Felt is a textile material made from natural and synthetic materials including wool, acrylic and rayon. It is widely used to manufacture felt gasket materials and to create architectural felt for sound and vibration dampening, and decorative purposes.

wool felt is specified by an SAE standard. This assigns grades from F-1 to F-55. Higher numbers indicate lower density, and these grades have less ability to absorb vibration and resist abrasion.

Synthetic felt is made from polyester or other man-made fibers that are combined into felt material using a needle punch process or heat. It has a soft texture and is manufactured using different types of fibers to produce varying levels of harness and strength. Coatings and laminations may also be applied for flame resistance or to enhance the surface finish. Synthetic felt is available in comparable densities and thicknesses to SAE wool felt, and represents an inexpensive alternative.

In many cases, this general purpose material provides better performance and value than wool felt. Synthetic felt is commonly used for dunnage, anti-squeak applications, crating, filtration, padding, wipers, and a wide range of other applications.

Because it is 100% synthetic, this material is highly mildew and wear resistant, and can withstand higher temperatures than wool felt. Synthetic felt can be brushed or vacuumed to remove debris, and spot cleaned using water and mild soap.