Quiet Your Kit: The Best Drum Mute Pads for Silent Practice

Drum mute pads can cut your drum kit’s volume by 70-95%, letting you practice at home without angry neighbors or family complaints. These simple foam or rubber accessories sit on top of your drums and cymbals to absorb sound while you still feel the bounce and response of real drumheads.

This guide will help you find the right drum silencer pads to get massive drum noise reduction without losing the feel of your kit. We will review the top models, from full mesh heads to simple rubber pads. 

Our top pick, the Remo Silentstroke heads, gives the most realistic feel, but our “Best for Beginners” pick is even easier to use.

A Quick Look: Our Top Picks for Quiet Drumming

Product Name	Image	Best For	Feel & Rebound	Key Feature	Check Price
Remo Silentstroke Drumheads		Best Feel Overall	5/5	Replaces your real drumheads for a quiet, bouncy feel.	Price
Evans SoundOff Mute Pack		Easiest Setup	2/5	Non-slip rubber pads you just lay on top of your drums.	Price
RTOM Black Hole Practice System		Best of Both Worlds	4/5	A mesh head that snaps on over your real head. No tuning needed.	Price
Vic Firth Drum Mute Prepack		Best Budget Pads	2/5	A full set of rubber pads that gets the job done for less money.	Price
Evans dB One Heads & Cymbals		The Complete Silent System	5/5	A full set of mesh heads and special low-volume cymbals.	Price
Zildjian L80 Low Volume Cymbals		Best Cymbal Solution	5/5	Real metal cymbals that are 80% quieter than normal ones.	Price

In-Depth Reviews of the Best Drum Mute Pads

We tested the top options for a silent drumming setup. We looked at feel, quietness, and how easy they are to use.

1. Remo Silentstroke Drumheads

Overview

The Remo Silentstroke is not a “pad” that sits on top. It is a new drumhead that you use to replace your normal, loud ones. It’s made of a single layer of mesh material. This is our top pick because it feels the most like playing a real drum, just with almost no sound.

Key Features

• Mesh Material: The mesh lets the air pass through. This stops the big “boom” sound but still lets the stick bounce back.
• Amazing Rebound: The rebound (how the stick bounces) is fantastic. It feels springy and fast.
• Very Quiet: These heads cut the volume by about 80-90%. You will mostly hear the “tap” of your stick.

Our Take

If your number one goal is good stick response, this is the answer. We were amazed at how good these feel. You can practice your dynamics (playing soft and loud) and articulation (clear, clean notes) in a way you just can’t on rubber pads.

The downside is installation. You have to take off your real drumheads and hoops, put these on, and tune them. It takes about 20-30 minutes for a full kit. But once it’s done, you have the perfect practice setup. You can even use them with triggers to play electronic drum sounds.

• Pros:
  • The most realistic acoustic feel you can get.
  • Extremely quiet drum noise reduction.
  • Very durable and will last a long time.
• Cons:
  • Takes time to install and tune.
  • You need a separate solution for cymbals.

Best for: Serious drummers who practice a lot and want the best possible feel.

2. Evans SoundOff Mute Pack (Rubber)

Overview

The Evans SoundOff set is probably the most famous type of drum muffling pads. These are thick, black rubber pads. You get one for each drum and cymbal. You just lay them directly on top of your drumheads and cymbals. They are all about speed and convenience.

Key Features

• Lay On Design: No tools needed. You can make your kit silent in 30 seconds.
• Good Sound Absorption: These pads soak up almost all the sound. They are even quieter than mesh heads.
• Full Kit Pack: You can buy a pack that includes sizes for your toms, snare, and bass drum.

Our Take

For a long time, this was the only option for home drum practice. Their biggest strength is simplicity. If you have 10 minutes to practice, you can just throw these on and play.

The weakness is the feel. The rubber is thick and has very little rebound. It can feel like playing on a carpet or a mouse pad. It’s a “dead” feel. This is fine for working on timing, but it’s not great for practicing faster, more complex patterns that need bounce. The cymbal mutes are the worst part, they make your cymbals feel like you are hitting a piece of cardboard.

