How to Use the Earphone Hearing Damage Risk Calculator
Enter the volume (dB) you listen at through earphones or headphones and your average daily listening time to see the safe listening duration for that volume and the hearing damage risk of your current listening habits.
NIOSH Noise Exposure Standards
The U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) sets 85dB as safe for up to 8 hours a day, with safe time halving for every 3dB increase — 88dB caps at 4 hours, 91dB at 2 hours, and 94dB at 1 hour.
Habits That Protect Your Hearing
Following the "60/60 rule" — volume at 60% of max or lower, listening sessions capped at 60 minutes — helps protect hearing. In loud environments, use noise-canceling earphones instead of raising the volume. If you notice ringing or muffled hearing, lower the volume and take a break immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
This uses the NIOSH (U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) standard. 85dB is safe for up to 8 hours a day, and safe listening time halves for every 3dB increase — so 88dB caps at 4 hours and 91dB at 2 hours.
The commonly recommended '60/60 rule' is to keep volume at 60% of max or lower and limit listening to 60 minutes at a time. In noisy environments, noise-canceling earphones let you hear clearly without cranking up the volume, protecting your hearing.