How loud is an operating room?
Operating theatres average about 53 to 79 dB(A). A 2026 meta-analysis found a pooled mean intraoperative level of 70.7 dB(A), highest in ear, nose and throat surgery at 78.8 dB(A) and orthopaedics at 73.3 dB(A). The WHO recommends 35 dB(A) for operating room settings.
- Level
- 53–78.8 dBAA-weighted sound level
- Daily limit
- No daily limitNIOSH, at the loud end
- Versus conversation
- 2.2× energyabout 1.3× as loud
What the numbers mean
How it was measured. Leq over whole operations in four Swiss hospitals, 53 to 63 dB(A) (BJS Open, 2024); pooled mean intraoperative level 70.7 dB(A), with ENT surgery highest at 78.8 dB(A) (meta-analysis, British Journal of Anaesthesia, 2026).
Theatre noise comes from suction, power tools, monitor alarms, instruments, music and conversation. A 2026 systematic review and meta-analysis in the British Journal of Anaesthesia, pooling 43 datasets, found a mean intraoperative level of 70.7 dB(A). Orthopaedic surgery, with saws and mallets, averaged 73.3 dB(A) and otolaryngology 78.8 dB(A).
In 294 operations across four Swiss hospitals (BJS Open, 2024), the average level over each whole operation ranged from 53 to 63 dB(A). Noise rose towards the end of operations and was higher in objectively more difficult operations.
These levels are not usually a hearing hazard, but the Swiss authors note that noise in the operating room can impede effective communication among staff and distract the team.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 78.8 dBA | No limit | No limit | Not reached in 24 h | 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
Hearing protection is rarely needed at these average levels. Teams can cut noise by limiting conversation and music during critical phases and managing alarms.
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).
- Normal conversation (55–70 dBA): this has about 2.2× its sound energy and sounds about 1.3× as loud.
- Washing machine (47–78 dBA): this has about 2.2× its sound energy and sounds about 1.3× as loud.
- Crickets (40–96 dBA): it has about 1.6× the sound energy of this and sounds about 1.2× as loud.
- Snowmobile (65–73 dBA max): it has about 2× the sound energy of this and sounds about 1.2× as loud.
- Normal conversation (55–70 dBA): this has about 2.2× its energy and sounds about 1.3× as loud.
Questions
How loud is surgery?
On average about 70.7 dB(A) according to a 2026 meta-analysis, and up to 78.8 dB(A) in ENT surgery.
What is the recommended noise level in an operating room?
WHO recommends 35 dB(A) for operating room settings, a level studies rarely find.
Sources
- Operating room noise levels in anaesthesia a systematic review and meta-analysis, British Journal of Anaesthesia. Supports: pooled mean 70.7 dB(A).
The pooled random-effects mean intraoperative noise level was 70.7 A-weighted dB [dB(A)] (95% CI 69.0-72.3).
Checked 2026-11-02. - Operating room noise levels in anaesthesia a systematic review and meta-analysis, British Journal of Anaesthesia. Supports: dB_high: 78.8 dB(A).
Subgroup analysis demonstrated the highest exposures in otolaryngology at 78.8 dB(A)
Checked 2026-11-02. - Noise in the operating room coincides with surgical difficulty, BJS Open. Supports: dB_low: 53 dB(A).
The averaged noise level (Leq) over the entirety of each operation ranged from 53 dB(A) to 63 dB(A)
Checked 2026-11-02. - Noise in the operating room coincides with surgical difficulty, BJS Open. Supports: WHO 35 dB(A).
significantly exceeding the World Health Organization's (WHO) recommended limit of 35 dB(A) for operating room settings
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.