What Is The Best Automotive Sound Deadening Material? (2021)
When you are taking a leisurely drive, you don’t want to be annoyed by noise or car vibrations. Soundproofing your vehicle will improve your driving experiences. Using more than one sound deadening materials will minimize internal or external clamor even more.
However, remember to keep in mind the weight of the materials and how its installation could affect your vehicle’s performance. So, let’s look at what is the best sound-deadening material.
Page Contents
- What is 2021’s Best Sound-Deadening Material?
- Noico 80-mil Sound-Deadening Mat
- Kilmat 80-mil Sound-Deadening Mat
- FatMat Self-Adhesive Sound Deadener Bulk Pack with Install Kit
- Dynamat Self-Adhesive Sound Deadener Kit
- Uxcell 394 mil Foam Insulation Mat
- DEI Boom MAT Spray on for Sound Deadening
- Final Thoughts on Automotive Sound-Deadening Material
What is 2021’s Best Sound-Deadening Material?
When looking at soundproofing products available for your vehicle and determining what is the best sound deadening materials on the market today, you should consider:
- Sound-deadening mats
- Foam insulation
- Sound dampening spray
Sound-deadening products may be made from butyl, rubberized asphalt, cotton foam, or mass loaded vinyl sheets. Each of these materials will absorb or deflect sound, which in turn will improve the silence of your ride.
Quick Picks: Compare The Best Automotive Sound-Deadening Materials
Noico 80-mil Sound-Deadening Mat
Noico 80-mil sound-deadening mat is made of butyl. It will reduce road-noise, vehicle vibrations, and improve the sound quality of your sound system.
Pros
- Affordable price at $1.77 per square foot.
- More noise dampening with thick 80 millimeters of material.
- Light-weight.
- Self-adhesive makes installation easier.
- Special embossing on the foil makes sure installation is done correctly.
Cons
- Won’t eliminate every sound.
- It takes time to install.
- Butyl has a rubbery smell.
- It comes as nine folded sheets for a total of 36 square feet.
- The roller must be purchased separately.
Sound-deadening mats like the Noico 80-mil are designed to reduce noise. It can be installed on the vehicle’s floor, wheel wells, doors, and footwells, as well as in the trunk and under the hood. The Noico 80-mil is thicker than most other butyl deadening mats on the market but still is lightweight and flexible.
For the best results, the sound-deadening mat should be installed directly on the metal in your vehicle. The metal should be thoroughly cleaned, and rust spots should be treated before installation. Make careful measurements of the area and cut the mat to fit. The self-adhesive mat should be pressed down evenly with a roller. Noico has a special embossing on the foil that is only visible when the mat has been properly rolled, which ensures proper installation.
Installation does take some time, and using just a sound-deadening mat won’t eliminate every noise. Additionally, butyl is rubber, and it will have a rubbery smell to it. One more drawback is that this product comes in nine folded sheets for a total measurement of 36 square feet, which may not be enough to soundproof your vehicle thoroughly.
Kilmat 80-mil Sound-Deadening Mat
Kimat 80 mil Sound-Deadening Mat is made of butyl and does an excellent job of reducing noise and car vibrations.
Pros
- Less expensive than Noico at $1.65 per square foot.
- More noise dampening with thick 80 millimeters of material.
- Light-weight.
- Self-adhesive makes installation easier.
- Special embossing on the foil makes sure installation is done correctly.
Cons
- Less flexible than Noico.
- Slightly more challenging to install.
- Doesn’t reduce road noise as much as Noico.
- It comes in 34 sheets for a total measurement of 36 square feet.
- The roller must be purchased separately.
Although the Kilmat 80-mil car Sound Deadening Mats are very similar in price and thickness to our top choice, the Noico 80-mil sound deadening mat, it seems that overall, the Kilmat is slightly more challenging to install for many consumers. It has the same embossing feature and self-adhesive backing as Noico but is less flexible, which created the installation complaints.
One of the other issues that we have with Kilmat is how the product is packaged. The Kilmat has 34 separate sheets for a total of 36 square feet. Not only is 36 square feet not enough for your entire vehicle, but the smaller segments make it more time consuming and cumbersome to install over larger surfaces such as the floor or truck. However, they are better for smaller areas like the door frames because of the size.
Consumers who have used both products felt that Noico did a superior job at sound deadening road noises when compared to the Kilmat product. Although we still believe Kilmat is an excellent product, our preference is for the Noico.
