Do Blackout Curtains Block Sound? Honest Facts, Acoustic Benefits & Smart Tips

1. Introduction

Blackout curtains are widely known for their ability to block sunlight and improve room darkness. But many people still wonder, do blackout curtains block sound too? If you’re living near a noisy street, in a busy apartment, or working from home, unwanted noise can disrupt your peace and productivity. That’s where sound reduction with blackout curtains becomes a game-changer.

Although they’re not fully soundproof, blackout curtains offer moderate noise control thanks to their acoustic properties, multi-layered fabrics, and dense construction. These sound-dampening curtains can soften echoes, reduce outside traffic noise, and improve your room’s overall acoustic comfort. Additionally, the blackout curtain insulation not only helps with light and heat but also adds an extra layer of sound resistance.

In this blog post, we’ll break down the science behind blackout curtains for noise, compare them with soundproof curtains, and show you how to boost their effectiveness for better sound reduction. Let’s explore what they can—and can’t—do when it comes to keeping your space quiet.

2. Do Blackout Curtains Block Sound?

No, blackout curtains do not completely block sound — but they can reduce certain types of noise, especially high-frequency sounds, and help create a quieter environment.

Blackout curtains are widely known for their ability to block out light, but many people also wonder whether they can help reduce sound. While blackout curtains are not truly soundproof, they do contribute to a quieter environment by reducing certain types of noise. Thanks to their thicker, heavier material and denser fabrics, these curtains can absorb and reflect sound waves, especially high-frequency noise like conversations, footsteps, or outside traffic.

Although blackout curtains soundproof claims are often made, it’s important to clarify that these curtains are not soundproofing curtains in the technical sense. Instead of completely blocking noise, they offer partial noise reduction, which means they help reduce echoes, reverberations, and the intensity of external noises that enter a room. Their sound absorption qualities depend heavily on the thickness, density, and type of fabric, as well as the intensity and frequency of the noise itself.

Blackout curtains are best used in bedrooms, nurseries, or media rooms, where reducing both light and some level of noise enhances comfort. While they don’t provide the same level of isolation as specialized soundproofing curtains, they remain a practical solution for those seeking a balance between privacy, light control, and basic noise reduction.

3. What Level of Sound Reduction Can You Expect from Blackout Curtains?

If you’re expecting complete silence from blackout curtains, it’s important to set realistic expectations. While they aren’t designed to provide complete soundproofing, blackout curtains can help reduce noise levels—especially higher frequency sounds like traffic noise, human voices, or household disturbances.

Thanks to their thicker fabrics, heavier construction, and sometimes multiple-layer design, noise blocking blackout curtains can absorb and deflect some sound waves, making a room feel quieter. They work by reducing the reflection of sound inside the room and acting as a mild sound barrier that softens incoming noise.

In terms of actual performance, studies and industry sources like eNoise Control report that standard blackout curtains can reduce noise by approximately 5–15 decibels (dB)—though this varies based on materials, installation quality, and curtain thickness. In high-end setups or with layered fabric like those containing a felt layer, noise reduction may reach up to 20–50%, though that’s still short of what true soundproofing curtains achieve.

The impact of blackout curtains also depends heavily on room type and environmental conditions. For example, a small, carpeted bedroom with soft furnishings will experience more noticeable noise reduction than a large, echo-prone living room with hard floors. Likewise, placing blackout curtains over windows facing busy streets can significantly reduce ambient sound entering your home.

Ultimately, blackout curtains are not a one-stop solution for eliminating outside noise, but they’re a smart, cost-effective choice for homeowners looking to combine light blocking and mild sound control—especially in urban apartments, nurseries, or media rooms where comfort and quiet matter most.

Not sure how many panels to buy? This article explains curtain size calculation clearly with examples to help you get it right.

4. How Do Blackout Curtains Work?

Blackout curtains are specifically designed to block sunlight and create a completely dark environment inside the room. Their main function is to eliminate unwanted sunlight and artificial light—like that from streetlights—to help improve sleep quality, home theater experiences, or privacy in brightly lit areas.

