How loud is a gym fitness class?
Gym fitness classes average roughly 86 to 93 dBA. A study of 100 classes found low-intensity classes averaged 85.6 dB(A) in 2009-2011 and high-intensity classes 93.1 dB(A), frequently exceeding 90 dB(A).
- Level
- 85.6–93.1 dBAA-weighted sound level
- Daily limit
- 1 h 14 min a dayNIOSH, at the loud end
- Versus conversation
- 484× energyabout 6.4× as loud
What the numbers mean
How it was measured. Average A-weighted levels in 100 Australian fitness classes measured in 1997-1998 and 2009-2011; low-intensity classes averaged 85.6 dB(A) in the later period, high-intensity classes 93.1 dB(A).
Researchers measured 35 low-intensity and 65 high-intensity classes in two periods more than a decade apart. Levels barely changed. Low-intensity classes dropped from 88.9 to 85.6 dB(A), while high-intensity classes stayed high, averaging 93.1 dB(A).
The gap comes from instructors: in 2009-2011 they preferred significantly higher volumes than their clients for high-intensity classes. About 85% of instructors found loud music motivating, while about one fifth of clients found it stressful.
How long is safe?
NIOSH recommends no more than 1 h 14 min a day at 93.1 dBA (6 h 58 min at 85.6). OSHA's legal limit is 5 h 12 min.
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 85.6 dBA | 6 h 58 min | No limit | 2 h 12 min | 6 h 58 min |
| 93.1 dBA | 1 h 14 min | 5 h 12 min | 24 min | 1 h 14 min |
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
Stand at the back, away from the speakers, and wear earplugs if you attend several classes a week. Instructors teaching multiple classes a day have the highest exposure and should use a headset microphone so the music can be lower.
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).
- Noisy toys (70–102 dBA): this has about 2.2× its sound energy and sounds about 1.3× as loud.
- Amusement arcade (83–89.4 dBA): this has about 2.1× its sound energy and sounds about 1.2× as loud.
- Violin (80–105 dBA): it has about 2.1× the sound energy of this and sounds about 1.2× as loud.
- Ice hockey game (81–104.1 dBA): it has about 2.1× the sound energy of this and sounds about 1.2× as loud.
- Normal conversation (55–70 dBA): this has about 484× its energy and sounds about 6.4× as loud.
Questions
Are fitness classes getting quieter?
Not much. High-intensity classes averaged 93.1 dB(A) in 2009-2011, similar to the late 1990s.
Why is gym music so loud?
About 85% of instructors surveyed found loud music motivating, and they preferred higher volumes than their clients.
Sources
- Noise levels in fitness classes are still too high: evidence from 1997-1998 and 2009-2011, Archives of Environmental & Occupational Health (2014). Supports: 85.6 and 93.1 dB(A).
Although noise levels in low-intensity classes dropped from 88.9 to 85.6 dB(A), they remained high for high-intensity classes, averaging 93.1 dB(A).
Checked 2026-11-02. - Noise levels in fitness classes are still too high: evidence from 1997-1998 and 2009-2011, Archives of Environmental & Occupational Health (2014). Supports: instructor preferences.
In both time periods, about 85% of instructors found loud music motivating, whereas about one fifth of clients found it stressful.
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.