Best Quiet Hand Dryers 2023: Reviews and Buying Guide (with db levels)
Hand dryers are quite a common appliance in offices, commercial buildings and other places of work.
Of course, they do a great job of helping people keep up with their personal hygiene without the expense of using paper towels.
Paper towels have been used for many years but if you think of the cost as well as the issue of disposing of them, hand dryers are a much better option.
Although automatic hand dryers come with tons of advantages, one of the major setbacks when it comes to these appliances is the noise they produce when in operation.
On average, these appliances produce 80 decibels which is similar to that of a food blender.
As is the case with any appliance, there are a couple of newer models of hand dryers that aim in producing little or no noise.
These are usually just as efficient and make the environment much more conducive for work.
Getting the best quiet hand dryer can be challenging. This is why I have gone to the trouble of highlighting some of the quietest hand dryers on the market.
Product | Specs | Price |
|---|---|---|
  | Alpine Hemlock Automatic Hand Dryer | |
  | Stiebel Eltron 073724-G Hand Dryer | |
  | World Dryer Ra5-q974 Hand Dryer | |
  | Fast Dry HK 1800PA Hand Dryer | |
  | Ecostorm2 Recessed High Speed Hand Dryer |
Hand Dryer Buying Factors: What Should You Consider?
When buying a new hand dryer, you need to be able to identify the most important factors. Getting the best hand dryer is important.
Choosing the best hand dryer could save you loads on repair and maintenance. Here are some of the most important factors to look for when buying a hand dryer.
Type of Dryer
There are various types of quiet hand dryers and you need to be aware of these. The appliances are now being designed to fit various needs.
There are majorly two types of dryers, the traditional dryer and the automatic one.
The traditional hand dryer is quite popular given that it is more affordable. These come with a button which when pushed activates the dryer.
Traditional hand dryers take much more time to dry hands and tend to use much more energy. They are also not the best in terms of hygiene because they require you to push a button.
Automatic hand dryers, on the other hand, are much faster and more efficient. However, these have higher noise levels and are much more expensive
Noise
Although there isn’t a completely quiet dryer yet, there are a few that have the noise levels significantly reduced.
Depending on where you want the hand dryer installed, you may have to consider the noise levels before you buy an appliance.
The noise level of the hand dryer should be indicated in the manufacturer's instructions so be sure to know what exactly you are getting
Energy Efficiency
Hand dryers use heating elements and fans to convert air at room temperature into a blast of high-speed hot air.
It is important to know the energy efficiency of the hand dryer that you are planning to use.
Depending on the frequency of use, a lower-power or more-power models can translate into higher savings in terms of utility bills.
Drying Time
A hand dryer that takes much more time to dry hands may end up using up more energy than others.
Typically, a traditional hand dryer will take 45 seconds. This time reduces considerably when using an automatic hand dryer or speed dryers.
If the dryer is to be used frequently, the traditional hand dryer will lead to higher utility bills.
Best Quiet Hand Dryers 2021
I must admit, when it comes to hand dryers, automatic ones are really the best option in terms of hygiene.
This sleek hand dryer from Alpine uses advanced technology such as infrared sensors so that people do not have to actually touch it when using the dryer. The sleek, beautiful and modern design makes it quite the accessory for your bathroom.
The Alpine Hemlock hand dryer is made of stainless steel that is not only corrosion free but also ensures the durability of the appliance and makes it easy to clean.
I especially love how versatile this hand dryer is. It comes with a wall template that lets you choose between hardwired installation or plugin.
The template is quite easy to follow and understand making the installation quite easy.
The drying time on this machine is quite remarkable. The hand dryer only takes a couple of seconds with a maximum of 30seconds.
Of course, our main concern here is the amount of noise produced when in operation. Thanks to the advanced technology, this hand dryer produces minimum noise for a quiet and relaxed environment.
Should you decide to go for this hand dryer, then you will certainly like the fact that it is able to save you a couple of dollars since it uses minimal electricity.
One other important quality to be on the lookout for when buying a hand dryer is the weight.
You do not want to have a heavy appliance that will only make it hard for you to install.
At just 10 pounds, this hand dryer is undoubtedly one of the lightest ones around. Installation is, therefore, quite easy.
Now you may think that it being so lightweight would mean that the dryer is not sturdy enough.
On the contrary, it is made of durable aluminum that will certainly serve you for quite a number of years.
