Decibel Shield
Decibel chart › 80 dB
How loud is 80 decibels?
80 decibels is about as loud as an alarm clock, a garbage disposal, city traffic. It stays below the 85 dB line where hearing damage begins — fine for a normal day. On the decibel scale, each 10 dB step sounds roughly twice as loud.
Last updated:
| Sound level | 80 dB |
|---|---|
| Hearing risk | Low to moderate |
| Safe exposure (NIOSH) | No limit — safe at any duration |
What does 80 decibels sound like?
Everyday examples of sounds around 80 decibels, each sourced to CDC, NIOSH, NIDCD and ASHA. Open any one for its own breakdown, or see the full decibel levels chart.
- Alarm clock 80 dB
- Garbage disposal 80 dB
- City traffic 80–85 dB
- Gas-powered lawn mower 80–85 dB
- Gas-powered leaf blower 80–85 dB
- Hair dryer 80–90 dB
- Kitchen blender 80–90 dB
- Movie theater 74–104 dB
- Tractor with no cab 82–100 dB
How loud is 80 decibels (80 dB)?
80 decibels is about as loud as an alarm clock, a garbage disposal, city traffic. It stays below the 85 dB line where hearing damage begins — fine for a normal day. On the decibel scale, each 10 dB step sounds roughly twice as loud.
Is 80 decibels loud?
80 decibels is fairly loud, about the loudness of an alarm clock, loud enough to make conversation difficult, but it stays just below the 85 dB line where hearing damage begins.
Is 80 decibels dangerous, and how long is safe?
80 dB is below the 85 dB hearing-risk threshold, so there is no daily exposure limit for hearing.
Measure 80 dB yourself
Want to know if where you are hits 80 dB? Check it live with the free online decibel meter — it runs in your browser, and nothing is recorded or uploaded.