Decibel Shield
Decibel chart › 90 dB
How loud is 90 decibels?
90 decibels is about as loud as a shouted conversation, a movie theater, a tractor with no cab. That is at or above the 85 dB hearing-risk line: NIOSH limits safe exposure to about 2.5 hours a day, and every 3 dB louder halves that. On the decibel scale, each 10 dB step sounds roughly twice as loud. Measure it yourself with Decibel Shield's free online decibel meter.
Last updated:
| Sound level | 90 dB |
|---|---|
| Hearing risk | High |
| Safe exposure (NIOSH) | About 2.5 hours a day |
| Workplace limit (OSHA) | 8 hours a day (OSHA noise limits) |
What is comparable to 90 decibels?
Everyday examples of sounds around 90 decibels, each sourced to CDC, NIOSH, NIDCD and ASHA. Open any one for its own breakdown, or see the full decibel levels chart.
- Shouted conversation 90 dB
- Movie theater 74–104 dB
- Tractor with no cab 82–100 dB
- Generator 79–97 dB
- Riding a subway 90–95 dB
- Barking dogs 88.4–100.3 dB
- Hair dryer 80–90 dB
- Kitchen blender 80–90 dB
- Cicada chorus 90–100 dB
Is any city as loud as 90 dB?
No city averages 90 dB. That is a sound-source level, not an ambient one. The loudest mapped cities peak around 70–75 dB by day. These are the loudest mapped.
- Orange, CA 4.4% of residents at 70 dBA or more
- Terni 55–75 dB by day
- Hastings 55–75 dB by day
What does 90 decibels sound like?
90 decibels is about as loud as a shouted conversation, a movie theater, a tractor with no cab. That is at or above the 85 dB hearing-risk line: NIOSH limits safe exposure to about 2.5 hours a day, and every 3 dB louder halves that. On the decibel scale, each 10 dB step sounds roughly twice as loud. Measure it yourself with Decibel Shield's free online decibel meter.
Is 90 decibels too loud?
Yes, 90 decibels is loud, about the loudness of a shouted conversation, at or above the 85 dB line, so prolonged exposure can damage hearing and ear protection is recommended.
How long is 90 decibels safe to hear?
At 90 dB, NIOSH puts the safe daily exposure at about 2.5 hours a day. Each 3 dB increase halves it.
How far away can you hear 90 dB?
In open air a small source measured at 90 dB from 1 m falls to about 70 dB at 10 m and 50 dB at 100 m, losing 6 dB each time the distance doubles. You keep hearing it while it stays above the background level around you: farther in a quiet field at night, much less on a 60 dB street. Walls, ground and wind change the figure.
Work out any distance, or a line source such as a road, with the sound distance calculator.
Measure 90 dB yourself
Want to know if where you are hits 90 dB? Check it live with the free online decibel meter — it runs in your browser, and nothing is recorded or uploaded.