# How loud is the sound of a standing man urinating into a toilet? Of washing dishes? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 3, 2016, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-loud-is-the-sound-of-a-standing-man-urinating-into-a-toilet-of-washing-dishes/745051 "2016-02-03T12:53:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2016, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-loud-is-the-sound-of-a-standing-man-urinating-into-a-toilet-of-washing-dishes/745051/1 "2016-02-03T12:53:54Z")
See subject. Just the water in water/sink. In decibels. I want to compare it with the decibel level of a normal conversation, which I’m pretty sure I can easily look up. Because it drives me crazy when one drowns out the other. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2016, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-loud-is-the-sound-of-a-standing-man-urinating-into-a-toilet-of-washing-dishes/745051/2 "2016-02-03T13:52:00Z")
Peeing? Depends whether I’m directing a gentle tangent impact with the side of the bowl, or aiming straight down and tensing up so as to bore a hole in the water. My guess is that typical into-the-water peeing for a standing man is somewhere around 65 dB (normal conversation is 60-65 dB). Note that decibel-meter apps are available for your smartphone. For absolute readings they aren’t terribly useful unless you calibrate your particular phone against a known standard, but for comparative readings (which is what you’re most interested in), this would do. ---
**Author:** ![watchwolf49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9c0ed/32.png) [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2016, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-loud-is-the-sound-of-a-standing-man-urinating-into-a-toilet-of-washing-dishes/745051/3 "2016-02-03T14:44:37Z")
You can put the seat down and pee on that if you’re trying to have a conversation. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2016, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-loud-is-the-sound-of-a-standing-man-urinating-into-a-toilet-of-washing-dishes/745051/4 "2016-02-03T15:05:48Z")
> [@watchwolf49](#): > > You can put the seat down and pee on that if you’re trying to have a conversation. If you’re trying to have a conversation with someone while peeing on their toilet seat, the conversation isn’t going to be any easier. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2016, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-loud-is-the-sound-of-a-standing-man-urinating-into-a-toilet-of-washing-dishes/745051/5 "2016-02-03T15:10:10Z")
I read it as the man peeing in the sink…🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2016, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-loud-is-the-sound-of-a-standing-man-urinating-into-a-toilet-of-washing-dishes/745051/6 "2016-02-03T15:13:07Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > If you’re trying to have a conversation with someone while peeing on their toilet seat, the conversation isn’t going to be any easier. I suspect the conversation will get significantly louder. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2016, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-loud-is-the-sound-of-a-standing-man-urinating-into-a-toilet-of-washing-dishes/745051/7 "2016-02-03T16:32:10Z")
When I pee while I’m on the phone, I switch it off speaker-phone. That usually solves the problem. ---
**Author:** ![BaconLover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecae2f/32.png) [@BaconLover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BaconLover)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2016, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-loud-is-the-sound-of-a-standing-man-urinating-into-a-toilet-of-washing-dishes/745051/8 "2016-02-03T23:32:06Z")
The sound of a man urinating depends on if he is wetting his pants, urinating into a toilet/urinal, or if he is just miming it with a hose. Also, when does a man wash dishes? ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2016, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-loud-is-the-sound-of-a-standing-man-urinating-into-a-toilet-of-washing-dishes/745051/9 "2016-02-03T23:57:10Z")
> [@BaconLover](#): > > Also, when does a man wash dishes? Judging by the last line of the OP, at the same time he’s going to the bathroom. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2016, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-loud-is-the-sound-of-a-standing-man-urinating-into-a-toilet-of-washing-dishes/745051/10 "2016-02-04T00:13:16Z")
Just FYI, if you own a smart phone search for a free decibel meter. They use the mic on the phone to measure. It’s not going to be 100% accurate but it will give you an idea. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2016, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-loud-is-the-sound-of-a-standing-man-urinating-into-a-toilet-of-washing-dishes/745051/11 "2016-02-04T01:29:02Z")
Depends on the size if his prostate. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2016, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-loud-is-the-sound-of-a-standing-man-urinating-into-a-toilet-of-washing-dishes/745051/12 "2016-02-04T01:38:26Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > Just FYI, if you own a smart phone search for a free decibel meter. They use the mic on the phone to measure. It’s not going to be 100% accurate but it will give you an idea. Personally, I wouldn’t hold my phone next to the toilet while peeing. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Kimble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kimble/32/19185_2.png) [@Kimble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimble)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2016, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-loud-is-the-sound-of-a-standing-man-urinating-into-a-toilet-of-washing-dishes/745051/13 "2016-02-04T02:20:42Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > Just FYI, if you own a smart phone search for a free decibel meter. They use the mic on the phone to measure. It’s not going to be 100% accurate but it will give you an idea. I had one already installed and really had to go to the bathroom when I opened this thread. So… With the phone sitting on my counter, about 1 meter away from the toilet water, my phone read about 80 dB. :o ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2016, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-loud-is-the-sound-of-a-standing-man-urinating-into-a-toilet-of-washing-dishes/745051/14 "2016-02-04T02:40:20Z")
