Does Mass-Loaded Vinyl Work for Soundproofing?
Updated
Yes, mass-loaded vinyl works for soundproofing when it's sealed into a wall or ceiling: a 1 lb/sq ft sheet rates STC 26 on its own in Johns Manville's lab test (opens in a new tab). Add it to an existing wall, though, and you'll get a few STC points, not silence.
Example: A second layer of 5/8 in. drywall (2.2 lb/sq ft) on an insulated 2x4 wall only took it from STC 34 to 37 in USG lab tests (opens in a new tab). MLV adds less than half that weight. For scale, a sound has to drop 10 dB before it seems half as loud (National Insulation Association (opens in a new tab)).
MLV is weak on bass, too. That same 1 lb sheet blocks 27 dB at 1,000 Hz but only 16 dB at 125 Hz. So it helps more with voices and the TV than with subwoofers and rumble.
Is mass-loaded vinyl worth it? Depends on where it's going:
- Worth it: the wall or ceiling is already open, or new drywall is going up anyway, so the MLV ends up sealed under a fresh layer.
- Not worth it: hung on the surface, where sound just slips around the edges and seams, or for noise coming in under a door.
Heavier vinyl does more: JM's 2 lb sheet rates STC 31. The best mass-loaded vinyl compares weights and brands, and MLV soundproofing panels shows where it fits each job. The soundproof panels guide and soundproof panels FAQ cover the rest of a quieter wall.