Mowing the lawn can be an incredibly fulfilling activity;
Taking the time to make sure it’s evenly cut, the lines look good, and all the clippings are clear.
Quite the masterpiece, really.
Whether or not you enjoy it, you’re great looking for hearing protection for mowing the lawn. Your ears will thank you!
Not only that, but choose our top pick to enjoy tunes while you ride or push your lawnmower to yard perfection.
Our picks have NRR sufficient for small engine noise (like lawnmowers).
Please read our article below and get the best lawn mowing hearing protection.
Doctear’s Choice: 3M Worktunes
- Use Bluetooth to listen to music from your device.
- Lightweight & Comfortable
- 24 NRR
Choice #2: 3M Muffs
Basic hearing protectors for mowing the lawn, comfortable over-the-ear protection.
Choice #3: 3M Ear Plugs
These ear plugs provide great NRR, the best if you prefer passive ear plugs.
In This Article:
- Ear Protection for Mowing
- The Best Hearing Protection for Lawn Mowing
- 1. Professional Safety Ear Muffs by Decibel Defense
- 2. Husqvarna 531300089 Professional Headband Hearing Protectors
- 3. Howard Leight Impact Sport Electronic Earmuff
- 4. 3M WorkTunes Bluetooth Radio Ear Muffs for Mowing
- 5. Flents Quiet Please Foam Ear Plugs
- 6. Howard Leight Laser Leight Foam Earplugs
- 7. Walker's Silencer Bluetooth Earbuds
- 8. Walker’s AM/FM Radio Muffs - Best Radio Earmuffs
- Other Ear Protection for Mowing & Landscaping:
- Different Types of Hearing Protection For Mowing the Lawn
- What to Look For:
- Do you need to wear hearing protection for the lawn mower?
- How do I protect my hearing while mowing the lawn?
- How much hearing protection do I need for mowing?
- How do you listen to music while mowing the lawn?
- Can a lawnmower cause hearing damage?
- How many decibels (dB) is a lawnmower?
- Are earplugs better than earmuffs?
- Do noise-canceling headphones work with lawnmowers?
- What is the best ear protection for mowing?
- Conclusion
Ear Protection for Mowing
To protect your hearing while using a grass mower, there are two types of hearing protectors to choose from ear muffs and earplugs.
Wearing PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) is incredibly important to ensure your hearing ability in the long term. But first, let’s look at the top 10 options.
Each hearing protection device is available in different shapes and sizes and comes at different price levels. But, of course, you always want to make sure that you purchase the best hearing protection with adequate noise reduction so that your ears will always be protected.
This important safety equipment is one of the best ways to maintain your hearing, no matter the noise level you are exposed to.
When choosing the best ear protection for lawn mowing, what factors do we pay attention to?
NRR
Comfort Level
Extra features
Style
Price
With the plethora of options available for purchasing, choosing hearing protection that offers you the best value for your money can be daunting. So let’s help you with that.
The Best Hearing Protection for Lawn Mowing
This buying guide will look at the various noise-reduction hearing protections you can use when mowing. We have made sure to choose high-quality options so that you can get the most out of your ear muff pair.
Here you’ll see our picks for the top 5 ear protection you can buy and what to consider when deciding. Let’s get started.
With an NRR rating of 37dB, these earmuffs from Decibel Defense are great hearing protection for mowing and protecting your ears while on the mower. In addition, the muffs are ANSI, and CE EN certified, thus guaranteeing that you get the high level of protection promised.
They feature a smooth, padded headband and fabric stitching, making them very comfortable and durable. In addition, the headband is adjustable for different head sizes, and the device is very light.
Decibel Defense offers a “Double-D” money-back guarantee for these earmuffs, making it a risk-free purchase if you decide to get these. In addition, they come at an affordable price and have a very high customer rating from thousands of reviews on Amazon.
So, if you’re looking for comfortable, durable ear muffs with a high NRR rating, the Professional Safety Ear Muffs are a great option to consider for cutting the grass.
These hearing protectors from Husqvarna were designed for lawn mowing and do a great job of keeping you comfortable and protecting your hearing. They’re very comfortable to wear as they come with a flexible, padded headband that you can adjust to fit most people.
