How loud is 60 decibels?
60 dB is a normal conversation between two people a metre apart. It is safe to listen to for any length of time and is the most common "everyday" level people measure.
- Sounds like
- A normal conversation
- Loudness
- Moderate
- Safe per day (NIOSH)
- No limit
- OSHA workplace limit
- Below the limit
60 dB on the decibel scale
Tap another sound to compare- Safe · under 65 dB
- Caution · 65–85 dB
- Risk · over 85 dB
What 60 dB sounds like
- A normal conversation at 1 m
- Background music in a café
- An air conditioner a few metres away
- An electric toothbrush
Offices with people talking, cafés with quiet music, a TV at a normal volume across the room.
Is 60 dB safe?
Yes. 60 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.
60 dB compared with other sounds
| Compared with | Difference | Sounds | Sound energy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whisper (30 dB) | +30 dB | 8× as loud | 1,000× more |
| Heavy traffic (85 dB) | −25 dB | 5.7× quieter | 316× less |
| Concert (110 dB) | −50 dB | 32× quieter | 100,000× less |
| Threshold of pain (130 dB) | −70 dB | 128× quieter | 10,000,000× 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 60 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.