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Decibel chart › 114 dB
How loud is 114 decibels?
114 decibels is about as loud as a lion roar, a pneumatic rock drill, an emergency siren. That is at or above the 85 dB hearing-risk line: NIOSH limits safe exposure to about 35 seconds 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 | 114 dB |
|---|---|
| Hearing risk | Extreme |
| Safe exposure (NIOSH) | About 35 seconds a day |
| Workplace limit (OSHA) | 15 to 30 min a day (OSHA noise limits) |
What is comparable to 114 decibels?
Everyday examples of sounds around 114 decibels, each sourced to CDC, NIOSH, NIDCD and ASHA. Open any one for its own breakdown, or see the full decibel levels chart.
- Lion roar 114 dB
- Pneumatic rock drill 115 dB
- Emergency siren 110–129 dB
Is any city as loud as 114 dB?
No city averages 114 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 114 decibels sound like?
114 decibels is about as loud as a lion roar, a pneumatic rock drill, an emergency siren. That is at or above the 85 dB hearing-risk line: NIOSH limits safe exposure to about 35 seconds 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 114 decibels too loud?
Yes, 114 decibels is loud, about the loudness of a lion roar, at or above the 85 dB line, so prolonged exposure can damage hearing and ear protection is recommended.
How long is 114 decibels safe to hear?
At 114 dB, NIOSH puts the safe daily exposure at about 35 seconds a day. Each 3 dB increase halves it.
How far away can you hear 114 dB?
In open air a small source measured at 114 dB from 1 m falls to about 94 dB at 10 m and 74 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 114 dB yourself
Want to know if where you are hits 114 dB? Check it live with the free online decibel meter — it runs in your browser, and nothing is recorded or uploaded.