How loud is a hair dryer?
A hair dryer is about 59 to 90 dBA according to the household 'Counting Decibels' table in Environmental Health Perspectives. Measurements in hair salons during dryer use found 71 to 76 dBA in the room.
- Level
- 59–90 dBAA-weighted sound level
- Daily limit
- 2 h 31 min a dayNIOSH, at the loud end
- Versus conversation
- 16× energyabout 2.3× as loud
What the numbers mean
How it was measured. Compiled household table gives 59 to 90 dBA; area measurements in four Thai hair salons during hair dryer use gave 71 to 76 dBA. Distances not stated.
Hair dryers use a small, high-speed fan and push air through a narrow nozzle, which produces a loud, high-pitched whoosh. Because the dryer is held right next to the head, the level at the ear is higher than a room reading. The Environmental Health Perspectives table lists hair dryers at 59 to 90 dBA and quotes a League for the Hard of Hearing fact sheet saying they can reach or exceed 90 dBA.
A 2021 study of four hair salons in Surat Thani, Thailand, published in Environmental Health Insights, measured sound pressure levels of 71 to 76 dBA during hair dryer use and found the mean levels were below the 85 dBA workplace reference, though the noise interfered with conversation between hairdresser and customer.
Higher fan settings, a concentrator nozzle and a hard-surfaced bathroom all push the level up.
How long is safe?
NIOSH recommends no more than 2 h 31 min a day at 90 dBA (no limit at the quiet end, 59). OSHA's legal limit is 8 h.
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 90 dBA | 2 h 31 min | 8 h | 48 min | 2 h 32 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
Use the lowest setting that works and keep the nozzle pointed away from your ear. Hairdressers who use dryers all day can check their exposure and choose quieter models.
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).
- Alarm clock (60–80 dBA): this has about 2.8× its sound energy and sounds about 1.4× as loud.
- Inside a car (65–77.2 dBA): this has about 2.2× its sound energy and sounds about 1.3× as loud.
- Lorry (heavy truck) (76–82 dBA max): it has about 2.8× the sound energy of this and sounds about 1.4× as loud.
- Air compressor (78–81 dBA max): it has about 3.2× the sound energy of this and sounds about 1.4× as loud.
- Normal conversation (55–70 dBA): this has about 16× its energy and sounds about 2.3× as loud.
Questions
Can a hair dryer damage your hearing?
For a few minutes a day it is unlikely, but the top of the range, about 90 dBA, is above the 85 dBA level used for workplace limits.
How loud is a hair salon?
A study of four salons measured 71 to 76 dBA during hair dryer use.
Sources
- Decibel Hell: The Effects of Living in a Noisy World, Environmental Health Perspectives (NIEHS). Supports: dB_low/dB_high: 59 to 90 dBA.
Hair dryer 59–90
Checked 2026-11-02. - Working Conditions and Health Risk Assessment in Hair Salons, Environmental Health Insights. Supports: salon levels during dryer use: 71 to 76 dBA.
sound pressure levels within 71 to 76 dBA
Checked 2026-11-02. - Working Conditions and Health Risk Assessment in Hair Salons, Environmental Health Insights. Supports: below 85 dBA.
The mean sound pressure levels during hairdryer use were below the reference level in all salons (<85 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.