If you’re choosing between SoundSkins and Dynamat for car sound deadening, the most important thing to understand is that their flagship products aren’t built in exactly the same way.
SoundSkins Pro combines butyl, aluminum foil and acoustic foam in a single layered product, while Dynamat Xtreme is primarily a constrained-layer vibration damper made from butyl with an aluminum facing.
That difference matters more than simply asking which product is thicker.
Both can be used to reduce vibration and improve the acoustic environment inside a vehicle, but the better choice depends on whether you want an integrated multi-layer material or a dedicated vibration-damping product that can form part of a broader sound-control system.
Table of Contents
SoundSkins vs Dynamat: Quick Verdict
Choose SoundSkins Pro if:
- You want butyl damping and an integrated acoustic foam layer in one product.
- You prefer large sheets that can cover broad areas with fewer joins.
- You are treating doors, floors, trunks or other areas where the combined construction suits your installation.
- You prefer buying fewer types of material for a straightforward DIY project.
Choose Dynamat Xtreme if:
- You want a dedicated constrained-layer vibration damper.
- You prefer choosing from multiple kit sizes for doors, trunks, speakers or larger vehicle projects.
- You want to build a more modular treatment using Dynamat with separate insulation or barrier layers where needed.
- Weight and thickness are particularly important considerations in your installation.
My overall view: neither product wins simply because it is thicker. SoundSkins Pro and Dynamat Xtreme use different constructions, so their total thickness figures aren’t directly comparable measures of damping quality.
SoundSkins Pro is particularly appealing as an integrated solution, while Dynamat Xtreme remains a strong choice when you want dedicated vibration damping and more flexibility in how you build the rest of the treatment.
SoundSkins Pro vs Dynamat Xtreme at a Glance
| Feature | SoundSkins Pro | Dynamat Xtreme |
|---|---|---|
| Core construction | Acoustic foam, aluminum foil and rubber butyl | Butyl vibration-damping layer with aluminum constraining layer |
| Overall thickness | Approx. 0.18 in | Approx. 0.067 in |
| Integrated foam layer | Yes | No |
| Self-adhesive | Yes | Yes |
| Door-kit coverage | 11 sq ft | 12 sq ft |
| Larger kit option | 44 sq ft Mega Kit | 36 sq ft Bulk Pak |
| Sheet style | Large roll/sheet format | Multiple individual sheets |
| Best reason to choose it | Integrated foam + damping construction | Dedicated vibration damping and flexible kit range |
Important: don’t use the overall thickness numbers alone to decide which is better. A large part of SoundSkins Pro’s additional thickness comes from its acoustic foam layer. Dynamat Xtreme performs a different role as a dedicated constrained-layer damper.
The Biggest Difference: SoundSkins and Dynamat Are Built Differently
This is where many SoundSkins vs Dynamat comparisons become misleading.
It is tempting to look at SoundSkins Pro at approximately 0.18 inches thick and Dynamat Xtreme at approximately 0.067 inches and conclude that SoundSkins must automatically be the better sound deadener.
That isn’t a fair comparison.
SoundSkins Pro is a three-layer composite material. Its construction combines:
- Rubber butyl
- An aluminum foil layer
- Closed-cell acoustic foam
The foam accounts for a substantial part of its total thickness.
Dynamat Xtreme is primarily a constrained-layer vibration damper. Its job is to bond to a rigid panel and reduce the vibration and resonance of that panel.
In other words, SoundSkins integrates materials serving more than one purpose into one product, while Dynamat Xtreme concentrates on vibration damping and can be combined with other Dynamat products when additional thermal or airborne-noise treatment is required.
That makes construction and intended use much more useful comparison points than total thickness.
SoundSkins Pro Review
SoundSkins Pro is designed as an automotive sound treatment combining rubber butyl, foil and acoustic foam.
Its integrated construction is the main reason it stands apart from conventional butyl-and-foil damping mats.
SoundSkins currently offers Pro in several coverage sizes, including an 11 sq ft two-door kit and a 44 sq ft Mega Kit. The Mega Kit consists of four large sheets measuring approximately 79 × 19 inches each.
