How loud is 50 decibels?
50 dB is moderate and comfortable: rainfall, a quiet open office, the fridge in your kitchen. It is about half as loud as a normal conversation to the ear.
- Sounds like
- Moderate rainfall or a quiet office
- Loudness
- Quiet to moderate
- Safe per day (NIOSH)
- No limit
- OSHA workplace limit
- Below the limit
50 dB on the decibel scale
Tap another sound to compare- Safe · under 65 dB
- Caution · 65–85 dB
- Risk · over 85 dB
What 50 dB sounds like
- Moderate rainfall
- A quiet office
- A refrigerator in the same room
- Light traffic in the distance
Many city apartments sit at 45–55 dB during the day with the windows closed. Noise rules for homes at night are often set around 40–50 dB.
Is 50 dB safe?
Yes. 50 dB is well below the level where hearing damage starts, so you can be around it all day. This is a level most people find restful.
50 dB compared with other sounds
| Compared with | Difference | Sounds | Sound energy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whisper (30 dB) | +20 dB | 4× as loud | 100× more |
| Conversation (60 dB) | −10 dB | 2× quieter | 10× less |
| Heavy traffic (85 dB) | −35 dB | 11× quieter | 3,162× less |
| Concert (110 dB) | −60 dB | 64× quieter | 1,000,000× less |
Rule of thumb: +10 dB sounds about twice as loud and carries ten times the energy. See what is a decibel.
How to check if a sound is 50 dB
Open the free online decibel meter on this site and allow the microphone. Hold your phone or laptop where your ears would be, wait a few seconds, and read the average rather than the momentary number. For a reliable, calibrated reading you can save or show to someone else, use the Decibel Meter app on iPhone.