Reference

Decibel chart of common sounds.

50 everyday sounds from silence to a rocket launch, each with the range you would actually measure and how long you can safely be exposed to it — under both the OSHA and NIOSH standards, which do not agree.

Levels are given as ranges because that is the honest answer. A petrol lawn mower is quoted anywhere between 85 and 105 dB depending on who measured it, on what, and from how far away.

Arijeet Singh · Builder and maintainer

Built Noise Decibel Meter and maintains its measurement code. Writes up the sound-level references on this site from primary sources — OSHA, NIOSH, WHO and ISO — and states plainly where a browser microphone stops being good enough.

Last reviewed

Showing all 50 sounds

Decibel levels of common sounds with OSHA and NIOSH maximum daily exposure times
Sound dBA OSHA max NIOSH max Source Measure
Threshold of hearing The quietest sound a healthy young ear can detect. The zero point of the scale. 0 8 hrs + 8 hrs + Typical reported range Measure
Anechoic chamber Purpose-built rooms measure below 0 dB; you hear your own body. 0–10 8 hrs + 8 hrs + Typical reported range Measure
Rustling leaves 10–20 8 hrs + 8 hrs + Typical reported range Measure
Ticking watch 20–30 8 hrs + 8 hrs + Typical reported range Measure
Whisper 20–30 8 hrs + 8 hrs + NIOSH / CDC Measure
Quiet rural area at night 25–35 8 hrs + 8 hrs + WHO Measure
Quiet bedroom WHO recommends below 40 dB outdoors at night for undisturbed sleep. 30–40 8 hrs + 8 hrs + WHO Measure
Library 35–45 8 hrs + 8 hrs + Typical reported range Measure
Refrigerator hum 40–50 8 hrs + 8 hrs + Typical reported range Measure
Light rainfall 45–55 8 hrs + 8 hrs + Typical reported range Measure
Quiet office 45–55 8 hrs + 8 hrs + Typical reported range Measure
Electric toothbrush 50–60 8 hrs + 8 hrs + Typical reported range Measure
Dishwasher 55–70 8 hrs + 8 hrs + Typical reported range Measure
Normal conversation NIOSH gives 60–70 dB for conversation at typical speaking distance. 60–70 8 hrs + 8 hrs + NIOSH / CDC Measure
Air conditioner 60–70 8 hrs + 8 hrs + Typical reported range Measure
Washing machine 60–75 8 hrs + 8 hrs + Typical reported range Measure
Busy office 65–75 8 hrs + 8 hrs + Typical reported range Measure
Television at normal volume 65–75 8 hrs + 8 hrs + Typical reported range Measure
Busy restaurant 70–80 8 hrs + 8 hrs + Typical reported range Measure
Vacuum cleaner Commonly quoted at 75 dB. Cordless models run quieter. 70–80 8 hrs + 8 hrs + Typical reported range Measure
Car interior at highway speed 70–80 8 hrs + 8 hrs + Typical reported range Measure
Hair dryer 70–85 8 hrs + 8 hrs + Typical reported range Measure
Alarm clock 75–85 8 hrs + 8 hrs + Typical reported range Measure
City traffic from the pavement 75–85 8 hrs + 8 hrs + NIOSH / CDC Measure
Garbage disposal 78–88 8 hrs + 8 hrs + Typical reported range Measure
Blender 80–90 8 hrs + 8 hrs Typical reported range Measure
Snoring (loud) Ordinary snoring sits near 50–60 dB; heavy snoring reaches 80+. 80–90 8 hrs + 8 hrs Typical reported range Measure
Hearing damage threshold NIOSH sets its recommended exposure limit here: 85 dBA over 8 hours. 85 8 hrs + 8 hrs NIOSH / CDC Measure
Lawn mower (petrol) Sources disagree widely — 85 to 105 dB. Electric mowers run 56–80 dB. 85–95 8 hrs 2.5 hrs NIOSH / CDC Measure
Heavy city traffic, roadside 85–95 8 hrs 2.5 hrs Typical reported range Measure
Food processor 85–95 8 hrs 2.5 hrs Typical reported range Measure
Motorcycle 90–100 4 hrs 48 min NIOSH / CDC Measure
Hand drill 90–100 4 hrs 48 min Typical reported range Measure
Subway train 90–100 4 hrs 48 min Typical reported range Measure
Sporting event crowd 94–110 1.5 hrs 9 min NIOSH / CDC Measure
Nightclub 95–105 2 hrs 15 min Typical reported range Measure
Angle grinder 100–110 1 hr 5 min Typical reported range Measure
Leaf blower 100–110 1 hr 5 min Typical reported range Measure
Chainsaw 100–115 40 min 2 min Typical reported range Measure
Car horn at 1 metre 105–115 30 min 1 min Typical reported range Measure
Rock concert Reported anywhere from 105 to 129 dB depending on venue and position. 105–120 20 min 45 sec Typical reported range Measure
Nail gun 110–120 15 min 28 sec Typical reported range Measure
Jackhammer 110–120 15 min 28 sec Typical reported range Measure
Ambulance siren at close range 110–120 15 min 28 sec Typical reported range Measure
Threshold of pain Sound becomes physically painful, and damage can be immediate. 120–130 4 min 3 sec Typical reported range Measure
Thunderclap overhead 120–130 4 min 3 sec Typical reported range Measure
Jet engine at 30 metres 130–140 56 sec < 1 sec Typical reported range Measure
Firework at close range 140–155 9 sec < 1 sec Typical reported range Measure
Gunshot Impulse noise. A single unprotected shot can cause permanent damage. 140–175 2 sec < 1 sec NIOSH / CDC Measure
Rocket launch at the pad 165–180 < 1 sec < 1 sec Typical reported range Measure

Why OSHA and NIOSH give different answers

Both columns above are correct. They come from two standards that were written for different purposes, and confusing them is the single most common error on pages like this one.

OSHA sets a permissible exposure limit of 90 dBA averaged over an eight-hour shift, using a 5 dB exchange rate — every 5 dB increase halves the permitted time. It is an enforceable legal limit, and it dates from 1971.

NIOSH recommends 85 dBA over eight hours with a 3 dB exchange rate, which is the rate that actually matches how sound energy accumulates. It is a health recommendation, not a law, and it is substantially stricter. At 100 dBA, OSHA permits two hours; NIOSH recommends fifteen minutes. That is an eight-fold difference for the same noise.

If you are protecting your own hearing rather than demonstrating legal compliance, use the NIOSH column. The exposure limit calculator works this out for any level you enter.

How to read the decibel scale

Decibels are logarithmic, which makes the numbers deceptive. A 10 dB increase is roughly ten times the sound intensity but only about twice as loud to your ear. A 3 dB increase doubles the energy — which is exactly why NIOSH halves the safe time every 3 dB.

Damage is a product of level and time. Eight hours at 85 dBA and fifteen minutes at 100 dBA carry a comparable risk. Brief exposure to a loud sound is usually fine; the exception is impulse noise like a gunshot or a firework, where a single event above roughly 140 dB can cause permanent damage instantly.

Measuring these yourself

Every figure above is a typical range, not a reading of your particular room, tool, or venue. Distance alone changes everything — sound pressure falls about 6 dB each time you double your distance from the source.

The free decibel meter on this site gives you a live dBA reading from your browser in a couple of seconds, with no install. It lands within about ±2–3 dB of a calibrated meter — good enough to place a sound on this chart, not good enough for a compliance record. The methodology page explains exactly how it works and where it stops being reliable.

How loud is it where you are right now?

Open the decibel meter →

Sources