These curtains are made using tightly woven, multi-layered fabric with a dense weave, which physically blocks light from entering the room. Many blackout curtains also feature a special lining or black backing, often made from materials like polyester or foam, to enhance their light-blocking capabilities. When installed correctly, blackout curtains can block out nearly all light, offering complete darkness in both day and night conditions.

In addition to their light-control function, blackout curtains also provide secondary benefits such as temperature regulation. By reducing heat transfer, they help maintain room temperature during extreme weather, acting as a thermal barrier.

You may be asking, can blackout curtains reduce sound? While they aren’t a replacement for full soundproofing, these curtains can contribute to a quieter space by offering minor noise reduction. Their thicker construction and multiple layers can slightly absorb and muffle ambient sound, which improves room acoustics by reducing echo and reverberation—especially in rooms with hard floors or bare walls.

Because of these properties, noise-reducing blackout curtains, often marketed as noise-blocking blackout curtains, are a popular choice for bedrooms, nurseries, and home offices—spaces where both light and sound control matter.

5. Are Soundproof Curtains Actually Effective?

Yes, soundproof curtains are effective for reducing noise in everyday settings—but with realistic expectations. These curtains are designed to minimize noise transmission by absorbing and dampening sound waves, especially airborne noise like traffic, street noise, and human voices. However, they are not a substitute for full acoustic insulation or construction-grade soundproofing materials.

How Soundproof Curtains Work:

Soundproof curtains work by using

• Thick, multi-layered fabrics and densely woven textiles such as polyester, velvet, or suede
• Noise-reducing linings made of thermal felt or acoustic foam
• Heavier weight panels (usually around 2.5–5 kg per curtain)
• Multi-density layering, which helps absorb both high-frequency sounds like voices and low-frequency sounds like traffic rumble

Realistic Noise Reduction Levels:

• Average noise reduction: around 7 to 15 decibels (dB)
• Premium models with acoustic materials may reduce sound by up to 20–30 dB.
• High-frequency sounds are more effectively absorbed than low-frequency noise.
• Soundproof curtains offer passive noise reduction by softening sound rather than completely blocking it.

What They Can and Can’t Do:

• Reduce echoes and reverberation in a room
• Improve speech clarity in offices or media rooms.
• Make bedrooms, nurseries, and apartments feel quieter and more comfortable.
• Do not block structural or impact noise (e.g., footsteps, wall vibrations).
• Are not 100% soundproof—as noted by acoustic product experts like eNoise Control

Best Use Cases:

• Apartments near busy roads
• Bedrooms for light sleepers
• Home theaters and baby nurseries
• Offices that need mild sound isolation
• Can be combined with door seals, acoustic foam panels, or double-glazed windows for full sound isolation in places like recording studios

Outdoor curtains need strong setups—read this windproof curtain guide for tips to keep them in place and help reduce street noise too.

6. Blackout Curtains vs. Soundproof Curtains

While both blackout and soundproof curtains contribute to a quieter, more comfortable space, they serve different purposes and offer distinct advantages. Let’s explore their key differences, when to choose each type, and which suits your room best.

Direct Comparison: What Sets Them Apart?

When to Choose Which Type?

• Choose blackout curtains if your main priority is light blocking, privacy, and moderate sound reduction. These are ideal for bedrooms or nurseries where sleep comfort is key.
• Choose soundproof curtains when your environment suffers from constant external noise like urban traffic, neighbor conversations, or street-level disturbances. Their sound-dampening design offers significantly better noise insulation.