They also have a pressure adjustment feature that allows you to adjust the fit until it’s perfect. This way, the ear cup is comfortable on your ears, padded headband is on your head lightly. The earmuffs are lightweight and are manufactured from durable materials.
The Husqvarna 531300089 hearing protectors have an NRR rating of 25dB. While it’s not the highest, it’s fine for average mowing sessions. They also have a high star rating on Amazon, with many buyers praising them for their comfort and high quality.
The Honeywell Impact Sport electronic ear muffs are very popular on Amazon, and for a good reason. Not only do they block out loud noises, but they also feature built-in directional microphones, which enable them to amplify ambient sounds and automatically lower loud sounds to safer levels. In addition, the earmuffs have an NRR rating of 22dB, which will give you a decent noise reduction level.
The Impact Sport features an adjustable headband and a compact folding design like the other options. It also has low-profile ear cups and an audio input jack and cord, enabling them to function as noise-cancelling headphones for mowing when connected to mp3 players.
The noise reduction product comes in different colors and includes two AAA batteries which provide over 350 hours of battery life. While it’s slightly more expensive than the other options on this list, it offers cool features which make it a good option to consider.
If listening to your favorite radio stations while mowing sounds great, this noise reduction hearing protector from 3M is certainly worthy of your consideration, as its standout feature is its AM/FM radio performance.
3M is one of the best brands on the market for noise-reduction headphones. These earmuffs also feature a headphone jack to enjoy music from any source.
The radio headphones for mowing have an NRR rating of 24dB, which shuts out the mower’s noise while allowing you to enjoy your music. In addition, you can use these when you are exposed to a large amount of noise, regardless of what you are doing. They feature voice assist technology which aids with the set-up and tuning of the radio and informs you when the battery is running low.
The 3M WorkTunes earmuffs also perform well in comfort and durability. They feature adjustable headbands, padded ear cups and strong construction. They are also very light despite having batteries. In addition, the product is reasonably priced and offers ear protection with radio capabilities.
The products we’ve reviewed above have all been noise-protection earmuffs. If you prefer earplugs, though, we’ve covered you. A great option to consider is these foam earplugs from Flents.
The Quiet Please earplugs have a noise reduction rating of 29. As they’re made out of foam, they’re very comfortable if worn properly. In addition, they offer decent noise protection to keep your ears safe as you’re doing lawn care or anything else with a high noise level.
The plugs are latex-free and very light. You can purchase them in various sizes and pairs of up to 25. They’re very affordable and can be used for a while before they dry out and need to be replaced. So if you’re looking for a great way to protect your ears while mowing without investing a lot, these earplugs are for you.
This is our favorite in-ear hearing protection; these high-vis foam earplugs from Honeywell are some of the most commonly used protection in industrial environments due to their cost-effectiveness and performance.
They damper all unwanted sounds with a Noise Reduction rating (NRR) of 32 dB. They are cheap, can be re-used multiple times, and you can buy a massive box of them to last you years. The best earplugs you can get are 34 NRR Ear Plugs.
Our recommendation for in-ear hearing protection with Bluetooth connectivity will allow you to listen to music and take phone calls with excellent sound quality while mowing the lawn. They provide adequate ear protection with the noise cancellation feature.
Walker’s Silencer BT 2.0 is an incredible hearing protection device which make for great earplugs for working.
These earmuffs feature an LCD display on the outside of the ear cups. They have AM/FM radio connectivity and AUX input for wired listening. The radio features 8-channel memory, so you can keep track of what frequencies your favourite stations are on.
As an ear protector, they offer protection from noise exposure, with a noise reduction rating of 25dB.
Other Ear Protection for Mowing & Landscaping:
Here are other great options to consider:
Different Types of Hearing Protection For Mowing the Lawn
Having looked at the top 5 hearing protection choices and what makes them great, here’s a breakdown of the two main kinds of hearing protection you can buy.
Bluetooth Ear Protection for Mowing
Earmuffs are a prevalent form of hearing protection. They are basically muffs that cover your ear, just like headphones. Hearing protection earmuffs consist of a headband and cushions or ear cups that cover the ears. The noise-dampening foam in these devices helps block loud sounds from entering the ear canal.
