How Loud It? What Did You Say?
A common question is, “How loud is that vacuum?”
A common answer usually includes fancy words like decibels, or poor explanations that are not very descriptive. We hoped to improve on this by providing a “loudness infographic” and we’re going to shout it loud from the rooftops. Of course, if you’re using a nail gun on your roof, you may not hear us.
What is a Decibel?
Typically we rate a how loud something is with a decibel. A decibel, abbreviated as “dB,” is a unit of measure that rates the intensity of a sound, or the power level of an electrical signal by comparing it with a given level on a logarithmic scale. In other words; How loud something isis measured with decibels . It is important for us to be as accurate as we can when reporting this information so that the customer has an accurate understanding, but let’s face it not everyone can put the number in context to understand how loud the sound is.
WORKSHOP Wet/Dry Vacuums has collected a number of familiar events or situations. We then rated how much noise that process makes. The nuances found here add to the complication of accurate reporting. We used reported averages, but there is a great deal we do not know about this data. We don’t know how far away the reporter was when they measured laughing, or how many people were averaged together. After all, around here some of us are louder than others 🙂 Therefore, this infographic is for general reference only.
Most powered equipment makes some noise, and power tools of any kind are no exception. It is always advisable to wear hearing protection when using power tools. Especially, when using them for an extended period of time, or in a noisy environment. We recommend the same for vacuums. How loud the tool is will depending on the tool, the brand, and model. The owner’s manual may provide suggested courses of action. Additionally, manuals often supply a better idea of the safety equipment needed when using. For example, some tools may require goggles in addition to hearing protection.
Decibel Graphic
Our chart displays the lowest end as a moving stream, rated at 40 decibel (dB), and this is followed by a quiet office that starts at about 50 dB. WORKSHOP products start at 59.7 dB. This is our Air Mover. Even at the highest setting it is only 65.2 dB and is quiet enough that you can carry a discussion with friends or coworkers while standing next to it running. Impressive. Most single stage vacuums are 79 dB or more, but we have a few that are quieter at 77-78 dB.
We suggest wet shop vacuums at the lower end of the decibel range for those that have a large concern about noise levels. For WORKSHOP that is the WS1400CA and WS1600SS or the portable blower vacuum WS0400DE. Another option is using a 2-stage vacuum, but this could increase your costs.
We hope this infographic can help provide some guidance in making an informed decision. Sound off, and make it loud…Let us hear your thoughts!!

Sound Infographic Chart in Decibels
Learn more about WORKSHOP vacuums…
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