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Decibel chart › 103 dB
How loud is 103 decibels?
103 decibels is about as loud as a train horn, a sporting event, a circular saw. That is at or above the 85 dB hearing-risk line: NIOSH limits safe exposure to about 8 minutes a day, and every 3 dB louder halves that. On the decibel scale, each 10 dB step sounds roughly twice as loud. Measure it yourself with Decibel Shield's free online decibel meter.
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| Sound level | 103 dB |
|---|---|
| Hearing risk | Extreme |
| Safe exposure (NIOSH) | About 8 minutes a day |
| Workplace limit (OSHA) | 1 to 1.5 hours a day (OSHA noise limits) |
What is comparable to 103 decibels?
Everyday examples of sounds around 103 decibels, each sourced to CDC, NIOSH, NIDCD and ASHA. Open any one for its own breakdown, or see the full decibel levels chart.
- Train horn 96–110 dB
- Sporting event 94–110 dB
- Circular saw 96–107 dB
- Personal listening device at max volume 105–110 dB
- Nightclub or loud bar 105–110 dB
- Rock concert 105–110 dB
- Movie theater 74–104 dB
Is any city as loud as 103 dB?
No city averages 103 dB. That is a sound-source level, not an ambient one. The loudest mapped cities peak around 70–75 dB by day. These are the loudest mapped.
- Orange, CA 4.4% of residents at 70 dBA or more
- Terni 55–75 dB by day
- Hastings 55–75 dB by day
What does 103 decibels sound like?
103 decibels is about as loud as a train horn, a sporting event, a circular saw. That is at or above the 85 dB hearing-risk line: NIOSH limits safe exposure to about 8 minutes a day, and every 3 dB louder halves that. On the decibel scale, each 10 dB step sounds roughly twice as loud. Measure it yourself with Decibel Shield's free online decibel meter.
Is 103 decibels too loud?
Yes, 103 decibels is loud, about the loudness of a train horn, at or above the 85 dB line, so prolonged exposure can damage hearing and ear protection is recommended.
How long is 103 decibels safe to hear?
At 103 dB, NIOSH puts the safe daily exposure at about 8 minutes a day. Each 3 dB increase halves it.
How far away can you hear 103 dB?
In open air a small source measured at 103 dB from 1 m falls to about 83 dB at 10 m and 63 dB at 100 m, losing 6 dB each time the distance doubles. You keep hearing it while it stays above the background level around you: farther in a quiet field at night, much less on a 60 dB street. Walls, ground and wind change the figure.
Work out any distance, or a line source such as a road, with the sound distance calculator.
Measure 103 dB yourself
Want to know if where you are hits 103 dB? Check it live with the free online decibel meter — it runs in your browser, and nothing is recorded or uploaded.