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Decibel chart › 117 dB
How loud is 117 decibels?
117 decibels is about as loud as a pneumatic rock drill, an emergency siren. That is at or above the 85 dB hearing-risk line: NIOSH limits safe exposure to about 18 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.
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| Sound level | 117 dB |
|---|---|
| Hearing risk | Extreme |
| Safe exposure (NIOSH) | About 18 seconds a day |
| Workplace limit (OSHA) | 15 min or less a day (OSHA noise limits) |
What is comparable to 117 decibels?
Everyday examples of sounds around 117 decibels, each sourced to CDC, NIOSH, NIDCD and ASHA. Open any one for its own breakdown, or see the full decibel levels chart.
- Pneumatic rock drill 115 dB
- Emergency siren 110–129 dB
Is any city as loud as 117 dB?
No city averages 117 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 117 decibels sound like?
117 decibels is about as loud as a pneumatic rock drill, an emergency siren. That is at or above the 85 dB hearing-risk line: NIOSH limits safe exposure to about 18 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 117 decibels too loud?
Yes, 117 decibels is loud, about the loudness of a pneumatic rock drill, at or above the 85 dB line, so prolonged exposure can damage hearing and ear protection is recommended.
How long is 117 decibels safe to hear?
At 117 dB, NIOSH puts the safe daily exposure at about 18 seconds a day. Each 3 dB increase halves it.
How far away can you hear 117 dB?
In open air a small source measured at 117 dB from 1 m falls to about 97 dB at 10 m and 77 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 117 dB yourself
Want to know if where you are hits 117 dB? Check it live with the free online decibel meter — it runs in your browser, and nothing is recorded or uploaded.