The two most important elements for an outdoor sound barrier are height and mass.
Sound barrier walls for yard.
As a general rule the more solid the fence or wall the quieter it will be because sound waves are reflected by dense objects.
The material you use is not as important as how you build the fence.
The amount of reduction will be much less than that achievable with indoor soundproofing however.
These boards are nailed to heavy rails which in turn are supported by heavy posts.
The operative word for noise barriers is obviously heavy.
A fence specially designed for sound blocking can reduce the amount of noise entering your yard.
What materials will block sound.
Proximity to the sound.
A fence intended to serve as a noise barrier or sound barrier will typically use thick tongue and groove boards in order to form an impervious barrier.
When sound waves strike a 5 or 6 foot masonry wall it does not vibrate so the waves are reflected back toward the source.
The noise wall should be as close as possible to the road acting as a physical barrier between house and noise if you live on the high side of the road you may need a taller wall.
This is because noise moves in straight lines for the first 10m then changes into vertical waves.
Masonry walls such as brick concrete or stone are ideal for blocking out sound but a solid wood fence can also be effective.
Height to effectively block noise outdoor sound walls need to be tall.
Factors to consider.
The difference is based upon the density and rigidity of the barrier.