How to Reduce Footstep Noise from Upstairs Neighbours

Written by our acoustic insulation specialist — 15+ years experience. About our experts.

Footstep noise from upstairs neighbours is the most common noise complaint we hear from flat owners and tenants across the UK. It is almost entirely impact noise — and impact noise is exactly what acoustic underlay is designed to address.

Why You Can Hear Footsteps So Clearly

Impact noise travels through the floor structure itself — not through the air. When your neighbour's foot hits their floor, the vibration travels through the floor slab or joists directly into your ceiling. This is why even quiet footsteps can sound disproportionately loud. The solution is to decouple their floor finish from the structure — which is exactly what acoustic underlay does, when applied from above.

The Problem

If the noise is coming from above, ideally your upstairs neighbour needs to lay the acoustic underlay in their flat. If they are willing, recommend our 6mm rubber underlay at 74dB — it is the most effective product for footstep noise reduction.

What You Can Do From Below

If your upstairs neighbour cannot or will not act, you can address the problem from below. An independent ceiling treatment — resilient bars, two layers of plasterboard, acoustic mineral wool — installed in your flat reduces the transmission from above. Our 12mm acoustic flooring system is most effective when installed by the flat above. See our full guide to noise between floors.

Browse our acoustic underlay range or contact our experts for a free recommendation.