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Car Floor Insulation to Beat the Heat

Car Floor Insulation to Beat the Heat

Author: Eric Dellolio

Last Updated: February 9, 2024

Read Time: 7 Minutes

Car Floor Insulation to Drastically Improve Cabin Comfort

Author: Eric Dellolio

Updated: Feb. 9, 2024

Read Time: 7 Minutes

Author:

Eric Dellolio

Last Updated:

February 9, 2024

Read Time:

7 Minutes

When's the last time you got into your car and said to yourself, "Golly, the temperature in here is just perfect!"? The heating/cooling system is often our favorite "creature comfort" for a reason. So, why do we make it work so hard? Poorly insulated floors make your vehicle work extra hard to keep you comfortable.

Getting high quality car floor insulation that works will make your car as comfortable as your living room without having to blast the A/C or heat the whole car ride. Plus, being more energy efficient saves you money in the long run.

Take off your jacket (or put your shirt back on . . . please) and stay a while. We've got the best car floor insulation (we even have a bundle & save kit that takes the guess work out of it) and all the information you'll need to make your cabin cozier than your favorite pair of slippers.

When's the last time you got into your car and said to yourself, "Golly, the temperature in here is just perfect!"? The heating/cooling system is often our favorite "creature comfort" for a reason. So, why do we make it work so hard? Poorly insulated floors make your vehicle work extra hard to keep you comfortable.

Getting high quality car floor insulation that works will make your car as comfortable as your living room without having to blast the A/C or heat the whole car ride. Plus, being more energy efficient saves you money in the long run.

Take off your jacket (or put your shirt back on . . . please) and stay a while. We've got the best car floor insulation (we even have a bundle & save kit that takes the guess work out of it) and all the information you'll need to make your cabin cozier than your favorite pair of slippers.

Free USA shipping
Free USA shipping

Popular Car Floor Insulation Materials


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Why Insulating Your Car Floor is So Valuable

The floor of your car is a huge part of your car in terms of square footage. That means a poorly insulated car floor is going to be a BIG problem. You may not realize how much thermal loss you have, but if your car has to work hard to keep cool and/or keep warm, you'll find adding insulation to your floor is a great way to improve the comfort and efficiency of your vehicle.

Car Floor Insulation

Energy Efficiency = money saved

One of the biggest hot-button topics that people have been perpetually talking about since its inception is that of the price of gas. According to fueleconomy.gov, there are different reasons why cold weather and hot weather negatively affect fuel economy. In cold weather, fuel economy can drop by up to 41% depending on the type of vehicle. While fuel economy actually improves in hot weather, the things we do to keep our cabin cool and comfortable like blasting the A/C or rolling down the windows can reduce fuel economy by more than 25%! That brings us to our next point . . .

You Can't put a price on comfort

Well . . . you can. Our cars and trucks have premium leather seats with full range of motion for optimal driving position and seat warmers and coolers to keep our backside temperature just right. Comfort has an immeasurable value, though. So, why stop there? Insulating your car floor means you can set that temperature and not worry about thermal leakage through the floor!

How to Install Car Floor Insulation

Insulating your car floor is a key part of improving your car's fuel efficiency. For thermal protection, we highly recommend 100% coverage to ensure there's no where for energy to leak through your car floor. Most cars floors are somewhere between 35 and 45 sq ft, so you'll want to aim for that amount of coverage. We've got the best car insulation materials available and a simple breakdown of the steps to make this project that much more doable than you thought! 

STEPs to install car floor insulation

Enough chit chat! We have two steps to follow. Step one is the same for everyone. After that, you choose what you need and we'll show you what you need and how to do it.

    1.  Remove everything from the floor and clean the metal
    2.  Add thermal insulation in place of carpet padding

STEP 1: Strip and clean Your Car Floor

Take everything out so you can see what you're working with. Remove the seats and disassemble the center console. Clean your carpet and then carefully remove it, disconnecting any wiring that's in the way. Note how far your carpet extends to determine how much of your trim or paneling that needs to be removed. Now, clean the space thoroughly. We don't need those coins, cheerios, or junk mucking up the place. Use denatured alcohol to clean the sheet metal. You'll thank us later!

STEP 2: replace carpet padding with car floor insulation 

Everyone has a goal in mind. Whether that goal is just to insulated the car floor or you want to improve your car's sound quality while your car is exposed, we have a plan for you. Below, select what it is you're looking for, and we'll tell you what you need and how to get it done!

  • Easy on your wallet
  • Better and longer lasting than stock insulation
  • Budget friendly insulation
  • Improves sound quality and puts a stop to hot foot
  • Unmatched thermal insulation
  • Up to 50% reduction in perceived noise
  • Lasts for the life of your car

Option #1: Upgrade the Carpet Padding with OEM Jute Insulation

If your only concern is insulating your car floor, and you want to do it for a low cost per square foot, Heat Wave Pro™ is an excellent thermal insulation. This automotive jute carpet padding is a thermal insulation blanket surrounded by two layers of reflective foil. It can replace your worn out carpet pad or upgrade the carpet underlay if there's insufficient or ineffective material.

