How loud is a spin class?
Spin classes typically average about 88 to 97.5 dBA over an hour. In 18 classes measured in the US the class LAeq ranged from 88.0 to 97.5 dBA (93.2 to 101.0 dBC), and a Boston study of 17 classes recorded a maximum of 116.7 dBA.
- Level
- 88–97.5 dBAA-weighted sound level
- Daily limit
- 27 min a dayNIOSH, at the loud end
- Versus conversation
- 1,059× energyabout 8.1× as loud
What the numbers mean
How it was measured. LAeq for whole one-hour classes in 18 spin classes at a US fitness centre, measured on a tripod at chest level angled at the front speaker; separate study logged a maximum of 116.7 dBA from phones in bike cupholders.
Instructors play bass-heavy music loud to drive pace. In the Maryland study, classes in the loudest third measured 91.9 to 97.5 dBA (98.4 to 101.0 dBC), and three of 18 classes exceeded the NIOSH recommendation of 94 dBA for one hour. When levels exceeded 98.4 dBC, participants were 23 times more likely to say the music was too loud than too quiet.
A Boston study placed calibrated phones in the cupholders of bikes in 17 classes. The maximum sound recorded was 116.7 dBA, riders spent an average of 31.6 minutes above 100 dBA, and one 45-minute class delivered on average 8.95 times the recommended daily noise dose.
Turning it down did not spoil the workout: lowering the music by 3 dB did not change how hard people felt they had exercised, and 25.9% of riders reported ringing or other ear symptoms after class.
How long is safe?
NIOSH recommends no more than 27 min a day at 97.5 dBA (4 h at 88). OSHA's legal limit is 2 h 50 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 88 dBA | 4 h | No limit | 1 h 16 min | 4 h 1 min |
| 97.5 dBA | 27 min | 2 h 50 min | 8 min 32 s | 27 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
Pick a bike away from the speakers, wear foam earplugs (you will still hear the beat and the instructor), and ask the studio to turn it down; research shows riders do not work any less hard.
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).
- London Underground (80–100 dBA): this has about 1.9× its sound energy and sounds about 1.2× as loud.
- Petrol lawn mower (85.5–95.9 dBA): this has about 1.6× its sound energy and sounds about 1.2× as loud.
- Tractor (91.7–100 dBA): it has about 2× the sound energy of this and sounds about 1.2× as loud.
- Leaf blower (86.4–106 dBA): it has about 2.2× the sound energy of this and sounds about 1.3× as loud.
- Normal conversation (55–70 dBA): this has about 1,059× its energy and sounds about 8.1× as loud.
Questions
Is a spin class louder than safe limits?
Often. A Boston study found riders spent an average of 31.6 minutes above 100 dBA in a class, beyond NIOSH's 15 minutes a day at that level.
Does quieter music make the workout less intense?
No. Lowering music by 3 dB did not significantly change perceived exercise intensity.
Sources
- Music level preference and perceived exercise intensity in group spin classes, Noise & Health (2021). Supports: dB_low 88.0, dB_high 97.5 dBA.
LAeq range 88.0–91.1 89.4–93.6 91.9–97.5
Checked 2026-11-02. - Music level preference and perceived exercise intensity in group spin classes, Noise & Health (2021). Supports: 98.4 dBC; 23 times.
When mean sound levels exceeded 98.4 dBC, respondents were 23 times more likely to report the music as too loud than too quiet
Checked 2026-11-02. - Music level preference and perceived exercise intensity in group spin classes, Noise & Health (2021). Supports: 25.9% symptoms.
Overall, 25.9% of respondents reported auditory symptoms following classes.
Checked 2026-11-02. - Cycling exercise classes may be bad for your (hearing) health, The Laryngoscope (2017). Supports: max 116.7 dBA.
Maximum sound recorded among 17 random classes was 116.7 dBA
Checked 2026-11-02. - Cycling exercise classes may be bad for your (hearing) health, The Laryngoscope (2017). Supports: 31.6 min above 100 dBA.
An average of 31.6 ± 3.8 minutes were spent at >100 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.