The short answer
Soundproofing a floor tackles two things: impact noise (footsteps, dropped objects, moving furniture) and airborne noise (voices, TV from the room below). The usual UK approaches are an acoustic underlay beneath the floor finish for a light fix; resilient battens or a floating floor that sits on rubber pads to break the impact path; and, for the best result, filling between the joists with acoustic mineral wool and adding a dense acoustic board or deck. Soundproofing a timber joist floor commonly costs around £65 per m² for the system, and a floor or ceiling between flats can run £5,000–£12,000 once impact treatment and making good are included. Floors are usually the priciest element because impact noise is the hardest to stop.
Floors are where impact noise lives, and it is the toughest noise to block. Here is how UK installers treat a floor, from a light underlay to a full floating build.
Floor soundproofing
- Timber joist system~£65 / m²
- Floor between flats~£5,000–£12,000
- Acoustic underlaylightest fix
- Floating floorbest for impact noise
- Two noise typesimpact + airborne
The ways to treat a floor
- Acoustic underlay: a dense mat laid under carpet, laminate or engineered wood. The simplest, lowest-priced fix, helpful for impact noise but limited on airborne sound.
- Resilient battens / floating floor: the floor surface sits on rubber or foam pads, so footstep energy is absorbed rather than passed straight into the structure. A strong option for impact noise.
- Filling between joists: lifting boards and packing the joist voids with acoustic mineral wool, often with a dense board over the top, cuts airborne noise travelling down to the room below.
| Approach | Mainly helps with | Relative cost |
|---|---|---|
| Acoustic underlay | impact noise | lowest |
| Resilient battens / floating floor | impact noise | mid |
| Wool between joists + deck | airborne + impact | higher |
| Floor between flats (full) | impact + airborne | £5,000–£12,000 |
General guidance — costs depend on floor type and access. Sourced UK guidance: trade soundproofing guides.
Why floors cost more
Impact noise travels through the structure itself, not just the air, so stopping it means decoupling the walking surface from the joists — which is more work than adding mass to a wall. A floor job often involves lifting and relaying the floor, building up the depth (which can affect door heights and skirting), and treating the ceiling below at the same time for the best result. That combination is why a floor between flats sits at the top of the soundproofing cost range. Where headroom is tight, an installer may recommend treating the ceiling of the room below instead.
Want to stop footsteps from above?
We'll match you with a vetted acoustic insulation installer who assesses whether your problem is impact or airborne noise and quotes the floor system that suits your build.
Frequently asked questions
How do you soundproof a floor against footsteps?
Footsteps are impact noise, which travels through the structure. The best fix decouples the walking surface from the joists — using an acoustic underlay, resilient battens or a floating floor on rubber pads — so the impact energy is absorbed rather than passed straight down.
How much does it cost to soundproof a floor?
A timber joist soundproofing system commonly costs around £65 per square metre, while a full floor or ceiling treatment between flats can run £5,000–£12,000 once impact treatment and making good are included.
Is it better to soundproof the floor or the ceiling below?
It depends on access and headroom. Treating the floor tackles impact noise at source, but where you cannot lift the floor, treating the ceiling of the room below can be more practical. In flats the two are often treated together for the best result.
Sources & further reading
Figures on this page are typical UK ranges drawn from published sources and depend on your specific build. They are guidance, not a quotation.