---
title: "How loud is a lawn mower?"
description: "A lawn mower reaches 80–85 dB. Figures by type, how that compares to other things, and where the number comes from."
url: https://atoneplace.net/loud/lawn-mower/
site: "At One Place"
---

# How loud is a lawn mower?

**Typical loudness: 80–85 dB**

A machine with rotating blades that cuts grass to a set height.

> CDC lists gas-powered lawnmowers and leaf blowers at 80-85 dB, enough to risk hearing damage after about two hours.

## By type

*Lawn mowers vary by type, so a single figure would be misleading.*

| Type | Typical loudness |
| --- | --- |
| robot mower | 52–65 dB |

## How that compares

*Lawn mower against things of a similar loudness.*

- Motorcycle: 80–110 dB
- Blender: 80–95 dB
- Hair dryer: 75–95 dB
- Pressure washer: 75–95 dB
- Lawn mower: 80–85 dB
- Leaf blower: 65–92 dB
- Air compressor: 60–92 dB
- Vacuum cleaner: 62–85 dB

## 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 a lawn mower

- [How much does a lawn mower weigh?](https://atoneplace.net/weight/lawn-mower/) — 12–300 kg
- [How much does a lawn mower cost?](https://atoneplace.net/cost/lawn-mower/) — 150–4,500 $
- [How long does a lawn mower last?](https://atoneplace.net/how-long/lawn-mower/) — 6–15 yr
- [Lawn mower vs Generator](https://atoneplace.net/vs/generator-vs-lawn-mower/) — Side by side
- [Lawn mower vs Pressure washer](https://atoneplace.net/vs/lawn-mower-vs-pressure-washer/) — Side by side
- [Lawn mower vs Air compressor](https://atoneplace.net/vs/air-compressor-vs-lawn-mower/) — Side by side
- [Lawn mower vs Jackhammer](https://atoneplace.net/vs/jackhammer-vs-lawn-mower/) — Side by side

## Common questions

### How loud is a lawn mower?

A lawn mower reaches 80–85 dB. CDC lists gas-powered lawnmowers and leaf blowers at 80-85 dB, enough to risk hearing damage after about two hours.

### Which type of lawn mower is the loudest?

Of the types listed here, robot mower is the largest at 52–65 dB.

## Related pages

- [How much does a lawn mower weigh?](https://atoneplace.net/weight/lawn-mower/)
- [How much does a lawn mower cost?](https://atoneplace.net/cost/lawn-mower/)
- [How long does a lawn mower last?](https://atoneplace.net/how-long/lawn-mower/)
- [How loud is a chainsaw?](https://atoneplace.net/loud/chainsaw/)
- [How loud is a generator?](https://atoneplace.net/loud/generator/)
- [How loud is a leaf blower?](https://atoneplace.net/loud/leaf-blower/)
- [How loud is a pressure washer?](https://atoneplace.net/loud/pressure-washer/)
- [How loud is a jackhammer?](https://atoneplace.net/loud/jackhammer/)
- [How loud is a air compressor?](https://atoneplace.net/loud/air-compressor/)
- [Lawn mower vs Generator](https://atoneplace.net/vs/generator-vs-lawn-mower/)
- [Lawn mower vs Pressure washer](https://atoneplace.net/vs/lawn-mower-vs-pressure-washer/)
- [Lawn mower vs Air compressor](https://atoneplace.net/vs/air-compressor-vs-lawn-mower/)
- [Lawn mower vs Jackhammer](https://atoneplace.net/vs/jackhammer-vs-lawn-mower/)

## Sources

- What Noises Cause Hearing Loss? — Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/hearing_loss/what_noises_cause_hearing_loss.html) [Public domain (US Government)]
- Occupational Noise Exposure — Occupational Safety and Health Administration (https://www.osha.gov/noise) [Public domain (US Government)]
- Typical range compiled from manufacturer specifications — At One Place (/about/)