• Pros:
  • Fastest and easiest setup.
  • Extremely quiet.
  • Affordable and easy to find.
• Cons:
  • Poor, “dead” stick rebound.
  • The cymbal mutes feel terrible to play on.

Best for: Beginners, kids, or anyone who needs to switch between quiet and loud practice very quickly.

3. RTOM Black Hole Practice System

Overview

The RTOM Black Hole is a very clever mix of the first two products. It is a mesh head, like the Remo. But it has a strong plastic rim that snaps on top of your drum’s real rim. This means you get the great feel of mesh, but you don’t have to remove your real drumheads.

Key Features

• Snap On Design: Installs in seconds. You just place it on the drum and push down to snap it on.
• Mesh Playing Surface: You get the same great, bouncy feel as a Remo Silentstroke.
• Adjustable Tuning: You can turn a small knob to make the mesh tighter or looser, which changes the rebound.

Our Take

We loved this product. It solves the biggest problem with mesh heads (installation) and the biggest problem with rubber pads (bad feel). The stick response is excellent. It’s not quite as quiet as the Remo heads because your real drumhead is still underneath, which adds a little bit of tone. But it’s still more than quiet enough for an apartment.

The only downside is the price. This system is more expensive than rubber pads or a set of Remo heads. But for many drummers, the convenience is worth the cost. It’s a true “best of both worlds” solution.

• Pros:
  • Excellent, bouncy mesh feel.
  • Installs in seconds, no tools needed.
  • You can adjust the tension and feel.
• Cons:
  • More expensive than other options.
  • Not quite as silent as a full mesh head replacement.

Best for: Drummers with a bigger budget who want great feel and great convenience.

4. Vic Firth Drum Mute Prepack

Overview

The Vic Firth Mute Pack is a direct competitor to the Evans SoundOff. It’s a set of non slip, pure rubber drum silencer pads. You get pads for your toms and snare, plus two cymbal mutes and a bass drum pad. They are designed for quiet practice and are very popular.

Key Features

• Non Slip Rubber: These pads are heavy and “grippy.” They stay in place even when you hit them hard.
• Full Set Included: The standard pack (available in “fusion” or “rock” sizes) covers a 5-piece kit.
• Durable: Made from thick, high-quality rubber that can take a beating.

Our Take

These are very similar to the Evans SoundOff pads. They do a fantastic job of killing the sound. We found the Vic Firth rubber to be a tiny bit softer and “gummier” than the Evans pads. This means the rebound is also very low and “dead.”

Just like the Evans set, these are perfect for working on your arm movements and learning songs. They are not good for practicing your dynamics or finger control. The bass drum mute is a simple pad that rests against the head, which works well. Again, the cymbal mutes are not fun to play. But for the price, this is a great, simple drum muffling pad set.

• Pros:
  • Great value for the price.
  • Stays in place very well.
  • Makes the kit almost completely silent.
• Cons:
  • Very little stick bounce.
  • Cymbal mutes have an unnatural feel.

Best for: Drummers on a tight budget and beginners who just need to be quiet.

5. Evans dB One Heads & Cymbals

Overview

The Evans dB One system is the “all in one” deluxe option. It’s a full set of acoustic drum mute pads (mesh heads) AND a full set of low volume cymbals. It’s designed to work together to give you the quietest and most realistic experience possible.

Key Features

• Mesh Heads: These are special mesh heads that Evans says have a more realistic tone than other mesh heads.
• dB One Cymbals: These are metal cymbals (like the Zildjian L80s) covered in tiny holes. They sound and feel like real cymbals, but are 80% quieter.
• Complete System: You get everything you need for your entire kit in one box.

Our Take

This is the new challenger to the classic “Remo + Zildjian” combo. The mesh heads feel great, very similar to the Remo Silentstrokes. You can tune them up or down to change the feel.

