How loud is a vacuum cleaner?
A vacuum cleaner is about 62 to 85 dBA according to a household noise table in Environmental Health Perspectives, and NIOSH lists vacuums among equipment that can produce around 85 to 90 dBA. Under EU ecodesign rules retained in UK law, a vacuum's sound power must be no more than 80 dB(A), which is a measure of the total sound it emits rather than the level at your ear.
- Level
- 62–90 dBAA-weighted sound level
- Daily limit
- 2 h 31 min a dayNIOSH, at the loud end
- Versus conversation
- 22× energyabout 2.5× as loud
What the numbers mean
How it was measured. Household vacuums. Compiled household table gives 62 to 85 dBA; NIOSH lists vacuums among equipment producing around 85 to 90 dBA. Distances not stated. Separately, UK-retained EU ecodesign rules cap sound power (not sound pressure) at 80 dB(A).
A vacuum's noise comes from its high-speed motor and fan and from air rushing through the hose and brush head. Upright and older models with powerful motors tend to sit at the top of the range. Environmental Health Perspectives lists vacuum cleaners at 62 to 85 dBA in its compiled table, while NIOSH puts vacuums in a group of equipment (with lawn mowers and power tools) that can produce around 85 to 90 dBA, the level at which you need to raise your voice to be heard by someone 3 feet away.
In Europe, Commission Regulation (EU) No 666/2013 on vacuum cleaner ecodesign, also retained in UK law, requires that from 1 September 2017 the sound power level 'shall be less than or equal to 80 dB(A)'. Sound power describes the total acoustic energy a machine radiates; the sound pressure level you hear standing over it depends on distance and the room, so the 80 dB(A) cap is not the same thing as 80 dBA at your ear.
Hard floors and small rooms with bare walls make a vacuum sound louder than in a carpeted room with soft furnishings, because more sound reflects back.
How long is safe?
NIOSH recommends no more than 2 h 31 min a day at 90 dBA (no limit at the quiet end, 62). 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.
Pets
Many dogs and cats are frightened by vacuum cleaners. Running it in another room first, at a distance, and keeping sessions short can help.
Protecting your hearing
Short sessions are unlikely to harm hearing, but NIOSH treats 85 dBA as the level to take precautions. If you vacuum for long periods or have a loud model, foam earplugs work; when buying, compare sound power ratings, as lower is quieter.
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).
- Cinema (61–84 dBA): this has about 2.2× its sound energy and sounds about 1.3× as loud.
- City street traffic (73.4 dBA): this has about 1.8× its sound energy and sounds about 1.2× as loud.
- Lorry (heavy truck) (76–82 dBA max): it has about 2× the sound energy of this and sounds about 1.2× as loud.
- Air compressor (78–81 dBA max): 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 22× its energy and sounds about 2.5× as loud.
Questions
Can a vacuum cleaner damage your hearing?
Occasional use is unlikely to. NIOSH lists vacuums among equipment that can reach around 85 to 90 dBA, and recommends limiting exposure above 85 dBA averaged over 8 hours.
What does the dB on a vacuum box mean?
In the EU and UK it is usually sound power in dB(A), capped at 80 dB(A) by ecodesign rules. It describes the machine's total output, not the level at your ear.
Sources
- Decibel Hell: The Effects of Living in a Noisy World, Environmental Health Perspectives (NIEHS). Supports: dB_low: 62 dBA; 85 dBA.
Vacuum cleaner 62–85
Checked 2026-11-02. - About Noise and Hearing Loss Prevention, NIOSH / CDC. Supports: dB_high: 90 dBA (list includes vacuums).
Equipment that can produce noise levels around 85-90 dBA include:
Checked 2026-11-02. - About Noise and Hearing Loss Prevention, NIOSH / CDC. Supports: vacuums named in the 85 to 90 dBA list.
Vacuums
Checked 2026-11-02. - Commission Regulation (EU) No 666/2013, Annex I: Ecodesign requirements, legislation.gov.uk (UK-retained EU law). Supports: 80 dB(A) sound power cap (context, not at-ear level).
sound power level shall be less than or equal to 80 dB(A),
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.