NoiseLevelDB
Home › Sound levels › An office

How loud is an office?

An office is typically around 55 dB — comparable to a mechanical keyboard. That falls in the “moderate” band, safe for unlimited exposure.
0 dB3570105140 dB
Typical level
55 dB
Category
Moderate
Vs conversation
1.4× quieter
Safe limit
Unlimited

People search “how loud is an office?” for two reasons: curiosity about the number, and a practical worry about whether it is doing damage. Here is both — the typical level, what it feels like next to sounds you know, and what to do about it.

What 55 dB actually feels like

55 dB is everyday-life loud: conversation, appliances and general activity all live in this band. It is completely safe for your hearing no matter how long it lasts, but sustained noise here is well documented to affect sleep, concentration and stress, which is why many residential noise ordinances draw their daytime line somewhere between 55 and 65 dB. In the specific case of an office, the figure depends a lot on distance and the exact source: measured close up it can be several decibels higher, and across a room several decibels lower. Treat 55 dB as a representative, real-world value rather than a fixed constant.

Noise-cancelling headphones

Active noise cancellation (ANC) cuts steady low-frequency noise — planes, trains, HVAC hum — by 20–30 dB, letting you listen at safer volumes.

Over-ear ANC (premium)Best cancellation for travel & officesLink coming soon
Wireless ANC earbudsPocketable, great for commutingLink coming soon
Budget ANC over-earSolid cancellation under $100Link coming soon

As an affiliate we may earn from qualifying purchases. This never changes our data or recommendations.

Is an office dangerous?

At 55 dB, an office is safe for your hearing. It sits below the 85 dBA action level, so there is no cumulative hearing risk — although loud, sustained everyday noise can still affect sleep and concentration.

An office vs other everyday sounds

SoundLevelCompared to an office
A mechanical keyboard55 dBabout the same
A dishwasher50 dB5 dB quieter
A normal conversation60 dB5 dB louder
An air conditioner60 dB5 dB louder
Rainfall50 dB5 dB quieter
Snoring60 dB5 dB louder

How to reduce it

Soft furnishings, sealed door gaps and a little extra distance all help. Because 55 dB is not a hearing hazard, the goal is comfort — reducing reflections and background hum rather than blocking dangerous peaks. See our soundproofing guide for what actually works.

Frequently asked questions

How many decibels is an office?
An office is typically about 55 dB, though the exact figure varies with distance, model and conditions. That places it in the “moderate” band of the decibel scale.
Is an office bad for your hearing?
At about 55 dB, an office is below the 85 dBA action level, so it will not damage hearing at any duration.
How does an office compare to normal conversation?
Normal conversation is about 60 dB. At 55 dB, an office is perceived as roughly 0.71× as quiet and carries about 3.2× less sound energy.
How can I make an office quieter?
Move further away, add soft furnishings to cut reflections, and seal gaps around doors — distance and mass are the two things that reliably help.

Similar sound levels

Explore by number

♥ Found this useful?

NoiseLevelDB is free, fast and independent. If it answered your question, you can support it with a small crypto tip — it keeps the data current.

Support the project →
Sources & accuracy. Reference levels are drawn from published data by NIOSH, OSHA, the CDC, the WHO Environmental Noise Guidelines and the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). Real-world readings vary with distance, room acoustics and the specific source, so treat every figure as a typical value rather than an exact constant. Last reviewed 2026-08-11.