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Decibel chart › 129 dB
How loud is 129 decibels?
129 decibels is about as loud as an air horn, an emergency siren. That is at or above the 85 dB hearing-risk line: NIOSH limits safe exposure to about 1 second 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 | 129 dB |
|---|---|
| Hearing risk | Extreme |
| Safe exposure (NIOSH) | About 1 second a day |
| Workplace limit (OSHA) | 15 min or less a day (OSHA noise limits) |
What is comparable to 129 decibels?
Everyday examples of sounds around 129 decibels, each sourced to CDC, NIOSH, NIDCD and ASHA. Open any one for its own breakdown, or see the full decibel levels chart.
- Air horn 129 dB
- Emergency siren 110–129 dB
Is any city as loud as 129 dB?
No city averages 129 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 129 decibels sound like?
129 decibels is about as loud as an air horn, an emergency siren. That is at or above the 85 dB hearing-risk line: NIOSH limits safe exposure to about 1 second 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 129 decibels too loud?
Yes, 129 decibels is loud, about the loudness of an air horn, at or above the 85 dB line, so prolonged exposure can damage hearing and ear protection is recommended.
How long is 129 decibels safe to hear?
At 129 dB, NIOSH puts the safe daily exposure at about 1 second a day. Each 3 dB increase halves it.
How far away can you hear 129 dB?
In open air a small source measured at 129 dB from 1 m falls to about 109 dB at 10 m and 89 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 129 dB yourself
Want to know if where you are hits 129 dB? Check it live with the free online decibel meter — it runs in your browser, and nothing is recorded or uploaded.