How loud is 149 dB?
149 decibels is dangerous. 149 dB sounds about 477.7 times as loud as normal conversation (60 dB), and it carries 7.94e+08 times the sound energy. Typical sounds around this level: .22 caliber rifle, jet engine at takeoff, loudest stadium crowd.
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 149 dB dangerous?
Yes, with enough exposure. NIOSH recommends no more than less than a second per day at 149 dBA (US law, via OSHA, allows 8 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 149 dB
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.160 dB9 mm handgun
Peak impulse level at the shooter's ear.
Frequently asked questions
Is 149 dB loud?
149 dB is dangerous. For comparison: .22 caliber rifle, jet engine at takeoff, loudest stadium crowd.
How many times louder is 149 dB than 139 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 149 dB?
NIOSH recommends a maximum of less than a second per day at 149 dBA.