How loud is 150 dB?
150 decibels is dangerous. 150 dB sounds about 512.0 times as loud as normal conversation (60 dB), and it carries 1e+09 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 150 dB dangerous?
Yes, with enough exposure. NIOSH recommends no more than less than a second per day at 150 dBA (US law, via OSHA, allows 7 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 150 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 150 dB loud?
150 dB is dangerous. For comparison: .22 caliber rifle, jet engine at takeoff, loudest stadium crowd.
How many times louder is 150 dB than 140 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 150 dB?
NIOSH recommends a maximum of less than a second per day at 150 dBA.