How Can I Soundproof My Ceiling From Noisy Neighbors Above?

To soundproof your ceiling from noisy neighbors, hang a new ceiling that doesn't touch the joists: in Kinetics lab tests (opens in a new tab), putting the drywall on spring hangers raised one floor from IIC 40 to 62 for footsteps. Code asks for IIC 50 between apartments (LADBS bulletin on IBC 1206 (opens in a new tab)), so that one change took a failing floor well past the minimum.

Bar chart to scale of one wood joist floor in Kinetics lab tests: ceiling screwed to joists IIC 40, ceiling on spring hangers IIC 62, hangers plus carpet and pad upstairs IIC 89, with the code minimum of IIC 50 marked — One floor, three ways. In the 89 test, carpet and pad took the place of the wood floor upstairs.

Watch out: voices and TV sneak through holes before they go through the drywall. The same Kinetics test also went from STC 51 to 76, but a lab ceiling doesn't have light cutouts, so caulk around the recessed lights and fixtures first.

The cheapest fix is upstairs. Weyerhaeuser says carpet and pad are "the most effective way to improve IIC," so ask the neighbor or landlord about rugs with pads before you tear out your ceiling. Glued-on panels won't help. They only cut echo in your room, as do soundproof panels work on ceilings explains.

To see hangers, clips and channel side by side, read the soundproof ceiling panels guide. Blocking in general is covered in the soundproof panels guide, and there are more answers in the soundproof panels FAQ.

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