It’s a lighter, OEM-style material that is perfect for replacing carpet padding. Heat Wave Pro has a high R-value (3.91/in) and will absorb some sound, too, making it an all-around utility player for any vehicle dealing with high temperatures or any driver wanting to keep his or her cabin comfortable.

Need to know how much you need? Our Heat Wave Pro™ page has a tool you can use, or you can take the quick product recommendation quiz.

Alternative: Closed Cell Foam for Car Floor Insulation

If you want to step up your insulation game, OverKill Pro™ Closed Cell Foam is a great car floor insulation alternative. With an R-value of 4.33/in, our closed cell foam (CCF) will insulate your floor WAY better than any stock carpet padding your car came with.

INSTALLATION TIPS

Apply using our Contact Spray Adhesive (1 can per sheet) or Extra Strong Double Sided Tape!

Heat Wave Pro™ as insulated carpet padding

Heat Wave Pro™ as insulated carpet padding

Heat Wave Pro™ for cabin side firewall insulation

Heat Wave Pro™ for cabin side firewall insulation

Option #2: Pair Sound Deadener with Car Floor Insulation

You've got your car exposed and cleaned up real pretty. Applying the champion of sound deadeners, Damplifier Pro™, before adding any insulation does one of two things: reduces heat transfer through the sheet metal and deadens the metal to stop vibrations from ruining your cozy new cabin. Apply it to as much of the metal floor as possible. We recommend a minimum of 60% coverage.

Once that's installed, you can place Heat Wave Pro™, a fantastic, lightweight OEM jute insulation right on top of the Damplifier Pro™ to pair the power of heat reduction with thermal insulation. Not only will your vehicle have the proper thermal protection it deserves, but now your vehicle will sound better, too!

Not sure how much you need? Take our quick product recommendation quiz.

INSTALLATION TIPS

Pay special attention to the transmission tunnel as that tends to be the loudest area underneath your car.

Dodge 100 with Damplifier Pro

Step One (after strip and clean): Damplifier Pro™ down to deaden the metal.

Dodge 100 with Heat Wave Pro Jute Insulation

Step Two: Heat Wave Pro™ OEM Jute Insulation for thermal protection.

Dodge 100 with carpet reinstalled

Step Three: Reinstall the carpet over your sound deadening mats and insulation.

Option #3: Superior Car Floor Insulation That terminates road noise

The crème de la crème of car floor insulation and noise reduction is right here. Make your car cozier than a fireplace in a winter cabin or an ocean breeze through a tropical tiki hut by combining Damplifier Pro™ sound deadening mats with Luxury Liner Pro™!

Damplifier Pro™ reduces heat transfer and vibrations through the sheet metal in the floor. We recommend at least 60% coverage to get the best results. Luxury Liner Pro™ has a whopping 4.45/in R-value making it the best thermal insulation for any car floor. Additionally, due to its mass, it's an incredible sound blocker, so road noise will be a thing of the past. Cover 100% of the car floor to maximize effectiveness!

Drop down for a look at our Vehicle Insulation Kit that has everything you need in one convenient package!

INSTALLATION TIPS

Install mass loaded vinyl as far up the cabin side firewall as possible to add firewall insulation and soundproofing. Luxury Liner Pro™ has a high R-value, so it'll add a ton of heat insulation to keep out engine and exhaust heat.

Also, if you run into any clearance issues around seats or mounting points when bringing it to the back wall, you may opt to trim down the foam side only. DO NOT cut away from the vinyl, as that’s the heavy lifter.

Superior Car Floor Insulation and Car Floor Soundproofing in a Porsche 911 Turbo

Porsche 911 Turbo and Michelin Man

Step One: Strip and clean the car floor.

Porsche 911 Turbo with Damplifier Pro™ sound deadening mats

Step Two: Install Damplifier Pro™ sound deadening mats with at least 60% coverage.

Porsche 911 Turbo with Luxury Liner Pro™ MLV + Foam

Step Three: Install Luxury Liner Pro™ MLV + Foam with 100% coverage.

Porsche 911 Turbo replaced carpet

Step Four: Replace the carpeting and enjoy your brand new luxury vehicle!

Automotive Floor Insulation Has Never Been Easier

Our Vehicle Build Kits come with all the material you'll need to insulate your car floor and then some. Tackle your floor and cover the doors for the best thermal insulation and sound deadening money can buy. Then, if you have any left over, you can insulate your cabin side firewall or even your trunk. It really depends what your needs are.

  • Damplifier Pro™ is an excellent first layer, good for reducing heat transfer and deadening any structural vibrations. It should be applied with 60% coverage across the entire floor, cabin side firewall, and doors.
  • Luxury Liner Pro™ is the best in thermal insulation and will also block unwanted noises coming up through the floor. Grab some foil tape to seal all the seams for an added benefit.
  • Bundle and save bonus!
  • Made in the USA!

Insulate Your Car Floor Because You Deserve Luxury

Insulating the floor of your car is an essential part of making your vehicle a luxury vehicle. When your friends and family yammer on about fuel economy, you'll be ready to tell them all about how you dropkicked that problem for a comfortable, fuel-efficiency upgrade. It doesn't hurt that your vehicle is quieter too! If you have any other thermal or noise related issues in your car, we have more great products and tips covered in our owners manual!

Have questions about your project?

Call us at 1.800.679.8511