FatMat Self-Adhesive Sound Deadener Bulk Pack with Install Kit
The FatMat is 50-mil thick covered by an aluminum topping meant to reduce rattles and improve vehicle insulation.
Pros
- Self-adhesive backing.
- Kit includes everything you need for installation.
- It comes in 50 square foot roll.
Cons
- Only 50-mil thick.
- There is a lingering smell after installation.
The FatMat Self-Adhesive Sound Deadener Bulk Pack with Install Kit has everything you need for installation, including a cutting knife and roller. While not as thick as our top two choices, the FatMat still does an excellent job in dampening sounds, both road-noise, and vehicle vibrations.
The FatMat is made from rubberized asphalt and as a result, has a lingering smell some time after installation. On the other hand, the FatMat comes in a 50 square foot roll, which provides more coverage than the Noico and Killmat products listed above.
Dynamat Self-Adhesive Sound Deadener Kit
The Dynamat Self-Adhesive Sound Deadener Kit comes with adhesive sheets, a DynaPad sound deadener, and an installation roller.
Pros
- Light-weight.
- Self-adhesive sheets make installation easier.
- The kit includes padding for under carpeting.
- Kit includes roller for installation.
- Very little odor.
Cons
- It only covers a total of 36 square feet.
- Expensive
The Dynamat self-adhesive sound deadener kit comes with nine self-adhesive aluminum alloy-coated sheets, each measuring 18 x 32 inches. They are composed of thin butyl rubber. They are a bit heavier than other brands but have some flexibility that helps you install them efficiently on contours.
The Dynapad sound deadener is non-adhesive and designed to be installed under carpeting for sound absorption. The Dynapad measures twelve square feet. It has a vinyl barrier wedged between two layers of foam, topped with poly facing. The Dynapad reduces road noise as well as blocks heat.
This kit is a two in one package, a mat, and insulation pad, however, it is pricey. With a measurement of only 36 square feet, you may need to purchase several sets to soundproof your vehicle thoroughly.
Uxcell 394 mil Foam Insulation Mat
The Uxcell 394 mil foam insulation mat lessens sounds and improves the heat insulation of your vehicle.
Pros
- Sound and heat insulation.
- Waterproof
- Self-adhesive backing makes it easy to install.
- No rubbery smell.
Cons
- It works better as an insulator than a sound-deadening material.
- Less durable than butyl products.
The Uxcell 394 mil Foam Insulation Mat has a layer of high-density foam cotton topped by aluminum foil. Not only will it deaden road noise and vehicle vibrations, but it also provides heat insulation. The self-adhesive backing makes it easy to install for doors, roof, floor, hood, and trunk.
The Uxcell 394 mil Foam Insulation Mat is thick and flexible. It works better as an insulator than the other products on this list, so if that is what your vehicle needs, this would be the best product. However, in comparison to the butyl mat, it doesn’t provide as much sound dampening.
It is also less durable overall than products made from butyl. On the other hand, there is no reason why you couldn’t use the foam insulation in addition to a sound-deadening mat on the bottom layer.
DEI Boom MAT Spray on for Sound Deadening
If you are looking for additional sound deadening in hard to reach places, then the Boom Mat Spray-on is for you.
Pros
- Great for hard-to-reach places.
- Sprays on for easy application.
- It can be painted over.
Cons
- It should be used in conjunction with other sound-deadening materials.
- It smells terrible during application.
Boom Mat Spray-on sound deadening is just the thing for trunk corners, render wells, body panels, undercarriage, and inside door panels. Multiple layer application will reduce even more rattles, squeaks, and vibrations. One can cover about 20 square feet. You can paint over the sound-deadening layer once it has completely dried, which takes about six hours.
Boom Mat Spray contains US regulation-compliant volatile organic compounds (VOC) and can withstand temperatures up to 300 degrees Fahrenheit. As a stand-alone product for sound deadening, it won’t be as effective as you might like. However, used in conjunction with other materials in this list, it works well, especially in those hard-to-reach spaces.
Final Thoughts on Automotive Sound-Deadening Material
So, what is the best automotive sound-deadening material? Our top choice for the best automotive sound-deadening material is the Noico 80-mil Sound-Deadening Mat. Made from butyl, it effectively absorbs and redirects sound, providing you with a more auditorily pleasant vehicle all around. It is easier to install than several of the other products with the embossing feature. It also has a less offensive smell after installation.
However, to get the best results, you may want to consider layering materials beginning with a spray coating, followed by butyl mats, and finishing up with foam insulation.
