How Much Does It Cost to Build a Vocal Booth?
A DIY vocal booth costs about $250 to $700 as a closet lined with panels, a fabric booth lists at $549.99 to $799.99, and a sealed prefab booth lists at $5,595 to $9,405. Only the sealed booths block outside noise. Everything else fixes echo. Prices are manufacturer list prices at the time of writing unless marked as our estimate.
DIY, prefab and pro-built costs
| Build | Blocks outside noise | Cost | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Closet, 6 homemade panels | No | About $250 to $300 plus lumber | Estimate: $42 to $49 a panel in core and fabric, per our panel cost breakdown |
| PVC frame with blankets | No | About $150 to $300 | Estimate: 58 ft of 1 in pipe, 8 fittings, 120 sq ft of blankets |
| Closet, 6 bought panels | No | $576 to $714 | 6 x $95.99 (ATS) to 6 x $119 (GIK 242) |
| Fabric booth | No: "not soundproof" | $549.99 to $799.99 | Snap Studio and Snap Studio XL |
| DIY sealed booth, framed | Unmeasured | About $900 to $1,700 | Estimate, materials only (below) |
| Prefab sealed booth | 32 to 46 dB | $5,595 to $9,405 | WhisperRoom MDL 4242 S to MDL 6060 S |
| Pro-built custom booth | Depends on design | No published price | Contractor quote |
WhisperRoom's 32 to 46 dB is its ASTM E336 field result for standard single-wall booths. The MDL 4848 S at $5,995 includes a ventilation system. Build steps for the two cheapest options are in how to build a vocal booth.
What a DIY sealed booth costs in materials
Our estimate is for a 4 by 4 foot booth 7 feet tall: a 2x4 frame, insulation, one drywall layer inside and two outside with damping compound between them.
| Material | Quantity | Estimated cost |
|---|---|---|
| 5/8 in drywall, 4 x 8 ft | 12 sheets | $180 to $300 |
| Green Glue compound | 8 tubes (2 per sheet, outer layer) | $160 to $240 |
| 2x4 studs, plates and ceiling joists | About 30 | $120 to $210 |
| Insulation for walls and ceiling | About 130 sq ft | $100 to $200 |
| Solid core door with seals | 1 | $250 to $500 |
| Fan and baffled vent boxes | 1 set | $100 to $250 |
The compound quantity follows Green Glue's two tubes per 4 by 8 foot sheet. Don't skip the vent. A sealed booth has no air exchange without one, which is why WhisperRoom builds one in.
Whole-room budgets are in how much it costs to soundproof a room, and every option is in how to soundproof a home studio.
Related questions
What is the cheapest vocal booth?
A closet lined with homemade panels, at about $250 to $300 in core and fabric plus lumber, or a PVC frame with blankets at an estimated $150 to $300. Both fix echo, not outside noise.
Is a prefab booth worth it over a DIY sealed booth?
A WhisperRoom costs several times our materials estimate for a DIY sealed booth, but comes with published ASTM E336 results and built-in ventilation. A DIY booth's isolation is unknown until you measure it.
How much does a professional vocal booth cost?
Sealed WhisperRoom booths list at $5,595 to $9,405 in single-wall form. Custom-built booths have no published price, so get contractor quotes.
More answers: Home recording FAQ