How Much Does Sound Insulation Testing Cost?
Sound insulation testing: From £375 + VAT. Guide price. Get a free quote for your project. This guide explains how many tests your site is likely to need, what can add to the cost and how to avoid a fail.
In this guide
Who needs a sound test?
Approved Document E says testing should be carried out on new and converted homes, and on rooms for residential purposes such as student rooms. That covers:
- New semi-detached and terraced houses with a separating wall.
- New flats with separating walls or floors.
- Conversions that create new homes, such as a house split into flats or an office turned into apartments.
- Rooms for residential purposes, new or converted.
A detached house with no shared walls or floors does not need one. New homes can avoid testing by using Robust Details, but conversions cannot. See what is Sound Insulation Testing?
How many tests will my site need?
Testing is done in sets, and what goes into a set depends on the building. These are the normal sets in Approved Document E:
| Building | One set of tests |
|---|---|
| Houses and bungalows | 2 airborne tests through the separating wall |
| Flats with a separating floor only | 2 airborne and 2 impact tests through the floor |
| Flats with a separating floor and wall | 4 airborne and 2 impact tests |
Your Building Control body decides which homes are tested. The normal programme works like this:
- One set between the first homes due for completion in each group. This applies even if the site is only one pair of homes.
- If no tests fail, at least one set for every ten homes in a group.
- More testing early on than towards the end, so that problems show up in time.
Houses, flats and rooms for residential purposes are separate groups. Different wall or floor types are split into sub-groups, and each one needs its own testing. A site with two floor types can therefore need more tests than its size suggests. Conversions often need more sub-groups, because the construction is more likely to vary.
A full set in flats with a separating floor and wall needs access to at least three flats. Plan for this when you pick your test date.
What result do I need?
| Type of home | Standard |
|---|---|
| New homes | Airborne at least 45 dB. Impact no more than 62 dB |
| Conversions | Airborne at least 43 dB. Impact no more than 64 dB |
Different figures apply to rooms for residential purposes. There is no margin: the figures already allow for measurement uncertainty, so missing one by any amount is a fail.
What can add to the cost?
The test fee is rarely the whole story. These are the things that can cost builders more:
- A failed set. The rooms have to be put right and retested, and other rooms that share the same wall or floor come into question. Testing then becomes more frequent until Building Control is satisfied.
- A site that is not ready. If windows, doors or finishes are not complete, or noisy trades are working next door, the test may not be able to go ahead.
- Remedial work. Fixing a wall or floor once it is finished means opening up completed work. If the cause lies in the construction, untested rooms may need the same treatment.
- Testing too late. A fail on the first homes gives you time to change the rest of the site. A fail at handover does not.
Ask what a retest costs when you get your quote, so there are no surprises.
How to avoid a fail
- Check your wall and floor details before you build, including the junctions with outer walls.
- Seal gaps around joists, beams and pipes that pass through separating walls and floors.
- Do not fit sockets or switches back to back in a separating wall.
- Make sure floor finishes do not touch the walls where a resilient layer is used.
- Inspect the work before it is covered up.
Who can carry out the test?
Approved Document E says the test body should have suitable third party accreditation, preferably UKAS for field measurements. Members of the ANC Registration Scheme are also regarded as suitably qualified. Check with your Building Control body if you are unsure.
When should I book?
Near the end of the build, when the rooms being tested are finished. Talk to Building Control early about which homes they want tested and when, so you can book the first set around your first completions.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a sound test cost?
Sound insulation testing is From £375 + VAT. Guide price. Get a free quote for your project.
How many sound tests do I need?
Normally one set between the first homes finished in each group, then at least one set for every ten homes in that group. Building Control decides which homes are tested.
What is a set of sound tests?
For houses it is normally 2 airborne tests. For flats with a separating floor it is 2 airborne and 2 impact tests. For flats with a separating floor and wall it is 4 airborne and 2 impact tests.
Do I need a sound test for a house conversion into flats?
Yes. Testing is the normal way to show that a conversion meets Part E, because Robust Details cannot be used for conversions.
What happens if a sound test fails?
The rooms that failed need remedial work, and you have to show Building Control that other rooms meet the standard. This is normally done with more tests, and the rate of testing goes up until the problem is solved.
Can I book other tests on the same visit?
Yes, ask us when you request your quote. Ventilation testing is From £45 + VAT (per plot, on the same visit as other testing). Guide price. Get a free quote for your project.
Get a Free Quote for Your Project
Send us the site address, the number of homes, your floor plans and the date you want to test.
Last reviewed: November 2026. Checked against Approved Document E (2003 edition with amendments). General guidance for England only. Get project-specific advice before relying on it.