While they’re mainly used for hearing protection, many of these devices also double as wired or wireless headphones. In addition, some of the best ear protection with radio and Bluetooth come equipped with AM/FM radio or Bluetooth connectivity capabilities and allow you to enjoy music while shutting out unwanted sounds.
As you can see, the model above even has an LCD display built into the ear cups.
Foam earmuffs for lawn mowing generally have an NRR of 20+ and are enough protection for the noise rating of a mower.
However, some earmuffs are designed to provide warmth for the ears and are known as thermal earmuffs. Earmuffs that provide hearing protection are called acoustic earmuffs or ear defenders.
Most earmuffs come with adjustable headbands and can reduce noise by up to 30 dB, which is one of the highest NRR ratings available.
While earmuffs are great for ear protection, they also have some disadvantages. They’re much bigger and less portable than earplugs and can be uncomfortable for working in hot environments. They don’t also seal around long hair or eyeglasses. On the plus side, they’re not easy to lose and can be worn by people with minor ear infections.
Ear Plugs for Cutting Grass
Earplugs, like earmuffs, are also very popular and come in various shapes and sizes. They are small devices inserted into the ear canal to block out loud noises and prevent dust, water, or excessive wind from entering.
If you prefer the in-ear style, ear plugs offer plenty of sound reduction and keep you cooler in hot weather than earmuffs.
These plugs are usually much cheaper than earmuffs. There are different types of earplugs, including formable, pre-molded, custom molded and electronic earplugs; read our in-ear electronic hearing protection review.
You can get an in-ear hearing protection device with Bluetooth connectivity and great sound quality with electronic earplugs. One great option is the Walker’s Silencer earbuds.
In-ear Hearing Protection Advantages
Generally, the pros of these devices are their affordability, portability, and the fact that eyeglasses, helmets, earrings, or long hair do not interfere with their usage. Some plugs are also reusable and washable and can be worn for long periods.
On the minus side, earplugs are quite easy to lose and may not fit properly in the ear, except they’re custom molded. They may also not be ideal for people with ear infections. Finally, because of wear and tear and improper fit, 20+ dB earplugs can have reduced effectiveness.
Most earplugs for mowing are 15dB+, which is enough to damper the sounds of a mower to safe levels – either foam or silicone.
Let’s not forget anyone else who may be affected while cutting grass. Read more about protecting your pooch from loud lawnmower noises; find the best earplugs for dogs.
What to Look For:
Many headband hearing protectors are multipurpose and can shut out loud sounds produced in various conditions, such as concerts, shooting ranges, and construction sites. These areas all have a high noise level, which can harm your ear canal and overall hearing.
If you’re looking to choose a great hearing protector from these and other options, what factors should you pay attention to? Look out for the following essential features. Of course, this will depend on the variety of mowing and landscaping jobs you perform and which tools you will need protection.
Noise Reduction Rating (NRR)
The amount of hearing protection that an earmuff or plug provides is indicated by the NRR or noise reduction ratings. Some devices reviewed above feature a very high noise reduction rating, while others aren’t very high.
If you do a lot of lawn mowing, the higher the rating, the better. This is true for any other activity in which you might be exposed to loud noise; it is always important to ensure that you choose the best protection possible and stay away from loud noises. And if you mow alongside or near other workers, you should undoubtedly go for ear protection with a very high NRR rating.
In addition, if you work in another environment exposed to loud noise levels, you should consider investing in a pair of safety earmuffs that offer you the best hearing protection and noise reduction possible.
Check Out: Hearing Protection for Leaf Blowers
Comfort
A major reason for getting hearing protection is to increase your comfort level while working. Thus, an ear protector should be comfortable to wear, or that purpose is defeated.
Whether you choose an earmuff or earplug, ensure it provides maximum comfort. For earmuffs, look for ones with comfortable paddings and headband cushions. If you get a plug, ensure it fits comfortably in your ears and is easy to get in and out.
Durability
If you want to enjoy using your hearing protection for a long time, you should look for a device that won’t break easily. Quality ear muffs made from solid materials and featuring an excellent build are the options to go for.
According to participants in the reviews, all of the items on our list have been praised for their high quality and adequate ear protection.
Other Factors
Another critical factor to consider, of course, is price. While most hearing protectors are pretty affordable, earplugs are a great way to get started if you’re looking for decent protection without a high investment. However, since they dry out after a while and need replacement, an earmuff is the better investment in the long run.
