Hearing & tinnitus
DIY, drills, chainsaws: how to protect your hearing
"It's just for five minutes" — that's often what we tell ourselves before starting a drill or angle grinder without hearing protection. The problem is that many common DIY tools far exceed the sound levels at which repeated exposure becomes risky for hearing — much more than people generally imagine.
Unlike a one-off concert, regular DIY work (whether you're the one doing it or exposed to a neighbor's or nearby construction site's work) is a cumulative exposure over years.
Quick answer
A drill runs around 90-100 dB, a chainsaw can exceed 110 dB: well above the risk threshold for prolonged exposure. Earmuffs protect better than plain earplugs at the highest levels, according to a Cochrane systematic review, but the key is wearing protection consistently, including for short tasks.
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Discover our earplugsWhat the science says
Verbeek J.H. et al., International Journal of Audiology, 2014 (revue Cochrane)
Cochrane systematic review of controlled trials in noise-exposed occupational settings
Well-implemented prevention programs significantly reduce the risk of hearing loss compared with poorly implemented ones. Training in proper earplug insertion reduces actual sound exposure in the short term, and earmuffs prove more effective than earplugs at the highest sound levels.
Limitation: The authors themselves rate the evidence quality as "low to very low": real-world field studies are hard to control perfectly, and the data concern mainly the workplace rather than occasional home DIY.
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Discover our earplugsPractical tips
Sound levels higher than you'd think
Drills and sanders: around 90-100 dB. Angle grinders and chainsaws: can exceed 110 dB. At these levels, a few minutes is enough to exceed recommended exposure thresholds.
Earmuffs or earplugs?
For the loudest tools, earmuffs generally offer better protection and a more consistent fit than earplugs. For extreme noise, both can be combined.
Proper insertion changes everything for earplugs
A poorly inserted earplug loses much of its real effectiveness — take the time to position it correctly rather than pushing it in quickly.
Protect yourself even for a short task
The "it's only five minutes" reflex is exactly what leads to significant cumulative exposure over years of occasional DIY work.
Think of people nearby too
Children or others in the same room during work are exposed to the same noise without necessarily thinking about it — protection suited to their size benefits them too.
Our earplugs
For occasional DIY, our foam earplugs (attenuation up to 32 dB) offer simple, affordable protection. For more frequent use or very loud tools, a reusable silicone model is more practical to keep within reach in the workshop.
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Discover our earplugsFrequently asked questions
Do earmuffs protect better than earplugs?+
At the highest sound levels, generally yes, according to the Cochrane review cited above. For more moderate DIY work, well-inserted earplugs remain effective and more practical day to day.
How much noisy DIY work is risky?+
It depends on the exact sound level of the tool, but from 100 dB (angle grinder, chainsaw), a few minutes without protection is enough to exceed the recommended daily exposure threshold.
Should children present during noisy work also protect themselves?+
Yes, their smaller ear canal and developing hearing justify protection at least equivalent to an adult's, if not more cautious.
Foam or silicone for DIY?+
Foam offers slightly higher attenuation at very low cost, suited to occasional use. Reusable silicone is more practical if you do DIY regularly.
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