Listen to a whisper
How loud is a whisper?
A whisper is about 30 dB, with a typical range of 25–35 dB. A soft whisper at about 1.5 m (5 ft).
That is quieter than normal conversation (60 dB).
Can it damage your hearing?
No – 30 dB is well below the 85 dBA level at which prolonged exposure starts to risk hearing damage.
How sound level changes with distance
Decibel figures always depend on distance. For a small source in open air, every doubling of distance lowers the level by about 6 dB; indoors, reflections reduce that drop. Use the sound-vs-distance calculator to estimate the level where you are.
Sounds as loud as a whisper
A gentle breeze moving through foliage.20 dBTicking watch
Held about arm's length away.25 dBCat purring
Purrs are low (25–150 Hz) and quiet; most are about 25 dB at a short distance.40 dBQuiet library
Background level of a quiet reading room.40 dBRefrigerator hum
Modern fridges are often rated 32–40 dB.
More recordings elsewhere
- Only Whispering by Josh Woodward – CC BY 3.0 (jamendo)
- Creepy Whispering by RaspberryTickle – CC0 1.0 (freesound)
- 20070121.whispering.01.wav by dobroide – CC BY 4.0 (freesound)
- Ghostly Whispering by qubodup – CC BY 4.0 (freesound)
- whisper trail 2.ogg by Black Boe – CC0 1.0 (freesound)
Frequently asked questions
How many decibels is a whisper?
About 30 dB, with a typical range of 25–35 dB.
Is a whisper louder than a jet engine?
No – a jet engine at takeoff is about 140 dB at 30 m, while a whisper is about 30 dB.
How are these levels measured?
With a sound level meter, usually A-weighted (dBA) to match human hearing. Published figures depend on distance and conditions, so treat them as typical values.
Sources & credits
- NIOSH – Noise and Hearing Loss Prevention
- Papercut simple whisper 2 - 100 bpm by The Rubicon Delta – CC BY 3.0
- Thorsten-tts-emotional-whisper by Thorsten Müller – CC0 1.0
- Papercut whisper 100 bpm by The Rubicon Delta – CC BY 3.0