Can you soundproof a ceiling?

[CleanShirt]

Because my upstairs neighbours doing my head in.

(Before the usual MN response comes around - I've just bought and moved in, I can't afford to move out again).

Yes you can apparently. I don't know the details but a friend had it done.

You can, but it will eat into your room space, depending how far you want to go?

You could build a completely isolated room within a room and you would be completely disconnected from the noise. If you want this Google how to build a soundproof studio.

You could probably benefit from having some mass loaded vinyl between you and your neighbour to deaden the sound. This guide should give you some tips. It's about sound deafening in cars, but the principles are the same.
https://b-quiet.com/blogs/news/the-ultimate-guide-to-sound-deadening-your-vehicle-a-comprehensive-step-by-step-approach-1

We had a suspended ceiling installed in a previous flat as upstairs were very heavy-footed and had hard floors. Unfortunately it didn’t make much difference - though that could have been down to poor installation as our builders were a bit rubbish.

Depends on what's causing the noise really. Acoustics can be blocked out with soundproofing. Poorly built buildings with creaking floors, not so much.

I bet your my new neighbours. Bought a flat below someone without having ever lived in one before. Choose to ignore any building reports or surveys. Then has the cheek to complain about the noise of us WALKING around our heavily carpeted home.
I think if you're going to be sensitive to the noise of people walking around above, a flat isn't for you.

Quite the opposite. Not my first rodeo living underneath someone, it's an old building and I'm quite zen to foot noises, pipes etc.

Whet I'm not zen about is really loudly playing some sort of chanting with music for 6 hours until midnight. Not the first time and that's what I'd like to block out.

Thank you, this is useful!

You're very welcome. I think your best option is mass loaded vinyl. It will deaden sound quite effectively, and will be a relatively thin layer. If you can put it up with some sort of screw that is rubber mounted, you might be able to decouple further.

This link may have some further ideas for you.
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFeOMQnp2d6T6R5HpnVAvepE0fGr_ueF1&si=van2rBgvlk13sjI2