Those large sheets can be useful when working across broad surfaces because you can cover significant areas without creating numerous joins.
On the other hand, a large sheet can require more measuring and cutting when you’re working around complex door structures, wiring, brackets and other obstacles.
Check the current SoundSkins Pro price on Amazon
SoundSkins Pro Pros
- Combines butyl, foil and acoustic foam in one product.
- Large sheet format can reduce the number of joins across broad areas.
- Self-adhesive for DIY installation.
- Suitable for doors, floors, trunks and other vehicle panels.
- Integrated foam means you don’t necessarily need a separate foam layer for every application.
- Available in different coverage sizes.
SoundSkins Pro Cons
- The thicker composite construction adds more material than a dedicated damping mat alone.
- Large sheets can take more cutting and planning around complex shapes.
- It isn’t appropriate to compare its total thickness directly with a conventional butyl damping mat.
- Current pricing should be checked before assuming it provides better or worse value than Dynamat.
Dynamat Xtreme Review
Dynamat has been one of the best-known names in automotive sound deadening for decades, and Dynamat Xtreme remains its core vibration-damping product.
Xtreme uses a self-adhesive butyl damping layer with an aluminum constraining layer. It bonds directly to vehicle panels to reduce resonance and vibration.
If you’re considering Dynamat but aren’t sure whether Xtreme, SuperLite or ProX best fits your vehicle, see our Dynamat product guide for the differences and best uses of each.
The popular Dynamat Xtreme Bulk Pak covers 36 sq ft and contains nine sheets measuring 18 × 32 inches each.
Dynamat also offers purpose-sized kits for doors, trunks, speakers and larger projects. This means you can buy closer to the amount needed for a particular job instead of purchasing significantly more material than necessary.
Check the current Dynamat Xtreme Bulk Pak price on Amazon
Dynamat Xtreme Pros
- Dedicated constrained-layer vibration damping product.
- Thin relative to a multi-layer composite treatment.
- Self-adhesive and flexible.
- Available in multiple kit sizes.
- Can be combined with separate acoustic or thermal layers when required.
- Long-established automotive sound-deadening product line.
Dynamat Xtreme Cons
- It does not include the integrated acoustic foam layer found in SoundSkins Pro.
- A more comprehensive noise-control project may require additional material layers.
- Buying several separate Dynamat products can make a complete treatment more complex.
- Current pricing varies between pack sizes and retailers.
Which Is Better for Vibration Damping?
For vibration damping specifically, Dynamat Xtreme has the more straightforward role.
A constrained-layer damper is applied directly to sheet metal to reduce the panel’s tendency to resonate. This is particularly useful on areas such as doors, floors, trunk panels and roofs.
SoundSkins Pro also contains a butyl damping layer, so vibration control forms part of what the product does. However, SoundSkins combines that layer with foil and acoustic foam.
That means comparing the two purely according to overall material thickness isn’t useful.
If your priority is specifically panel vibration control with a dedicated damping layer, Dynamat Xtreme is the cleaner comparison.
If you prefer vibration damping plus an integrated foam layer in one product, SoundSkins Pro becomes particularly attractive.
Which Is Better for Road Noise?
Road noise is more complicated than panel vibration alone.
Vehicle noise can reach the cabin through several mechanisms, including:
- Panel vibration
- Tire noise
- Suspension and road interaction
- Airborne sound
- Engine and exhaust noise
Butyl damping mats are very useful for controlling resonant metal panels, but they should not automatically be treated as complete sound-blocking systems.
This is where SoundSkins Pro’s integrated foam layer changes the comparison.
With SoundSkins Pro, the foam is already incorporated into the material. Dynamat takes a more modular approach: Xtreme provides the damping layer, while other products in the Dynamat range can be used when additional acoustic or thermal treatment is required.
For more information about combining different material types, see our guide to automotive sound barriers and their benefits.
Which Is Easier to Install?
Both SoundSkins Pro and Dynamat Xtreme are self-adhesive and can be installed by a competent DIYer.
The basic process is similar:
- Remove the appropriate trim and interior panels.
- Clean and degrease the metal surface.
- Measure the area.
- Cut the material to fit.
- Remove the backing.
