How loud is 60 decibels?
60 dB is the level of normal conversation at about one metre, background music or a busy but civil restaurant. It is completely safe and comfortable, though at night it can interfere with falling asleep.
Moderate
Comfortable everyday sound, like normal conversation.
Sounds around 60 dB
- Normal conversation60 dB
- Inside a quiet car60 dB
Is 60 dB safe?
Yes. 60 dB is well below the 85 dB threshold where hearing damage begins, so there is no exposure limit.
- NIOSH
- No limit
- OSHA
- No limit
Where you hear 60 dB
60 dB is the level of everyday life: conversation at a table, a TV at normal volume, a café in the middle of the morning or the inside of a quiet modern car on a smooth road. Open-plan offices often average between 55 and 65 dB during working hours.
Practical tips at 60 dB
Because normal speech sits around 60 dB, it is a handy test for a new meter or a fresh calibration. Ask someone to talk at a comfortable volume about one metre away; the reading should settle roughly between 55 and 65 dB(A). If it is far off, make sure no other app is using the microphone.
The physics of 60 dB
- Sound pressure
- 0.02 Pa
- Sound intensity
- 10⁻⁶ W/m²
- Energy vs. threshold of hearing
- 1,000,000×
How does 60 dB compare?
Measure 60 dB yourself
Open the free sound meter, press Start and see whether your environment is above or below 60 dB.
Frequently asked questions
Is 60 dB safe?
Yes. 60 dB is well below the 85 dB threshold where hearing damage begins, so there is no exposure limit.
Sounds around 60 dB
Normal conversation (60 dB), Inside a quiet car (60 dB)
How does 60 dB compare?
60 dB sounds about 4× as loud as 40 dB, with 100× the sound energy. 60 dB sounds about 2× as loud as 50 dB, with 10× the sound energy. 60 dB sounds about 2× quieter than 70 dB. 60 dB sounds about 4× quieter than 80 dB.
Sources
Exposure limits follow the NIOSH REL (85 dB(A), 3 dB exchange rate) and the OSHA PEL (90 dB(A), 5 dB exchange rate). Example levels are typical values; real sources vary with distance and conditions.
- Noise and hearing loss basics (NIOSH recommended exposure limit), CDC / NIOSH
- 29 CFR 1910.95: Occupational noise exposure, US OSHA
- Environmental Noise Guidelines for the European Region (2018), World Health Organization
- Safe listening devices and systems: a WHO-ITU standard (H.870), World Health Organization
- Noise-Induced Hearing Loss, NIH / NIDCD
Measure the noise around you now
100% private. Audio is analysed on your device and is never recorded or uploaded.
Open the sound meter