Best Use Cases:

• Blackout Curtains
  • Light-sensitive sleepers
  • Media rooms needing light control
  • Homes looking for sound reduction with blackout curtains as a cost-effective solution
  • Improving the acoustic properties of blackout curtains when combined with wall-to-wall installation or liners
• Soundproof Curtains
  • Apartments near highways
  • Shared-wall rooms
  • Offices where speech clarity or reduced ambient noise is essential
  • Rooms where sound-dampening curtains can enhance quietness without construction

7. Can Blackout Curtains Help Reduce Echo in a Room?

Yes, blackout curtains can help reduce echo in a room—but not in the same way true acoustic treatments do. While they’re not fully soundproof, their thick, multi-layered fabric can significantly absorb sound reflections, softening harsh acoustics in everyday environments like bedrooms, offices, and living rooms.

Echo vs. Noise: What’s the Difference?

Though often used interchangeably, “echo” and “noise” are technically different.

• Echo is the result of sound bouncing off solid surfaces, causing reverberation.
• Noise, on the other hand, refers to unwanted sound—like traffic, voices, or machinery.
  Blackout curtains are more effective at reducing echo within a room than completely blocking external noise.

How Blackout Curtains Absorb Sound Reflections

Blackout curtains are made with tightly woven, dense fabrics and often include thermal backing or foam layers, which contribute to sound absorption. These fabrics help absorb sound reflections, enhancing the acoustics of a room.

• Minimizing reverberation
• Softening ambient sound
• Creating a more peaceful environment

While they don’t provide full decibel reduction like soundproof curtains, they do support moderate echo control—particularly when installed wall-to-wall or ceiling-to-floor.

8. How to Improve Sound Blocking with Blackout Curtains

If you’re using blackout curtains and want better results in reducing noise, a few smart upgrades can significantly boost their performance. While standard blackout curtains already help with noise reduction, combining them with other elements can turn your setup into a multi-barrier sound-dampening system. Here’s how to enhance the sound-blocking effectiveness in bedrooms, offices, or media rooms.

1. Layering with Sound-Dampening Liners and Acoustic Materials

One of the most effective techniques is layering. Using double curtain rods, you can hang sheer curtains or acoustic liners behind your heavy blackout drapes. For better sound absorption, consider adding thermal liners, felt, or mass-loaded vinyl (MLV). These materials reduce noise transmission by absorbing and softening sound waves before they enter the room. Studies show that using layered curtain panels can improve noise reduction by 30–50% compared to a single curtain panel.

2. Combine Curtains with Blinds or Window Liners

Another way to increase effectiveness is to pair blackout curtains with thick blinds, such as cellular blinds, Roman shades, or noise-reducing liners. These additions create a multi-layered acoustic barrier that both absorbs and blocks incoming noise. Honeycomb blinds, for example, use air pockets to trap and muffle sound, while a soundproof window liner installed underneath the curtain can add an extra 5–10 decibels (dB) of noise reduction. This combination is especially helpful in urban apartments, nurseries, or street-facing rooms.

3. Floor-to-Ceiling and Wall-to-Wall Mounting

Proper installation plays a big role in how well your blackout curtains perform. Mount curtain rods several inches above the window frame, and extend them past the window edges to cover any gaps. Install ceiling-mounted rods or hang floor-length drapes from wall to wall to build a noise-blocking curtain barrier.This setup prevents acoustic leaks, reduces noise leakage, and enhances overall room coverage. A well-mounted system can improve sound blocking by up to 40%, especially when combined with multi-layered fabrics.

New curtains often come wrinkled—our post on curtain crease removal tips shares smart and easy ways to fix them fast.

9. Conclusion

So, do blackout curtains block sound? Yes, they do—but with some limits. While they’re not a replacement for true soundproofing, their thick, multi-layered fabrics can absorb sound reflections and reduce some noise entering your space. If you’re looking for a simple and stylish way to soften echoes and improve room acoustics, blackout curtains are a practical option—especially when combined with additional sound-dampening techniques.

Whether you’re living near a busy road or just want a quieter space to relax, the truth is curtains can reduce outside noise—and blackout curtains do it better than most. For best results, pair them with acoustic liners, blinds, or full-length installations.

10. FAQs