Loud Neighbors? Here’s How to Drown Them Out

Peace and quiet, here you come

Co-authored by Patricia Penker and Hannah Madden

Last Updated: June 8, 2024 Fact Checked

The benefits of living close to other people are vast (neighborhood BBQs, friendly hellos, and even borrowing a cup of sugar when you run out). But living close to others can also have its drawbacks, and one of the main ones is noise. We’ve compiled a few ways you can drown out your noisy neighbors to reduce your stress and stop worry in its tracks. And if that doesn’t work, we’ve also included a few ways you can escalate the situation and get your neighbors to be quiet at a reasonable hour.

Things You Should Know

Try using a pair of noise-canceling headphones. When things get loud, pop these on, listen to music, and get back to relaxing.
Put a few rugs down to absorb sound. If you’ve got noisy neighbors below you, rugs will significantly improve the noise rattling through your hard flooring.
Don’t be afraid to reach out to your landlord. If the noise is too much to bear, you can politely ask your landlord to deal with the situation by issuing a warning, etc.

1

Buy a pair of noise-cancelling headphones.

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These can really help block out noise when you’re home by yourself. If you find that your noisy neighbors are really getting on your nerves, invest in a pair of noise-cancelling headphones or earbuds, then wear them when you’re trying to relax. These can even help you fall asleep if your neighbors tend to keep you awake at night.^{[1]
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- You can find a quality pair of noise-cancelling headphones for around $100.
- If headphones are out of your budget right now, just get some ear plugs instead.

2

Use a white noise machine.

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A little bit of background noise can help drown out annoying neighbors. Plug in a white noise machine or even get a fan and put it on high. This can really help block out annoying sounds, and it can help calm you down when you’re feeling anxious about the noise.^{[2]
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Research source} If you don’t want to run out and buy a white noise machine right now, try looking up “white noise” on YouTube and playing it from your phone or your computer instead.
- White noise machines are also great sleep aids! If you ever have trouble falling asleep, try playing some white noise to lull you into slumber.

3

Move your bed away from the noise if you can.

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If you have the space in your home, consider readjusting your furniture so your bed is away from the wall where your neighbors are. Do the same thing with your couch and anywhere you spend a lot of time, too—the further away you are from the noise, the better.^{[3]
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4

Put down a few rugs to absorb sound.

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Getting a few rugs is an easy way to dampen the sound in your home. If you have wooden, tile, or concrete floors, head to the store and buy a few big rugs to lay down in your home. The more soft areas you can add to the inside of your home, the better!^{[4]
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- Similarly, if you have a big area in your home that’s mostly empty, consider filling it up with furniture to absorb some of the sound. You can find quality furniture for a lower price at thrift stores near you.

5

Seal cracks in the walls with caulk.

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Cracks and holes let in a lot of sound. If you live in an older home or you notice any cracks where noise seems to seep through, grab a tube of caulk and seal up the openings. Let the caulk dry for a few hours, then see if the noise from your neighbors has lessened at all.^{[5]
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- Cracks are very common around doors and windows. If you own the home that you’re in and it’s an older one, consider upgrading your door and window fittings so they’re tighter and block out noise better.
- If you’re renting, consider adding weather stripping to your windows to make them a little more sound proof.

6

Install acoustic light fixtures to absorb sound.

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These special light fixtures are made specifically to help cancel out noise. If you’re allowed to change the light fixtures in your home, head out and buy a pack of acoustic light fixtures and change them out.^{[6]
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Research source} The more light fixtures you add, the more they’ll absorb sound and help cancel out some of the noise from your neighbors.
- You can find a pack of basic acoustic light fixtures at most hardware stores for around $80.
- If you’re in a rental, save your old light fixtures and then replace them before you move out.

7

Get out of the house for a while.

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Getting out of the house can give you a nice break from your situation, and you’ll probably feel calmer once you come home. If you work from home and the noise bothers you throughout the day, consider heading to a coffee shop or a shared workspace to work instead.^{[7]
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8

Reduce stress with relaxation techniques.

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The less stressed you are, the less you’ll worry about noise. Practice self-care by doing one nice thing for yourself every day, like taking a bubble bath or having a fun treat. You can also reduce stress by meditating once a day, even for 5 or 10 minutes.^{[8]
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- Exercising is also a great way to reduce stress. Plus, if you find a gym nearby, it’s a great excuse to get out of the house for a while.
- If dealing with noisy neighbors is causing you anxiety, talk to a mental health professional. When you’re anxious, you’re going to be more stressed, which can create a never-ending cycle of worry about the noise in your home.

9

Try talking with your neighbors about the noise.

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If you haven’t done so already, you might try chatting with your neighbors. There’s a high chance that they don’t realize how loud they’re being, and they might take steps to reduce their noise if you talk to them about it. Knock on their door one day and have a polite, civil conversation about the noise levels and how it’s bothering you. You could say something like:^{[9]
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- “Hey, I live in the apartment right below you, so I can hear you guys walking around a lot. I was wondering if you guys wouldn’t mind trying to keep it down at night, just so I can get to sleep a little easier.”
- It can seem nerve-wracking to approach your neighbors, but it can really help you take control of the situation and lower your anxiety levels about the noise. Even if your neighbors don’t change right away, at least you’re actively doing something about it.

10

Talk to your landlord if the noise continues.

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If your neighbors don’t make a change, you can talk to your landlord. If you’re in a rental, call up your landlord or property manager and explain to them what’s been going on. Be sure to mention that you’ve already talked to your neighbors and that the issue is still happening. Hopefully, your landlord will send them an official warning, and they’ll take it seriously enough to quiet down.^{[10]
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- When you talk to your landlord, say something like, “I wanted to chat about the people in apartment 23. They play loud music really late at night, and I’ve already asked them to quiet down. It’s disturbing me and the other tenants in the building at this point.”

11

Report your neighbors to the police if you need to.

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If your landlord can’t do anything, this is your next step. Most cities have noise ordinances, which means it’s technically illegal to be super loud after a certain hour. If your neighbors are being loud late at night, call the non-emergency line and report a disturbance to have a cop come out and chat with them about their noise levels.^{[11]
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- For instance, a lot of cities have a noise ordinance that bans loud noises from 9 PM to 7 AM.
- Calling the police on your neighbors isn’t a great way to foster a neighborly relationship, so only use this tactic if you’ve tried everything else.

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Tips

If you have a sensitivity to noise (also called misophonia), consider working with a mental health professional to lower your anxiety and sensitivity levels.^{[12]
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