Safe Sound Levels Chart: How Loud Is Too Loud?

All sounds below 70 dB are safe for hearing at any duration. This includes most indoor environments, normal conversations, quiet outdoor settings, and light traffic. No hearing protection is needed.

While safe for hearing, sounds in the 50–70 dB range can still affect concentration, sleep quality, and stress levels. The WHO recommends bedroom noise below 35 dB for optimal sleep.

Between 70 and 85 dB, sound is loud but not immediately hazardous. However, chronic exposure at the upper end of this range (averaged over 24 hours) can contribute to gradual hearing loss over years.

Common sounds in this range: vacuum cleaner (75 dB), busy traffic from sidewalk (75 dB), alarm clock (80 dB), food processor (80 dB). Monitor your exposure and consider protection if you spend many hours daily at these levels.

Above 85 dB, hearing damage is a matter of time. Every sound exposure in this zone uses up a portion of your daily safe noise allowance. The louder the sound, the faster the clock runs.

If you regularly encounter 85+ dB — from work, commuting, hobbies, or entertainment — hearing protection is an investment in your future quality of life. The cost of earplugs is trivial compared to the cost of hearing aids and the irreversible loss of auditory clarity.

WHO: Recommends limiting recreational noise to 80 dB averaged over 40 hours per week. Environmental noise below 70 dB (24-hour average) for community well-being.

OSHA: Permissible exposure limit of 90 dBA over an 8-hour TWA with a 5 dB exchange rate. An 85 dBA 8-hour TWA is the action level that triggers a hearing conservation program.

NIOSH: Recommended exposure limit of 85 dBA over 8 hours with a 3 dB exchange rate (more protective than OSHA). This is the standard used by most audiologists and hearing health professionals.

The first step to protecting your hearing is knowing your exposure. Use Snap Decibel Meter to measure sound levels in your environment — at home, at work, during your commute, and at entertainment venues.

Track your loudest daily activities and compare them to the thresholds above. If any regular activity exceeds 85 dB, invest in appropriate hearing protection for that specific situation.