How loud is 55 decibels?
55 dB is the WHO guideline for outdoor living areas during the day. Above it, a growing share of people say the noise around their home annoys them.
- Sounds like
- A coffee maker or a dishwasher in the next room
- Loudness
- Quiet to moderate
- Safe per day (NIOSH)
- No limit
- OSHA workplace limit
- Below the limit
55 dB on the decibel scale
Tap another sound to compare- Safe · under 65 dB
- Caution · 65–85 dB
- Risk · over 85 dB
What 55 dB sounds like
- A coffee maker
- A dishwasher in the next room
- A quiet suburban street by day
A suburban garden on a weekday, a coffee maker on the counter, a dishwasher running behind a closed door.
Is 55 dB safe?
Yes. 55 dB is well below the level where hearing damage starts, so you can be around it all day. For sleep and focused work, quieter is better.
55 dB compared with other sounds
| Compared with | Difference | Sounds | Sound energy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whisper (30 dB) | +25 dB | 5.7× as loud | 316× more |
| Conversation (60 dB) | −5 dB | 1.41× quieter | 3.2× less |
| Heavy traffic (85 dB) | −30 dB | 8× quieter | 1,000× less |
| Concert (110 dB) | −55 dB | 45× quieter | 316,228× 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 55 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.