Choosing
Soundproof
Curtains

STEP 1: IDENTIFY YOUR NOISE PROBLEM
Most people have either a
problem with sound blocking or
sound absorbing.

Sound Blocking
These are used to prevent sound from
traveling from one area to another by
reflecting sound.
● Noisy neighbors
● High traffic
● Kids playing
● Loud music
● City noise

Sound Absorbing
Sound Absorbing material takes in
energy from sound waves and
dissipates it through the material and
as heat.
● Echo and reverb
● Noisy open office
● Music studio
● Good acoustics
● Home theater

Sound Absorbing
Sound Absorbing material takes in
energy from sound waves and
dissipates it through the material and
as heat.
● Porous
● Less Dense
● Lots of folds
Sound Blocking
Sound blocking materials typically are
dense and heavy to prevent sound
from leaking through.
● Dense Material
● Heavy Material

STEP 2: LOOK FOR LAB RATINGS
To ensure the reliability of a
sound control product many
companies will have their product
tested in a lab.
Sound Blocker - STC Rating
Sound Absorber - NRC Value

Sound Absorbing
Rates the amount of sound being absorbed by a
particular surface from 0 to 1. A value of 1 means that
100% of the sound is being absorbed.t
NRC Value
Sound Blocking
STC Rating
The STC rating roughly correlates to the number of
dB that a material could be considered to block. A
10 dB noise reduction is perceived as a halving of
the noise.
Look for curtains with a rating of STC 15,
STC 20, or higher. Look for curtains with a rating of close to 1.

STEP 3: LOOK FOR CURTAINS
Armed with these tools you will
have a better idea of what to look
for and what actually works. A lot
of products use these terms
loosely as marketing jargon, and
have little real benefit in these
departments. If you want
something that works look for
these terms.

Shop for
Curtains
For more information or to shop
curtains visit:
www.acoustic-curtains.com