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Decibel chart › 138 dB
How loud is 138 decibels?
138 decibels is about as loud as firecrackers, a jet engine at takeoff, a fireworks show. 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.
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| Sound level | 138 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 138 decibels?
Everyday examples of sounds around 138 decibels, each sourced to CDC, NIOSH, NIDCD and ASHA. Open any one for its own breakdown, or see the full decibel levels chart.
- Firecrackers 140–150 dB
- Jet engine at takeoff 140–150 dB
- Fireworks show 140–160 dB
- Gunshot 140–165 dB
Is any city as loud as 138 dB?
No city averages 138 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 138 decibels sound like?
138 decibels is about as loud as firecrackers, a jet engine at takeoff, a fireworks show. 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 138 decibels too loud?
Yes, 138 decibels is loud, about the loudness of firecrackers, at or above the 85 dB line, so prolonged exposure can damage hearing and ear protection is recommended.
How long is 138 decibels safe to hear?
At 138 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 138 dB?
In open air a small source measured at 138 dB from 1 m falls to about 118 dB at 10 m and 98 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 138 dB yourself
Want to know if where you are hits 138 dB? Check it live with the free online decibel meter — it runs in your browser, and nothing is recorded or uploaded.