Noise exposure calculator One person’s daily and weekly noise exposure, from each tool or task and the time spent on it.
- Free, no account
- Based on HSE noise guidance L108, 2021
- Nothing is stored
Loading the maker’s figure…
Peak noise, dB(C) optional
Hammering or a nail gun, from a noise survey or the manual.
Hearing protection 87 dB(A) limit
It never lowers the figure against 80 and 85.
Printed on the packaging or data sheet.
Daily exposure
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Add the time for Makita GA9040S.
UK noise exposure limits: 80, 85 and 87 dB(A)
Set by the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 for one person’s day, all noisy tasks together.
| Daily exposure | What the employer must do |
|---|---|
| Under 80 dB(A) | Keep the noise as low as you reasonably can. |
| 80 dB(A) Lower action value, peak 135 dB(C) | Assess the noise risk, offer hearing protection to anyone who asks, and give information and training. |
| 85 dB(A) Upper action value, peak 137 dB(C) | Reduce the noise by other means before relying on hearing protection. Make sure hearing protection is worn, mark the zones, and give hearing checks to those regularly exposed. |
| 87 dB(A) Limit value, peak 140 dB(C) | Must not be exceeded, counting hearing protection. |
| Task noise | SNR |
|---|---|
| 85 to 90 dB(A) | 20 or less |
| 90 to 95 dB(A) | 20 to 30 |
| 95 to 100 dB(A) | 25 to 35 |
| 100 to 105 dB(A) | 30 or more |
How loud are construction tools?
Makers’ declared figures for 8,425 models, by type of tool. Real work is often louder: use a noise survey where you have one.
| Tool | Declared, dB(A) | Reaches 85 after |
|---|---|---|
| Chainsaw 301 models | 100 87 to 106 | 15 min Real work −4 to +11.4 (HSE) |
| Powder or gas fastening tool 10 models | 99 89 to 106 | Depends on the shots fired Often declared per shot |
| Wall chaser 8 models | 97 95 to 98 | 30 min |
| Circular saw 208 models | 95 87 to 101 | 48 min |
| Impact wrench 208 models | 95 87 to 100 | 48 min Real work −5.3 to +7.8 (HSE) |
| Combi or hammer drill 143 models | 94 86 to 100 | 1 hour Real work −6.9 to +2 (HSE) |
| Impact driver 160 models | 94 87 to 98 | 1 hour |
| Rotary hammer 317 models | 93 87 to 97 | 1 h 16 min |
| SDS-max hammer 24 models | 93 89 to 108 | 1 h 25 min |
| Breaker (electric, petrol or battery) 48 models | 92 88 to 100 | 1 h 35 min |
| Demolition or chipping hammer 48 models | 92 85 to 96 | 1 h 35 min |
| Pneumatic chipping hammer 26 models | 92 87 to 98 | 1 h 35 min |
| Floor or road saw 25 models | 91 74 to 102 | 2 hours |
| Mitre, table or chop saw 67 models | 91 88 to 94 | 2 hours |
| Plate compactor 10 models | 91 87 to 93 | 2 hours |
| Brushcutter or strimmer 240 models | 90 77 to 99 | 2 h 31 min |
| Cut-off saw 1,532 models | 90 76 to 100 | 2 h 31 min Real work −1.7 to +11.8 (HSE) |
| Power float or trowel 16 models | 89 83 to 96 | 3 h 6 min |
| Angle grinder 451 models | 89 83 to 94 | 3 h 11 min Real work +6.8 to +22.8 (HSE) |
| Diamond core drill 19 models | 88 80 to 100 | 3 h 49 min |
| Belt sander 46 models | 88 80 to 93 | 4 hours |
| Planer 49 models | 88 81 to 91 | 4 hours |
| Nailer 162 models | 88 81 to 97 | Depends on the shots fired Often declared per shot |
| Reciprocating saw 85 models | 87 78 to 91 | 5 h 2 min Real work +7.3 to +8.8 (HSE) |
| Biscuit or domino joiner 12 models | 86 76 to 89 | 6 h 21 min |
| Router or trimmer 104 models | 86 79 to 95 | 6 h 21 min |
| Jigsaw 124 models | 85 81 to 90 | 8 hours |
| Paddle mixer 21 models | 85 77 to 87 | 8 hours |
| Concrete or surface grinder 22 models | 85 78 to 96 | 8 h 11 min |
| Hedge trimmer 237 models | 84 75 to 97 | 10 h 4 min |
