How loud is a vuvuzela?
A single vuvuzela produces a maximum of about 113 to 131 dBA, according to a South African study. The highest level was at the bell of the horn and the lowest at 2 m, and the authors say levels at the bell are at or above 130 dBA.
- Level
- 113–131 dBA maxA-weighted maximum sound level
- Daily limit
- under 1 s a dayNIOSH, at the loud end
- Versus conversation
- 891,251× energyabout 61.8× as loud
What the numbers mean
How it was measured. Maximum A-weighted output of an official vuvuzela measured outdoors with a type 1 sound level meter at the blower's ear, at the bell, and at 1 m and 2 m; values averaged over two recordings per position.
Ahead of the 2010 World Cup, audiologists at the University of Pretoria measured an official vuvuzela outdoors on a lawn to mimic an open stadium. Maximum output averaged over two recordings ranged from 113 to 131 dBA across the four positions, and the sound was broad across 250 to 8000 Hz.
Under South African occupational rules, no one within a 2 m radius of a vuvuzela, including the person blowing it, should be exposed to it continually for more than a minute. In a stadium, thousands of horns play together for the whole match.
How long is safe?
NIOSH recommends no more than under 1 s a day at 131 dBA (45 s at 113). OSHA's legal limit is 1 min 38 s. This is a maximum, so a time limit based on it is a worst case.
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 113 dBA | 45 s | 20 min | 14 s | 46 s |
| 131 dBA | under 1 s | 1 min 38 s | under 1 s | under 1 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.
Protecting your hearing
Wear earplugs at matches where vuvuzelas or similar horns are used, and keep at least a couple of metres from anyone blowing one. If you blow one yourself, your own ear is close to the loudest point.
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).
- Police siren (115–120 dBA): this has about 2.8× its sound energy and sounds about 1.4× as loud.
- Earbuds at full volume (115.5–120 dBA): this has about 2.7× its sound energy and sounds about 1.3× as loud.
- Basketball arena (record) (129.2–130.4 dBA max): it has about 6× the sound energy of this and sounds about 1.7× as loud.
- Jackhammer (130 dBA): it has about 6.3× the sound energy of this and sounds about 1.7× as loud.
- Normal conversation (55–70 dBA): this has about 891,251× its energy and sounds about 61.8× as loud.
Questions
Is a vuvuzela louder than a stadium crowd?
One vuvuzela measured 113 to 131 dBA at distances up to 2 m, comparable to record crowd roars measured in stadiums.
How long can you listen to a vuvuzela?
The study authors say no one within 2 m should be exposed continually for more than a minute under South African occupational rules.
Sources
- Vuvuzela - good for your team, bad for your ears, South African Medical Journal (2010). Supports: dB_high: 131 dBA maximum.
131 dBA (Fig. 1). The intensities between repeated measures
Checked 2026-11-02. - Vuvuzela - good for your team, bad for your ears, South African Medical Journal (2010). Supports: dB_low: 113 dBA.
lowest recorded intensity of 113 dBA
Checked 2026-11-02. - Vuvuzela - good for your team, bad for your ears, South African Medical Journal (2010). Supports: 2 m radius, one minute.
a 2-metre radius of a vuvuzela, including the person blowing
Checked 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.