As is the case with most modern quiet hand dryers, the Stiebel Eltron is an automated appliance, getting rid of the unnecessary unhygienic button.
Because it uses sensors to detect your hands, it must be surface mounted before it is used.
The hand dryer needs a 120 voltage connection for it to run. It is designed with a brushless motor. Because of this, you can be sure that it will serve you for long.
I especially love the overall design. The dryer features metallic brushed aluminum while the outer shell is made of rugged cast aluminum. This makes the dryer a top option for high-traffic areas.
Now, how much noise does it produce?
With a noise rating of just 53 decibels, this is one of the quietest hand dryers out there and is sure to create a work-friendly environment
As I had mentioned above, choosing the best quiet hand dryer boils down to personal preference.
Now for those who do not mind dryers that require you to push a button, then this may be an option worth checking out.
Made with superior engineering, the World Dryer Ra5-q974 offers high performance.
The hand dryer is made of a cast iron cover and is built to resist vandalism. This makes it a great product for high traffic areas.
The overall design is great with the exterior finish being made of porcelain enamel and brushed stainless steel.
The dryer uses a nozzle to dry your hands. The universal nozzle is placed in a fixed position. However, you can quite easily connect it to a swivel to make the dryer a bit easier to use.
This hand dryer has a noise level of 73 decibels. While it may not be the quietest appliance in the market, it is definitely quite good for a hand dryer.
A good way to know whether a manufacturer believes in their product is by the provision of a warranty. This particular hand dryer comes with a 10-year limited hand dryer.
This assures you that the manufacturers are quite confident about the product.
My only restriction with this hand dryer is the fact that it uses a push button to activate.
While this may be okay for some people, I feel that it is not sanitary and may lead to the easier spread of germs.
Getting a quiet hand dryer can be challenging, especially if money is tight and you are working on a budget. If this is the case for you, then you might want to check this hand dryer first.
Designed to be mounted on the wall, this fast dry hand dryer weighs just 8.4 pounds making it easier to do so.
The hand dryer has a simple and compact design and comes with a rugged ABS plastic exterior.
The plastic material makes it quite easy to clean the hand dryer. The dryer also comes with a 2-year limited warranty.
The Fast Dry HK 1800PA Hand Dryer is made to use a quiet induction motor. The brushless motor not only ensures that minimum noise is produced but also ensures long-lasting efficiency.
When in operation, the hand dryer produces around 65 decibels of noise which is much lower as compared to other hand dryers.
Should you decide to go for this hand dryer, I would recommend setting it up in a small office bathroom where there is minimum traffic
This is one of the most affordable quiet hand dryers there is.
I had to include this particular hand dryer because there’s a bit of a difference in its design as compared to the other quiet hand dryers on the list.
The Ecostorm2 Recessed is a high-speed hand dryer. With an amperage of 8.4 amps, the hand dryer uses little time to get your hands dry. A maximum of 15 seconds is all that it takes.
The overall design of the hand dryer is something to speak about.
Featuring a brushed stainless steel finish, the hand dryer is designed to fit in just about any bathroom regardless of the existing décor.
The hand dryer weighs 19 pounds. Although it is heavier than the other dryers in the article, installation is not difficult.
However, a certified electrician must be the one to do the installation.
Designed to be an automatic hand dryer, it immediately shuts off when the user’s hands are removed. It is also designed to be energy efficient ensuring that the utility bills do not go way over the top.
The dryer only uses 1000 watts to dry your hands which is low when you compare with other hand dryers.
I love the recessed design on this hand dryer as it sets it apart from the others.
With a noise rating of 63.5 decibels, the Ecostorm hand dryer is definitely one of the quietest on the market. You should definitely check it out.
On the Quietest Hand Dryers
Well, there goes my list of the top 5 best quiet hand dryers on the market. I hope that it will be of help to you when you go shopping for yours.
Of the five, I must admit that I do have my favorite. Seeing as the most important factor here is the quietness of the hand dryer, the Stiebel Eltron Touchless Hand Dryer is a winner for me.
In operation, the dryer only produces 53 decibels of noise.
Besides the quietness, I love the fact that this hand dryer is just 10 pounds making it easy to carry and install it.
Of course, another winning factor for me is the fact that it is automated. You can never be too sure about the hygiene with hand dryers that use push buttons.
All in all, the hand dryers featured in this article are all some of the quietest hand dryers on the market.
If you are looking for one for your office or commercial establishment, I hope that you now have an idea of what to look for and where to start.
Be gone paper towels!