How loud is a flash-bang?
Flash-bang grenades produce a report quoted at 160 to 180 dB, according to an International Network of Civil Liberties Organizations and Physicians for Human Rights factsheet. A US patent describes the military M84 as delivering a bang of about 170 to 180 dB within a 5 ft (1.5 m) radius, and one manufacturer's data sheet gives 165 ±5 dB peak.
- Level
- 160–180 dB peakunweighted peak sound pressure level
- Distance
- 1.5 mwithin about 1.5 m (5 ft)
- Daily limit
- No safe unprotected exposureimpulse noise
What the numbers mean
How it was measured. Report levels quoted for flash-bang grenades: 160 to 180 dB (INCLO/PHR factsheet, distance not stated), 165 ±5 dB (manufacturer data sheet, peak, distance not stated) and about 170 to 180 dB within a 5 ft (1.5 m) radius for the US M84 (US patent).
A flash-bang deflagrates a pyrotechnic charge, typically magnesium-based, inside a rigid body that is not designed to fragment, producing an intense flash and an impulse intended to disorient. The patent text states the M84 figure as a radius rather than a precise measurement distance, and none of these sources describe how the peak was measured, so treat the figures as indicative.
Human rights groups documenting crowd-control weapons report that deploying them into crowds or near people's heads causes serious injuries, including burns when the device goes off close to a person.
How dangerous is a 160–180 dB peak?
A peak of 180 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 |
Protecting your hearing
There is no safe distance for an unprotected ear close to a flash-bang. Operators train with hearing protection.
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 flash-bang grenade?
Sources quote 160 to 180 dB peak, and about 170 to 180 dB within 1.5 m for the US M84.
Sources
- Lethal in Disguise 2: Disorientation devices factsheet, International Network of Civil Liberties Organizations and Physicians for Human Rights. Supports: dB_low/high: 160-180 dB.
flash and/or loud (160-180 dB) report is produced
Checked 2026-11-03. - Lethal in Disguise 2: Disorientation devices factsheet, International Network of Civil Liberties Organizations and Physicians for Human Rights. Supports: body: construction.
These weapons are contained within a rigid grenade body and are not designed to fragment.
Checked 2026-11-03. - US8161883B1 - Flash-bang grenade with greater flash intensity, US patent (via Google Patents). Supports: M84: 170-180 dB within 1.5 m.
a bang in the order of about 170 to about 180 db within a 5 foot (about 1.5 m) radius
Checked 2026-11-03. - Pyro Distraction PT4523A data sheet, PrimeTake (manufacturer). Supports: 165 ±5 dB.
Sound Output: 165 ±5dB
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.