How loud are rustling leaves?
Rustling leaves measure about 10 to 20 dB. The National Park Service recorded leaves rustling at 20 dBA in Canyonlands National Park, and Microsoft, Purdue University and NOAA charts also give 20 dB, while Guinness World Records puts rustling leaves at about 10 dB.
- Level
- 10–20 dBAA-weighted sound level
- Daily limit
- No daily limitNIOSH, at the loud end
- Versus conversation
- 1/56,234 energyabout 26.9× quieter
What the numbers mean
How it was measured. Leaves rustling in a light breeze. The NPS figure (20 dBA) was measured in Canyonlands National Park; Microsoft, Purdue University and NOAA also give 20 dB, and Guinness World Records gives about 10 dB. Only the NPS states A-weighting; distances not stated.
The most specific figure comes from the National Park Service, which lists 'leaves rustling' at 20 dBA in Canyonlands National Park in its table of sound levels measured in parks. Microsoft's Building 87 chart, Purdue University's noise comparison (alongside a whisper) and a NOAA hearing conservation table all give 20 dB as well.
Guinness World Records, in its loudest-insect entry, rates rustling leaves at about 10 dB. The difference reflects how gentle the breeze is and how close you are: a few leaves stirring in still air are quieter than a tree full of dry leaves in a steady wind.
Twenty decibels is roughly the level the NPS gives for remote Grand Canyon trails, and about 10 dB above calm breathing.
Is it safe?
Below 85 dBA, the level NIOSH allows for a full 8-hour day. At this level, sound is not a hearing risk however long it lasts, though it can still disturb sleep or concentration.
Protecting your hearing
No protection needed. Wind loud enough to roar through trees is a different matter, but rustling leaves on their own are harmless.
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).
- Microsoft anechoic chamber (−20.6 to −20.4 dBA): this has about 3,528× its sound energy and sounds about 11.7× as loud.
- Haleakalā crater (10 dBA): this has about 3.2× its sound energy and sounds about 1.4× as loud.
- Private office (32–34.8 dBA): it has about 69× the sound energy of this and sounds about 3.6× as loud.
- Refrigerator (40–43 dBA): it has about 447× the sound energy of this and sounds about 6.3× as loud.
- Normal conversation (55–70 dBA): conversation has about 56,234× the energy of this.
Questions
How many decibels are rustling leaves?
About 20 dBA according to an NPS measurement in Canyonlands National Park, with other charts giving 10 to 20 dB.
Are rustling leaves louder than a whisper?
Usually not. Rustling leaves are 10 to 20 dB, while CDC puts a soft whisper at 30 dB.
Sources
- Understanding Sound - Natural Sounds, U.S. National Park Service. Supports: dB_high: 20 dBA in Canyonlands.
20 Leaves rustling (Canyonlands National Park)
Checked 2026-11-02. - Audio Lab | Microsoft: Inside B87, Microsoft. Supports: dB_high: 20 dB.
Rustling Leaves 20dB
Checked 2026-11-02. - Noise Comparisons (Noise Sources and Their Effects), Purdue University Department of Chemistry, Chemical Safety. Supports: dB_high: 20 dB.
Whisper, rustling leaves 20
Checked 2026-11-02. - Hearing Conservation (archived 2009 copy, End of Term Web Archive), NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center. Supports: dB_high: 20 dB.
20 Watch Ticking, Leaves Rustling
Checked 2026-11-02. - Loudest insect, Guinness World Records. Supports: dB_low: about 10 dB.
Rustling leaves rates at about 10 dB, a whisper is 20 dB
Checked 2026-11-02. - What Noises Cause Hearing Loss? (archived copy, 31 Dec 2022), CDC National Center for Environmental Health. Supports: faq: soft whisper comparison.
Soft whisper 30
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.