⏱️ Estimated reading time: 12 min
Key Takeaways
Most woodworking shops run above 85 dB(A), where UK law makes hearing protection compulsory, so with earplugs for power tools the real question is which tool needs what. A drill sits near 90 dB(A). A planer thicknesser goes past 100 dB(A), and one plug cannot be the answer for both.
One woodworker on a joinery forum admitted he takes his protection out “for the 5–10 minutes between cuts when I refuel, oil, sharpen”. Those breaks add up. HSE’s occupational deafness statistics estimate that 15,000 workers in Great Britain have work-related hearing problems (LFS 2022/23–2024/25).
At Bollsen, we are a family-owned hearing protection company founded in 2016 and trusted by 1,000,000+ people. This guide covers earplugs for work in the workshop, tool by tool. For other trades under UK noise rules, our hub on earplugs for work runs from site tools to warehouse aisles.
How loud are power tools in a workshop?
Workshop power tools run at roughly 87–115 dB(A) at the operator’s ear, from a drill at 87–91 dB(A) and a handheld circular saw at 94–98 dB(A) to a planer thicknesser at 97–101 dB(A) and an angle grinder cutting steel at 110–115 dB(A).
HSE’s woodworking noise guidance says most woodworking shops exceed the 85 dB upper action value. Its woodworking machine noise table puts circular saw benches at 97–102 dB and small hand-fed thicknessers at 104 dB. Load, blade sharpness and feed rate all shift the figure.
| Tool | Typical level, dB(A) | HSE SNR band | WorkPRO alone or under ear defenders? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drill or drill driver | 87–91 | SNR 20 or less to 20–30 | WorkPRO alone |
| Orbital sander | 87–98 | SNR 20–30 to 25–35 | WorkPRO alone; borderline at the top of the range |
| Angle grinder, grinding | 90–95 | SNR 20–30 | WorkPRO alone |
| Circular saw, handheld | 94–98 | SNR 20–30 to 25–35 | Borderline: just under HSE’s 25–35 band, so fit and the noise assessment decide |
| Router (rises with speed) | 92–103 | SNR 20–30 to 30+ | WorkPRO alone at low speed; borderline from 95; under ear defenders above 100 |
| Saw bench or table saw | 97–102 | SNR 25–35 to 30+ | Earplugs under ear defenders |
| Planer thicknesser | 97–101 (small thicknesser 104) | SNR 25–35 to 30+ | Earplugs under ear defenders |
| Mitre saw | about 103 | SNR 30+ | Earplugs under ear defenders |
| Impact wrench or air saw | 103–107 | SNR 30+ (top band) or above | Earplugs under ear defenders |
| Angle grinder, cutting steel | 110–115 | Above HSE’s highest band | Earplugs under ear defenders |
Every 3 dB doubles the sound energy, so a machine at 100 dB(A) uses up the whole 85 dB(A) daily dose in about 15 minutes. That is why the verdict flips once a row passes 100.
Which power tools can you use with earplugs alone, and which need ear defenders on top?
A reusable earplug rated SNR 24 sits inside HSE’s SNR 20–30 band for noise of 90–95 dB(A), so drills, sanders and grinding are covered by WorkPRO on its own, while anything above 100 dB(A) needs earplugs worn under ear defenders.
Between 95 and 100 dB(A), HSE points to SNR 25–35, and SNR 24 sits just under that band. A handheld circular saw at 94–98 dB(A) is therefore a borderline case. A deep fit and your employer’s noise assessment decide.
Near and above 100 dB(A) the band is SNR 30+. The table saw, planer thicknesser, mitre saw and a grinder cutting steel all call for double hearing protection, meaning a low-profile plug under ear defenders. The two ratings never simply add together.
More is not automatically better. HSE’s hearing protection guidance aims for below 85 dB at the ear but not below 70 dB, because people who feel cut off take their protection out.
Why do reusable earplugs suit a dusty workshop better than foam?
Foam earplugs have to be rolled tight between the fingers before they go in, so any sawdust, resin or oil on your hands ends up in the ear canal, whereas a reusable silicone earplug slides in without rolling and can be washed between sessions.
Woodworkers complain that plugs get “grubby” and feel “unhygienic with dirty hands”, and some keep them in a zip-lock bag. Fair enough, given where the dust on your fingers ends up.
Our WorkPRO earplugs are made from hypoallergenic silicone and are reusable up to 100 times, so one pair replaces a jar of single-use foam. The yellow is easy to spot in shavings. If you are still weighing the options, reusable vs foam vs banded earplugs for work compares all three.
How do you keep earplugs handy when you take them out between cuts?
Ear defenders hanging on a peg are quicker between machines, but a reusable earplug kept in a case on the bench or in an apron pocket goes back in within seconds, and that habit matters because a few unprotected cuts at 100 dB(A) eat into the daily dose fast.
