How loud is a quiet office?
A quiet office is about 50 dB, with a typical range of 45–55 dB. Typical open office with low conversation.
That is quieter than normal conversation (60 dB).
Can it damage your hearing?
No – 50 dB is well below the 85 dBA level at which prolonged exposure starts to risk hearing damage.
How sound level changes with distance
Decibel figures always depend on distance. For a small source in open air, every doubling of distance lowers the level by about 6 dB; indoors, reflections reduce that drop. Use the sound-vs-distance calculator to estimate the level where you are.
Sounds as loud as a quiet office
Background level of a quiet reading room.40 dBRefrigerator hum
Modern fridges are often rated 32–40 dB.50 dBModerate rainfall
Steady rain heard from outdoors under a roof.50 dBTyping on a keyboard
Mechanical keyboards are louder than laptop keyboards.60 dBAir conditioner
Window unit or indoor split unit at a few metres.60 dBDishwasher
Quiet models are rated 40–45 dB; older ones exceed 60 dB.60 dBNormal conversation
Two people talking at about 1 m.60 dBOcean waves on the shore
Standing on the beach; storm surf is much louder.
More recordings elsewhere
- office ambience by ninovisalli – CC0 1.0 (freesound)
- Office Ambience / Walla by sebearroyo – CC BY 4.0 (freesound)
- Post Office Ambience by akx – CC BY 4.0 (freesound)
- hungarian post office ambience - a busy day by Frigus_XIII – CC0 1.0 (freesound)
- RoomTone EmptyClassRoom 01 SHORT 130626_02.wav by klankbeeld – CC BY 4.0 (freesound)
Frequently asked questions
How many decibels is a quiet office?
About 50 dB, with a typical range of 45–55 dB.
Is a quiet office louder than a jet engine?
No – a jet engine at takeoff is about 140 dB at 30 m, while a quiet office is about 50 dB.
How are these levels measured?
With a sound level meter, usually A-weighted (dBA) to match human hearing. Published figures depend on distance and conditions, so treat them as typical values.