How loud is 140 decibels?
140 dB and above causes immediate hearing damage. A single gunshot without protection can leave permanent ringing (tinnitus).
- Sounds like
- A gunshot or a firework at close range
- Loudness
- Painfully loud
- Safe per day (NIOSH)
- under 1 s
- OSHA workplace limit
- 28 s
140 dB on the decibel scale
Tap another sound to compare- Safe · under 65 dB
- Caution · 65–85 dB
- Risk · over 85 dB
What 140 dB sounds like
- A gunshot
- Fireworks at close range
- A jet engine at 30 m
Firearms, fireworks, explosions. Phone microphones cannot measure this high; they clip well below it.
Is 140 dB safe?
140 dB can damage hearing. NIOSH recommends no more than under 1 s a day at this level, and OSHA’s legal workplace limit is 28 s. 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.
140 dB compared with other sounds
| Compared with | Difference | Sounds | Sound energy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whisper (30 dB) | +110 dB | 2,048× as loud | 100,000,000,000× more |
| Conversation (60 dB) | +80 dB | 256× as loud | 100,000,000× more |
| Heavy traffic (85 dB) | +55 dB | 45× as loud | 316,228× more |
| Concert (110 dB) | +30 dB | 8× as loud | 1,000× 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 140 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.