You hardly notice it when vacuuming etc. It only makes a brief noise at the end when it is vacuuming in the station. You only notice it drying when it is completely quiet and you want to sleep, otherwise the everyday noises are louder. It takes 2 hours to dry, but if you don't leave it running late at night or place it in a room other than the bedroom, this shouldn't be a problem. We are very happy with it, especially with a dog.