How loud is a pressure washer?
Typical loudness
75–95 dB
A pump that delivers water at high pressure through a narrow nozzle to clean hard surfaces.
At the operator; petrol units are the loud ones. Compiled from manufacturer declarations.
How that compares
Pressure washer against things of a similar loudness.
Motorcycle 80–110 dB
Blender 80–95 dB
Pressure washer 75–95 dB
Hair dryer 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
About 8 hours a day before hearing protection is recommended.
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 pressure washer
- How much does a pressure washer weigh? 8–55 kg
- How much does a pressure washer cost? 100–1,200 $
- Pressure washer vs Lawn mower Side by side
- Pressure washer vs Generator Side by side
- Pressure washer vs Jackhammer Side by side
Common questions
- How loud is a pressure washer?
- A pressure washer reaches 75–95 dB. At the operator; petrol units are the loud ones. Compiled from manufacturer declarations.
Related pages
- How much does a pressure washer weigh? 8–55 kg
- How much does a pressure washer cost? 100–1,200 $
- How loud is a vacuum cleaner? 62–85 dB
- 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 jackhammer? 95–115 dB
- How loud is a air compressor? 60–92 dB
- Pressure washer vs Lawn mower Side by side
- Pressure washer vs Generator Side by side
- Pressure washer vs Jackhammer 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))