Decibel Shield
Decibel chart › 48 dB
How loud is 48 decibels?
48 decibels is about as loud as moderate rainfall. It is well under the 85 dB hearing-risk line, so it carries no hearing-damage risk at any length of exposure. Sleep is a separate question: the WHO night guideline is 45 dB. 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 | 48 dB |
|---|---|
| Hearing risk | No hearing risk |
| Safe exposure (NIOSH) | No limit — safe at any duration |
What is comparable to 48 decibels?
Everyday examples of sounds around 48 decibels, each sourced to CDC, NIOSH, NIDCD and ASHA. Open any one for its own breakdown, or see the full decibel levels chart.
- Moderate rainfall 50 dB
Cities where 48 dB is the street level
48 dB is an everyday outdoor level in some cities. These pages show official noise-map noise for a whole city: the share of residents at 45–60 dBA in the US, and the daytime range from official noise maps in Europe and the UK.
- Elizabeth, NJ 86.1% of residents at 45–60 dBA
- Kaunas 45–60 dB by day
What does 48 decibels sound like?
48 decibels is about as loud as moderate rainfall. It is well under the 85 dB hearing-risk line, so it carries no hearing-damage risk at any length of exposure. Sleep is a separate question: the WHO night guideline is 45 dB. 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 48 decibels too loud?
48 decibels is moderate, about the loudness of moderate rainfall, not what most people would call loud. It sits around everyday conversation and background sound, and is comfortable to hear for any length of time.
How long is 48 decibels safe to hear?
48 dB is below the 85 dB hearing-risk threshold, so there is no daily exposure limit for hearing.
How far away can you hear 48 dB?
In open air a small source measured at 48 dB from 1 m falls to about 28 dB at 10 m and 8 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 48 dB yourself
Want to know if where you are hits 48 dB? Check it live with the free online decibel meter — it runs in your browser, and nothing is recorded or uploaded.