| Stapler 71 models | 84 76 to 93 | Depends on the shots fired Often declared per shot |
| Pole saw or pruner 31 models | 83 79 to 91 | 11 h 33 min |
| Straight grinder 41 models | 83 76 to 86 | 12 h 40 min |
| Water jetting gun 19 models | 83 71 to 89 | 14 h 13 min |
| Portable band saw 26 models | 82 77 to 87 | 15 h 57 min |
| Blower or vacuum 156 models | 82 70 to 95 | 15 h 57 min |
| Hand-guided mower 165 models | 82 78 to 85 | 15 h 57 min |
| Polisher 41 models | 82 70 to 90 | 15 h 57 min |
| Oscillating multi-tool 55 models | 81 76 to 87 | 20 h 5 min |
| Die grinder 69 models | 80 74 to 87 | 24 hours or more |
| Nibbler or shear 85 models | 79 70 to 92 | 24 hours or more |
| Drywall or long-reach sander 8 models | 79 77 to 87 | 24 hours or more |
| Drill driver 472 models | 78 70 to 90 | 24 hours or more |
| Orbital, palm or detail sander 101 models | 78 73 to 86 | 24 hours or more Real work +3 to +17 (HSE) |
| Random-orbit sander 55 models | 77 70 to 85 | 24 hours or more Real work +3 to +17 (HSE) |
| Concrete poker vibrator 21 models | 74 70 to 83 | 24 hours or more |
| Screwdriver or screw gun 182 models | 74 70 to 85 | 24 hours or more |
| Work | dB(A) |
|---|---|
| Carpentry | 92 |
| Formwork | 92 |
| Concrete floor finishing | 85 |
| Concrete worker | 89 |
| Labouring, concrete pour | 97 |
| Labouring, digging or scabbling | 100 |
| Labouring, shovelling hardcore | 94 |
| Labouring, shuttering | 91 |
| Labouring, angle grinding or cutting | 90 to 110 |
| M&E general installation | 89 |
| Reinforcement work | 86 |
Maker’s figure or site measurement? LpA, LwA and K
Search the calculator by make and model to start from that tool’s declared figure. It is a starting point, not a measurement of the job.
- LpA: the one to enter
- The emission sound pressure at the operator’s position, in dB(A), from the maker’s standard test. It is the only declared figure that belongs in the noise level box.
- LwA: sound power
- The total noise the tool gives off. It always reads higher than LpA and is not a level at anyone’s ear, so it never goes in the box.
- K: the test’s uncertainty
- Often 3 dB. A repeat of the maker’s test should read below LpA plus K. It is not an allowance for site work.
- Your own measurement
- A noise survey or dosimeter reading of the actual work beats every declared figure. A declared LpA stands for a level some way from the tool, not at the ear: HSE estimates that moving from 1 m to a typical 0.3 m adds about 10.5 dB.
How to calculate noise exposure
The same sums as HSE’s noise calculators.
- Note each task’s noise level at the worker, in dB(A), and the time spent in it.
- Turn each into points: a day at 85 dB(A) is 100 points, a day at 80 is 32.
- Add up the points, never the decibels. Every 3 dB more doubles the points.
- The total gives the day’s exposure, LEP,d.
| Task | Points |
|---|---|
| 80 dB(A) for 5 hours | 20 |
| 86 dB(A) for 2 hours | 31 |
| 95 dB(A) for 45 min | 94 65% of the day |
| The day 7 h 45 min | 145 points 86.6 dB(A), over the upper action value |
How long can you be exposed to 85, 90 or 100 dB(A)?
On that noise alone, at work in the UK. Any other noise that day uses up the same allowance.
| Noise level | Reaches 80 after | Reaches 85 after |
|---|---|---|
| 85 dB(A) | 2 h 31 min | 8 hours |
| 90 dB(A) | 48 min | 2 h 31 min |
| 95 dB(A) | 15 min | 48 min |
| 100 dB(A) | 4 min | 15 min |
Weekly exposure and days worked per week
The weekly figure, LEP,w, adds up each day’s points and always divides by five, however many days are worked.
- The same day on fewer than five days gives a lower weekly figure; on six or seven, a higher one.