- Apply the material to the metal.
- Use firm pressure and a roller to achieve good contact.
- Check that wiring, drainage holes and moving components remain unobstructed.
- Refit the interior trim.
The main practical difference is the material format.
SoundSkins Installation
SoundSkins Pro uses relatively large pieces. This can be convenient for covering floors, trunks and broad door sections because fewer separate pieces are required.
However, you’ll generally need to do more measuring and cutting when fitting it around complicated shapes.
Dynamat Installation
Dynamat is sold in multiple sheet and kit sizes, which can make it easier to match the amount and shape of material to the job.
Smaller pieces can be particularly convenient around vehicle doors and irregular panels.
For detailed installation instructions, read our guide on how to install sound deadening material.
A roller is useful with either product because firm, even pressure helps the adhesive layer make good contact with the vehicle panel.
Check the DynaRoller on Amazon
SoundSkins vs Dynamat for Car Doors
Doors are one of the most common places to begin a car sound-deadening project.
They contain large sheets of relatively thin metal that can resonate, while door-mounted speakers can introduce additional vibration.
Both products are suitable for door treatment, but they approach the job differently.
SoundSkins Pro’s advantage is integration. Its butyl and foam layers are already combined, which can simplify a project if that’s the treatment structure you want.
Dynamat Xtreme’s advantage is flexibility. Dynamat offers a dedicated Door Kit containing enough material for two standard-size doors, and Xtreme can then be combined with other materials where the installation calls for additional treatment.
SoundSkins’ current two-door kit covers approximately 11 sq ft. Dynamat’s Xtreme Door Kit covers approximately 12 sq ft.
For a simpler integrated treatment: SoundSkins Pro.
For a modular door build: Dynamat Xtreme.
For a step-by-step door project, see our guide to DIY car door sound damping.
Check the Dynamat Xtreme Door Kit on Amazon
SoundSkins vs Dynamat for Floors and Trunks
Floors and trunks usually give you larger treatment areas than doors, so coverage and sheet layout become more important.
SoundSkins’ large-sheet format is convenient when you want to cover broad areas with fewer joins.
Dynamat’s larger packs provide another option. The Xtreme Bulk Pak gives you 36 sq ft, while larger packs are available for more extensive vehicle projects.
If you’re treating a trunk specifically, Dynamat also sells a dedicated Trunk Kit rather than requiring you to buy a larger general-purpose pack.
This is one of Dynamat’s enduring strengths: you can choose a pack that closely matches the size of the project.
SoundSkins takes a somewhat different approach, with its larger Pro kits designed to cover combinations of doors, trunk, floor and other panels.
For detailed guides, see:
Check the Dynamat Xtreme Trunk Kit on Amazon
SoundSkins vs Dynamat Coverage and Kit Sizes
Coverage is worth considering before you buy because leftover material can make an apparently cheaper product more expensive in practice.
SoundSkins Pro
- Door Kit: 11 sq ft
- Mega Kit: 44 sq ft
- Pro Plus: 64.5 sq ft
Dynamat Xtreme
Dynamat offers several project-specific sizes, including speaker, door, trunk, bulk and larger vehicle packs.
Two useful reference points are:
- Door Kit: 12 sq ft
- Bulk Pak: 36 sq ft
Rather than deciding from package price alone, first estimate how much material your project actually needs.
Which Is Better Value: SoundSkins or Dynamat?
I wouldn’t permanently label either brand the cheaper option because prices change over time and vary between retailers.
That’s one of the things that dated the original version of this comparison: a fixed price table can become inaccurate even when the rest of the article remains useful.
A better way to compare value is:
Current pack price ÷ square feet of coverage = cost per square foot
But even cost per square foot doesn’t tell the entire story here because SoundSkins Pro contains an integrated foam layer while Dynamat Xtreme is a dedicated damping product.
If you would otherwise purchase an additional foam layer alongside a separate damper, SoundSkins’ combined construction could affect the overall project cost.
If you only need vibration damping, buying an integrated multi-layer product may provide material you don’t require.
So calculate cost according to the system you actually plan to install, not just the price of one box.
