The 5 Best Automotive Sound Deadening Insulation Options

The 5 Best Automotive Sound Deadening Insulation Options

If you don't want sound traveling outside your vehicle, then finding a good quality sound dampening material is a great way to keep your car private. To help you with finding the right option for you, we've got 5 of the best automotive sound deadening insulation options on the market today that you can use to prevent sound from escaping your vehicle.

Now you won't have to worry about your private conversation, favorite songs, or other sounds escaping for the neighbors or fellow highway travelers to hear. They'll also block out road noise and help you concentrate on driving your vehicle.

On top of this, the sound quality of the music inside your car will also improve. You’ll also be able to get rid of unwanted noise from the outside. In this article, we’ll be taking a look at the best automotive sound deadening insulation options available for your car that you can buy today.

In a hurry ? Here are our top picks

Quick Guide

In a hurry? These are our top picks from the products mentioned in this article based on their best characteristics.

Best Overall: Sonic Acoustics Car Sound Deadening Mat

“It works just as well as more expensive brands. I would recommend it for any vibration and sound attenuation needs in auto’s, metal sinks, and other sound reducing applications. 5 stars.”

Best For Smaller Areas: Noico Black Sound Deadening Mat

“Very impressed with this sound deadener from Noico, I’ve used Dynamat for years and comparing the two honestly you can’t tell the difference. Adhesion was awesome and so easy to cut with scissors and install.”

Best For Larger Areas: Noico 36 Sqft Sound Deadening Mat

“This product is superior to the name brand similar products on the market and OMG! What cost savings! I have gone crazy using it on everything I can think of, most recently I lined the inside of my outboard motor cover.”

Best Alternative: Kilmat Sound Deadening Mat

” I love that it has a guide pattern on the product so you know you have smoothed out all areas of it. It made a world of difference on my heavily modified 2017 Subaru STI.”

Best Budget: Mat66 ProBlack Sound Deadening Mat

“The installation was pretty easy. One box (36 Sq FT) covered most of the floorpan. To do the entire interior as I did will require two boxes. You will still have some leftovers. Very happy with the product and would recommend it to others.”

1. Sonic Acoustics Car Sound Deadening Mat

This mat made from sound deadening materials comes in the form of sheets that can easily be cut and installed in your car. Keep in mind that the installation process should strictly be carried out on the inside of your car.

This dampening material will help you reduce wind noise and traffic disturbances as you drive along. The product comes with an adhesive layer on one side, which means that you can peel it off and easily stick it inside your car.

The quality of the adhesive is also very reliable. According to a verified Amazon customer, “The adhesive is strong and lasting. If you prep the surface well it sticks. It is thick but molds and bends to curves and odd shapes pretty easily.”

Specifications

  • Brand: Sonic Acoustics
  • Color: Black
  • Total area: 25 square feet
  • Item weight: 20.5 pounds
  • Package dimensions: 16.34 x 12.56 x 3.5 inches

Pros

Pros
  • Comes with a self adhesive layer that makes it easy to be installed as an automotive sound deadener
  • Comes in the form of handy sheets that make it easier to install
  • Lightweight for a better experience

Cons

Cons
  • You’ll need a roller to smoothen out the special embossing present on the mat
  • No color or design options available if you want a different look

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2. Noico Black Sound Deadening Mat

Coming in an 80 mil thickness, this best automotive sound deadening insulation is better than previous models by a factor of 1.6, as they used to come in a thickness of only 50 mil. The square footage offered by this mat is 18 square feet, which should be enough for a small to medium car.

The installation process to block out sound waves is quite easy, and it can be quickly installed on car roofs, doors, and trunk lids. You will need a roller to smooth out the embossing.

You might have some trouble with the adhesive. According to a verified Amazon customer, “It’s some decent sound deadener but sometimes the rubber is super thin on the edges and the adhesive could be stronger.”

Specifications

  • Brand: Noico
  • Color: Black
  • Total area: 18 square feet
  • Item weight: 13.2 pounds
  • Package dimensions: 16.93 x 11.02 x 2.17 inches

Pros

Pros
  • Special feature where the embossing lets you know if the mat has been applied properly
  • Self adhesive insulation makes installing it easy and quick
  • Upgraded from a previous version and comes in an 80 mil thickness

Cons

Cons
  • Reviews have indicated slight issues with the adhesive, so you might have to use your own.
  • Roller will need to be purchased separately

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3. Noico 36 Sqft Sound Deadening Mat

With an 80 mil thickness and large 36 square feet of coverage offered, this sound insulation mat is brought to you by Noico, which makes a lot of popular products for automotives. The material used in the process is quite dense and can be easily applied with the help of the self adhesive layer on the back.

The material comes with a pattern on it that you’ll need to use a roller on to smooth out. Once it’s completely smooth, it will indicate proper installation.

