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Free Decibel Meter

80 Decibels — How Loud Is It?

Loud

80 dB is about as loud as garbage disposal. A garbage disposal, city traffic heard inside a car, or a hair dryer all commonly reach 80 dB. It sits just under OSHA's 85 dB hearing-conservation action level — the point at which US workplaces are legally required to start a hearing-conservation program for employees exposed daily.

What does 80 dB sound like?

  • 80 dB — Garbage disposal
  • 80 dB — City traffic, heard inside a car
  • 82 dB — Hair dryer

Safe exposure time at 80 dB

Under NIOSH's Recommended Exposure Limit (85 dB, 3 dB exchange rate), safe unprotected exposure at 80 dB is effectively unlimited. Under OSHA's legal Permissible Exposure Limit (90 dB, 5 dB exchange rate), it is effectively unlimited.

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    Frequently asked questions

    Is 80 dB harmful?
    Not from brief exposure, but it's approaching OSHA's 85 dB hearing-conservation action level. Prolonged daily exposure near 80 dB is worth paying attention to, even though it falls just under the regulatory threshold.
    How long can I safely be near 80 dB?
    NIOSH's exposure-limit table only begins at 85 dB; 80 dB itself has no fixed daily limit under the standard model, reflecting its lower but non-zero risk profile.
    What household appliances reach 80 dB?
    Hair dryers, garbage disposals and kitchen blenders typically measure 80–84 dB at close range during normal use.

    Sources