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How loud is rain?

50dBAoutdoors (distance not stated)

Moderate rain is about 50 dBA, according to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association's noise chart, which places it between a quiet room (40 dBA) and typical conversation (60 dBA). That is the bottom of the 50 to 60 dBA range the US National Park Service gives for a typical suburban area.

Level
50 dBAA-weighted sound level
Daily limit
No daily limitNIOSH, at the loud end
Versus conversation
1/18 energyabout 2.4× quieter

What the numbers mean

How it was measured. Moderate rainfall, from ASHA's chart of average levels for common sounds. The chart gives no distance, surface or measurement method; what the rain lands on changes how loud it sounds.

The sound of rain is the sum of a great many drops striking leaves, ground, water and roofs. ASHA's noise chart, which draws on the Noise Navigator database and Dangerous Decibels, lists moderate rainfall at 50 dBA and places that whole part of the scale in its band of sounds that are safe for any amount of listening.

The chart gives one number for “moderate rainfall” with no distance or surface, so treat it as a typical level rather than a measurement of your storm. Drizzle on a lawn is quieter; a downpour on a metal roof, a skylight or a car roof can be much louder close up.

At around 50 dBA steady rain sits well below any level that harms hearing, which is part of why recordings of it are so popular for sleep and concentration.

Is it safe?

Below 85 dBA, the level NIOSH allows for a full 8-hour day. At this level, sound is not a hearing risk however long it lasts, though it can still disturb sleep or concentration.

Protecting your hearing

No hearing protection is needed. Rain is far below the 85 dBA level used for workplace limits.

Earplug and earmuff ratings (NRR in the US, SNR in the UK and EU) are lab figures; real-world protection is usually lower. How to read the ratings.

Compared with sounds nearby

Using midpoints of each range. Energy multiplies by 10 every 10 dB; perceived loudness roughly doubles (why).

  • Private office (32–34.8 dBA): this has about 46× its sound energy and sounds about 3.2× as loud.
  • Refrigerator (40–43 dBA): this has about 7.1× its sound energy and sounds about 1.8× as loud.
  • Snoring (45–61.7 dBA max): it has about 2.2× the sound energy of this and sounds about 1.3× as loud.
  • Electric fan (38–70 dBA): it has about 2.5× the sound energy of this and sounds about 1.3× as loud.
  • Normal conversation (55–70 dBA): conversation has about 18× the energy of this.

Questions

How many decibels is rain?

Moderate rain is about 50 dBA on ASHA's noise chart, between a quiet room (40 dBA) and typical conversation (60 dBA).

Is rain louder than a whisper?

Yes. ASHA puts a whisper at 30 dBA and moderate rain at 50 dBA: 20 dB more, which is 100 times the sound energy.

Sources

  1. Loud Noise Dangers (noise chart), asha.org public information page (credited to the Communication Health Support Association). Supports: dB_low/dB_high: 50 dBA.50 dBA = moderate rainfallChecked 2026-11-04.
  2. Loud Noise Dangers (noise chart), asha.org public information page (credited to the Communication Health Support Association). Supports: ASHA's band for 50 to 70 dBA.Moderate—Safe listening for any amount of timeChecked 2026-11-04.
  3. Loud Noise Dangers (noise chart), asha.org public information page (credited to the Communication Health Support Association). Supports: quiet room comparison: 40 dBA.40 dBA = quiet roomChecked 2026-11-04.
  4. Loud Noise Dangers (noise chart), asha.org public information page (credited to the Communication Health Support Association). Supports: whisper comparison: 30 dBA.30 dBA = whisperChecked 2026-11-04.
  5. Understanding Sound, US National Park Service. Supports: suburban comparison.While the din of a typical suburban area fluctuates between 50 and 60 dBAChecked 2026-11-04.

This page is general information, not medical advice. If you have ringing in your ears, muffled hearing or any change in your hearing, see an audiologist or your doctor.