How to Muffle the Sound of Your Blender

Last Updated: October 25, 2022 References

Are you craving a smoothie but worried about disturbing others with your noisy blender? If only there was a way to muffle the sound while making them! For those living in a shared house or an apartment with shared walls, it may be difficult to ever find a good time to use your blender. Thankfully, there are ways to limit the noise your blender can make. Check out this list we’ve put together of things you can do to muffle a blender.

Things You Should Know

Cover your blender with a towel, a cardboard box, or a plastic bin to muffle the sound. You can also make or buy a soundproof box.
Move your blender away from walls to give the sound less places to bounce off of.
Downgrade to a less powerful or higher quality blender. Weaker motors make less noise and state-of-the-art blenders often come with soundproofing.

1

Place a towel over the blender.

Layer multiple towels over the blender to reduce noise even more. Use a large enough towel that can cover the entire blender. If possible, wrap the blender in as many layers with the towel as possible. Since sound travels through vibrations, you want to limit the vibrations as much as you can.^{[1]
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- The thicker the seal around the blender, the quieter your blender will be.
- The towel will absorb a lot of the noise from the blender, but it can also absorb accidental spills. Make sure to use a towel that you won’t mind getting stained here and there.

2

Put the blender on a rubber mat.

A rubber surface softens the blender motor's vibrations. The blender’s motor can create a lot of energy, which translates to noisy vibrations against your countertop.^{[2]
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Research source} Place a rubber mat or even another towel underneath your blender to deaden the vibrations that cause that awful racket.
- You can also use this method along with placing a towel over the blender to increase your chances of muffling the grating sound that it makes.

3

Move the blender away from the wall.

Your blender will echo less with more space around it. By moving the blender as far away from a wall as you can, you cut down on the reverberation from all that noise. If possible, move your blender to the center of an island or a sturdy kitchen table to give the sound waves basically nothing to bounce off of.
- An extension cord can be very useful if you don’t have an available outlet far enough away from a wall.^{[3]
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  Research source} Just consult your blender’s manufacturer’s guide to make sure it is okay to do so.

4

Put an empty cardboard box over the blender.

Cardboard can reduce reverb and muffle sound. If you are working in a limited space, use a cardboard box large enough to safely cover the entire blender. This will act as a shield, absorbing some of the blender’s noisiness before it has a chance to reach the open air.^{[4]
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- A thicker cardboard would be best, so it is able to absorb more of the sound waves. Lining the box with foam or egg cartons can muffle the sound even more.^{[5]
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- Wrap a towel around your blender and place it on a rubber mat before putting the cardboard box on. This will muffle the blender in 3 different ways.

5

Cover your blender with a plastic bin.

Plastic has sound-dampening properties. Muffle sound by using a plastic box or bin that can encase your entire blender. A good amount of the sound will be trapped inside the box instead of inside your ears, which would be good for your health.^{[6]
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Trustworthy Source
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services
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- Before starting your blender, try to wrap a towel over the top of it. Putting the blender on top of a rubber mat or second towel can also aid in keeping the noise inside of your plastic box.

6

Use the blender in an enclosed space.

A fully enclosed space will stop the sound from traveling. Do you have ample storage space, like a large pantry? Bring your blender in there and close the door before you fire it up.^{[7]
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Research source} Just make sure you keep an eye (or ear) on your blender while it’s running.
- Rather not lose sight of your running blender? Make a dedicated space for your blender inside your garage. You might not notice the difference in the sound level, but your family or roommates sure will.

7

Use the blender outdoors.

Using an outdoor space can prevent sound from traveling through walls. When you are unable to cover the sound of your blender indoors, the best course of action is to take your blender outside. If you have an outlet on your patio or porch, this would be an excellent compromise in order to make those sweet smoothies.
- The noise will seem less abrasive and disruptive to your neighbors, as well, since the sound won’t bounce off their walls.

8

Buy a new blender.

Limit noises with a less powerful or higher quality blender. A standard blender creates a decibel level of 88 dB.^{[8]
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Research source} A blender with a less powerful motor will be quieter. Likewise, state-of-the-art blenders are often equipped with soundproofing already attached, solving the problem before it happens.
- A less powerful blender also means less expensive. This option can not only save you from annoying the neighbors but save you money as well.
- One downside of a less powerful blender is that you will be limited by what you’ll be able to do with it. Some affordable blenders may not be able to keep up with certain ingredients that need to be blended.
- Your culinary prowess will know no bounds with restaurant-quality blenders, thanks to the sharp blades and powerful motors. However, top-of-the-line blenders can cost anywhere from $200 to $1200, so they do not come cheap.