How to Decide if Soundproof Curtains Are the Best Product for You

Installing soundproofing materials can be a disruptive process, requiring changes to the walls, windows, or ceiling. Soundproofing curtains are becoming an increasingly popular alternative, but are they the best choice for you?

If you haven’t considered soundproofing curtains before, there are a few things you should know before purchasing. We’re going to break down how they work, their advantages and disadvantages, and an alternative solution, so you can make the best choice for your home.

bedroom with window curtains and indow inserts installed for soundproofing in san francisco

What Are Soundproof Curtains?

Soundproof curtains can also be known as sound-absorbing curtains, sound deadening curtains, acoustic curtains, and sound dampening curtains depending on the manufacturer you purchase from and the type of soundproofing you are trying to accomplish.

Regardless of the name, these curtains are made of heavy, thick materials like polyester, velvet, or suede that you hang above your window frame. They usually have a porous surface that allows them to absorb sound waves in order to make a room quieter.

A truly effective and high-quality soundproof curtain will be heavy, tightly woven, and run from ceiling to floor with several inches of fabric going past each side of the window. It’s essential they cover as much area around the window as possible so that the folds of the curtains can create a seal around the sides.

However, though many manufacturers market curtains as soundproof, they are usually ineffective.

woman and child in home with window with curtains and indow inserts for street noise reduction

Do Soundproof Curtains Work?

To answer this question, you need to know about the types of soundproofing.

There are two main types of soundproofing: sound reduction and sound absorption. Sound reduction stops or blocks sound from entering a space; using sound reduction will help keep your space free from outside noises such as weather, outdoor conversations, and traffic. Sound absorption, also called sound deadening, stops sound already inside a space from echoing and reverberating.

According to a wide array of reviews, soundproof curtains are incredibly effective for sound deadening applications, but they are not useful as sound reduction. What does that mean? Sound deadening materials work by reducing vibrations to reduce echoes in a room, but they will not reduce the decibel level of sounds entering the room.

Soundproof curtains are a simple additive to lessen the problem of overwhelming sounds, but they are not perfect problem solvers.

The Advantages of Soundproof Curtains

Soundproof curtains do contribute to noise reduction, keep a room from echoing, and provide a small amount of thermal insulation. While soundproof curtains should not be used to completely replace standard insulation in your walls and windows, they do contribute to added insulation for a warmer room in the winter and a cooler room in the summer.

Because these types of curtains are made from heavy material, they are often thick and opaque, so if you are looking for increased privacy, they can be a decent solution. They are also fairly inexpensive, running around $50-100 per window for good quality curtains.

The Disadvantages of Soundproof Curtains

Soundproof curtains have several disadvantages as well.

They are not as effective as other noise reduction solutions, such as soundproof windows or noise reduction window inserts. Their thick, heavy nature makes them difficult to transport, hard to install, and challenging to wash and maintain.

They can also make main living spaces too dark for comfort, limiting the number of rooms where they can be installed unless you are willing to pay increased electric bills and have a reduction in the amount of natural light.

This is especially disadvantageous for people trying to soundproof during the day. If you need quiet in your office but want all of the benefits of natural light (such as increased productivity, better moods, etc.), a soundproof curtain won’t be able to work as effectively unless it’s completely closed, blocking out all of the light.

man installing window insert to block noise without blocking natural light

An Alternative: Indow Solutions That Can Help

Indow offers window insert solutions that are a perfect alternative to soundproof curtains, with a lower price point, easier installation, and an overall more comfortable experience.

Just press custom-made Indow inserts into your window frames — with no mounting hardware or permanent damage — and enjoy your increased quiet. You’ll sleep better, feel better, and enjoy your space more. Noise-reducing windows have never been so easy to obtain.

Our acrylic glazing edged in our patented silicone compression tubing creates a tight seal and dead air space between the insert and your window. This dead air is essential to noise reduction because anywhere air gets in, noise can too. To keep the noise outside, we ensure a precise, snug fit by custom making each acoustic window insert using our laser measuring system.

Every grade of Indow window inserts reduces outside noise by 50% for single-pane windows and our Acoustic Grade does an even better job, reducing noise by 70%*. Indow inserts are very easy to install and remove, with no damage to your window frames. They not only block outside noise but also prevent inside noise from bothering your neighbors.

And you don’t have to sacrifice natural light to get the sound reduction you want. However, if you want both sound reduction AND reduced light (say you get chronic migraines or you want better sleep quality), you can choose Indow Sleep Panels instead, which block 100% of light and offer superior soundproofing. The best part? You can choose which windows you want light-blocking panels and which you want just noise blocking for a truly custom experience.

While soundproof curtains may be less expensive and easy, they provide minimal performance and cut out all natural light while soundproofing is occurring. If you want high-quality soundproofing without sacrificing natural light, you want Indow inserts.

Interested in learning more about Indow window inserts? Check out all the insert collections offered by Indow as a great soundproof curtain alternative, and then get a free estimate.

