How loud is a violin?
A violin measures about 80 to 90 dB at 3 m but 85 to 105 dB at the player's left ear, according to the UK HSE. Ear-level measurements on orchestral high string players found 82 to 98 dBA, with the left ear 4.6 dB higher than the right.
- Level
- 80–105 dBAA-weighted sound level
- Daily limit
- 4 min 43 s a dayNIOSH, at the loud end
- Versus conversation
- 1,000× energyabout 8.0× as loud
What the numbers mean
How it was measured. HSE representative levels for violin/viola at 3 m (80 to 90 dB) and near the player's left ear (85 to 105 dB); ear-level LAeq for high string players in symphony orchestras.
A violin is not especially loud for an audience, but the player holds it under the chin with the f-holes close to the left ear. HSE lists the violin and viola at 80 to 90 dB at 3 m and 85 to 105 dB near the left ear, with peaks of 116 dB.
In Danish symphony orchestras, high string players were exposed to 82 to 98 dBA and their left ear received 4.6 dB more than the right. A later study of the same orchestras found that the left ear of first violinists had significantly elevated hearing thresholds.
How long is safe?
NIOSH recommends no more than 4 min 43 s a day at 105 dBA (no limit at the quiet end, 80). OSHA's legal limit is 1 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 80 dBA | No limit | No limit | Not reached in 24 h | Not reached in 24 h |
| 105 dBA | 4 min 43 s | 1 h | 1 min 31 s | 4 min 48 s |
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
Violinists can use musician's earplugs (some wear one in the left ear only), practise with a mute, and practise in rooms that are not small and hard-walled.
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).
- Gym fitness class (85.6–93.1 dBA): this has about 2.1× its sound energy and sounds about 1.2× as loud.
- London Underground (80–100 dBA): this has about 1.8× its sound energy and sounds about 1.2× as loud.
- Strimmer (string trimmer) (87.9–101.5 dBA): it has about 1.7× the sound energy of this and sounds about 1.2× as loud.
- Tractor (91.7–100 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 1,000× its energy and sounds about 8.0× as loud.
Questions
Why do violinists lose hearing in the left ear?
The instrument sits next to the left ear. Ear-level measurements found the left ear exposed 4.6 dB more than the right, and first violinists' left ears had elevated thresholds.
How loud is a violin for the audience?
HSE gives 80 to 90 dB at 3 m.
Sources
- Sound advice: Control of noise at work in music and entertainment (HSG260), Health and Safety Executive (UK). Supports: dB_high: 85-105 dB near left ear.
Violin/viola (near left ear) 85–105 116
Checked 2026-11-02. - Sound advice: Control of noise at work in music and entertainment (HSG260), Health and Safety Executive (UK). Supports: dB_low: 80-90 dB at 3 m.
Violin/viola 80–90* 104
Checked 2026-11-02. - Sound exposure of symphony orchestra musicians, Annals of Occupational Hygiene (2011). Supports: 82-98 dBA, left ear +4.6 dB.
High string players were exposed from 82 to 98 dBA and their left ear was exposed 4.6 dB more than the right ear.
Checked 2026-11-02. - Hearing loss in relation to sound exposure of professional symphony orchestra musicians, Ear and Hearing (2014). Supports: first violinists' left ears.
Trumpet players and the left ear of first violinists had significantly elevated hearing thresholds compared with other musicians.
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.