How loud is a chainsaw?
Typical loudness
100–115 dB
A hand-held saw with a cutting chain driven around a guide bar.
At the operator ear position, compiled from manufacturer declarations. Hearing protection is mandatory at these levels within minutes.
How that compares
Chainsaw against things of a similar loudness.
Fire truck 110–129 dB
Ambulance 110–129 dB
Chainsaw 100–115 dB
Drum kit 95–115 dB
Jackhammer 95–115 dB
Church bell 90–120 dB
Motorcycle 80–110 dB
Blender 80–95 dB
How long you can safely listen
About 2 minutes a day before damage risk begins.
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 a chainsaw
- How much does a chainsaw weigh? 3–10 kg
- How much does a chainsaw cost? 120–1,500 $
- Chainsaw vs Leaf blower Side by side
- Chainsaw vs Toolbox Side by side
Common questions
- How loud is a chainsaw?
- A chainsaw reaches 100–115 dB. At the operator ear position, compiled from manufacturer declarations. Hearing protection is mandatory at these levels within minutes.
Related pages
- How much does a chainsaw weigh? 3–10 kg
- How much does a chainsaw cost? 120–1,500 $
- How loud is a lawn mower? 80–85 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
- How loud is a air compressor? 60–92 dB
- Chainsaw vs Leaf blower Side by side
- Chainsaw vs Toolbox 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))