Last Updated: 04/30/2013
| Environmental Noise |
| Weakest sound heard |
0dB |
| Whisper Quiet Library at 6' |
30dB |
| Normal conversation at 3' |
60-65dB |
| Telephone dial tone |
80dB |
| City Traffic (inside car) |
85dB |
| Train whistle at 500', Truck Traffic |
90dB |
| Jackhammer at 50' |
95dB |
| Subway train at 200' |
95dB |
| Level at which sustained exposure may result in hearing loss |
90 - 95dB |
| Hand Drill |
98dB |
| Power mower at 3' |
107dB |
| Snowmobile, Motorcycle |
100dB |
| Power saw at 3' |
110dB |
| Sandblasting, Loud Rock Concert |
115dB |
| Pain begins |
125dB |
| Pneumatic riveter at 4' |
125dB |
| Even short term exposure can cause permanent damage - Loudest recommended exposure WITH hearing protection |
140dB |
| Jet engine at 100' |
140dB |
| 12 Gauge Shotgun Blast |
165dB |
| Death of hearing tissue |
180dB |
| Loudest sound possible |
194dB |
| OSHA Daily Permissible Noise Level Exposure |
| Hours per day |
Sound level |
| 8 |
90dB |
| 6 |
92dB |
| 4 |
95dB |
| 3 |
97dB |
| 2 |
100dB |
| 1.5 |
102dB |
| 1 |
105dB |
| .5 |
110dB |
| .25 or less |
115dB |
| NIOSH Daily Permissible Noise Level Exposure |
| Hours per day |
Sound level |
| 8 |
85dBA |
| 6 |
86dBA |
| 4 |
88dBA |
| 3 |
89dBA |
| 2 |
90dBA |
| 1.5 |
92dBA |
| 1 |
94dBA |
| .5 |
97dBA |
| .25 or less |
100dBA |
| 0 |
112dBA |
| Perceptions of Increases in Decibel Level |
| Imperceptible Change |
1dB |
| Barely Perceptible Change |
3dB |
| Clearly Noticeable Change |
5dB |
| About Twice as Loud |
10dB |
| About Four Times as Loud |
20dB |
| Sound Levels of Music |
| Normal piano practice |
60 -70dB |
| Fortissimo Singer, 3' |
70dB |
| Chamber music, small auditorium |
75 - 85dB |
| Piano Fortissimo |
84 - 103dB |
| Violin |
82 - 92dB |
| Cello |
85 -111dB |
| Oboe |
95-112dB |
| Flute |
92 -103dB |
| Piccolo |
90 -106dB |
| Clarinet |
85 - 114dB |
| French horn |
90 - 106dB |
| Trombone |
85 - 114dB |
| Tympani & bass drum |
106dB |
| Walkman on 5/10 |
94dB |
| Symphonic music peak |
120 - 137dB |
| Amplifier, rock, 4-6' |
120dB |
| Rock music peak |
150dB |
Notes
- One-third of the total power of a 75-piece orchestra comes from the bass drum.
- High frequency sounds of 2-4,000 Hz are the most damaging. The uppermost octave of the piccolo is 2,048-4,096 Hz.
- Aging causes gradual hearing loss, mostly in the high frequencies.
- Speech reception is not seriously impaired until there is about 30 dB loss; by that time severe damage may have occurred.
Measure it yourself with one of our sound level meters.
