Home - Articles on Hearing Loss

Decibel Levels of Many Common Sounds

It is important to understand that prolonged exposure to certain kinds of sounds may cause hearing loss. The loudness of sounds is measured in decibels (dB). This chart displays the decibel level of many common sounds.

Always remember to protect your ears whenever possible!

Decibel level	What we hear
10 dB	Normal breathing
20 dB	Rustling leaves, mosquito
30 dB	Whisper
40 dB	Stream, refrigerator humming
50-60 dB	Quiet office
50-65 dB	Normal conversation
60-65 dB	Laughter
70 dB	Vacuum cleaner, hair dryer
75 dB	Dishwasher
78 dB	Washing machine
80 dB	Garbage disposal, city traffic noise
84 dB	Diesel truck
Prolonged exposure to any noise above 85 dB can cause gradual hearing loss.
70-90 dB	Recreational vehicle
88 dB	Subway, motorcycle
85-90 dB	Lawnmower
100 dB	Train, garbage truck
97 dB	Newspaper press
98 dB	Farm tractor
Regular exposure of more than 1 minute risks permanent hearing loss.
103 dB	Jet flyover at 100 feet
105 dB	Snowmobile
110 dB	Jackhammer, power saw, symphony orchestra
120 dB	Thunderclap, discotheque/boom box
110-125 dB	Stereo
110-140 dB	Rock concerts
130 dB	Jet takeoff, shotgun firing
145 dB	Boom cars

Source:

	Your source for independent hearing products *we're all ears!* Toll Free: (888) 816-8191 \| TTY: (516) 937-3546 \| Fax: (516) 938-1513	Login/Create Account View/Modify Cart Affiliate Login Checkout Not Logged In
Home \| About Us \| Free Catalog \| Hearing Loss Resources & Info \| Contact Us \| Shipping Rates \| Return Policy \| New Products