remove all waste material.
The prices below are an average of the prices given to us by the 8 soundproofing firms:
| Item: | Price Range: |
|---|---|
| Supply and install 30-40mm of foam and rubber-backed high-density plasterboard and skim finish. | £85 - £90 per square metre for a standard room. |
Project 2 – Install a Suspended Soundproofed Ceiling
This is a very popular way of soundproofing a ceiling and is far more effective than simply securing acoustic boards to the existing ceiling.
- Remove the ceiling coving.
- Fix clips to the ceiling joists through the existing ceiling plasterboard.
- Secure fixing bar in place.
- Secure sound insulation in between the existing ceiling and the new plasterboard.
- Secure 30-40mm of acoustic foam and rubber-backed high-density plasterboard onto the fixing bar.
- Tape up joints.
- Seal edges with acoustic sealant.
- Plaster skim the surface.
- Fix the coving back into place.
| Item: | Price Range: |
|---|---|
| Hang a new suspended ceiling with clips and bars supporting new 30-40mm of foam and rubber-backed high-density plasterboard and skim finish. | £100 - £110 per square metre for a standard room. |
Extras
The ceiling soundproofing prices on this page do not include the cost to insert Rockwool insulation between the ceiling joists. If you have access to the room above the ceiling, this extra step isn’t too expensive as Rockwool costs £12 per square metre, and the floorboards can be lifted so that the joists can be accessed.
If you live in a flat or apartment, then the only way to access the joists is to remove the existing ceiling; this involves extra work and more waste material.
You may wish to explore our guide to floor soundproofing as it includes the cost of Rockwool insulation and a rubber floor mat to suppress noises and vibrations.
The Cheapest Option
The cheapest way to reduce the amount of noise coming through the ceiling is to get a plasterer to fix two layers of high-density plasterboard to the existing ceiling and then skim over the top with plaster. Unfortunately, while this system would stop a lot of TV and conversation noise, it won’t do anything to block vibrations.
The next best cheap option is to get a local plasterer to fix an acoustic foam/rubber high-density plasterboard to the ceiling and then finish with a plaster skim.
Plasterers are almost always cheaper than specialist soundproofing firms and you will still notice a drop in the amount of both vibrations and airborne noises.
More expensive than standard plasterboard or even high-density plasterboard, this product blocks both vibrations and airborne noise and is the best cheap option available and is only 25mm thick.
The Most Expensive Option
The most expensive soundproofing option is to construct an independent ceiling below the existing ceiling. Unlike a suspended ceiling, an independent one is entirely separate and doesn’t come into contact with the original ceiling at all. The void between the two ceilings can be filled with acoustic insulation such as Rockwool. This project’s downside is the cost and the loss of room height; it should only be considered if there’s plenty of height in the room and the current noise disruption is very severe.
Don’t forget; if you have access to the room above, you can fill the space between the joists with Rockwool to block sounds from TVs/conversations and lay a foam/rubber carpet underlay to deaden noises from footsteps and furniture movements. If this option seems more practical, go check out our guide to floor soundproofing prices.
Get a Fixed Price for Ceiling Soundproofing
We hope you found our ceiling soundproofing price guide insightful.
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Ceiling Soundproofing FAQs
When Were These Ceiling Soundproofing Prices Published?
We sourced prices for ceiling soundproofing in early 2021 and published this guide in early April 2021.
What's the Difference Between Floor and Ceiling Soundproofing? Which is Best?
Floor soundproofing is generally easier and cheaper, and the results are just as effective.
Floor soundproofing is a process whereby the carpet or wooded floor is lifted, and soundproofed materials that are both dense and flexible are fitted to block noise.
On ceilings, extra plasterboard is hung on clips below the existing ceiling; the narrow gap between the two boards can then be filled with acoustic insulation.
Ceiling soundproofing requires lots of plasterboards, often with foam and rubber-backing. You’ll also need to get the ceiling plastered and painted too, which adds to the cost.
If you have access to the room above the ceiling, we recommend soundproofing the floor rather than the ceiling. Do both if your sound issue is severe.
Do These Prices Include VAT?
Most of the firms we contacted were VAT registered and charged VAT.
We’ve included VAT in our price guide on this page when the firm charged it.
How Effective is Ceiling Soundproofing?
A suspended ceiling stops many vibrations, and the extra acoustic plasterboard panels reduce airborne noise from TVs and conversations.
If feasible, the addition of Rockwool, either between the two ceiling panels or between the ceiling joists (or both), will also help.
If you have a cavity in our external wall, then this could act as an echo chamber and amplify any sounds, the cheapest option is to fill the cavity with insulation if you haven’t done so already.
How Long Does it Take to Fit Ceiling Soundproofing?
A suspended ceiling system fitted to a standard size and shape room can be installed and finished off in about a day, perhaps a day and a half.
Can These Products be Fitted DIY?
The acoustic soundproofing plasterboard panels are very easy to fit. Ensure a 5mm gap around the edge of the ceiling as the panels should not be in direct contact with the walls. Then seal the perimeter and any gaps with acoustic sealant.
The installation of the clip and bar system is a little more complex but still within a good DIYer or handyperson’s capabilities.
I Think Your Prices are Too High/Low, What Gives?
The ceiling soundproofing prices on this page are an average of the quotes given to use by 8 specialist firms.
We do not doubt that handypersons, drywallers and plasterers could provide lower prices, and there are probably plenty of firms that would charge more than our average.
How much your system will cost depends on your needs and the best products for you. Some ceilings require several layers of acoustic plasterboard and sound insulation, while other need very little t achieve good results.
Our prices are meant as a guide, and as always, we recommend getting several quotes before you proceed with any project.
Where Can I Get a Custom Soundproofing Price?
You can post details of your ceiling soundproofing project on Rated People, a site where tradespeople are vetted by staff and reviewed by their past customers.
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Wall Soundproofing
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Floor Soundproofing
Do You have access to the room above your ceiling? It’s cheaper and easier to soundproof a floor than a ceiling, so go and check out our guide to floor soundproofing prices here.
Cavity Wall Insulation
Cavity wall insulation doesn’t just keep the warm air in; it also blocks some external noise and prevents sounds from adjacent rooms or even neighbours from echoing and amplifying in the void.