But the real stars are the dB One cymbals. They feel amazing. You can hit the bell, the edge, and the main part of the cymbal, and it all feels correct. This is something rubber pads can never do. You get a real “chick” sound from the hi hats. If you buy this system, you have a perfect silent drumming setup. It is expensive, but it’s cheaper than buying mesh heads and a set of Zildjian L80 cymbals separately.

• Pros:
  • A complete, all in one silent solution.
  • Mesh heads have a fantastic, realistic feel.
  • The cymbals feel and sound like real cymbals.
• Cons:
  • A very expensive, premium product.
  • Requires you to change all your drumheads.

Best for: The serious drummer who is building a dedicated practice kit and wants the best possible experience, period.

6. Zildjian L80 Low Volume Cymbals

Overview

This last product is not a drum mute pad. It’s a set of cymbals. So why is it on this list? Because as we’ve said, the rubber cymbal mutes that come with pad sets are the worst part of any mute system. The Zildjian L80 cymbals solve this problem. They are real metal cymbals with thousands of tiny holes.

Key Features

• 80% Volume Reduction: These cymbals are quiet enough to talk over, but they still have a real cymbal sound.
• Real Cymbal Feel: They are made of metal. They swing, bounce, and react just like your loud cymbals.
• Durable: They are made by Zildjian, one of the best cymbal makers in the world.

Our Take

If you want to enjoy quiet practice, you need a good cymbal solution. These are the best. Playing on an L80 hi-hat feels 100 times better than playing on a piece of rubber. You can practice hi-hat “chick” sounds, ride patterns, and cymbal crashes.

The perfect setup for many drummers is to buy Remo Silentstroke heads for the drums and a pack of Zildjian L80 cymbals. This combination gives you the best feel for your whole kit. It’s an investment, but it will make you want to practice more.

• Pros:
  • The best-feeling quiet cymbal on the market.
  • Still has a great, musical tone.
  • Lets you practice real cymbal techniques.
• Cons:
  • More expensive than rubber mutes.
  • This is only for cymbals; you still need to buy mutes for your drums.

Best for: Any drummer who is serious about practice and hates the feel of rubber cymbal pads.

How to Choose Drum Mute Pads

Here are the key things you should check when picking drum mute pads, so you end up with a setup that works for your home, your kit, and your practice goals.

What to Evaluate

• Size Coverage: Make sure the mute pads match the size of your drum heads and cymbals. If the pad is too small or too large, it may move or not fit correctly.
• Material & Build Quality: Rubber, foam, silicone each feels different. Higher-quality materials give better bounce and durability.
• Noise Reduction Level: The goal is drum noise reduction. Some reduce volume by ~50%, others up to ~80%.
• Feel & Rebound: For your drumming to feel real, the rebound (stick bounce back) should be decent. Many mute pads lower the rebound.
• kit Coverage (Full or Partial): Decide if you need just drums (snare/toms) or full kit (including cymbals & kick).
• Ease of Switch Between Silent and Normal: A good mute pad should be easy to install and remove so you can revert to full volume when you need to.
• Budget & Longevity: Investment matters. If you practise a lot, spending a bit more for durability may pay off.
• Living Situation: If you’re in an apartment or shared house, extra noise reduction may be needed. The bass drum kick might transmit through floors even if mutes are used.

Our Final Recommendation

Having a good set of best drum mute pads is the only way to practice an acoustic kit at home without making enemies.

For the best possible feel and realism, our number one recommendation is to create a hybrid kit:

• For Drums: Remo Silentstroke Mesh Drumheads
• For Cymbals: Zildjian L80 Low Volume Cymbals

This combination gives you a full drum kit that feels and responds like the real thing, but is quiet enough to play in an apartment.

If you are a beginner or on a budget, you cannot go wrong with the Evans SoundOff Mute Pack. It is the fastest, easiest, and cheapest way to get your drum noise reduction done today. You can always upgrade to mesh heads later.

FAQ: The Best Drum Mute Pads for Silent Practice