How loud is 140 dB?
140 decibels is dangerous. 140 dB sounds about 256.0 times as loud as normal conversation (60 dB), and it carries 1e+08 times the sound energy. Typical sounds around this level: threshold of pain, .22 caliber rifle, jet engine at takeoff.
Decibels are logarithmic: every +10 dB means ten times more sound intensity but is heard as only about twice as loud, and every +6 dB doubles the sound pressure. That is why a few decibels can make a big difference.
Is 140 dB dangerous?
Yes, with enough exposure. NIOSH recommends no more than less than a second per day at 140 dBA (US law, via OSHA, allows 28 seconds). Hearing damage from noise is cumulative and permanent, so use earplugs or earmuffs, increase distance or reduce exposure time.
Impulse noise and the limits of sound
At 140 dB and above even a single exposure – a gunshot, an explosion, fireworks at close range – can cause immediate, permanent hearing damage. NIOSH sets 140 dB as the ceiling for unprotected impulse noise.
194 dB is the theoretical maximum for an undistorted sound wave in air at sea level: the pressure swings between zero (a vacuum) and twice atmospheric pressure. Beyond that, sound becomes a shock wave.
Sounds around 140 dB
Sound starts to hurt; damage can be instant.140 dB.22 caliber rifle
Peak level at the shooter's ear.140 dBJet engine at takeoff
At about 30 m (100 ft).142 dBLoudest stadium crowd
142.2 dB at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, 2014.145 dBFirecracker
Peak level at about 1 m.150 dBFireworks
CDC: fireworks show at 140–160 dB close by.
Safe listening time
| Level | NIOSH recommended limit | OSHA legal limit (US) |
|---|---|---|
| 134 dBA | less than a second | 1.1 minutes |
| 137 dBA | less than a second | 43 seconds |
| 140 dBA | less than a second | 28 seconds |
NIOSH: 85 dBA for 8 hours with a 3 dB exchange rate; OSHA: 90 dBA for 8 hours with a 5 dB exchange rate. General information, not medical advice – see a hearing professional about ringing ears, muffled hearing or pain.
Frequently asked questions
Is 140 dB loud?
140 dB is dangerous. For comparison: threshold of pain, .22 caliber rifle, jet engine at takeoff.
How many times louder is 140 dB than 130 dB?
A 10 dB increase means ten times the sound intensity and is heard as roughly twice as loud.
How long can you listen to 140 dB?
NIOSH recommends a maximum of less than a second per day at 140 dBA.