The forum woodworker from earlier said muffs “are much quicker to slip on” when he is switching between machines. He has a point. Plugs make more sense when safety glasses or a dust-mask strap would break a muff’s seal.
Push the plug fully home every time instead of leaving it half in, since a shallow fit gives away much of the rated protection. The steps in how to put earplugs in and check the fit take seconds at the bench.
Can you wear earplugs under a welding helmet?
Yes, earplugs are the usual choice under a welding helmet, because the helmet shell and headgear push against ear defender cups and break their seal, while an in-ear plug sits inside the canal and never touches the hood.
Welders say plugs “work well within the confines of the welding mask” and that muffs “get in the way of the helmet”. Welding and flame-cutting can be noisy, but the loudest part of most welding days is the angle grinder used to prep and dress the joint.
Grinding at 90–95 dB(A) is a WorkPRO-alone job. For cutting steel at 110–115 dB(A), swap the hood for a face shield and put ear defenders over the plugs. Fit the plugs before the hood goes on and with clean hands; many welders admit they either wash first or go without.
Glasses arms and mask straps cause the same seal problem under muffs. Our guide to earplugs with a hard hat, glasses and respirator covers the full PPE stack.
What hearing protection do mechanics need for air tools and impact wrenches?
Mechanics using an impact wrench at about 103 dB(A), or an air saw or air chisel at up to 107 dB(A), need earplugs under ear defenders, because those levels reach HSE’s top SNR 30+ band or go past it and use up the daily dose in minutes.
HSE’s motor vehicle repair noise guidance says as little as 6 minutes on an air saw can push daily exposure over 85 dB(A). Grinders and orbital sanders in bodywork shops come in around 97 dB(A).
Garage noise is often louder than the tool rating suggests. One mechanic noted that even with a quiet tool, “the hits reverberating under a car chassis can be extremely loud”, and others double up for air hammers. For general bay work under about 95 dB(A), WorkPRO alone covers the day.
Where does WorkPRO fit in a woodworking kit?
WorkPRO is our passive, reusable work earplug, rated SNR 24 dB (H 24 / M 21 / L 19) to EN 352-2 and made from hypoallergenic silicone in yellow, with a low profile so ear defenders fit over the top when the louder machines start.
Its attenuation rises with frequency, so it takes more off a router’s whine than off an extractor’s hum. A loud warning such as a fire alarm stays audible because it is loud, not because a filter passes it through. The design is patented, and WorkPRO is German-tested, independently certified 24 dB hearing protection.
For drills, sanders, grinding and most bench work up to about 95 dB(A), our WorkPRO earplugs (SNR 24 dB, £29.95) come with a 40-day money-back guarantee and go under defenders once the planer or table saw starts.
Plenty of joiners split the week between bench and site, and earplugs for construction workers face a different mix. On site rather than in the shop, the noise shifts to breakers and cut-off saws, and our guide to earplugs for construction workers matches each site task to its protection. A petrol chainsaw at 100–120 dB(A) sits with hearing protection for mowing and landscaping.
How do you kit out a whole joinery team?
This article is the guide for choosing protection tool by tool, while joinery teams and workshop managers buying in bulk order through a separate business page built for team quantities rather than single pairs.
Under the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005, employers must offer hearing protection above 80 dB(A), enforce its use above 85 dB(A) and keep exposure at the ear below 87 dB(A), with peak limits of 135, 137 and 140 dB(C). Workshop owners can order WorkPRO for joinery teams (bulk orders) there, so every joiner has a yellow pair by the saw.
Pick the plug by the tool, not the packet. An SNR 24 earplug handles the drill, the sander and grinding work, while the table saw, planer, mitre saw and impact wrench get ear defenders on top.
Keep a pair where your hands go between cuts. Your hearing has to outlast every machine in the shop.
His connection to hearing protection stems from personal experience with sound sensitivity during live events and work in noisy environments, an issue that made him more aware of the long-term risks of unmanaged noise exposure. Today, as both a communicator and a user of BOLLSEN products, he is passionate about raising awareness around the importance of proactive hearing care.
At BOLLSEN, he develops data-driven marketing campaigns, writes SEO-focused articles, and manages communication channels that connect customers with practical knowledge about hearing protection. His work ensures that BOLLSEN’s message—prioritizing health, performance, and sustainability reaches a global audience in an engaging and trustworthy way.
Passionate about writing since childhood, Timotej combines creativity with a strong analytical approach, continuously testing new ideas in digital marketing, performance advertising, and social media. He believes in learning through innovation and collaboration, balancing leadership with openness to new perspectives.
Beyond his professional role, Timotej is committed to a healthy lifestyle and finds inspiration in fitness, sports, and quality time with friends. His personal passion for well-being aligns with BOLLSEN’s core values, making his work not only a career but also a cause he deeply believes in.