How to Reduce Street Traffic and City Noise in Your Apartment

Last updated: April 2026 · 9 min read

Living on a busy street means honking horns, diesel engines, sirens, garbage trucks at dawn, and the general hum of city life. Unlike neighbour noise, street noise enters primarily through your windows, which makes it one of the more treatable problems for renters. The weak link is almost always the glass and the seals around it. Fix those, and you can cut outside noise dramatically.

Why Windows Are the Weak Point

A standard single-pane apartment window blocks roughly 20 to 25 decibels of noise. For reference, busy city traffic measures around 70 to 80 decibels outside. That means 45 to 60 decibels are getting into your apartment, which is the equivalent of a normal conversation happening right next to you, all day and night.

Even double-pane windows have limits. If the seals are worn, or if there are gaps between the window frame and the wall, sound finds a way in. The strategies below address both the glass itself and the gaps around it.

Step 1: Seal the Window Frame

Before adding anything over the window, check the seals around it. Run your hand along the edges of the closed window. If you feel any draft at all, sound is coming through that same gap.

• V-strip weatherstripping fits into the channel where the window slides and compresses when closed. It is nearly invisible and does not affect window operation.
• Foam tape weatherstripping works for fixed frames and non-sliding windows. Apply it along the frame where the sash meets the stop.
• Removable acoustic caulk can seal gaps between the window frame and the wall without permanent damage. Some renters use painter's tape as a base layer for extra-clean removal.

This step alone can reduce noise by 3 to 8 decibels, which is noticeable. It costs under $20 and takes less than an hour per window.

Step 2: Hang Acoustic Curtains

Heavy, multi-layered curtains are the most accessible noise-reduction upgrade for windows. The best acoustic curtains have three layers: a dense face fabric, a mass-loaded core or thick interlining, and a noise-absorbing backing. They work by adding mass over the window surface and absorbing some of the sound energy before it reaches your room.

For maximum effect:

• Choose curtains that are wider than the window by at least 6 inches on each side, so they cover the surrounding wall.
• Hang them as close to the ceiling as possible and let them fall to the floor. Gaps at the top or bottom let noise flank around them.
• Use a wraparound curtain rod that curves back to the wall on the sides, sealing the edges.

Acoustic curtains alone typically reduce window noise by 5 to 10 decibels. Combined with weatherstripping, you are looking at 8 to 15 decibels of total reduction.

Step 3: Install Window Inserts

Window inserts are the single most effective renter-friendly solution for street noise. They are clear acrylic or glass panels that press-fit or magnetically attach inside your existing window frame, creating a sealed air gap between the insert and the original glass.

This air gap is the key. A properly installed window insert with a 2 to 4 inch air gap can reduce noise by 50% or more (10 to 15 decibels). Some brands claim up to 70% reduction, and independent tests confirm that high-quality inserts combined with sealed original windows approach the performance of expensive replacement double-pane windows.

Window inserts are removable, leave no damage, and do not interfere with your ability to open the original window (you just pop the insert out first). The main downsides are cost ($150 to $400 per window) and the need to measure precisely for a tight fit.

Step 4: Add a White Noise Machine Near the Window

After treating the window itself, a white noise machine placed on the windowsill or nearby surface provides a final masking layer. Position it between the window and your primary sitting or sleeping area. The machine fills in the remaining traffic hum so your brain stops registering it as a distinct sound.

For bedrooms facing a busy street, a white noise machine is often the difference between lying awake and sleeping through the night, even without any window treatment at all. Combined with curtains and weatherstripping, it creates a remarkably quiet environment.

What About Window Film or Plastic Shrink Wrap?

Plastic window insulation film (the kind you shrink with a hair dryer) is designed for thermal insulation, not noise. It adds a thin plastic layer with a small air gap, which can reduce high-frequency noise slightly but does almost nothing for the low-frequency rumble of traffic. It is better than nothing and very cheap, but do not expect dramatic results.

For a budget approach, the same money spent on proper weatherstripping will give you better noise reduction than plastic film.

Room Layout and Additional Tips

• Move your bed away from the window. Even a few extra feet of distance reduces perceived volume.
• Add soft furnishings to the room: thick rugs, upholstered chairs, throw pillows. These absorb reflected street noise and reduce the overall reverberance of the space.
• Close interior doors between the street-facing room and the rest of your apartment. Each closed door (especially with a door sweep) adds another layer of isolation.
• Use earplugs for sleep if traffic noise peaks during early morning hours. Modern silicone earplugs are comfortable enough for all-night wear.

Realistic Expectations by Budget

• Under $50: Weatherstripping plus a white noise machine. Expect 5 to 10 dB reduction. The noise will still be audible but much less intrusive.
• $50 to $200: Add acoustic curtains. Expect 10 to 15 dB total. Street noise becomes background rather than foreground.
• $200 to $500: Add window inserts. Expect 15 to 25 dB total. A busy street sounds like a quiet residential road.