At One Place

How loud is a air conditioner?

Typical loudness
50–70 dB

A refrigeration circuit that moves heat out of a room, in a window box, a split system or ducted central plant.

CDC groups an air conditioner with normal conversation at about 60 dB.

How that compares

Air conditioner against things of a similar loudness.

Air compressor 60–92 dB
Vacuum cleaner 62–85 dB
Washing machine 70 dB
Generator 52–82 dB
Air conditioner 50–70 dB
Dehumidifier 42–58 dB
Dishwasher 38–62 dB
Air purifier 24–60 dB

How long you can safely listen

No exposure limit — this is below the level that damages hearing.

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 conditioner

Common questions

How loud is an air conditioner?
An air conditioner reaches 50–70 dB. CDC groups an air conditioner with normal conversation at about 60 dB.

Related pages

Sources

  1. What Noises Cause Hearing Loss? — Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Public domain (US Government))
  2. Occupational Noise Exposure — Occupational Safety and Health Administration (Public domain (US Government))

How these figures are compiled and checked