How loud is a gunshot from a handgun?
Pistols larger than .22 calibre produce mean peak sound pressure levels of about 148 to 171 dB (unweighted) at the shooter's ear, according to a 2017 review. US Army data list 157 dB peak at the shooter for the M9 9 mm pistol.
- Level
- 148–171 dB peakunweighted peak sound pressure level
- Daily limit
- No safe unprotected exposureimpulse noise
What the numbers mean
How it was measured. Range of mean unweighted peak sound pressure levels at the left ear of a right-handed shooter for pistols larger than .22 calibre (review of published measurements); US Army figure for an M9 9 mm pistol at the shooter.
A gunshot is an impulse lasting a few milliseconds, so it is measured as a peak rather than an A-weighted average. The review notes that pistols rank high because their short barrels put the muzzle close to the ears; even .22 pistols reach about 155 to 158 dB peak.
Indoors, reflections from walls add to the exposure, and bystanders are exposed too: measurements 1 m to the left of shooters for 15 firearms ranged from 149 to 167 dB peak.
How dangerous is a 148–171 dB peak?
A peak of 171 dB is at or above 140 dB, the impulse limit used by NIOSH and OSHA and the EU and UK exposure limit value. A single exposure at close range can damage hearing.
| Rule | Peak limit | This sound |
|---|---|---|
| UK and EU lower exposure action value | 135 dB(C) | Above |
| UK and EU upper exposure action value | 137 dB(C) | Above |
| UK and EU exposure limit value; NIOSH and OSHA impulse ceiling | 140 dB | Above |
Children
Children should never be near shooting without hearing protection; the WHO limit cited in the research for children is 120 dB peak, far below any gunshot.
Protecting your hearing
Wear well-fitted earplugs plus earmuffs (double protection) when shooting, especially indoors. Electronic muffs let you hear range commands while limiting impulses.
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.
Questions
How many decibels is a 9mm gunshot?
US Army measurements give 157 dB peak at the shooter for the M9 9 mm pistol; pistols over .22 calibre range from about 148 to 171 dB peak.
Is a .22 pistol safe without ear protection?
No. .22 pistols still produce about 155 to 158 dB peak at the shooter's ear.
Sources
- Prevention of Noise-Induced Hearing Loss from Recreational Firearms, Seminars in Hearing (2017), open access via PMC. Supports: dB_low/high: 148-171 dB peak.
Pistols (higher caliber than 0.22) ∼148–171
Checked 2026-11-03. - Prevention of Noise-Induced Hearing Loss from Recreational Firearms, Seminars in Hearing (2017), open access via PMC. Supports: body: .22 pistols 155-158 dB.
Pistols (0.22 caliber) ∼155–158
Checked 2026-11-03. - Prevention of Noise-Induced Hearing Loss from Recreational Firearms, Seminars in Hearing (2017), open access via PMC. Supports: body: barrel length.
Pistols have shorter barrel lengths than rifles and shotguns and rank high in peak SPL due in part to the closer proximity of the muzzle to the ears.
Checked 2026-11-03. - Prevention of Noise-Induced Hearing Loss from Recreational Firearms, Seminars in Hearing (2017), open access via PMC. Supports: body: bystander 149-167 dB.
Instantaneous peak levels ranged between 149 and 167 dB and were considered to be unsafe exposures for the bystanders.
Checked 2026-11-03. - Prevention of Noise-Induced Hearing Loss from Recreational Firearms, Seminars in Hearing (2017), open access via PMC. Supports: kids: 120 dB peak limit.
The World Health Organization recommends peak SPLs not exceed 140 dB for adults and 120 dB for youth.
Checked 2026-11-03. - Noise levels of common Army equipment: steady noise (Table A-1) and impulse noise (Table A-2), US Army hearing conservation programme, Fort Campbell (archived 2013). Supports: 157 dB peak, M9 pistol.
M9 9mm pistol Shooter 157
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.