How loud is a air compressor?
A pump that stores compressed air in a tank to drive nailers, wrenches and spray equipment.
Manufacturer declarations; oil-lubricated and rotary-screw units are much quieter than oil-free direct-drive ones.
How that compares
Air compressor against things of a similar loudness.
How long you can safely listen
Safe for a full day, though prolonged exposure is tiring.
Decibels are logarithmic, which makes the intuitive arithmetic wrong in a way worth knowing: every 10 dB is ten times the sound energy, and two identical sources together are 3 dB louder than one — not double. So two 70 dB fans are 73 dB, not 140 dB.
Levels are measured at roughly one metre unless stated otherwise. Sound falls off with distance — about 6 dB per doubling — so the same appliance is noticeably quieter across a room than beside your ear.
More about an air compressor
- How much does a air compressor weigh? 12–170 kg
- How much does a air compressor cost? 100–1,800 $
- Air compressor vs Jackhammer Side by side
- Air compressor vs Lawn mower Side by side
Common questions
- How loud is an air compressor?
- An air compressor reaches 60–92 dB. Manufacturer declarations; oil-lubricated and rotary-screw units are much quieter than oil-free direct-drive ones.
Related pages
- How much does a air compressor weigh? 12–170 kg
- How much does a air compressor cost? 100–1,800 $
- How loud is a lawn mower? 80–85 dB
- How loud is a chainsaw? 100–115 dB
- How loud is a generator? 52–82 dB
- How loud is a leaf blower? 65–92 dB
- How loud is a pressure washer? 75–95 dB
- How loud is a jackhammer? 95–115 dB
- Air compressor vs Jackhammer Side by side
- Air compressor vs Lawn mower Side by side
Sources
- Typical range compiled from manufacturer specifications — At One Place
- What Noises Cause Hearing Loss? — Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Public domain (US Government))
- Occupational Noise Exposure — Occupational Safety and Health Administration (Public domain (US Government))