Some reviewers have claimed that the aluminum foil film is too thin. According to a verified Amazon customer, “Works well, wish the foil film was thicker. The sharp edge of the uxcell rolling wheel I used for application tends to cut through the aluminum film, requiring me to tape and cover certain areas.”

Specifications

  • Brand: Noico
  • Color: Silver
  • Total area: 36 square feet
  • Item weight: 26.5 pounds
  • Package dimensions: 22.05 x 11.02 x 2.99 inches

Pros

Pros
  • Comes in a large 36 square feet of area coverage that will let you cover up an entire car in less than 2 of these packages
  • Is odor free unlike other competitive brands
  • Reviews claim that the product makes a very noticeable change in how your music sounds inside the car

Cons

Cons
  • The foil used on the mat is too thin.
  • Isn’t very effective in isolating ambient noise, but works well for the price

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4. Kilmat Sound Deadening Mat

With an 80 mil thickness and 36 square feet of coverage, this sound control mat from Kilmat will help your car block out different types of noise from the outside (tire noise, engine noise, etc.) and will help your car achieve ambient noise reduction when playing music.

The sound deadener material used to provide automotive sound insulation in this mat is made out of butyl, which is also present in the self adhesive layer. With a large area, you can use it to cover the entire surface of your car, including your ceiling and trunk floor.

The quality of adhesive isn’t the best, and you’ll need some preparation beforehand.

According to a verified Amazon customer, “The first big difference is the adhesion. It is noticeably less than a name brand and requires a bit more surface prep and cleaning to get the maximum sound deadening. That is one of the biggest mistakes you can make with any brand sound deadening product is to not get it stuck to the surface with as few and as small of an air gap as possible.”

Specifications

  • Brand: Kilmat
  • Color: Silver
  • Total area: 36 square feet
  • Item weight: 17 pounds
  • Package dimensions: 17.5 x 3.5 x 11 inches

Pros

Pros
  • Is relatively inexpensive for 36 square feet of coverage
  • Smoothing out the whole area gives you an idea of how to apply
  • Takes care of echoes and vibrations if you have a higher end sound system

Cons

Cons
  • Some reviewers have expressed problems with the adhesion
  • Might have to use a heat gun before you start the installation

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5. Mat 66 ProBlack Sound Deadening Mat

The final best automotive sound deadening insulation choice on our list, his product from Mat 66 is the cheapest option available in our review, and gives you 36 square feet of coverage. It comes in a black color and is made out of a butyl based aluminum foil, designed to give you superior sound absorption.

It comes in an 80 mil thickness and is quite light, making it easy to install. It’s available in handy sheet sizes that let you easily cut it according to the dimensions of your car. This makes installations in corners and difficult edges easier.

If you live in an area with heavy rainfall, this can be an excellent choice for you. According to a verified Amazon customer, “Driving in heavy rain there was not a single sound of rain coming in through the roof – just the windshield, which made for a significantly quieter ride in the rain, especially for backseat passengers.”

Specifications

  • Brand: Mat 66
  • Color: Black
  • Total area: 36 square feet
  • Item weight: 17 pounds
  • Package dimensions: 17.52 x 3.35 x 11.02 inches

Pros

Pros
  • Cheapest option on the list if you’re on a budget but need a decent amount of coverage
  • Easy and quick installation
  • Especially useful if you have a cheaper model car with low sound insulation

Cons

Cons
  • Some reviews suggest that the material can be slightly heavier than other options on the list
  • Might have a slight asphalt smell, which might not work for everyone

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FAQs

Q: Why do I need sound deadening mats inside my car?

A: There are two benefits to installing the best automotive sound deadening insulation in your car. The first one is that it reduces the noises coming from your environment, including traffic, your own engine noise, and rain. The second benefit is that it doesn’t let the volume of your sound system disturb people or cars around you, and also improves the audio quality inside the car.

Q: How to best apply a sound deadening mat in my car?

A: All options mentioned in this list come with a self adhesive feature, which means that you can peel off a layer and directly apply it on the interiors of your car. You’ll need to use a roller to properly smoothen the mats on the surface for the best possible results. In some cases, using a heat gun to preheat the mats a little is known to give a better experience.

Q: Which surfaces of my car should I apply the mats to?

A: You can choose to apply the mat on all surfaces of your car if you want a higher level of sound deadening application. This includes your doors, ceiling, floors, and trunk lining. Make sure that you only apply the mats on the interior of your car, as it will not be effective on the exterior.

Final Thoughts

We live in a noisy world full of traffic, and sounds from outside of your car can disturb and annoy you when you’re trying to enjoy a nice drive. Applying different types of materials on the inner linings of your car in the form of sound deadening mats can greatly reduce this problem.

In this article, we’ve outlined the best automotive sound deadening insulation options available on the market today. If you’re interested in similar topics about soundproofing, feel free to check out our other articles, as well!