You may want Bluetooth headphones for mowing, so you can listen to the latest podcast without wires getting in your way.
Some people also want noise-reduction headphones with customizable features, such as multiple color choices. Others want something that will get the job done, so this largely depends on personal preference.
It is also important to read customer reviews about the product and ensure it fits you comfortably. For example, portable devices with lightweight designs are also better for lawn mowing.
Some people may prefer brands that offer over-the-head earmuffs, so if this is you, make sure that you choose something that has an adjustable headband. If you get a device that includes most of these features, you can be sure you’ll enjoy using the product.
Do you need to wear hearing protection for the lawn mower?
You do need to wear hearing protection for lawn mowing. If you use reel mowers, you don’t need hearing protection since they sound like heavy rain hitting your driveway and are not very loud.
Any gas-powered lawn mower creates enough noise that ear protection is needed. Especially if the driver of the mower or garden tractor is working in sloped terrain, a landscape-ear barrier must be worn.
Hearing protection devices bring the noise from a lawn mower to an acceptable volume entering the ear canal.
How do I protect my hearing while mowing the lawn?
It is always recommended that you wear hearing protection whenever you are exposed to loud noise. Therefore, you should wear hearing protectors while lawn mowing because continuous exposure to noise levels above 85 decibels causes hearing damage.
Although you might not mow the lawn daily and hourly, it is still a good idea to use hearing protection every time you do so because just one time can be enough to change the quality of your hearing forever. In addition, hearing protection will reduce noise exposure, bring sounds to a safe level, and eliminate the risk of hearing loss due to your lawn machinery.
Remember that most hearing loss is irreversible, making it even more important to ensure that you invest in the best hearing protection possible.
How much hearing protection do I need for mowing?
You will need a moderate, but not extreme, level of hearing protection. Since a lawnmower exceeds 85 decibels (dBA) sound levels, you must use hearing protection to avoid hearing loss down the line.
It would be best to have hearing protection rated at a minimum of 25 NRR to bring a 90 dBA mower below 85 dBA. Generally, earplugs or earmuffs on their own will bring the noise to a safe level. Check the specific NRR of the product you want to purchase.
All of the products mentioned on this list have a decent NRR rating, some higher than others, making them perfect options to use while mowing the lawn.
If you really want to protect your ears, you can wear earplugs underneath earmuffs for the best ear protection for mowing.
How do you listen to music while mowing the lawn?
We recommend radio or Bluetooth earmuffs to listen to music while mowing the lawn. There are noise-cancelling earbuds which can be worn as well.
Is it safe to listen to music while mowing the lawn? Yes, with the proper protection. Many people ask this since they want to have something to listen to.
Although, using noise-canceling headphones can be just as hazardous, as the mower is loud, and the music needs to be louder for you to hear it, in which case the sound waves from the headphones can cause damage over long periods. It should always be played at a safe volume.
At the same time, you are occupied, and noise reduction headphones will decrease the noise levels people are exposed to as they mow the lawn, as long as the music isn’t too loud.
There are two ways to listen to music while mowing the lawn.
1 – Use a pair of earmuffs that have built-in speakers, such as 3M Worktunes.
2 – (Less recommended) Put in passive foam earplugs, then put a regular set of over-the-ear headphones over the top, turning up the sound to reach a modest listening volume. You should be able to hear the music over the mower and still have adequate hearing protection. Check out headphones for lawn mowing here.
Can a lawnmower cause hearing damage?
A lawnmower can easily cause hearing damage. Because the typical lawn mower is rated at 90 dBA, exposure to this noise will eventually cause hearing loss.
Continuous exposure to any sound over 85 decibels can cause hearing damage. For example, after 2 hours of exposure to lawnmower noise without hearing protection, you can experience permanent hearing loss.
How many decibels (dB) is a lawnmower?
Gas-powered lawn mowers can range from 90-100 decibel (dB) levels, depending on the age of the mower and how well it’s running. This is roughly equivalent to music from headphones at a high volume. Read our article about how loud a lawn mower is.
On the other hand, electric mowers are much quieter as they don’t require combustion to run, just a silent electrical current. Therefore, you may not need hearing protection with an electric lawn mower.
Are earplugs better than earmuffs?
