Decibel Shield
Decibel chart › 80 dB
How loud is 80 decibels?
80 decibels is about as loud as an alarm clock, city traffic, a gas-powered lawn mower. 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 80 dB sounds like
These charted sounds sit at about 80 dB — 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
- 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
How loud is 80 decibels (80 dB)?
80 decibels is about as loud as an alarm clock, city traffic, a gas-powered lawn mower. 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 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.