How loud is 130 decibels?
130 dB is the threshold of pain. Any exposure is dangerous, and even a short burst can cause lasting damage.
- Sounds like
- A jackhammer at 1 m or a jet at 100 m
- Loudness
- Painfully loud
- Safe per day (NIOSH)
- 1 s
- OSHA workplace limit
- 2 min
130 dB on the decibel scale
Tap another sound to compare- Safe · under 65 dB
- Caution · 65–85 dB
- Risk · over 85 dB
What 130 dB sounds like
- A jackhammer at 1 m
- A military jet at 100 m
- A stock car race
Military aircraft, car racing pit lanes, heavy machinery right next to you.
Is 130 dB safe?
130 dB can damage hearing. NIOSH recommends no more than 1 s a day at this level, and OSHA’s legal workplace limit is 2 min. Ear plugs or earmuffs typically cut 15–30 dB.
Hearing damage from noise adds up over time and does not heal. If your ears ring or sounds seem muffled after being somewhere this loud, that is a sign the exposure was too long. How loud is too loud? explains the limits in detail.
130 dB compared with other sounds
| Compared with | Difference | Sounds | Sound energy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whisper (30 dB) | +100 dB | 1,024× as loud | 10,000,000,000× more |
| Conversation (60 dB) | +70 dB | 128× as loud | 10,000,000× more |
| Heavy traffic (85 dB) | +45 dB | 23× as loud | 31,623× more |
| Concert (110 dB) | +20 dB | 4× as loud | 100× more |
Rule of thumb: +10 dB sounds about twice as loud and carries ten times the energy. See what is a decibel.
How to check if a sound is 130 dB
Open the free online decibel meter on this site and allow the microphone. Hold your phone or laptop where your ears would be, wait a few seconds, and read the average rather than the momentary number. For a reliable, calibrated reading you can save or show to someone else, use the Decibel Meter app on iPhone.