I find it odd how close Machine Elf was. I mean, I know it’s not a linear scale and off by an order of magnitude, but I couldn’t have told you if liquid falling a few feet and landing in more liquid was 15 or 100db, it’s just not something in my brain. You want to know how many apples\* are in a box or what’s probably wrong with your fridge, I can do that, but dB, not a clue. I mean it was close like you guessing that there’s a 1500 apples in a box when it’s actually 100, so maybe it’s not that close. But still, I wouldn’t have had the foggiest idea. ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2016, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-loud-is-the-sound-of-a-standing-man-urinating-into-a-toilet-of-washing-dishes/745051/15 "2016-02-04T02:59:07Z")
> [@Kimble](#): > > I had one already installed and really had to go to the bathroom when I opened this thread. So… > > With the phone sitting on my counter, about 1 meter away from the toilet water, my phone read about 80 dB. :o _checks this off to-do list_ ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2016, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-loud-is-the-sound-of-a-standing-man-urinating-into-a-toilet-of-washing-dishes/745051/16 "2016-02-04T03:55:30Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > I find it odd how close Machine Elf was. I mean, I know it’s not a linear scale and off by an order of magnitude, but I couldn’t have told you if liquid falling a few feet and landing in more liquid was 15 or 100db, it’s just not something in my brain. You want to know how many apples\* are in a box or what’s probably wrong with your fridge, I can do that, but dB, not a clue. > > I mean it was close like you guessing that there’s a 1500 apples in a box when it’s actually 100, so maybe it’s not that close. But still, I wouldn’t have had the foggiest idea. I have some experience measuring sound, so I have a rough idea of the decibel levels of various sounds. > [@Kimb](#): > > e]With the phone sitting on my counter, about 1 meter away from the toilet water, my phone read about 80 dB. That seems suspiciously high. The compressor out in my garage is 81 dB at 3 meters. Have you checked your phone-app meter against an actual calibrated SPL meter? I have a real SPL meter, but someone’s borrowing it right now. I’ll take a measurement with it this weekend and let you know what I get. ---
**Author:** ![Kimble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kimble/32/19185_2.png) [@Kimble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimble)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2016, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-loud-is-the-sound-of-a-standing-man-urinating-into-a-toilet-of-washing-dishes/745051/17 "2016-02-04T04:14:21Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > That seems suspiciously high. The compressor out in my garage is 81 dB at 3 meters. Have you checked your phone-app meter against an actual calibrated SPL meter? I haven’t. I don’t think I have any good way to calibrate it, either. I re-estimated the distance from the water to the phone – it’s probably more like 75 cm. The name of the app is “Decibel 10th”; it’s running on an iPhone 6. It registers 45-50 dB in my bedroom with the HVAC off and about 70-75 when I’m talking in my normal voice from about a meter away. (I speak very softly.) Snapping my fingers from about 20 cm away hits about 80 dB. ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2016, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-loud-is-the-sound-of-a-standing-man-urinating-into-a-toilet-of-washing-dishes/745051/18 "2016-02-04T04:33:02Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > I have some experience measuring sound, so I have a rough idea of the decibel levels of various sounds. > > That seems suspiciously high. The compressor out in my garage is 81 dB at 3 meters. Have you checked your phone-app meter against an actual calibrated SPL meter? > > I have a real SPL meter, but someone’s borrowing it right now. I’ll take a measurement with it this weekend and let you know what I get. Maybe a bit high, but not absurdly so. 81db at 3 meters come out to about 87 at a quarter the distance (70ish cm). So 80db in an echo-y bathroom seems almost plausible for splashy splashy. I’m just using real quick rule of thumb calculations tho. If someone wants to do real math, go ahead. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2016, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-loud-is-the-sound-of-a-standing-man-urinating-into-a-toilet-of-washing-dishes/745051/19 "2016-02-04T12:53:54Z")
> [@Kimble](#): > > The name of the app is “Decibel 10th”; it’s running on an iPhone 6. It registers 45-50 dB in my bedroom with the HVAC off and about 70-75 when I’m talking in my normal voice from about a meter away. (I speak very softly.) Snapping my fingers from about 20 cm away hits about 80 dB. Most decibel example charts ([here’s](http://www.gcaudio.com/resources/howtos/loudness.html) [a](http://www.hearnet.com/at_risk/risk_trivia.shtml) [few](http://www.industrialnoisecontrol.com/comparative-noise-examples.htm) )claim “normal conversation” to be about 60-65 dB, so a reading of 70-75 dB for a soft-speaking person seems a good bit higher than we ought to expect.