Understanding Kitchen Appliance Decibel Ratings

Decibel ratings for kitchen appliances are very important to consider when looking to make an upgrade. All appliances are bound to make some noise, but it should be manageable. In our latest blog, we talk about average decibel levels by appliance, why you should care about decibel levels, and more.

What is a decibel?

A decibel (or dBA) is the unit of measurement that measures volume or sound, just as inches or feet may measure distance. For reference, breathing is about 10 dba which is very audible, conversation in a restaurant is about 60 dba, and a thunderclap is about 120 dba.

There are many reasons why you should care about the decibel levels of your appliances. The first and maybe the most obvious is having loud appliances in the background of your day-to-day life can be very frustrating.

Additionally, if you have children running around the house that take frequent naps, having appliances that are too loud can become a nuisance. In addition to that, if your appliances are loud enough to wake up the kids, they are often probably damaging your eardrums as well. However, it is important to remember that it is impossible for appliances to be completely silent. Most of them may have motors, water running, or more, which are almost unavoidable.

As for the levels that each appliance type should average, we have all of the information. Range hoods are typically what a lot of homeowners are concerned about when it comes to decibel ratings, and this can be tricky.

How Loud Should My Appliances Be?

The more powerful the hood you are wanting to purchase, the louder the decibel rating is going to be, which is normal since it can do more work in your kitchen than a less powerful hood. As for the average, the highest decibel level should not go much higher than 70 dba. A 60” range hood from ZLINE, which is huge, is about 65dba.

For a more average 30” or 36” hood, you should expect something with a lower decibel, otherwise, it can be a bit of a challenge to have a conversation while cooking. It can also depend on the CFM level of the hood. If the hood is around 400 CFM, the decibel levels would be much lower than a hood that has 700 CFM.

Another fantastic option is remote blower range hoods, these can tend to dampen the sound levels. A remote blower range hood is when the blower is located remotely from the hood. In many instances, this can be in the attic or on the roof.

Another appliance that people often worry about when it comes to decibel levels is dishwashers. We recommend looking for a dishwasher with a decibel rating of anywhere from 40-50 DBS. If the dishwasher is around 40 decibels, that is considered to be very quiet and will sound a bit like peaceful rainfall when it’s on. 50 DBS is a bit more of a normal level when it comes to a dishwasher decibel level.