Kids' Headphones: How Many dB is Safe?

What every parent should know about hearing safety
Decibel (dB) is a way to measure sound. The higher the number, the louder the sound. But here's something important: the decibel system isn't linear, but exponential. This means that 100 dB isn't "a little louder" than 90 dB—it's ten times more intense for the ear.

This is especially important for children. Their hearing is more sensitive and still developing.

Why children's ears are extra vulnerable

A child's head is smaller. The ear canal is shorter. And the cilia in the inner ear are finer and more fragile than those of adults. Children therefore need less to sustain permanent hearing damage, and unfortunately, that damage is often only noticeable years later.

And while you think your child is just listening to music, the sound pressure can already be far too high, especially if they use earbuds that go deep into the ear.

How hard is too hard?

According to the World Health Organization and the European Union, the safe limit for prolonged listening is 85 decibels .

But here's the tricky part:

• Many earbuds (such as standard Apple EarPods or other in-ears) go up to 105 dB

• At maximum volume of 100 dB, you can suffer hearing damage after just 15 minutes

• At 85 dB, the safe listening time is a maximum of 8 hours per day

👉 Anything above 85 dB accelerates hearing damage, especially in children.
And no, Apple doesn't actually block this volume. Their volume limit is adjustable through software, but not active by default , and the fine print (the terms and conditions) states that they are not liable for hearing damage . This is true for almost all major brands.

How do you know if headphones are safe?

Most headphones don't readily indicate how many dB they produce. That's why it's important to consciously choose children's headphones with a volume limiter .

NB:

• Look for a model with a guaranteed limiting of 85 - 93 dB

• Avoid standard earplugs for children under 14

• Do not use headphones with 'boost' or 'bass mode', as these often increase the volume unnoticed

• If your child is listening on a tablet, adjust the settings there as well

🎯 Practical checklist for parents

✅ Always choose headphones with a built-in volume limit of 85 to 93 dB
✅ Choose over-ear or on-ear models, not normal in-ear earbuds
✅ Actively use the volume limit on the iPad or phone (for example in 'Limit Volume' under Settings > Music on iOS)
✅ Do not let children listen for more than 60 minutes at a time
✅ Check the volume yourself occasionally
✅ Encourage 'silent breaks' or choose models with passive noise cancelling , so the volume doesn't have to be turned up

📊 How many dB is still safe and for how long?

(Source: WHO/EU safety guidelines)

Finally: listening is allowed, but it must be done consciously

Music, videos and podcasts can provide children with enormous amounts of fun and relaxation.

Give their ears the peace, safety and protection they deserve, so they can continue to enjoy sound for the rest of their lives.

Want to see which children's headphones are really safe?
Check out our volume limiter collection 👇