The decibel chartHow loud is…?
154 sounds, quietest first, each with its measured level, distance, sources and a safe exposure time.
Reading the chart. Left: the measured level. Right: how long NIOSH says you can be exposed each day at the loud end of the range before hearing damage becomes likely (85 dBA for 8 hours, halving for every 3 dB more). A ~ means the source did not A-weight its figure, so the time is approximate.
- no limit under 85 dBA
- hours 85–94
- under an hour 95 and up
- none safe 140 and up
Ranked, loudest first
Quiet places and nature
- −24.9Orfield Labs anechoic chamber dBAno limit
- −24 to −23Air molecules (Brownian motion) dBno limit
- −20.6 to −20.4Microsoft anechoic chamber dBAno limit
- 0Threshold of hearing dBno limit
- 10Haleakalā crater dBAno limit
- 10Normal breathing dBno limit
- 10–20Rustling leaves dBAno limit
- 20Ticking watch dBno limit
- 20–30Whisper dBno limit
- 30Quiet rural area dBno limit
- 40–44Quiet library dBno limit
- 67.8Cat purring dBA maxno limit
- 40–96Crickets dBA38 min
- 60–78Ocean waves dBno limit
- 74–103Birdsong dB max~7 min 30 s
- 78.9–99.2Water boatman dB peakpeak <140
- 95Coquí frog dB max~48 min
- 85–108.9Cicada dB max~1 min 55 s
- 100–108Rooster crowing dB max~2 min 22 s
- 100–120Thunder dBA max9 s
- 104–118.9Dog barking dBA max11 s
- 114–117Lion roar dB max~18 s
- 116Screaming piha dB max~22 s
- 112–120Elephant dB max~9 s
- 117Wolf howl dBA peakpeak <140
- 125White bellbird dB max~3 s
Home, school and hospital
- 32–34.8Private office dBAno limit
- 40–43Refrigerator dBAno limit
- 49–55Open-plan office dBAno limit
- 45–61.7Snoring dBA maxno limit
- 50–60Hospital ward dBAno limit
- 35–77Classroom dBAno limit
- 55–59Microwave oven dBAno limit
- 55–63Neonatal intensive care unit dBAno limit
- 38–85Dishwasher dBA8 h
- 55–70Normal conversation dBAno limit
- 47–78Washing machine dBAno limit
- 53–78.8Operating theatre dBAno limit
- 50–85Infant sleep machine dBA8 h
- 60–80Alarm clock dBAno limit
- 68–80.7Dental drill dBAno limit
- 59–90Hair dryer dBA2 h 31 min
- 65–85Busy restaurant dBA8 h
- 62–90Vacuum cleaner dBA2 h 31 min
- 67–93Garbage disposal dBA1 h 16 min
- 85Smoke alarm dB~8 h
- 70–102Noisy toys dBA9 min 27 s
- 80–121Hand dryer dBA max7 s
- 102–115.8MRI scanner dBA23 s
- 99–120Crying baby dBA max9 s
Traffic and transport
- 50–75Electric car (warning sound) dBAno limit
- 65–73Snowmobile dBA maxno limit
- 65–77.2Inside a car dBAno limit
- 73.4City street traffic dBAno limit
- 75.3–76City bus dBAno limit
- 76–82Lorry (heavy truck) dBA maxno limit
- 80Motorcycle dBAno limit
- 82Street sweeper dBA maxno limit
- 80.4–86Subway train (New York) dBA6 h 21 min
- 83.5Aeroplane cabin dBAno limit
- 76.8–100.5Jet take-off dBA max13 min
- 80–100London Underground dBA15 min
- 87.5–97.8Jet coming in to land dBA max25 min
- 97–105Helicopter dBA4 min 43 s
- 96.5–109NASCAR race dBA1 min 53 s
- 96–110Train horn dBA1 min 29 s
- 99.7–108.6Tractor pull dBA2 min 3 s
- 93–118Car horn dBA max14 s
- 104–108Ambulance siren dBA2 min 22 s
- 103–113Fighter jet dB max~45 s
- 109.5–112.9Concorde dBA max46 s
- 115–120Police siren dBA9 s
- 121.8Formula 1 Grand Prix dBA max6 s
- 120–125Motocross and monster truck show dBA max3 s
- 122–149Jet ski (under water) dB re 1 µPain water
- 130–160Aircraft carrier flight deck dBAnone safe
Music, sport and celebrations
- 61–84Cinema dBAno limit
- 60–105Piano dBA4 min 43 s
- 83–89.4Amusement arcade dBA2 h 54 min
