How loud are bagpipes? 85–102 dB

What the numbers mean

How it was measured. Sound pressure levels (dB SPL, weighting not stated) reported by a physician and piper for a solo Highland piper and for six pipers; measurement details are limited and no peer-reviewed study was found.

The Highland bagpipe plays continuously, with no rests, from drones at 115 Hz up to a high A at 920 Hz, and much of its energy extends into higher harmonics. Potter reports energy in the fundamental frequencies peaking at around 93 dB.

Levels climb with the number of players: about 85 to 90 dB SPL in the several feet around a solo piper and 95 to 102 dB for six pipers. Potter notes that band levels vary by only 5 to 10 dB from these figures, mostly because of the number of players.

Evidence here is thin. Potter's article itself says no studies had been completed on hearing loss in Highland pipers or drummers, so treat these as indicative figures.

How long is safe?

NIOSH recommends no more than 9 min 27 s a day at 102 dBA (8 h at 85). OSHA's legal limit is 1 h 31 min. This level is not A-weighted, so the times are approximate: low-pitched sound measures lower in dBA.

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
85 dB	8 h	No limit	2 h 32 min	Not reached in 24 h
102 dB	9 min 27 s	1 h 31 min	3 min 2 s	9 min 35 s

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

Pipers and drummers in bands should use musician's earplugs, especially when playing in a circle. Practising on a practice chanter instead of full pipes indoors cuts exposure dramatically.

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).

Smoke alarm (85 dB): this has about 7.1× its sound energy and sounds about 1.8× as loud.
Birdsong (74–103 dB max): this has about 3.2× its sound energy and sounds about 1.4× as loud.
Cicada (85–108.9 dB max): it has about 2.2× the sound energy of this and sounds about 1.3× as loud.
Rooster crowing (100–108 dB max): it has about 11× the sound energy of this and sounds about 2.1× as loud.

Questions

Are bagpipes louder than other instruments?

A solo piper is about 85 to 90 dB SPL nearby, similar to many orchestral instruments, but a band of six reaches 95 to 102 dB and the pipes play without pauses.

Has hearing loss in pipers been studied?

Hardly. The article reporting these levels notes that no studies had been completed on hearing loss in Highland pipers or drummers.

Sources

Hearing Loss Secondary to Sound Exposure, Pipes|Drums (Dr Patrick L. Potter, MD, FRCPC). Supports: dB_low: 85-90 dB SPL solo piper.Sound intensity levels in the several feet surrounding a solo piper are in the range of 85 to 90dB SPL.Checked 2026-11-02.
Hearing Loss Secondary to Sound Exposure, Pipes|Drums (Dr Patrick L. Potter, MD, FRCPC). Supports: dB_high: 95-102 dB six pipers.Six pipers produce a sound intensity in the range of 95 to 102dB.Checked 2026-11-02.
Hearing Loss Secondary to Sound Exposure, Pipes|Drums (Dr Patrick L. Potter, MD, FRCPC). Supports: evidence caveat.No studies have been completed with respect to hearing loss in Highland pipers or drummers.Checked 2026-11-02.

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.