How loud is a vacuum cleaner?
Typical loudness
62–85 dB
A motor-driven fan that draws dirt through a nozzle into a bag, bin or cyclone.
Manufacturer-declared operating levels at the user position across corded and cordless models.
How that compares
Vacuum cleaner against things of a similar loudness.
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
Washing machine 70 dB
Generator 52–82 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 vacuum cleaner
- How much does a vacuum cleaner weigh? 2.5–11 kg
- How much does a vacuum cleaner cost? 50–900 $
- How long does a vacuum cleaner last? 5–12 yr
- Vacuum cleaner vs Blender Side by side
- Vacuum cleaner vs Air purifier Side by side
- Vacuum cleaner vs Sewing machine Side by side
- Vacuum cleaner vs Microwave oven Side by side
- Vacuum cleaner vs Coffee machine Side by side
- Vacuum cleaner vs Air fryer Side by side
Common questions
- How loud is a vacuum cleaner?
- A vacuum cleaner reaches 62–85 dB. Manufacturer-declared operating levels at the user position across corded and cordless models.
Related pages
- How much does a vacuum cleaner weigh? 2.5–11 kg
- How much does a vacuum cleaner cost? 50–900 $
- How long does a vacuum cleaner last? 5–12 yr
- How loud is a washing machine? 70 dB
- How loud is a air conditioner? 50–70 dB
- How loud is a dishwasher? 38–62 dB
- How loud is a blender? 80–95 dB
- How loud is a hair dryer? 75–95 dB
- How loud is a dehumidifier? 42–58 dB
- How loud is a air purifier? 24–60 dB
- How loud is a pressure washer? 75–95 dB
- Vacuum cleaner vs Blender Side by side
- Vacuum cleaner vs Air purifier Side by side
- Vacuum cleaner vs Sewing machine Side by side
- Vacuum cleaner vs Microwave oven Side by side
- Vacuum cleaner vs Coffee machine Side by side
- Vacuum cleaner vs Air fryer 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))