- 85.6–93.1Gym fitness class dBA1 h 14 min
- 80–105Violin dBA4 min 43 s
- 81–104.1Ice hockey game dBA5 min 49 s
- 88–97.5Spin class dBA27 min
- 85–102Bagpipes dB~9 min 27 s
- 86–102Symphony orchestra dBA9 min 27 s
- 86–108Trumpet dBA2 min 22 s
- 80–115Headphones at full volume dBA28 s
- 95.8–101.4Music festival dBA11 min
- 93.4–109.9Drum kit dBA1 min 31 s
- 91.2–112.3Marching band dBA52 s
- 94–112.4Nightclub dBA51 s
- 99.8–108Rock concert dBA2 min 22 s
- 103–105Live band in a pub dBA4 min 43 s
- 96–118Piccolo dBA14 s
- 108–116Fireworks display dBA max22 s
- 115.5–120Earbuds at full volume dBA9 s
- 113–131Vuvuzela dBA maxunder 1 s
- 129.2–130.4Basketball arena (record) dBA maxunder 1 s
- 134.7Referee's whistle dBC peakpeak <140
- 120–155Toy cap gun dBC peaknone safe
- 142.2Stadium crowd (record) dBA maxnone safe
- 142–171Firecrackers dB peaknone safe
- 168Balloon pop dB peaknone safe
Tools, work and firearms
- 78–81Air compressor dBA maxno limit
- 82Electric lawn mower dBAno limit
- 83Nail gun dBAno limit
- 83Router dBAno limit
- 73–94Power drill dBA1 h
- 84Reciprocating saw dBAno limit
- 86–89Hammer drill dBA3 h 10 min
- 85.5–95.9Petrol lawn mower dBA39 min
- 88–98.5Impact driver dBA21 min
- 83–104.7Angle grinder dBA5 min 4 s
- 87.9–101.5Strimmer (string trimmer) dBA11 min
- 91.7–100Tractor dBA15 min
- 86.4–106Leaf blower dBA3 min 45 s
- 96–97Impact wrench dBA30 min
- 86–107.7Table saw dBA2 min 32 s
- 89–110.4Circular saw dBA1 min 21 s
- 101Pile driver dBA max12 min
- 96.2–106Wood chipper dBA3 min 45 s
- 98.5–112Chainsaw dBA56 s
- 96–117Tank (moving) dBA18 s
- 120–137Suppressed rifle dB peakpeak <140
- 130Jackhammer dBAunder 1 s
- 137–138Chrysler air raid siren dBunder 1 s
- 148–165Starter pistol dB peaknone safe
- 140–174Rifle dB peaknone safe
- 148–171Handgun dB peaknone safe
- 150–170Shotgun dB peaknone safe
- 160LRAD sound cannon dBA maxnone safe
- 165–173Airbag deployment dB peaknone safe
- 160–180Stun grenade (flash-bang) dB peaknone safe
- 166.1–183Artillery (howitzer) dB peaknone safe
- 181–184.9Loudest car stereo dB maxnone safe
Records and extremes
- 75–110Sonic boom dB max~1 min 29 s
- 93Loudest snore (world record) dBA max1 h 16 min
- 105.9Loudest shout (world record) dBC max~3 min 50 s
- 108–112.4Loudest burp (world record) dBC max~51 s
- 127–136SLS rocket launch (Artemis I) dB maxunder 1 s
- 142–155Space Shuttle launch dB maxnone safe
- 172Krakatoa eruption, 1883 dB peaknone safe
- 170–175Saturn V launch dB maxnone safe
- 194Loudest possible undistorted sound in air dB peaknone safe
Underwater
- 26–61.5Underwater decibels vs air decibels dB re 1 µPain water
- 151–173Humpback whale song dB re 1 µPain water
- 171–193Ship noise underwater dB re 1 µPain water
- 183–189Snapping (pistol) shrimp dB re 1 µPain water
- 188.5–189Blue whale call dB re 1 µPain water
- 189–190Fin whale call dB re 1 µPain water
- 223–235Military sonar dB re 1 µPain water
- 236Sperm whale click dB re 1 µPain water
- 216–260Seismic airgun dB re 1 µPain water
- 328Underwater nuclear test (Operation Wigwam, 1955) dB re 1 µPain water
Free to share
The chart as one picture
22 familiar sounds, from the edge of hearing to Krakatoa, with their safe daily times. Use it in a classroom, a toolbox talk, a safety noticeboard or on your own site; all we ask is a credit and a link back.
Hush to Boom · hushtoboom.com/how-loud-is/ · every level is sourced on its own page · information, not medical advice