Noise levels explained

For many people, noise is the deciding factor. If you live with family, flatmates or neighbours on the other side of a thin wall, knowing your toy will stay discreet can make the difference between feeling relaxed and feeling self-conscious. This guide explains what noise figures mean and how to choose a toy that keeps things private.

What do decibels mean?

Noise is measured in decibels (dB). The scale is logarithmic, which means a small change in the number makes a noticeable difference to how loud something sounds. Roughly every 10 dB increase sounds about twice as loud to the human ear.

To give a sense of scale, here are some everyday comparisons:

Where our suppliers rate the noise, our toys come in at 50 dB or less: quieter than a normal conversation, and in most homes very hard to hear through a closed door.

How quiet are our quietest toys?

The Bijou Classic Bullet is a slim, featherlight classic that stays your secret. The Duet Dual Massage Wand is fully waterproof (IPX7) as well as quiet, which is handy because water muffles sound even further. These figures are supplier ratings.

What makes a vibrator quieter?

Several things affect noise:

• Motor size and speed. Smaller motors are often quieter, although larger, well-designed motors can be surprisingly hushed at lower settings.
• Intensity setting. Every toy is quieter on low than on high. Our figures are measured at a medium setting.
• Build quality. A well-sealed body with a soft silicone outer layer absorbs vibration that would otherwise rattle.
• Waterproofing. Fully sealed toys tend to be quieter, because there are fewer gaps for sound to escape.

How can you keep things quiet?

Even the quietest toy can be made quieter with a few small habits:

• Use lower settings. The difference between low and high can be several decibels.
• Soften the surface. Using a toy under a duvet or a blanket muffles sound considerably.
• Add background sound. Music, a podcast or a fan masks a soft hum completely.
• Avoid hard surfaces. A toy resting on a bedside table can rattle. A cushion or soft cloth stops this.
• Try the bath. Water absorbs sound beautifully, so a fully waterproof toy is very discreet. See waterproof ratings explained.

Noise and power: finding the balance

Stronger motors can be a little louder, so there is sometimes a trade-off. Even our dual-motor Duet Dual Massage Wand is supplier-rated at under 50 dB, which is still quieter than a normal conversation. If you want both power and quiet, look for a toy described as "quiet" with a deep, rumbly motor, as these tend to feel strong without a high-pitched buzz. See power and speeds for more.

Discretion beyond the bedroom

Noise is only one part of privacy. A travel lock stops a toy switching on in a bag, which matters if you travel or share a space. And when it comes to buying, every order arrives in plain, unbranded packaging with no product names on the label, and your bank statement shows only "BH Commerce Ltd". Our guide to discreet packaging explains how it works.

How do you choose a quiet vibrator?

• Share a home or have thin walls? Choose a toy at or under about 40 dB.
• Want the quietest possible? Compare the dB figures on each product page; ours are rated at around 50 dB or less where the supplier states one.
• Want quiet and power? Look for a rumbly motor and use lower settings.

Every product page lists its noise level, and our compare tool shows them side by side. If you are new to toys, choosing your first vibrator has more on balancing noise with everything else.