How loud is an electric lawn mower?
In a 2025 field study of landscaping workers, a battery-powered push mower gave a mean noise exposure of approximately 82 dBA at the operator. Fuel mowers, mostly riding mowers, averaged over 91 dBA in the same study, though the authors caution the two are hard to compare because of their size and power.
- Level
- 82 dBAA-weighted sound level
- Daily limit
- No daily limitNIOSH, at the loud end
- Versus conversation
- 89× energyabout 3.9× as loud
What the numbers mean
How it was measured. Mean task exposure from personal dosimeters for a battery-powered push mower used at one worksite (10 task measurements) in a 2025 landscaping field study.
The battery mower figure comes from 10 task measurements at one site, with personal dosimeters worn by the workers. The authors note it is problematic to compare it directly with fuel mowers because of the large difference in size and power: most fuel mowers in the study were riding mowers.
Battery chainsaws, leaf blowers and string trimmers were also quieter on average than their gas equivalents in the same study.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 82 dBA | No limit | No limit | 5 h 3 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
At around 82 dBA, short domestic mowing with a battery mower is far less of a hearing risk than a petrol machine, but plugs are still sensible for long sessions.
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).
- Lorry (heavy truck) (76–82 dBA max): this has about 2× its sound energy and sounds about 1.2× as loud.
- Air compressor (78–81 dBA max): this has about 1.8× its sound energy and sounds about 1.2× as loud.
- Noisy toys (70–102 dBA): it has about 2.5× the sound energy of this and sounds about 1.3× as loud.
- Amusement arcade (83–89.4 dBA): it has about 2.6× the sound energy of this and sounds about 1.3× as loud.
- Normal conversation (55–70 dBA): this has about 89× its energy and sounds about 3.9× as loud.
Questions
Are electric lawn mowers quieter than petrol?
In one field study a battery push mower averaged about 82 dBA against over 91 dBA for fuel mowers, though the fuel mowers were mostly larger riding mowers.
Sources
- Hazardous exposures and engineering controls in the landscaping services industry, Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene (2025), open access via PMC. Supports: dB_low/high: about 82 dBA.
In contrast, a battery-powered push mower, used at one site, had a mean noise exposure of approximately 82 dBA ( n = 10).
Checked 2026-11-03. - Hazardous exposures and engineering controls in the landscaping services industry, Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene (2025), open access via PMC. Supports: body: fuel mowers over 91 dBA.
Fuel-powered mowers (gas or diesel), in use at 7 of the 11 worksites, had a mean noise exposure of over 91 dBA ( n = 69).
Checked 2026-11-03. - Hazardous exposures and engineering controls in the landscaping services industry, Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene (2025), open access via PMC. Supports: body: comparison caveat.
It is problematic to compare the two types because of the large difference in size and power.
Checked 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.