How loud is the subway? 80.4–86 dBA

What the numbers mean

How it was measured. New York City subway. Average levels: 80.4 dBA mean Leq from dosimetry on cars and platforms (2007); 86 dBA average on platforms from a sound level meter survey. Maximum readings reached 112 dBA inside cars.

A 2006 pilot survey took more than 90 measurements with a sound level meter set to A-weighting. The average on subway platforms was 86 ± 4 dBA, and the loudest readings were 106 dBA on a platform and 112 dBA inside a subway car. Inside cars the mean maximum was 94.9 dBA, and the highest values came when another train was passing.

A larger dosimetry study in June and July 2007 found a mean Leq of 80.4 dBA for the MTA subway, the highest of any transit type measured, with platforms (81.1 dBA) slightly louder on average than cars (79.3 dBA). The highest single platform Leq was 90.2 dBA in an underground station, and the loudest Lmax on a platform was 102.1 dBA. Major hub stations averaged 82.2 dBA against 79.0 dBA for local stations.

The pilot survey linked the loudest platform conditions to curved track, two trains in the station at once, squealing brakes, debris on the track, loud buskers and the release of compressed air from train brakes. Older studies suggest the system has become quieter: a 1971 survey quoted in the 2009 paper found 87 to 110 dBA.

How long is safe?

NIOSH recommends no more than 6 h 21 min a day at 86 dBA (no limit at the quiet end, 80.4). OSHA's legal limit is not reached below 90 dBA.

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
80.4 dBA	No limit	No limit	7 h 18 min	Not reached in 24 h
86 dBA	6 h 21 min	No limit	2 h 1 min	6 h 21 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 back from the platform edge and away from curves where wheels squeal. Regular commuters can use foam earplugs or noise-cancelling headphones at low volume instead of turning music up to drown out the train.

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).

Garbage disposal (67–93 dBA): this has about 2.1× its sound energy and sounds about 1.2× as loud.
Motorcycle (80 dBA): this has about 2.1× its sound energy and sounds about 1.2× as loud.
Noisy toys (70–102 dBA): it has about 1.9× the sound energy of this and sounds about 1.2× as loud.
Amusement arcade (83–89.4 dBA): it has about 2× the sound energy of this and sounds about 1.2× as loud.
Normal conversation (55–70 dBA): this has about 117× its energy and sounds about 4.2× as loud.

Questions

How loud is the New York subway platform?

A sound level meter survey found an average of 86 dBA on platforms, with a maximum of 106 dBA; dosimetry found a mean Leq of 81.1 dBA on MTA platforms.

Is it louder inside the train or on the platform?

On average platforms were slightly louder (81.1 dBA Leq versus 79.3 dBA in cars), but the single loudest moment, 112 dBA, was measured inside a car as another train passed.

Has the subway got quieter?

Probably. A 1971 study found 87 to 110 dBA, while 2007 dosimetry found a mean Leq of 80.4 dBA, though the methods differ.

Sources

Pilot survey of subway and bus stop noise levels, Journal of Urban Health (Gershon et al., 2006). Supports: dB_high 86 dBA platform average.The average noise level measured on the subway platforms was 86 ± 4 dBA (decibel-A weighting).Checked 2026-11-03.
Pilot survey of subway and bus stop noise levels, Journal of Urban Health (Gershon et al., 2006). Supports: maxima 106 dBA platform, 112 dBA in car.Maximum levels of 106, 112, and 89 dBA were measured on subway platforms, inside subway cars, and at bus stops, respectively.Checked 2026-11-03.
Pilot survey of subway and bus stop noise levels, Journal of Urban Health (Gershon et al., 2006). Supports: 94.9 dBA mean maximum in cars.Inside the subway cars, the mean maximum noise level was 94.9 dBA, with a range of 84 to 112 dBA.Checked 2026-11-03.
Noise levels associated with New York City's mass transit systems, American Journal of Public Health (Neitzel et al., 2009). Supports: dB_low 80.4 dBA mean Leq.Combined mean L eq levels for the transit systems ranged from 75.1 dBA (Metro-North) to 80.4 dBA (MTA subway).Checked 2026-11-03.
Noise levels associated with New York City's mass transit systems, American Journal of Public Health (Neitzel et al., 2009). Supports: 102.1 dBA Lmax on a platform.The highest L max level among all platform measurements was at an MTA subway station (102.1 dBA), followed closely by a bus stop measurement (101.6 dBA).Checked 2026-11-03.
Noise levels associated with New York City's mass transit systems, American Journal of Public Health (Neitzel et al., 2009). Supports: hub vs local station levels.Subway L eq levels differed significantly (data not shown; 1-way ANOVA, P < .001) between local stations (mean = 79.0 dBA) and major hubs (mean = 82.2 dBA)Checked 2026-11-03.
Noise levels associated with New York City's mass transit systems, American Journal of Public Health (Neitzel et al., 2009). Supports: 1971 comparison.The 1971 study by Harris and Aitken 31 found sound pressure levels that ranged from 87 to 110 dBAChecked 2026-11-03.

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.