How loud is…?
154 sounds, quietest first, each with its measured level, distance, sources and a safe exposure time.
Quiet places and nature
- −24.9Orfield Labs anechoic chamber dBA
- −24 to −23Air molecules (Brownian motion) dB
- −20.6 to −20.4Microsoft anechoic chamber dBA
- 0Threshold of hearing dB
- 10Haleakalā crater dBA
- 10Normal breathing dB
- 10–20Rustling leaves dBA
- 20Ticking watch dB
- 20–30Whisper dB
- 30Quiet rural area dB
- 40–44Quiet library dB
- 67.8Cat purring dBA max
- 40–96Crickets dBA
- 60–78Ocean waves dB
- 74–103Birdsong dB max
- 78.9–99.2Water boatman dB peak
- 95Coquí frog dB max
- 85–108.9Cicada dB max
- 100–108Rooster crowing dB max
- 100–120Thunder dBA max
- 104–118.9Dog barking dBA max
- 114–117Lion roar dB max
- 116Screaming piha dB max
- 112–120Elephant dB max
- 117Wolf howl dBA peak
- 125White bellbird dB max
Home, school and hospital
- 32–34.8Private office dBA
- 40–43Refrigerator dBA
- 49–55Open-plan office dBA
- 45–61.7Snoring dBA max
- 50–60Hospital ward dBA
- 35–77Classroom dBA
- 55–59Microwave oven dBA
- 55–63Neonatal intensive care unit dBA
- 38–85Dishwasher dBA
- 55–70Normal conversation dBA
- 47–78Washing machine dBA
- 53–78.8Operating theatre dBA
- 50–85Infant sleep machine dBA
- 60–80Alarm clock dBA
- 68–80.7Dental drill dBA
- 59–90Hair dryer dBA
- 65–85Busy restaurant dBA
- 62–90Vacuum cleaner dBA
- 67–93Garbage disposal dBA
- 85Smoke alarm dB
- 70–102Noisy toys dBA
- 80–121Hand dryer dBA max
- 102–115.8MRI scanner dBA
- 99–120Crying baby dBA max
Traffic and transport
- 50–75Electric car (warning sound) dBA
- 65–73Snowmobile dBA max
- 65–77.2Inside a car dBA
- 73.4City street traffic dBA
- 75.3–76City bus dBA
- 76–82Lorry (heavy truck) dBA max
- 80Motorcycle dBA
- 82Street sweeper dBA max
- 80.4–86Subway train (New York) dBA
- 83.5Aeroplane cabin dBA
- 76.8–100.5Jet take-off dBA max
- 80–100London Underground dBA
- 87.5–97.8Jet coming in to land dBA max
- 97–105Helicopter dBA
- 96.5–109NASCAR race dBA
- 96–110Train horn dBA
- 99.7–108.6Tractor pull dBA
- 93–118Car horn dBA max
- 104–108Ambulance siren dBA
- 103–113Fighter jet dB max
- 109.5–112.9Concorde dBA max
- 115–120Police siren dBA
- 121.8Formula 1 Grand Prix dBA max
- 120–125Motocross and monster truck show dBA max
- 122–149Jet ski (under water) dB re 1 µPa
- 130–160Aircraft carrier flight deck dBA
Music, sport and celebrations
- 61–84Cinema dBA
- 60–105Piano dBA
- 83–89.4Amusement arcade dBA
- 85.6–93.1Gym fitness class dBA
- 80–105Violin dBA
- 81–104.1Ice hockey game dBA
- 88–97.5Spin class dBA
- 85–102Bagpipes dB
- 86–102Symphony orchestra dBA
- 86–108Trumpet dBA
- 80–115Headphones at full volume dBA
- 95.8–101.4Music festival dBA
- 93.4–109.9Drum kit dBA
- 91.2–112.3Marching band dBA
- 94–112.4Nightclub dBA
- 99.8–108Rock concert dBA
- 103–105Live band in a pub dBA
- 96–118Piccolo dBA
- 108–116Fireworks display dBA max
- 115.5–120Earbuds at full volume dBA
- 113–131Vuvuzela dBA max
- 129.2–130.4Basketball arena (record) dBA max
- 134.7Referee's whistle dBC peak
- 120–155Toy cap gun dBC peak
- 142.2Stadium crowd (record) dBA max
- 142–171Firecrackers dB peak
- 168Balloon pop dB peak
Tools, work and firearms
- 78–81Air compressor dBA max
- 82Electric lawn mower dBA
- 83Nail gun dBA
- 83Router dBA
- 73–94Power drill dBA
- 84Reciprocating saw dBA
- 86–89Hammer drill dBA
- 85.5–95.9Petrol lawn mower dBA
- 88–98.5Impact driver dBA
- 83–104.7Angle grinder dBA
- 87.9–101.5Strimmer (string trimmer) dBA
- 91.7–100Tractor dBA
- 86.4–106Leaf blower dBA
- 96–97Impact wrench dBA
- 86–107.7Table saw dBA
- 89–110.4Circular saw dBA
- 101Pile driver dBA max
- 96.2–106Wood chipper dBA
- 98.5–112Chainsaw dBA
- 96–117Tank (moving) dBA
- 120–137Suppressed rifle dB peak
- 130Jackhammer dBA
- 137–138Chrysler air raid siren dB
- 148–165Starter pistol dB peak
- 140–174Rifle dB peak
- 148–171Handgun dB peak
- 150–170Shotgun dB peak
- 160LRAD sound cannon dBA max
- 165–173Airbag deployment dB peak
- 160–180Stun grenade (flash-bang) dB peak
- 166.1–183Artillery (howitzer) dB peak
- 181–184.9Loudest car stereo dB max
Records and extremes
- 75–110Sonic boom dB max
- 93Loudest snore (world record) dBA max
- 105.9Loudest shout (world record) dBC max
- 108–112.4Loudest burp (world record) dBC max
- 127–136SLS rocket launch (Artemis I) dB max
- 142–155Space Shuttle launch dB max
- 172Krakatoa eruption, 1883 dB peak
- 170–175Saturn V launch dB max
- 194Loudest possible undistorted sound in air dB peak
Underwater
- 26–61.5Underwater decibels vs air decibels dB re 1 µPa
- 151–173Humpback whale song dB re 1 µPa
- 171–193Ship noise underwater dB re 1 µPa
- 183–189Snapping (pistol) shrimp dB re 1 µPa
- 188.5–189Blue whale call dB re 1 µPa
- 189–190Fin whale call dB re 1 µPa
- 223–235Military sonar dB re 1 µPa
- 236Sperm whale click dB re 1 µPa
- 216–260Seismic airgun dB re 1 µPa
- 328Underwater nuclear test (Operation Wigwam, 1955) dB re 1 µPa