CUCar Upholstery Cost

Sound Deadening Material Calculator

Work out how many square feet (and square meters) of sound deadening mat your car needs for the doors, trunk, roof, floor and firewall. Start from Dynamat's published figures for an average car, or enter your own measurements.

Sound deadening material calculator

1 Areas to Treat

Select every area you plan to cover.

2 Number of Doors

Count the side doors. A rear hatch counts as part of the cargo area.

3 Area Figures

Dynamat's figures describe an average passenger car. Measure instead for an SUV, van or truck.

4 Coverage

Dynamat: at least 30 percent coverage for a noticeable difference; full coverage of an area performs best.

5 Pack Size

Default: Dynamat Xtreme Bulk Pack (part 10455), 9 sheets of 18 × 32 in (46 × 81 cm), 36 sq ft (3.3 m²) in total.

This tool measures material only.Pricing the teardown and refit?

Full-Car Upholstery CostPrice the interior teardown and refit that goes with a full sound deadening job.Headliner Replacement CostRoof treatment happens with the headliner down. Price the new headliner here.Carpet Replacement CostFloor and firewall treatment needs the carpet out. See what new carpet costs.Door Panel Replacement CostDoor panels come off for deadening. Price a used replacement panel or a peeling-fabric repair at the same time.

About This Calculator

The Sound Deadening Material Calculator works out how much damping mat to buy before you strip the interior. You pick the areas to treat, the number of doors and the coverage, and the tool returns the material in square feet and square meters, plus the number of packs.

People use it for 3 jobs:

  • A doors-only upgrade before a speaker install.
  • A full treatment during an interior teardown, when the carpet and headliner are already out.
  • Checking a kit size against the car before ordering.

The tool measures material only. It does not price labor or upholstery work. For the teardown and refit, use the Full-Car Calculator.

How Do We Calculate Sound Deadening Material?

We calculate sound deadening material in 3 steps: panel area, coverage, and packs.

1. Panel area

The Average car option uses Dynamat's published figures for an average passenger car: 12 sq ft (1.1 m²) of inner door skin and 8 sq ft (0.7 m²) of outer door skin per 2 doors, 20 sq ft (1.9 m²) for the trunk or cargo area, 12 sq ft (1.1 m²) for the roof, and 72 sq ft (6.7 m²) for the floor and firewall. The My measurements option multiplies the length by the width of each area, as Dynamat recommends, and converts inches or centimeters to square feet.

2. Coverage

Material needed equals panel area times the coverage you pick. Dynamat states that a minimum of 30 percent coverage is needed for a noticeable difference in noise, and that full coverage of any area gives the best performance.

3. Packs

Packs equal the material divided by the pack size, rounded up. The default pack is the Dynamat Xtreme Bulk Pack (part 10455): 9 sheets of 18 by 32 inches, 36 sq ft in total, so each sheet covers 4 sq ft (0.37 m²). Enter a different pack size for another brand.

One square foot equals 0.0929 square meters. A full average car, with 4 doors (both skins), the trunk, the roof, and the floor and firewall, comes to 144 sq ft (13.4 m²): 4 packs at 100 percent coverage, or 2 packs at 30 percent.

Which areas to treat first

Dynamat lists the areas from most to least noise reduction: the doors (including the rear hatch on SUVs and crossovers), the cargo or trunk area, the firewall and floor, and the roof.

How to Use This Tool

To use the Sound Deadening Material Calculator, follow 5 steps:

  1. Select the areas to treat. Doors (inner and outer skins), trunk, roof, and floor with firewall.
  2. Set the number of doors. 2 or 4 side doors.
  3. Choose the area figures. Average car, or your own length and width for each area.
  4. Pick the coverage. 30, 50, 75 or 100 percent of each panel.
  5. Set the pack size. 36 sq ft by default, or the size of the kit you plan to buy.

The result updates as you change any input. Use Save / Print to keep a copy for the parts order.

Sources

  • Dynamat FAQ: average-car area figures, the 30 percent minimum coverage, the area ranking, and the length × width method.
  • Dynamat Xtreme Bulk Pack, part 10455, product listing: 9 sheets of 18 × 32 inches, 36 sq ft.

Tips for a Clean Sound Deadening Install

Follow 6 tips to get the most from the material you buy:

  • Clean the metal first. Wipe each panel with an alcohol-based cleaner so the adhesive bonds to bare, dry metal.
  • Roll every piece down. Press the mat with a hard roller until the foil pattern flattens, so no air stays trapped under it.
  • Measure with the trim out. Measured areas beat the average-car figures, most of all on SUVs, vans and trucks.
  • Keep drain holes and wiring clear. Do not cover door drain holes, window tracks, or the clips the trim panel needs.
  • Buy for the job, not the car. Four doors with both skins need about 40 sq ft (3.7 m²) on Dynamat's figures, less than a third of the 144 sq ft (13.4 m²) a full average car takes.
  • Pair the floor and roof with upholstery work. Both areas need the carpet or headliner out, so treat them during a teardown you are already paying for.

Frequently Asked Questions

Direct answers about how much sound deadening material a car needs and how to measure for it.

How much sound deadening do I need for a car?

An average passenger car needs about 144 square feet (13.4 m²) of material for full coverage of 4 doors (inner and outer skins), the trunk, the roof, and the floor and firewall, based on Dynamat's area figures. A doors-only job on 4 doors needs about 40 square feet (3.7 m²).

How much sound deadening do I need for doors?

Two doors need about 20 square feet (1.9 m²) for full coverage of both skins: 12 square feet of inner skin and 8 square feet of outer skin, per Dynamat's figures for an average car. Four doors need about 40 square feet (3.7 m²).

Do I need 100 percent coverage?

No. Dynamat states that a minimum of 30 percent coverage is needed for a noticeable difference in noise, and that full coverage of an area always gives the best performance. Pick a coverage in the calculator to compare the amounts.

Which part of the car should I deaden first?

Start with the doors. Dynamat lists the areas from most to least noise reduction as the doors (including the rear hatch on SUVs and crossovers), the cargo or trunk area, the firewall and floor, and the roof.

How many sheets are in a Dynamat Xtreme Bulk Pack?

The Dynamat Xtreme Bulk Pack (part 10455) holds 9 sheets of 18 by 32 inches (46 by 81 cm), 36 square feet (3.3 m²) in total. Each sheet covers 4 square feet (0.37 m²).

How do I measure an area for sound deadening?

Measure the length and width of each panel and multiply them. Dynamat recommends measuring the area to be treated and working out the square footage as length times width. Enter your figures in the calculator's My measurements option, in inches or centimeters.

Are the average-car figures right for an SUV or truck?

No, measure instead. Dynamat's figures describe an average passenger car. SUVs, vans and trucks have larger floors, roofs and cargo areas, so the My measurements option gives a closer number.

Does this calculator price the installation?

No. It works out the material only. Sound deadening often happens during an interior teardown, so use the Full-Car Calculator to price the upholstery side of the job.