SoundSenseHow loud is 80 decibels?
80 dB is as loud as a doorbell, the WHO's example for this level, and at the bottom of the 80–110 dBA range the NIDCD gives for motorcycles and dirt bikes. It is below the 85 dBA level where a working day becomes a risk, but it is where hearing protection starts to matter: the WHO's weekly safe allowance at 80 dB is 40 hours, and in the EU it is the level at which employers must make hearing protection available.
How long is 80 dB safe?
| Guideline | Safe time at 80 dB |
|---|---|
| WHO safe listening | 40 hours a week |
| NIOSH (recommended limit for an 8-hour workday) | Below the 85 dBA limit, so an 8-hour working day at 80 dBA is within it; the limit assumes the rest of the day is quieter |
| EU Directive 2003/10/EC | 80 dB(A) over 8 hours is the lower action value: hearing protection made available, workers informed and trained |
The WHO figure is the stricter one because it is meant for leisure noise on top of everything else in your week. Every 3 dB above 80 halves the WHO allowance: 85 dB is 12 hours 30 minutes a week.
80 dB compared with other sounds
| Level | Example | Compared with 80 dB |
|---|---|---|
| 60 dB | Normal conversation (WHO) | 100 times less sound energy |
| 70 dB | Lively conversation close by (NIDCD range) | 10 times less sound energy |
| 80 dB | Doorbell (WHO) | |
| 85 dB | Heavy traffic heard inside a car (WHO) | About 3 times more |
| 90 dB | Shouted conversation (WHO) | 10 times more sound energy |
Where you meet 80 dB
- A doorbell close by (WHO).
- Motorcycles and dirt bikes at the quiet end of their range, and quieter scenes in a cinema (NIDCD: 74–104 dBA).
- Busy restaurants, open-plan kitchens, gyms with music and city streets can sit around 80 dB. They vary a lot, so measure rather than guess.
Is 80 dB safe for headphones?
As an average over an evening, mostly yes; as your everyday listening level, keep an eye on the hours. The WHO's 40 hours a week at 80 dB is roughly 5 to 6 hours a day, every day. Listening louder than that, or longer, uses up the allowance quickly.
Check where you are
Measure for a few minutes where you actually spend the time and read the average (LAeq). In SoundSense you can set your own limit, for example 80 dBA, and each saved check shows how long the level stayed above it, next to the average, minimum and maximum. Phone readings are estimates; for a workplace assessment, use a certified meter or dosimeter.
Sources
- WHO, Deafness and hearing loss: safe listening
- NIDCD, Noise-induced hearing loss, updated 16 April 2025
- NIOSH, Understanding noise exposure limits
- EU, Directive 2003/10/EC on noise at work
Updated by the SoundSense team at Just IT.