- HSE says a weekly figure is only likely to suit three noisy days or fewer, or one or two days at least 5 dB louder than the rest.
- With similar days, use the daily figure. Consult the workers before relying on a weekly one.
- Peaks are never averaged over the week.
| Days a week | Weekly figure |
|---|---|
| 1 | 78.0 dB(A) |
| 2 | 81.0 dB(A) |
| 3 | 82.8 dB(A) |
| 4 | 84.0 dB(A) |
| 5 | 85.0 dB(A) |
| 6 | 85.8 dB(A) |
| 7 | 86.5 dB(A) |
Questions
How loud is an angle grinder?
Makers declare 83 to 94 dB(A) for most angle grinders, with a median of 89, across 451 models. In HSE’s tests of six grinders cutting and grinding stone and metal, the level at the ear was 6.8 to 22.8 dB(A) above the declared figure, up to about 108 dB(A). At 100 dB(A), 85 is reached in 15 min.
What is the 85 decibel rule?
85 dB(A) is the upper exposure action value: one person’s noise averaged over the working day, not any single moment. At or above it the employer must reduce the noise, make hearing protection compulsory, mark the zones and provide hearing checks.
How long can you be exposed to 90 dB?
At 90 dB(A), 2 h 31 min reaches 85 for the day and 48 min reaches 80, with no other noise that day.
What is the difference between LpA and LwA?
LpA is the sound pressure at the operator’s position, the figure that goes into an exposure calculation. LwA is sound power, the total noise the tool gives off, and reads higher. Never use LwA as the level a worker is exposed to.
Is it a 3 dB or 5 dB rule?
In the UK every 3 dB doubles the noise energy, so the allowed time halves for each 3 dB. The 5 dB rule is the US OSHA method and does not apply in Great Britain.
What SNR do I need for ear defenders?
Enough to bring the level at the ear to between 70 and 80 dB(A). HSE’s rough guide is SNR 20 or less for 85 to 90 dB(A), rising to 30 or more above 100. Too much protection cuts people off from warnings and each other.
Can I use a phone app or a dosimeter reading?
Not a phone app: they can be well out. A dosimeter (dosemeter) reading worn for the work can go straight into the calculator as Pa²h or a % dose, with the time it covered.
Does it work for a six or seven day week?
Yes. Set the days a week, or enter each day. The weekly figure still divides by five, so six or seven similar days give a higher figure than one day, and the daily figure stays the one to act on.
Tool noise levels by make and model
Declared noise for 8,425 models from 49 makes, taken from their own manuals, data sheets and product information, each with the document it came from. The number is how many of that make’s models have one.
- Makita 2,676
- Bosch Professional 774
- HiKOKI 594
- Chicago Pneumatic 456
- DeWalt 411
- Einhell 356
- Husqvarna 346
- STIHL 329
- Metabo 302
- Milwaukee 301
- Ryobi 256
- Dolmar 204
- FEIN 188
- Hilti 171
- SENCO 145
- FLEX 133
- Festool 125
- Evolution 109
- Atlas Copco 105
- ECHO 105
- Bosch DIY 48
- Norton Clipper 43
- Mafell 41
- Trend 30
- Wacker Neuson 28
- STIGA 19
- SPIT 17
- Honda 15
- Efco 13
- Oleo-Mac 13
- Paslode 12
- Rapid 11
- SPE International 9
- BCS 8
- Trelawny 6
- Rotabroach 4
- Black & Decker 3
- Stanley FatMax 3
- Erbauer 2
- Multiquip 2
- Scheppach 2
- Tacwise 2
- WORX 2
- Altrad Belle 1
- EGO 1
- Mac Allister 1
- Stanley Infrastructure 1
- Titan 1
- Tracmaster 1
Every model’s declared noise and vibration, side by side: power tool vibration and noise data.
The makers have not reviewed or endorsed this calculator. Tool missing? Tell us the make and model.
Sources
- Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005
- HSE, L108 Controlling noise at work
- HSE, Hearing protection
- HSE, Noise in construction
- HSE RR1182, declared and in-use noise of hand-held power tools (2022)
- HSE RR1183, chainsaw noise in use (2022)
- HSE RR1116, review of noise emission test methods (2017)
Northern Ireland sets the same values in its 2006 Regulations. Vibration from the same tools: HAVS calculator. HSE has not reviewed or endorsed this calculator.