How loud is it?
Tap Start and allow the microphone. You get a rough sound level in decibels and a plain comparison, like a vacuum cleaner or a busy street. Nothing is recorded or uploaded.
Waiting for the microphone
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- Avg
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- Max
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Approximate. A browser can't calibrate your microphone, so expect it to be off by up to 10 dB.
Calibrate
If you know the real level from a sound level meter, nudge this until the numbers match.
How accurate is an online decibel meter?
Close enough to compare, not close enough to prove. A browser hands the page a processed signal from a microphone it cannot calibrate, so the same room can read 10 dB apart on two devices. Use it to compare one room with another, or before and after you close a window.
The number here is an unweighted level, not dBA. A-weighting follows how the ear hears and usually reads a little lower when there is a lot of bass. See dBA vs dBC vs dBZ: which decibel weighting to use.
What the numbers mean
| Sound | Typical level |
|---|---|
| Whisper | about 30 dB |
| Quiet library | about 40 dB |
| Quiet office | about 50 dB |
| Normal conversation | about 60 dB |
| Vacuum cleaner | about 70 dB |
| Busy street | about 80 dB |
| Lawn mower | about 90 dB |
| Motorbike | about 100 dB |
| Rock concert | about 110 dB |
Long exposure at 85 dB or more can damage hearing. See How loud is too loud? A decibel chart with everyday sounds.
When you need proof
For a noise complaint, a rough number from a web page will not carry much weight. You need readings over time, with the date, time and place attached. See How to record noise from neighbors as evidence.
Frequently asked questions
Is anything recorded or uploaded?
No. The sound is measured inside your browser and discarded at once. No audio is recorded, stored or sent to us, and the microphone turns off when you tap Stop or leave the page.
How accurate is it?
Usually within about 10 dB. Browsers process the microphone signal and cannot be calibrated, so treat the number as an estimate and use it for comparisons.
Is this dBA?
No. It shows an unweighted level. dBA applies a filter that follows human hearing and is what most noise rules use.
What level is too loud?
NIOSH recommends no more than 8 hours a day at 85 dBA. The safe time halves with every 3 dB above that, so 94 dBA is about 1 hour.
Why does it ask for my microphone?
A sound level can only be measured by listening. The page listens only while the meter is running, and nothing leaves your device.