How loud is a fighter jet?
At 1,000 feet (about 300 m) above the ground on take-off, fighter jets reach maximum levels of 103 to 113 dB: 111 dB for the F-35A and 113 dB for the F/A-18E/F at military power, without afterburner. The National Park Service lists a military jet at 100 m above ground at 120 dBA.
- Level
- 103–113 dB maxunweighted maximum sound level
- Distance
- 305 m1,000 ft (305 m) above ground on take-off
- Daily limit
- About 45 s a dayNIOSH, at the loud end
What the numbers mean
How it was measured. Lmax (1-second maximum) at 1,000 ft above ground level during military-power take-off (no afterburner), from the F-35 Joint Program Office. Weighting not stated in the source (levels given as dB). F-16C/D (PW220) 103, F-35A 111, F/A-18E/F 113.
An F-35 Joint Program Office summary of noise tests at Edwards Air Force Base in 2013 compares the F-35 with older fighters at the same point, 1,000 ft above ground on a military-power take-off. The F-35A measured 111 dB Lmax, against 110 dB for an F-16C/D with the PW229 engine, 103 dB for an F-16 with the older PW220, 108 dB for the F/A-18C/D, 113 dB for the F/A-18E/F and 110 dB for the F-35B. Lmax here is the loudest 1-second level.
Military power is the engine's maximum continuous power without afterburner, so take-offs using afterburner are louder still. Closer to the ground the level rises: the US National Park Service gives 120 dBA for a military jet flying 100 m above ground in Yukon-Charley Rivers National Park.
Inside the cockpit pilots are exposed to 97 to 104 dBA in fighter aircraft, according to a review of military noise, which is why aircrew helmets carry hearing protection.
How long is safe?
NIOSH recommends no more than 45 s a day at 113 dBA (7 min 30 s at 103). OSHA's legal limit is 20 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 103 dB max | 7 min 30 s | 1 h 19 min | 2 min 24 s | 7 min 36 s |
| 113 dB max | 45 s | 20 min | 14 s | 46 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 at air shows should wear earmuffs that fit; fighter fly-pasts at low height reach 120 dBA at 100 m.
Protecting your hearing
At air shows and near bases, stay well back from the runway and wear earplugs or earmuffs for the flying display. Children should have properly fitting earmuffs.
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).
- Cicada (85–108.9 dB max): this has about 13× its sound energy and sounds about 2.2× as loud.
- Rooster crowing (100–108 dB max): this has about 2.5× its sound energy and sounds about 1.3× as loud.
- Lion roar (114–117 dB max): it has about 5.6× the sound energy of this and sounds about 1.7× as loud.
- Elephant (112–120 dB max): it has about 6.3× the sound energy of this and sounds about 1.7× as loud.
Questions
How loud is an F-35?
On a military-power take-off it measured 111 dB Lmax at 1,000 ft above ground, about the same as an F-16 with the PW229 engine (110 dB).
Is the F-35 louder than the F-16?
It is about equal to the F-16 with the PW229 engine (111 vs 110 dB on take-off) but louder than the F-16 with the older PW220 (103 dB).
How loud is a fighter jet flying low?
The National Park Service lists a military jet at 100 m above ground at 120 dBA.
Sources
- F-35 Noise Measurement Executive Summary, F-35 Joint Program Office (published by the Dutch government, officielebekendmakingen.nl). Supports: dB_low 103 (F-16C/D PW220), 111 (F-35A), dB_high 113 (F/A-18E/F).
Mil Takeoff (1000 ft AGL) 112 111 103 110 110 108 113 105
Checked 2026-11-03. - F-35 Noise Measurement Executive Summary, F-35 Joint Program Office (published by the Dutch government, officielebekendmakingen.nl). Supports: F-35A 111 dB vs F-16 PW229.
During takeoff, the F-35A (111 dB) is almost equal in noise level to the F-16 with the latest generation PW229
Checked 2026-11-03. - F-35 Noise Measurement Executive Summary, F-35 Joint Program Office (published by the Dutch government, officielebekendmakingen.nl). Supports: metric definition.
Lmax = Maximum instantaneous (1 sec) sound level
Checked 2026-11-03. - Understanding Sound, US National Park Service. Supports: 120 dBA at 100 m.
120 Military jet at 100 m AGL (Yukon-Charley Rivers National Park)
Checked 2026-11-03. - Impact of noise on hearing in the military, Military Medical Research (2015). Supports: cockpit 97 to 104 dBA.
In fighter planes, the noise level ranged from 97 to 104 dBA, in jet trainers the noise level was at 100 to 106 dBA
Checked 2026-11-03.
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.