Check SoundSkins Pro pricing on Amazon
Check Dynamat Xtreme pricing on Amazon
Do You Need Additional Soundproofing Layers?
Possibly.
This depends on what type of noise you’re trying to reduce.
If your main problem is a vibrating metal panel, a quality vibration damper may be the most important first step.
If you’re dealing with a broader mix of road noise, heat and airborne sound, the best treatment can involve multiple material types rather than covering every surface with increasingly thick damping mat.
Dynamat itself offers additional materials designed for other parts of a sound and heat-control system.
For example, DynaLiner is a separate closed-cell foam thermal insulation product intended to be used where additional heat control is required.
This is why comparing SoundSkins Pro’s complete 0.18-inch thickness with Dynamat Xtreme’s 0.067-inch damping layer doesn’t tell you which system will ultimately be thicker or more effective once all required layers are installed.
SoundSkins vs Dynamat FAQs
Is SoundSkins Better Than Dynamat?
Not universally.
SoundSkins Pro may be the better fit if you specifically want a product combining butyl damping, foil and acoustic foam in one material.
Dynamat Xtreme may be the better fit if you want a dedicated vibration damper with multiple kit sizes and the option to build a layered treatment using separate materials.
Is SoundSkins Thicker Than Dynamat?
SoundSkins Pro has a greater overall thickness than Dynamat Xtreme, but that doesn’t mean it contains a dramatically thicker vibration-damping layer.
SoundSkins Pro’s total thickness includes its acoustic foam, foil and butyl layers. Dynamat Xtreme is constructed as a dedicated constrained-layer damper.
For that reason, total thickness isn’t an apples-to-apples performance comparison.
Is Dynamat Xtreme Butyl Based?
Yes. Dynamat Xtreme uses a butyl-based vibration-damping construction with an aluminum constraining layer.
Does SoundSkins Pro Contain Foam?
Yes. SoundSkins Pro combines closed-cell acoustic foam with foil and rubber butyl.
Which Is Better for Car Doors?
Both can be used successfully on doors.
SoundSkins Pro offers an integrated multi-layer approach. Dynamat Xtreme offers dedicated vibration damping and can be combined with separate layers if needed.
Which Is Better for a Car Trunk?
Again, both are viable.
SoundSkins’ large sheets can be convenient across broad trunk surfaces, while Dynamat offers a dedicated Xtreme Trunk Kit as well as larger Bulk and Mega packs.
Do I Have to Cover Every Inch of Metal?
Not necessarily.
The ideal coverage depends on the material, panel and objective. Strategic vibration-damping treatment can produce useful results without automatically layering every square inch of a vehicle in material.
If you’re attempting a complete cabin noise-reduction project, however, coverage and the use of complementary material layers become more important.
Should I Choose the Thickest Sound Deadener?
No.
Thickness alone doesn’t tell you how effectively a vibration-damping material performs, particularly when you’re comparing products with different constructions.
Consider the material composition, intended role, coverage, weight, installation requirements and complete treatment system instead.
SoundSkins vs Dynamat: Final Verdict
SoundSkins and Dynamat have both earned their place in the automotive sound-deadening market, but the choice is more nuanced than simply asking which product is thicker.
SoundSkins Pro makes a strong case for DIYers who want an integrated product. Its combination of rubber butyl, aluminum foil and acoustic foam puts multiple material layers together in one installation.
Dynamat Xtreme makes a strong case for people who want dedicated vibration damping and greater flexibility in how the rest of the system is built. Its extensive range of kit sizes also makes it easier to buy for a specific area such as doors, speakers or a trunk without necessarily committing to a large roll.
If I were choosing between them, I would decide according to the project:
- Integrated butyl + foam treatment: SoundSkins Pro
- Dedicated constrained-layer vibration damping: Dynamat Xtreme
- More project-specific kit choices: Dynamat
- Large-sheet integrated installation: SoundSkins
- Best solely because it is thicker: Neither
Before buying, work out which panels you intend to treat, estimate the coverage you need and compare the current total project cost rather than relying on an old price chart.
For SoundSkins Pro, check the current product and pricing here:
For Dynamat Xtreme, check the current Bulk Pak here:
Good luck and happy soundproofing!