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Decibel chart › 118 dB
How loud is 118 decibels?
118 decibels is about as loud as an emergency siren, a thunderclap, a mri scanner. That is at or above the 85 dB hearing-risk line: NIOSH limits safe exposure to about 14 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 | 118 dB |
|---|---|
| Hearing risk | Extreme |
| Safe exposure (NIOSH) | About 14 seconds a day |
| Workplace limit (OSHA) | 15 min or less a day (OSHA noise limits) |
What is comparable to 118 decibels?
Everyday examples of sounds around 118 decibels, each sourced to CDC, NIOSH, NIDCD and ASHA. Open any one for its own breakdown, or see the full decibel levels chart.
- Emergency siren 110–129 dB
- Thunderclap 120 dB
- MRI scanner 120 dB
- Military jet at 100 m 120 dB
Is any city as loud as 118 dB?
No city averages 118 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 118 decibels sound like?
118 decibels is about as loud as an emergency siren, a thunderclap, a mri scanner. That is at or above the 85 dB hearing-risk line: NIOSH limits safe exposure to about 14 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 118 decibels too loud?
Yes, 118 decibels is loud, about the loudness of an emergency siren, at or above the 85 dB line, so prolonged exposure can damage hearing and ear protection is recommended.
How long is 118 decibels safe to hear?
At 118 dB, NIOSH puts the safe daily exposure at about 14 seconds a day. Each 3 dB increase halves it.
How far away can you hear 118 dB?
In open air a small source measured at 118 dB from 1 m falls to about 98 dB at 10 m and 78 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 118 dB yourself
Want to know if where you are hits 118 dB? Check it live with the free online decibel meter — it runs in your browser, and nothing is recorded or uploaded.