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Fireworks, pets and children: how loud is too loud?

Fireworks are impulses: their peaks at close range can exceed the 140 dB limit for adults. Dogs and cats hear far higher pitches than we do, and fear of fireworks is common.

How loud fireworks are

SoundLevelMeasured
Fireworks display108–116 dBA maxabout 100 m from the launch site
Firecrackers142–171 dB peak0.5 m to 8 m
Balloon pop168 dB peakat the ear (0 m from the microphone)
Toy cap gun120–155 dBC peak25 cm

Bangs are measured as peaks, the highest instantaneous pressure, not as averages. The workplace rules in the UK and EU take action at a 135 dB(C) peak and set a limit of 140 dB(C)1; OSHA says impulse noise should not exceed a 140 dB peak2. Distance is the best protection: a firecracker at arm’s length is a very different exposure from a display watched from a park.

Children

Children often stand closer, cover their ears late, and handle bangers and cap guns near their faces. Toy standards limit how loud toys may be: for toys used close to the ear, 65 dB LAeq and a 95 dB C-weighted peak in the 2010 and later editions, and a 125 dB peak for cap-firing toys3. Ear defenders sized for children, fitted before the display starts, are the simplest fix; for babies, keep well back or stay indoors.

Dogs and cats

Dogs hear from roughly 63 to 67 Hz up to about 45 to 47 kHz, and cats up to 85 kHz or more, far above the human limit of about 20 kHz4. Noise sensitivity is the most common anxiety trait in dogs: 32% in a study of 13,700 Finnish pet dogs. In a New Zealand survey, 46% of dogs and cats showed fear of fireworks recognisable to their owners.

  • Walk dogs before dark on firework nights, and keep cats indoors.
  • Close windows and curtains, and turn the lights on.
  • Give pets a hiding place and let them use it; do not force them out.
  • If your dog is frightened of fireworks or loud noises, speak to your vet well before the season.

The RSPCA campaigns for quieter fireworks, calling for traditional fireworks to be limited to 90 dB instead of 120 dB.

Questions

Can fireworks damage your hearing?

Yes, at close range. Peaks above 140 dB can damage hearing in a single exposure. Watching a display from a distance is far safer than setting off bangers nearby.

Do fireworks hurt dogs’ ears?

Dogs hear a wider range of pitches than we do, and many are frightened by fireworks. Fear is the usual problem at normal distances; talk to your vet if your dog is badly affected.

Sources

  1. Under the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005, the lower exposure action values are 80 dB(A) daily or weekly exposure and 135 dB(C) peak; the upper exposure action values are 85 dB(A) and 137 dB(C); the exposure limit values are 87 dB(A) and 140 dB(C), and the limit values take account of hearing protection.
    • The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005, Regulation 4 (as made), legislation.gov.uk (The National Archives).(a) a daily or weekly personal noise exposure of 80 dB (A-weighted); and (b) a peak sound pressure of 135 dB (C-weighted).(a) a daily or weekly personal noise exposure of 85 dB (A-weighted); and (b) a peak sound pressure of 137 dB (C-weighted).(a) a daily or weekly personal noise exposure of 87 dB (A-weighted); and (b) a peak sound pressure of 140 dB (C-weighted).Checked 2026-11-02.
    • Noise at work: The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005, Health and Safety Executive (HSE).There is also an exposure limit value of 87 dB(A), taking account of any reduction in exposure provided by hearing protection, above which workers must not be exposed.The level at which employers must provide hearing protection and hearing protection zones is 85 dB(A) (daily or weekly average exposure) and the level at which employers must assess the risk to workers' health and provide them with information and training is 80 dB(A).Checked 2026-11-02.
    • Sound advice: Control of noise at work in music and entertainment (HSG260), Health and Safety Executive (HSE).These noise exposures are identical: 80 dB for 8 hours 83 dB for 4 hours 86 dB for 2 hours 89 dB for 1 hour 92 dB for 30 minutesChecked 2026-11-02.
  2. OSHA's enforceable permissible exposure limit (PEL) in 29 CFR 1910.95 is 90 dBA for 8 hours with a 5 dB exchange rate (Table G-16: 95 dBA 4 h, 100 dBA 2 h, 105 dBA 1 h, 110 dBA 30 min, 115 dBA 15 min or less). A hearing conservation programme is required at the 85 dBA action level (a 50% dose). Impulsive or impact noise should not exceed 140 dB peak.
  3. WHO-ITU safe listening devices use a stricter children's reference of 75 dB for 40 hours a week (adults 80 dB). Lab tests of six children's 'volume-limited' headphones found most limited only softly, and some could exceed the 85 dB(A) safe-listening level when driven by a laptop or CD player. Toy standards based on ISO 8124-1 limit close-to-the-ear toys to 65 dB LAeq and 95 dB C-weighted peak (2010 and later editions).
  4. Dogs hear from roughly 63-67 Hz up to about 45-47 kHz, and cats from about 45-48 Hz up to 85 kHz or more, well above the human 20 kHz limit. Noise sensitivity is the most common anxiety trait in dogs (32% of 13,700 Finnish dogs), and in a New Zealand survey 46% of dogs and cats showed fear of fireworks recognisable to their owners.

General information, not medical advice. For any concern about your hearing or a child’s, see an audiologist or doctor.