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Decibel chart › 109 dB
How loud is 109 decibels?
109 decibels is about as loud as a chainsaw, shouting or barking directly in the ear, a sonic boom. That is at or above the 85 dB hearing-risk line: NIOSH limits safe exposure to about 2 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 | 109 dB |
|---|---|
| Hearing risk | Extreme |
| Safe exposure (NIOSH) | About 2 minutes a day |
| Workplace limit (OSHA) | 30 min to 1 hour a day (OSHA noise limits) |
What is comparable to 109 decibels?
Everyday examples of sounds around 109 decibels, each sourced to CDC, NIOSH, NIDCD and ASHA. Open any one for its own breakdown, or see the full decibel levels chart.
- Chainsaw 110 dB
- Shouting or barking directly in the ear 110 dB
- Sonic boom 110 dB
- Personal listening device at max volume 105–110 dB
- Nightclub or loud bar 105–110 dB
- Rock concert 105–110 dB
- Train horn 96–110 dB
- Sporting event 94–110 dB
- Circular saw 96–107 dB
- Emergency siren 110–129 dB
Is any city as loud as 109 dB?
No city averages 109 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 109 decibels sound like?
109 decibels is about as loud as a chainsaw, shouting or barking directly in the ear, a sonic boom. That is at or above the 85 dB hearing-risk line: NIOSH limits safe exposure to about 2 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 109 decibels too loud?
Yes, 109 decibels is loud, about the loudness of a chainsaw, at or above the 85 dB line, so prolonged exposure can damage hearing and ear protection is recommended.
How long is 109 decibels safe to hear?
At 109 dB, NIOSH puts the safe daily exposure at about 2 minutes a day. Each 3 dB increase halves it.
How far away can you hear 109 dB?
In open air a small source measured at 109 dB from 1 m falls to about 89 dB at 10 m and 69 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 109 dB yourself
Want to know if where you are hits 109 dB? Check it live with the free online decibel meter — it runs in your browser, and nothing is recorded or uploaded.