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Decibel chart › 105 dB
How loud is 105 decibels?
105 decibels is about as loud as a train horn, a personal listening device at max volume, a nightclub or loud bar. That is at or above the 85 dB hearing-risk line: NIOSH limits safe exposure to about 5 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.
Last updated:
| Sound level | 105 dB |
|---|---|
| Hearing risk | Extreme |
| Safe exposure (NIOSH) | About 5 minutes a day |
| Workplace limit (OSHA) | 1 hour a day (OSHA noise limits) |
What is comparable to 105 decibels?
Everyday examples of sounds around 105 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
- Personal listening device at max volume 105–110 dB
- Nightclub or loud bar 105–110 dB
- Rock concert 105–110 dB
- Sporting event 94–110 dB
- Circular saw 96–107 dB
- Movie theater 74–104 dB
Is any city as loud as 105 dB?
No city averages 105 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 105 decibels sound like?
105 decibels is about as loud as a train horn, a personal listening device at max volume, a nightclub or loud bar. That is at or above the 85 dB hearing-risk line: NIOSH limits safe exposure to about 5 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 105 decibels too loud?
Yes, 105 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 105 decibels safe to hear?
At 105 dB, NIOSH puts the safe daily exposure at about 5 minutes a day. Each 3 dB increase halves it.
How far away can you hear 105 dB?
In open air a small source measured at 105 dB from 1 m falls to about 85 dB at 10 m and 65 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 105 dB yourself
Want to know if where you are hits 105 dB? Check it live with the free online decibel meter — it runs in your browser, and nothing is recorded or uploaded.