Earplugs provide adequate ear protection for mowing, loud equipment and other power tools. Unlike other products, industrial foam ear plugs provide better protection from noise, as they are meant to block out sounds completely.
Not all in-ear protection is the same; electronic earplugs without noise cancellation won’t provide enough noise reduction rating (NRR). The main advantage of earplugs is they are great in hot weather.
Those who work in factories, foundries or airport tarmac are good candidates for such types of ear protection.
Do noise-canceling headphones work with lawnmowers?
Using noise-canceling headphones for mowing is not recommended because they do not provide the proper amount of NRR; damaging sounds can still get to your ears. Especially with the music playing louder on audio devices to drown out the mower, this isn’t reducing noise overall.
We recommend using an earmuff with built-in AM/FM, AUX cable connection or Bluetooth hearing protection, such as 3M Worktunes Wireless Hearing Protection with Bluetooth Technology and AM/FM Radio.
What is the best ear protection for mowing?
Overall, our top passive recommendation for the best hearing protection for lawn mowing is the Professional Safety Ear Muffs by Decibel Defense, which have a very high noise reduction rating of 37dB and comfortable padded ear cups. In addition, and equally important, they have a very affordable price tag.
Our top electronic ear protection device pick is the 3M Worktunes Earmuffs or Walker’s Silencer Earbuds. They have great sound quality while being OSHA-approved hearing protection devices.
Lawn mowing hearing protection has advanced well beyond your typical earplugs or earmuffs. So you shouldn’t just use a regular pair of headphones that you have lying around at home; it’s important that you also make sure to purchase some earmuffs or earplugs that have the proper technology to protect your hearing.
The best hearing protection for lawn mowing now includes noise-cancelling, Bluetooth, or AM/FM or AUX input.
Conclusion
Hopefully, you have enjoyed reading this detailed look at the best hearing protection you can buy for lawn mowing. You can make the best hearing protection decision before mowing the lawn again. The products reviewed above offer great value for your money and protect your hearing while keeping you comfortable.
Keep in mind that everything on this list can be used for multiple purposes, not just mowing the lawn, so if you are someone who is frequently exposed to loud noises, you can easily use any of these options to help improve the quality of your life and ensure that you don’t face hearing loss down the line.
Some other resources you may want to check out:
Best Earmuffs
Peltor Optime Ultimate 10 Earmuffs
Best Passive Ear Muffs For Shooting
Mowing the lawn is one of the most annoying tasks people have to do, and now that warm weather is on the horizon, it’s time to start thinking about getting the lawnmower out of your garage or shed.
However, as annoying as mowing the lawn can be, there’s another issue at hand that a lot of people do not consider as they mow the lawn: it can be extremely damaging to your hearing.
Exposure to noise levels above 85 decibels can cause permanent hearing loss, and lawnmowers produce louder noises than this. Although most people don’t mow the lawn daily, looking into hearing protection options is never bad. Even just one exposure to this loud noise level for an hour or so can cause some irreversible damage.
We have compiled an article packed with all the information you need to know to purchase the best hearing protection for lawn mowing.
Please read the rest of our article to find the perfect solution to protect your ears while working in the yard or exposed to other loud noises.
If you regularly mow your lawn or someone else’s, you likely don’t enjoy the loud noise levels that lawnmowers produce while doing their job. Fortunately, you don’t have to endure such discomfort as you can be totally comfortable when mowing by wearing hearing protection which greatly reduces or eliminates such noise.
Hearing protection is great, not just because it allows you to work comfortably. As the name implies, these devices help protect you from hearing loss from long exposure to loud noises.
Many people suffer from this problem due to carrying out activities such as lawn mowing or hedge trimming with their ears unprotected. The worst part is that most of this hearing loss is irreversible. Therefore, it is important to ensure you use the best hearing protection possible when exposed to loud noises to prevent hearing loss.
So if you wish to keep your invaluable sense of hearing in good condition, investing in the best hearing protection for lawn mowing is certainly the way to go. In addition, be sure to pay attention to the noise reduction rating NRR, which we will detail in this article.
These days, you can easily multitask, listen to music or audiobooks, take important phone calls, or block out noise for an enjoyable mowing experience. Who would have thought that mowing the lawn could have changed this much?
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