*We want to ensure our inserts help solve your noise problem. Overall noise reduction depends on the amount of noise coming through your walls, ceilings, floors, doors, and existing windows. Noise reduction will be less when placed over double-pane windows. Read our full Noise Reduction Sheet to learn more.

Let Us Help You

  1. 1

    Request a Free Estimate. We'll provide you with a preliminary estimate based on your basic window dimensions. It's quick and easy!

  2. 2

    Measure your windows with our easy-to-use laser measurement kit. We'll guide you through the simple process, ensuring a perfect fit.

  3. 3

    Customize your inserts to match your needs and your aesthetic, with tubing colors that seamlessly blend into your space.

  4. 4

    Transform your space with custom-crafted inserts shipped directly to your home, ready to fit perfectly in your windows.

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1526 Reviews

  • 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

    Excellent product, support, and very clear instructions. We look forward to installing these on all our windows.

  • 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

    I ordered the "acoustic grade inserts" for my bedroom to reduce road noise. They work exactly as advertised. Are they soundproofing? NO. Do they reduce noise to acceptable levels? YES. Compared to other solutions on the market (replacement windows, glass inserts etc) this is much more affordable. However, if you are looking for actual soundproofing, you need to spend more money and get something else. As a bonus, the inserts are tight fitting and have reduced drafts.

  • 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

    We have single pane historic windows in our house in Newport RI. I was looking for a great solution to both temperature and noise. I decided to try the acoustic indow product.

    I am thrilled with the process and the product. James from Indow was super helpful in answering questions. The laser measuring kit was easy to use and gave you confidence in your own measuring ability as it checks your work. The 4 indow products i ordered came well packaged and were easy to put in.

    Finally, the indow inserts look great and work great. We can no longer hear every conversation outside and the birds don't wake us up every morning. My wife didn't even know they were there. They blend in and can't see them unless you look.

    I highly recommend these. More cost effective than custom storm windows, they look better and you can easily install or remove them as you need.

    Fantastic product and service.

  • 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

    There work perfectly and I can't even tell they are there. My windows look the same but NO noise!!!

  • 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

    Excellent servie and support from start to finish!

    So satisfied with my first purchase, I got more indows!

  • 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

    We installed the windows in our four seasons room We got some 85 degree days recently and the area stayed amazingly cool usually we would have the AC on it was not needed !!!

  • 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

    Indow has established the complete breadth of custom service, from initial enquiry to being very responsive to "after-sales" questions. Ours was and out-of-the ordinary project involving casement windows in a solarium and the end result turned out quite perfectly. Access to information online, instructions arriving with the delivered windows, and answers by phone insured we "enthusiastic amateurs" completed the job to satisfaction.

  • 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

    I am very pleased with my Indow window inserts. I have a very old house and am near a busy road. I wanted to reduce the noise. I've just installed them and find a considerable reduction in traffic noise. They definitely were worth the cost. The measuring process is quite detailed but easy to follow and my inserts fit perfectly in crooked, 265 year old openings. The company representative Hannah Hendrickson

    was very professional, knowledgeable, and courteous. I highly recommend the Indow

    company.

  • 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

    I appreciate everything about the whole Indow window process.

    Scheduling and holding a consultation online was easy and seamless. I consultant with KAYA, and he provided a thorough easy-going no pressure to move forward until I was ready consultation.

    Incentives were clearly outlined if I decided to move forward and order to be able to make my inserts even more affordable if I acted in a timely manner with measuring and submitting my order as well as returning the measure kit.

    The Indow inserts arrived within the expected timeframe and installing them was very easy. One of my favorite parts was watching how to install video, because they used humor, and it really held my attention and put me at ease, allowing me to take in all the little details I needed to insert my Indows correctly.

    Within hours, I noticed a temperature shift in the room. It was cooler and more comfortable. The next day when I worked in my office with the Indows the landscaper was across the street with the leaf blower and there was considerable reduction in noise making it a low background buzz instead of a disturbance to the work I was doing. I’ve only had them installed for three weeks and I’ve been so happy with them. It was a great investment for that room in the house that I use for my office.

  • 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

    A great product. Excellent fit. Greatly reduced outside noise. Easy to install. Very happy!! Match your frame color to your current frame color and they disappear. So glad I got them.

  • 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

    Well it all starts with customer service. 10 out of 10. Brain McCracken did a great job. The waiting period wasn’t long considering they had to make the window inserts and measuring the window units with the laser was actually fun. Worth every penny!

  • 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

    They are working great! Very happy with the purchase.

  • 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

    I'm enjoying the units, however will need to wait until next year's colder weather to get a truer feel or read on how well they work - thanks

  • 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

    They work very well for my 3 Bedroom windows.easy to install.

  • 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

    I purchased two Indow window inserts for two west-facing bedroom windows. These windows are exposed to the hot afternoon sun, making it difficult to cool the bedroom, and there is considerable outside noise. The Indow inserts work great at reducing the outside noise and keeping my bedroom cooler. I absolutely recommend Indow window inserts.