How loud is a leaf blower?
A powered fan that moves debris with a high-speed air stream, handheld or backpack-mounted.
CDC lists gas-powered leaf blowers at 80-85 dB at the operator. Electric models are quieter; measurements at 15 m are much lower again.
How that compares
Leaf blower 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 a leaf blower
- How much does a leaf blower weigh? 2.2–12 kg
- How much does a leaf blower cost? 60–700 $
- Leaf blower vs Chainsaw Side by side
Common questions
- How loud is a leaf blower?
- A leaf blower reaches 65–92 dB. CDC lists gas-powered leaf blowers at 80-85 dB at the operator. Electric models are quieter; measurements at 15 m are much lower again.
Related pages
- How much does a leaf blower weigh? 2.2–12 kg
- How much does a leaf blower cost? 60–700 $
- 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 pressure washer? 75–95 dB
- How loud is a jackhammer? 95–115 dB
- How loud is a air compressor? 60–92 dB
- Leaf blower vs Chainsaw Side by side
Sources
- 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))