How loud is it inside a tank?
US Army data give steady noise levels of 96 to 117 dBA for the Abrams tank when moving, at crew positions, and 101 to 115 dBA for the Bradley Fighting Vehicle in motion. Crews wear combat vehicle crewman helmets with built-in hearing protectors.
- Level
- 96–117 dBAA-weighted sound level
- Daily limit
- 18 s a dayNIOSH, at the loud end
- Versus conversation
- 25,119× energyabout 21.1× as loud
What the numbers mean
How it was measured. US Army steady-noise data: Abrams tank and derivatives 96 to 117 dBA when moving; Bradley Fighting Vehicle 101 to 115 dBA in motion. Crew wear helmets with integral hearing protectors.
In tracked vehicles the main noise source is the drive train, particularly the track links as they round the sprockets, idlers and wheels, so the level climbs with speed. Passengers in the back of a Bradley rely on their own earplugs, which the Army says are less effective than the crew helmet with active noise reduction, and training exposure time in moving carriers is restricted.
Firing the main gun adds impulse noise on top: the Army notes impulse levels at exterior commander and loader positions can be above or just below the limit of hearing protector effectiveness for training.
How long is safe?
NIOSH recommends no more than 18 s a day at 117 dBA (38 min at 96). OSHA's legal limit is 11 min.
| Level | NIOSH limit (85 dBA, 3 dB rule) | OSHA limit (90 dBA, 5 dB rule) | UK/EU 80 dB(A) action value reached after | UK/EU 85 dB(A) action value reached after |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 96 dBA | 38 min | 3 h 29 min | 12 min | 38 min |
| 117 dBA | 18 s | 11 min | 6 s | 18 s |
Times are for a whole day’s exposure, with the rest of the day quiet. The workplace limits were written for adults at work, not for children. Work out a mixed day with the noise dose calculator.
Protecting your hearing
The Army restricts exposure time in moving vehicles according to the hearing protection worn; helmets with active noise reduction give the most protection.
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).
- Live band in a pub (103–105 dBA): this has about 1.8× its sound energy and sounds about 1.2× as loud.
- Tractor pull (99.7–108.6 dBA): this has about 1.7× its sound energy and sounds about 1.2× as loud.
- MRI scanner (102–115.8 dBA): it has about 1.7× the sound energy of this and sounds about 1.2× as loud.
- Crying baby (99–120 dBA max): it has about 2× the sound energy of this and sounds about 1.2× as loud.
- Normal conversation (55–70 dBA): this has about 25,119× its energy and sounds about 21.1× as loud.
Questions
How loud is an Abrams tank?
96 to 117 dBA steady noise at crew positions when moving, according to US Army data.
Sources
- Noise levels of common Army equipment: steady noise (Table A-1) and impulse noise (Table A-2), US Army hearing conservation programme, Fort Campbell (archived 2013). Supports: dB_low/high: 96-117 dBA.
Steady noise levels range from 96 to 117 dBA when moving.
Checked 2026-11-03. - Noise levels of common Army equipment: steady noise (Table A-1) and impulse noise (Table A-2), US Army hearing conservation programme, Fort Campbell (archived 2013). Supports: body: Bradley 101-115 dBA.
high noise levels (101 to 115 dBA) occur when the vehicle is in motion
Checked 2026-11-03. - Noise levels of common Army equipment: steady noise (Table A-1) and impulse noise (Table A-2), US Army hearing conservation programme, Fort Campbell (archived 2013). Supports: conditions: crew helmets.
The crew wear the CVC helmet which has integral hearing protectors.
Checked 2026-11-03. - Noise levels of common Army equipment: steady noise (Table A-1) and impulse noise (Table A-2), US Army hearing conservation programme, Fort Campbell (archived 2013). Supports: body: noise source.
The major noise source is the drive train, particularly the action of the track links as they round over the sprockets, idlers and wheels.
Checked 2026-11-03.
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.