How loud is a dishwasher?
A modern dishwasher is rated roughly 38 to 55 dBA, with 44 to 49 dBA considered quiet and 38 to 43 dBA hard to hear, according to Reviewed. An older compiled table in Environmental Health Perspectives gives a much wider 54 to 85 dBA, reflecting noisier machines.
- Level
- 38–85 dBAA-weighted sound level
- Daily limit
- 8 h a dayNIOSH, at the loud end
- Versus conversation
- 1/1.3 energyabout 1.1× quieter
What the numbers mean
How it was measured. Modern models are rated about 38 to 55 dBA by manufacturers (independently tested, per Reviewed); an older compiled household table gives 54 to 85 dBA. Measuring distance not stated in either source.
Dishwasher noise comes from the circulation pump, the drain pump and water hitting the dishes and tub walls. Manufacturers in the US quote a single dBA rating, and Reviewed reports that these ratings are measured by a third-party lab. On that scale, Reviewed puts 44 to 49 dBA as quiet enough for most homes and 38 to 43 dBA as hard to detect.
Tub material matters most. Reviewed gives the example of a fully plastic-tub Whirlpool rated 55 dBA against a Bosch hybrid tub at 50 dBA, and an 800 Series Bosch rated 42 dBA. Insulation around the tub also keeps sound in.
The Environmental Health Perspectives 'Counting Decibels' table, compiled from NIDCD, EPA and Noise Pollution Clearinghouse figures, lists dishwashers at 54 to 85 dBA. That upper figure reflects older and noisier machines; the same article quotes a League for the Hard of Hearing fact sheet saying dishwashers, vacuum cleaners and hair dryers can all reach or exceed 90 dBA.
European energy labels quote dishwasher noise as sound power in dB(A) re 1 pW, which describes the total sound the machine emits rather than the level at your ear, so those numbers are not directly comparable with US dBA ratings.
How long is safe?
NIOSH recommends no more than 8 h a day at 85 dBA (no limit at the quiet end, 38). OSHA's legal limit is not reached below 90 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 dBA | 8 h | No limit | 2 h 32 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
No hearing protection is needed for modern machines. To keep it quieter, choose a stainless-steel tub and a lower dBA rating, make sure it is level, and run it overnight or when you are out.
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).
- Microwave oven (55–59 dBA): this has about 2.8× its sound energy and sounds about 1.4× as loud.
- Neonatal intensive care unit (55–63 dBA): this has about 1.8× its sound energy and sounds about 1.2× as loud.
- Operating theatre (53–78.8 dBA): it has about 2.8× the sound energy of this and sounds about 1.4× as loud.
- Infant sleep machine (50–85 dBA): it has about 4× the sound energy of this and sounds about 1.5× as loud.
Questions
What dBA is a quiet dishwasher?
Reviewed says 44 to 49 dBA is quiet enough for most homes, and 38 to 43 dBA is hard to detect.
Is a 50 dB dishwasher loud?
Not loud, but noticeable. Reviewed cites a hybrid-tub model at 50 dBA and a plastic-tub model at 55 dBA, which sounded like someone taking a shower.
Sources
- Is your dishwasher quiet enough?, Reviewed (USA Today network). Supports: dB_low: 38 dBA.
Once you get into the 38 to 43 dBA range, a dishwasher will be hard to detect
Checked 2026-11-02. - Is your dishwasher quiet enough?, Reviewed (USA Today network). Supports: plastic-tub model at 55 dBA.
It has a sound rating of 55 dBA.
Checked 2026-11-02. - Decibel Hell: The Effects of Living in a Noisy World, Environmental Health Perspectives (NIEHS). Supports: dB_high: 85 dBA (older compiled figure).
Dishwasher 54–85
Checked 2026-11-02. - Decibel Hell: The Effects of Living in a Noisy World, Environmental Health Perspectives (NIEHS). Supports: context.
dishwashers, vacuum cleaners, and hair dryers can all reach or exceed 90 dBA
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.