There’s an elegant way to produce quieter windows, with just a simple tweak in their construction.

Regular double paned windows come in different pane thickness, such as 1/8”, 3/16” etc. The two panes are normally the same thickness. But if window panes are simply mismatched, say one is 1/8” thick and the other is 3/16”, then less sound gets through. This “acoustic glass” is available from most window brands at a small premium over regular windows, about $100 more.

Same materials, same installation process, no extra sealing, etc, everything else about the window is the same.

How does it work? Two different filters is better than two of the same filter. When a sound passes through anything - a window, wall, a microphone, it’s filtered, meaning some frequencies pass through better than others.

The panes of acoustic glass filter different frequencies, because they have different stiffness and different mass. Different mass is what makes a heavier guitar string play a lower note than a thin one.

Unlike a guitar string, window panes don’t make sound, only take some away. Matching panes would subtract the same frequencies, which is redundant. If each pane goes to work on different frequencies, less overall sound passes through.

Does it actually work? Absolutely. Testing data shows they block sound better, per industry standard Sound Transmission Class (STC) rating. Personal experience bears this out. It’s no magical cone of silence, but it’s a moderate improvement. I have a mix of acoustic glass and regular windows in my home. The rooms with acoustic glass are quieter.

I have not received any compensation for this content. I do not recommend any particular product.