SoundSenseHow loud is 90 decibels?
90 dB is as loud as a shouted conversation, the WHO's example for this level. It is loud enough to damage your hearing within a few hours: NIOSH's recommended limit allows about 2 hours 30 minutes a day at 90 dBA, and the WHO's safe listening allowance is 4 hours a week.
How long is 90 dB safe?
| Guideline | Safe time at 90 dB |
|---|---|
| NIOSH (recommended limit) | About 2 hours 30 minutes a day (2 hours at 91 dBA) |
| WHO safe listening | 4 hours a week |
| OSHA (US workplace law) | 90 dBA is the legal limit for an 8-hour day |
| EU Directive 2003/10/EC | Above the 85 dB(A) upper action value, so hearing protection must be worn; the 87 dB(A) limit counts that protection |
OSHA's legal limit allows a full working day at 90 dBA, but it uses a 5 dB rule and is less protective than NIOSH's. For deciding what is safe for yourself, use the NIOSH figure. See the full table on safe noise levels, and the OSHA rules in detail on OSHA noise limits.
90 dB compared with other sounds
| Level | Example | Compared with 90 dB |
|---|---|---|
| 70 dB | Lively conversation close by (NIDCD range) | 100 times less sound energy |
| 80 dB | Doorbell (WHO) | 10 times less sound energy |
| 85 dB | Heavy traffic heard inside a car (WHO) | About 3 times less |
| 90 dB | Shouted conversation (WHO) | |
| 100 dB | Hair dryer close to the ear (WHO), loud concerts (NIDCD range) | 10 times more sound energy |
Where you meet 90 dB
- Shouting close by (WHO).
- Motorcycles and dirt bikes, and loud scenes in a cinema: both ranges include 90 dBA (NIDCD: 80–110 and 74–104 dBA).
- Power tools, lawn mowers, loud bars and sports halls often reach it; check with a meter, because models and rooms differ by several decibels.
How to protect your hearing at 90 dB
- Wear hearing protection for loud work, mowing and power tools. Foam earplugs or earmuffs bring the level at your ear well below 85 dB.
- Keep the time short. Two hours at 90 dBA already uses most of a day's NIOSH dose.
- Step back. Outdoors, doubling your distance from a single source lowers the level by about 6 dB.
- Rest your ears afterwards. Ringing or muffled hearing after leaving is a sign the dose was too high.
Check where you are
Measure for a few minutes and read the average (LAeq), not the peak. In SoundSense, set your own limit to 85 dBA and each saved check shows how long the level stayed above it. 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
- OSHA, 29 CFR 1910.95 Occupational noise exposure
- EU, Directive 2003/10/EC on noise at work
Updated by the SoundSense team at Just IT.