How loud is 75 decibels?
75 dB is loud. Conversation takes effort, and hours of it leave many people tired. It is still below the level where workplace hearing rules start.
- Sounds like
- A vacuum cleaner up close or a toilet flushing
- Loudness
- Loud
- Safe per day (NIOSH)
- No limit
- OSHA workplace limit
- Below the limit
75 dB on the decibel scale
Tap another sound to compare- Safe · under 65 dB
- Caution · 65–85 dB
- Risk · over 85 dB
What 75 dB sounds like
- A vacuum cleaner up close
- A toilet flushing
- A noisy restaurant on a Friday night
- A dishwasher with the door open
Crowded bars and restaurants, kitchen appliances up close, a car interior on the motorway with the windows down.
Is 75 dB safe?
75 dB does not damage hearing on its own, even over a full day, but long stretches of it are tiring and can raise stress and make it harder to concentrate. Damage starts from about 85 dB.
75 dB compared with other sounds
| Compared with | Difference | Sounds | Sound energy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whisper (30 dB) | +45 dB | 23× as loud | 31,623× more |
| Conversation (60 dB) | +15 dB | 2.8× as loud | 32× more |
| Heavy traffic (85 dB) | −10 dB | 2× quieter | 10× less |
| Concert (110 dB) | −35 dB | 11× quieter | 3,162× 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 75 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.