How loud is it on a plane? 83.5 dBA

What the numbers mean

How it was measured. Continuous monitors on 200 commercial flights across six aircraft groups, all flight phases. 83.5 dB(A) is the median of the mean levels.

The study placed continuous sound monitors on 200 flights covering six aircraft groups and compared mean levels by flight phase, aircraft model, measurement location and proximity to the engines. Mean levels ranged widely across phases and aircraft, but the median was 83.5 dB(A). Seats nearer the engines were louder, and aircraft with engines mounted on the fuselage differed from those with engines under the wings.

For cabin crew who fly every day, the authors found that 9 of the 200 flights exceeded the NIOSH recommended 8-hour limit of 85 dB(A). Military transport aircraft are louder still: a review of military noise reported 88 to 101 dBA in transport aircraft.

How long is safe?

Below 85 dBA, the level NIOSH allows for a full 8-hour day.

Level	NIOSH limit (85 dBA, 3 dB rule)	OSHA limit (90 dBA, 5 dB rule)	UK/EU 80 dB(A) action value reached after	UK/EU 85 dB(A) action value reached after
83.5 dBA	No limit	No limit	3 h 34 min	Not reached in 24 h

Times are for a whole day’s exposure, with the rest of the day quiet. The workplace limits were written for adults at work, not for children. Work out a mixed day with the noise dose calculator.

Protecting your hearing

Noise-cancelling headphones or foam earplugs make a long flight noticeably more restful. Seats further from the engines are quieter; if you watch a film, turn it up only as far as you need over the cabin noise.

Earplug and earmuff ratings (NRR in the US, SNR in the UK and EU) are lab figures; real-world protection is usually lower. How to read the ratings.

Compared with sounds nearby

Using midpoints of each range. Energy multiplies by 10 every 10 dB; perceived loudness roughly doubles (why).

Garbage disposal (67–93 dBA): this has about 2.2× its sound energy and sounds about 1.3× as loud.
Motorcycle (80 dBA): this has about 2.2× its sound energy and sounds about 1.3× as loud.
Noisy toys (70–102 dBA): it has about 1.8× the sound energy of this and sounds about 1.2× as loud.
Amusement arcade (83–89.4 dBA): it has about 1.9× the sound energy of this and sounds about 1.2× as loud.
Normal conversation (55–70 dBA): this has about 126× its energy and sounds about 4.3× as loud.

Questions

How loud is a plane cabin?

A study of 200 flights found a median cabin level of 83.5 dB(A).

Where is the quietest seat?

The same study found significant differences by proximity to the engines, so seats further from the engines tend to be quieter.

Sources

Assessment of noise in the airplane cabin environment, Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology (Zevitas et al., 2018), abstract via Europe PMC. Supports: 83.5 dB(A) median.Mean sound levels across all flight phases and aircraft groups ranged from 37.6 to >110 dB(A) with a median of 83.5 dB(A).Checked 2026-11-03.
Assessment of noise in the airplane cabin environment, Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology (Zevitas et al., 2018), abstract via Europe PMC. Supports: 9 of 200 flights over 85 dB(A).Nine flights (4.5%) exceeded the recommended 8-h TWA exposure limit of 85 dB(A) by the NIOSH and ACGIH approachChecked 2026-11-03.
Impact of noise on hearing in the military, Military Medical Research (2015). Supports: military transport aircraft 88 to 101 dBA.in transporter aircrafts, the noise level was found to be between 88 to 101 dBAChecked 2026-11-03.

This page is general information, not medical advice. If you have ringing in your ears, muffled hearing or any change in your hearing, see an audiologist or your doctor.