How to Make a Vibrator Quieter? 10 TIPS from a Sex Toy Tester

We’ve written extensively about our favorite vibrators, and we hope that this has helped you find your favorite(s). However, you may have noticed that some vibrators are not exactly silent, and you may be concerned if other people in your living space can hear your vibrator.

Read on as we explain the mechanics of a good vibrator, how sound travels, and what we can do to reduce those sounds. It’s important for you to feel comfortable and confident with your vibrator in order to have a good personal care experience, and we’d like to help you achieve this.

They’re Loud For Reasons

Some sound is inevitable, obviously, because vibrators are driven by the motors that make them vibrators! It’s also fairly obvious that larger and more powerful vibrators will usually be louder vibrators. Our Ph.D. sexologist, Dr. Rachel Sommer says, “Vibration quality and power are often linked to sound, so a more intense experience might come with a trade-off. But soundproofing can certainly help.” We’ll walk you through some of the ways that you can shush your sex toys.

1. Buy the Best Product That You Can

It is a plain truth that many luxury products benefit from better engineering and higher-quality materials, and sex toys are no exception to this. If discretion is important to you, you may need to invest in vibrators aimed at the higher end of the market. Key words to look for when shopping for a quiet vibrator include “whisper-quiet” and “discreet.” These toys are likely to be made with smooth-shifting motors and thicker silicone to provide insulation.

The Womanizer Vibe is one of the quietest on the market. Our tester, Angela, who has tested over 200 sex toys for us, put it through its paces and it never exceeded 40 decibels — which is equivalent to the hum of a refrigerator.

2. Use a Soft Blanket

If your favorite play place is the comfort of your own bed, like many of us, you likely already have what you need! Cover your vibrator loosely with a soft blanket or even a sheet as this will muffle a lot of the sound. You will want to be sure that the covers are loose or you (and maybe even your toy) may overheat. Dr. Sommer notes that, “Textiles are great sound absorbers especially if they’re dense, but they also create a mental shield for privacy. You’ll feel less aware of the noise.”

3. Silicone Sleeves Can Silence

Some of our favorite vibrators have silicone sleeve add-ons, and there are even aftermarket sleeves to fit popular models (usually wands and bullets). These sleeves add personality to your vibrator, and many of them also add texture and sensation. But another bonus is that the additional layer of silicone will help muffle the noise from the motor. Shop around for a sleeve that suits your fancy and enjoy all the benefits, including a quieter experience (at least from the vibrator!).

4. Enjoy the Wonders of Water

Many of us enjoy the convenience of a hand-held showerhead like the Womanizer Wave (if you know, you know). But there are other ways that water can assist in our self-pleasuring, since it is excellent at muffling sound. Using a vibrator in a warm, deep bath or under a running shower makes practically no noise.

Most vibrators are at least somewhat waterproof, but here’s where the difference between “splashproof” (IPX 6) and “submersible” (IPX 7) matters. If your toy is only splashproof, you won’t want to take it into the tub with you. If it is fully submersible, then anchors aweigh!

5. Try Another Toy

It may be worth investing in a quieter vibrator for those times that call for it. Some types of vibrators are quieter than others just because of their mechanics. Wand vibrators and rabbit vibrators tend to have powerful motors and a bit of heft to them; we love their rumbles, but they are not the quietest of toys. Clitoral suction toys sometimes make distinctive glorpy noises that we may not want overheard.

But bullet vibrators are smaller and therefore quieter, and their smaller shape also makes them easier to muffle. We are not suggesting that you abandon your favorite toy, but there’s no harm in adding another tool to the chest.

6. White Noise For the Win

Or, if you can’t beat them, join them. Your space may be set up so that sound carries no matter what you do. If this is the case, or if your favorite toy is on the loud side, you can mask the sounds with a fan or a white noise machine.

There are plenty of white noise machines on the market. They won’t actually shush your vibrator, but they will cover up the distinctive buzzy noises with your choice of waterfalls, weather, waves, or even static. Anyone with access to your space will be aware of your presence, but they won’t know what you’re doing!

7. Dial it Back a Bit

You could also try reducing the speed/intensity of your vibrator. If the motor isn’t working as hard, it won’t make as much noise. Your first thought here may be “no way” — we ladies like our power tools! — but remember that a low and slow buildup can lead to a very powerful orgasm. In other words, don’t think of this as stifling yourself; consider it an invitation to explore another aspect of your vibrator and yourself.

8. Keep it Close

Some of our other suggestions require some prep or some props; none of them are out of reach of the average adult, but you may not be able to set them up right now and you want to play right now. If this is the case, you can use your own body to absorb some of the vibrations and therefore reduce noise. Hold your vibrator close to your body and use your free hand to press it into your flesh.

You could also lie on your stomach on your bed. This will keep the vibrator between your body and the mattress, which helps to dampen the sound. A bonus here is that many women feel intense pleasure from the additional pressure.

9. Soundproof Your Space

We’ve explained several different ways to make your vibrator quieter, but you can also insulate your room so that less sound escapes. Sound waves bounce off hard surfaces, so you can add soundproofing as well as ambiance by softening all the hard edges in your room. Put a plush rug on the floor, hang a tapestry or quilt on the wall, and consider curtains instead of blinds. This will make your room quieter as well as cozier. Home Depot goes into detail about soundproofing windows, doors, floors, walls, and even the ceiling.

10. Don’t Worry, Be Happy

We’ve gone over the best ways to reduce or hide the noise from your vibrator, and we hope that this has been useful for you. But we’d also like to take a step back and advise you not to spend too much time or energy worrying about this.

First of all, even the loudest vibrators aren’t all that loud. It’s very possible that even if your toy seems loud to you, it’s because it is in very close proximity! Someone who is not in the same room as you may not hear it at all. The other person is also not likely to be trying to listen, so even if they do hear a soft buzz, they won’t even take notice.

And, you are an adult who is engaging in a healthy and safe adult activity. You don’t want to show off, of course, but so what if someone happens to catch on? Remember that there are two kinds of people in this world: those who masturbate, and those who lie about it.

Happy vibing!

Sandra

Sandra studied nursing and sexual health and is named one of the world’s top 50 sexologists. She founded My Sex Toy Guide in 2016, where she and a team of experts write about relationships, LGBTQ topics, and other sexuality issues. She has been featured in Men’s Health, Wedding Wire, InsideHook, ThriveGlobal, and more.
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