How loud is a cicada? 85–108.9 dB max

What the numbers mean

How it was measured. Single cicadas measured at 50 cm (mean calling song of Brevisana brevis 106.7 dB; maximum alarm call of Tibicen walkeri 108.9 dB) from the University of Florida Book of Insect Records, which uses Sanborn & Phillips (1995) and Villet (1987). The lower figure is the peak of a periodical cicada chorus (Brood XIX) measured outside Vanderbilt University Medical Center in May 2011, distance not stated. Weighting not stated.

The University of Florida Book of Insect Records defines the loudest insect by the sound level of a single insect at 50 cm, and finds a range of mean levels from 69.1 to 106.7 dB across the 68 cicada species it considered.

The champion is the shrill thorntree cicada, Brevisana brevis, of sub-Saharan Africa, with a mean calling song of 106.7 dB at 50 cm; Guinness World Records lists it as the loudest insect. The highest single measurement in the chapter is an alarm call of 108.9 dB from Tibicen walkeri, a North American species, reported by Sanborn and Phillips (1995).

A chorus of thousands sounds overwhelming but is usually heard from further away. When Brood XIX periodical cicadas emerged in Middle Tennessee in May 2011, Vanderbilt audiologist Todd Ricketts measured peaks of 85 to 88 decibels outside Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

How long is safe?

NIOSH recommends no more than 1 min 55 s a day at 108.9 dBA (8 h at 85). OSHA's legal limit is 35 min. This is a maximum, so a time limit based on it is a worst case. This level is not A-weighted, so the times are approximate: low-pitched sound measures lower in dBA.

Level	NIOSH limit (85 dBA, 3 dB rule)	OSHA limit (90 dBA, 5 dB rule)	UK/EU 80 dB(A) action value reached after	UK/EU 85 dB(A) action value reached after
85 dB max	8 h	No limit	2 h 32 min	Not reached in 24 h
108.9 dB max	1 min 55 s	35 min	37 s	1 min 57 s

Times are for a whole day’s exposure, with the rest of the day quiet. The workplace limits were written for adults at work, not for children. Work out a mixed day with the noise dose calculator.

Children

Children sometimes hold cicadas close to their ears. A single loud species can exceed 100 dB at 50 cm, so it is best not to hold a calling cicada right next to the ear.

Protecting your hearing

For a day in a heavy chorus, such as gardening during a periodical cicada emergence, foam earplugs are sensible: the measured 85 to 88 dB peaks reach the level at which hearing protection is recommended for long exposures. Moving indoors cuts the level sharply.

Earplug and earmuff ratings (NRR in the US, SNR in the UK and EU) are lab figures; real-world protection is usually lower. How to read the ratings.

Compared with sounds nearby

Using midpoints of each range. Energy multiplies by 10 every 10 dB; perceived loudness roughly doubles (why).

Sonic boom (75–110 dB max): this has about 2.8× its sound energy and sounds about 1.4× as loud.
Bagpipes (85–102 dB): this has about 2.2× its sound energy and sounds about 1.3× as loud.
Rooster crowing (100–108 dB max): it has about 5.1× the sound energy of this and sounds about 1.6× as loud.
Fighter jet (103–113 dB max): it has about 13× the sound energy of this and sounds about 2.2× as loud.

Questions

How many decibels is a cicada?

The loudest species, Brevisana brevis, averages 106.7 dB at 50 cm, and one alarm call of Tibicen walkeri reached 108.9 dB. A periodical cicada chorus in Nashville peaked at 85 to 88 dB.

What is the loudest insect?

Guinness World Records lists the shrill thorntree cicada (Brevisana brevis) of Africa, with a mean calling song of 106.7 dB at 50 cm.

Can cicadas damage your hearing?

A chorus peaking at 85 to 88 dB is unlikely to harm hearing in short spells, but long days outdoors in a dense emergence justify earplugs. Do not hold a calling cicada against your ear.

Sources

Chapter 24: Loudest (University of Florida Book of Insect Records, archived copy), University of Florida, Department of Entomology and Nematology. Supports: body: 106.7 dB mean at 50 cm.The African cicada, Brevisana brevis (Homoptera: Cicadidae) produces a calling song with a mean sound pressure level of 106.7 decibels at a distance of 50cm.Checked 2026-11-02.
Chapter 24: Loudest (University of Florida Book of Insect Records, archived copy), University of Florida, Department of Entomology and Nematology. Supports: dB_high: 108.9 dB at 50 cm.A maximum SPL of 108.9 dB was measured in an alarm call produced by Tibicen walkeri MetcalfChecked 2026-11-02.
Chapter 24: Loudest (University of Florida Book of Insect Records, archived copy), University of Florida, Department of Entomology and Nematology. Supports: body: range across 68 species.The range of mean sound pressure levels for samples of calls from the 68 species considered is 69.1-106.7 dBChecked 2026-11-02.
Loudest insect, Guinness World Records. Supports: body: Guinness loudest insect 106.7 dB at 50 cm.which produces a calling song with a mean sound-pressure level of 106.7 decibels at a distance of 50 cmChecked 2026-11-02.
Vanderbilt audiologist measures sound of Music City's 'Loudest Voices', Vanderbilt University Medical Center News. Supports: dB_low: chorus peaks 85 to 88 dB.measured the sound level of the cicadas at peaks of 85-88 decibels outside of Vanderbilt University Medical CenterChecked 2026-11-02.
Vanderbilt audiologist measures sound of Music City's 'Loudest Voices', Vanderbilt University Medical Center News. Supports: protection: 85 dB guidance.The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recommends wearing ear protection for consistent levels of 85 decibels or higher.Checked 2026-11-02.
Vanderbilt audiologist measures sound of Music City's 'Loudest Voices', Vanderbilt University Medical Center News. Supports: body: Brood XIX.The cicadas currently present in Middle Tennessee are known as Brood XIXChecked 2026-11-02.

This page is general information, not medical advice. If you have ringing in your ears, muffled hearing or any change in your hearing, see an audiologist or your doctor.