What is The Best Acoustic Underlay for Laminate Flooring?

Figuring out what the best acoustic underlay for laminate flooring can be tough. The best acoustic underlay for laminate flooring depends on your specific needs (e.g., soundproofing level, subfloor type, budget), but here are the top-rated flooring underlayment options and attributes widely recommended for laminate flooring. Remember, laminate flooring manufacturers require an underlayment beneath and for a host of reasons. Ensuring your laminate flooring has underlayment is paramount. Here are the features you should look for when choosing laminate.

Key Features to Look For

• STC (Sound Transmission Class): Measures airborne sound (voices, TV)
• IIC (Impact Insulation Class): Measures impact noise (footsteps, dropped objects)
• Built-in Vapor Barrier: Prevents moisture from damaging laminate
• Compression Resistance: Ensures underlay won’t flatten over time
• Radiant Heat Compatibility: Important if you have heated floors

Delta IIC Rating – The Rating Homeowners Should Look For

If you are looking for acoustic/sound proofing laminate flooring underlayment, then you would want to be looking at sound rating numbers listed from each product. However, the average consumer doesn’t know what those numbers really mean or which one to look at. To make it easy, you want to look at the Delta IIC Rating number if possible. The Delta IIC rating is the purest form of sound test for underlayment as that is what it is testing in the sound performance test. In regular IIC lab tests, they are testing the underlayment but the entire structure beneath the flooring, underlayment and then the entire cavity and insulation with other building materials to the ceiling below.

The definition of Delta IIC Rating – Performance gain in sound reduction between two sound test. The higher the number, the better the sound proofing is.

Each laminate underlay will have different Delta IIC numbers, so you would want to look at the numbers.

Here is a chart of our underlayment in descending order of Delta IIC Rating test.

As you can see our QuietWalk line of underlayments is our (and flooring industries) best acoustic underlay for laminate flooring.

So what makes QuietWalk Luxury Vinyl the leading product in soundproofing underlayment?

The thin dense composition of the recycled post-industrial fibers that make up the underlayment. Highly bound together through our manufacturing process, our underlayment is dense allowing the micro fibers to soak up the sound. Having a dense underlayment allows to be compression resistant, ensuring your floor is supported correctly. Certain foam underlayments have “trapped air”, which can be escaped/crushed in high traffic areas.

If you want to learn more about our QuietWalk Luxury Vinyl underlayment, click on the following button.

QuietWalk Luxury Vinyl – Acoustic Underlay for Laminate

Top 5 Acoustic Underlays for Laminate Flooring

1. QuietWalk Underlayment

• Best for: Overall performance and eco-friendliness
• STC/IIC Rating: ~71/66
• Material: Recycled fibers
• Why it’s great:
  • Excellent sound absorption
  • Moisture protection with vapor barrier
  • Compatible with radiant heat
  • GreenGuard Gold certified

2. Roberts Super Felt Underlayment

• Best for: Budget-friendly acoustic performance
• STC/IIC Rating: ~66/67
• Material: Felt (recycled fiber)
• Why it’s great:
  • Affordable
  • Good sound control
  • Suitable over wood or concrete subfloors

3. FloorMuffler UltraSeal

• Best for: Maximum soundproofing and moisture protection
• STC/IIC Rating: ~73/74
• Material: Crosslinked polyethylene foam
• Why it’s great:
  • Have high lab rating sound testing
  • Built-in moisture barrier
  • Lightweight and easy to install

4. QuietWalk LV

• Best for: Versatility and multi-floor types
• STC/IIC Rating: ~72/66
• Material: Enhanced fiber blend
• Why it’s great:
  • Works with laminate, LVP, hardwood, etc.
  • Great acoustic and thermal performance
  • Ideal for both wood and concrete subfloors

5. Eco Cork Foam (ECF)

• Best for: Eco-conscious buyers
• STC/IIC Rating: ~71/73
• Material: Cork and foam blend
• Why it’s great:
  • Naturally antimicrobial and mold-resistant
  • Excellent thermal insulation
  • Easy to install with overlapping edges

Best Overall Pick: QuietWalk or FloorMuffler

• QuietWalk is ideal if you want eco-friendly, well-rounded performance and as the name suggests, dominates in making the floor quieter.
• FloorMuffler is a good option but has its limitations regardless of boasting high sound numbers that are impractical in the real world.