Sound Level Reference

How Loud Is It? Decibel Levels of Everyday Sounds

Quick answer

Most household sounds sit between about 35 dB (a refrigerator hum) and 80 dB (a vacuum cleaner). Around 85 dBA is where NIOSH's occupational guideline starts limiting daily exposure, and impulsive sounds such as gunshots and fireworks can exceed 140 dB peak. A decibel figure only means something alongside the distance it was measured at and whether the sound is steady or sudden.

Estimate your own room's noise level

Comparison of 12 everyday sounds

Sorted from quietest to loudest. Ranges are typical or illustrative published values, not measurements from SnapRoomScore, and individual sources vary. Each row links to a page with more detail.

Typical decibel ranges of 12 everyday sounds with measuring context
Sound	Typical range	Context
A refrigeratorIntermittent	35–50 dB	Cycles on and off; most noticeable at night in open-plan or studio homes.
A dishwasherIntermittent	42–55 dB	Label figure is lab sound power; real kitchens vary by wash stage and cabinetry.
An air conditionerContinuous	50–75 dB	Depends on unit type: compressor indoors (portable/window) is far louder than a split system.
SnoringIntermittent	50–90 dB	Near the sleeper; highly variable, and peaks matter more than averages.
A vacuum cleanerContinuous	70–80 dB	About 1 m from the machine; hard floors and bare walls raise the reading.
A dog barkingIntermittent	80–100 dB	1–3 m from the dog; much lower through a wall, but sudden onsets make it disruptive.
A motorcycleContinuous	80–105 dB	Roadside at 7.5 m; for riders, helmet wind noise is often the bigger exposure.
A lawn mowerContinuous	85–95 dB	Operator position; electric and robot mowers are much quieter than petrol.
A concertContinuous	100–120 dB	Audience area; level depends heavily on distance from the speakers.
A jet engineContinuous	120–150 dB	Figures depend entirely on distance — always check where the meter stood.
A gunshotImpulsive	140–175 dB	Peak level at the shooter's ear; far beyond what a phone or browser meter can capture.
FireworksImpulsive	150–175 dB	Peak at detonation; spectators receive far less. Not measurable with a phone or browser meter.

For a wider scale from breathing to 170 dB, see the decibel chart.

Continuous, intermittent and impulsive sounds

Continuous sounds, such as an air conditioner or a lawn mower, are usually described by an average level over time (for example LAeq, an A-weighted equivalent continuous level). Occupational guidance like NIOSH's 85 dBA over 8 hours applies to this kind of average.

Intermittent sounds — a fridge cycling, a dog barking, snoring — switch on and off. Their average can look low while individual bursts are what people notice and what disturbs sleep.

Impulsive sounds such as gunshots and fireworks last milliseconds and are described by their peak level. NIOSH recommends that unprotected exposure never exceed a 140 dB peak.

Background, average and peak levels

Any room has a background level — the quiet floor between events. On top of that sit the average over a period and the peaks from individual sounds. A refrigerator that adds 10–15 dB over a quiet night-time background can be more noticeable than a louder sound during a busy day. Our guide to normal noise levels at home explains these three levels in more detail.

Why distance changes the number

In open air, sound drops by roughly 6 dB each time you double your distance from a source. That is why a jet engine can honestly be described as 150 dB or 120 dB depending on where the meter stood. Indoors, reflections from walls and ceilings reduce the effect. Each sound page states the distance or conditions its figures refer to.

What a browser meter can and cannot tell you

SnapRoomScore estimates sound levels from your device microphone. The readings are uncalibrated and not A-weighted, and absolute values vary between phones, laptops and rooms. It is useful for comparing steady room noise before and after a change with the same device. It cannot measure very loud or impulsive sounds such as gunshots, fireworks or concerts — microphones saturate and miss millisecond peaks — and it is not a substitute for a calibrated sound level meter.

Open the online meter →What is a decibel? →Safe noise levels →

Browse by sound

Refrigerator with its door slightly open glowing in a dark, quiet kitchen at night

How loud is a refrigerator?

35–50 dB

A refrigerator usually hums at about 35–50 dB at one metre while the compressor runs, and goes almost silent between cycles. In a quiet home at night that steady hum can stand out clearly even though the number is low.

Open stainless steel dishwasher loaded with clean plates in a bright kitchen

How loud is a dishwasher?

42–55 dB

Most modern dishwashers are rated around 42–55 dB, and anything rated in the low 40s is considered quiet. The number on the label is a laboratory rating, so the level you notice in your kitchen depends on the wash stage, the cabinetry and how far away you are.

Outdoor air conditioner condenser unit installed beside a house wall below a window

How loud is an air conditioner?

50–75 dB

Window and portable air conditioners typically run at about 50–75 dB, while the indoor part of a split system can be far quieter because the compressor sits outside. What you hear at home depends on fan speed, compressor load, distance and what lies between you and the noisy parts.

Person asleep in bed in a dark bedroom lit by faint blue night light

How loud is snoring?

50–90 dB

Snoring is commonly reported at around 50–60 dB, with loud snoring peaking at 80 dB or more close to the sleeper. It varies a lot between people and from night to night, and loudness alone cannot tell you whether snoring is harmless or a sign of sleep apnea.

Upright vacuum cleaner standing on a light rug in a minimal living room

How loud is a vacuum cleaner?

70–80 dB

A vacuum cleaner measures 70–80 dB at one metre — roughly the level of a busy restaurant. It is not loud enough to damage hearing during normal use, but it comfortably drowns out conversation and TV.

Dog barking in a fenced suburban backyard during the day

How loud is a dog barking?

80–100 dB

A dog bark measures 80–100 dB at one to three metres, and large breeds can peak above 110 dB right next to your ear — louder than a lawn mower and enough to disturb neighbours through a shared wall.

Motorcycle accelerating along an urban street seen from a low rear angle

How loud is a motorcycle?

80–105 dB

A motorcycle measures 80–105 dB depending on the exhaust and engine speed. Most jurisdictions cap roadside noise around 80–86 dB, and aftermarket exhausts routinely exceed that by 15–20 dB.

Person pushing a petrol lawn mower across a green suburban lawn

How loud is a lawn mower?

85–95 dB

A petrol lawn mower measures roughly 90 dB at the operator's ear. NIOSH guidance allows about two hours of unprotected exposure per day at that level, so hearing protection is sensible for anything longer than a small lawn.

Concert crowd in front of a lit stage with large speaker stacks at a live music venue

How loud is a concert?

100–120 dB

A typical concert measures roughly 100–120 dB in the audience. Under NIOSH's occupational guideline, 100 dBA uses up a full day's recommended noise dose in about 15 minutes, so a two-hour show without earplugs exceeds it many times over.

Close-up of a jet airliner engine on an airport tarmac at dusk with ground crew nearby

How loud is a jet engine?

120–150 dB

A jet engine produces about 150 dB at the exhaust, 140 dB at 30 m and roughly 120 dB at 100 m. Inside the cabin, cruise noise is a far more moderate 80–85 dB.

Shooter wearing orange ear defenders aiming a rifle at an outdoor shooting range

How loud is a gunshot?

140–175 dB

A gunshot is roughly 140–175 dB peak at the shooter's ear. That is above the 140 dB peak ceiling NIOSH recommends for impulse noise, and even a single unprotected shot can cause permanent hearing damage or tinnitus — which is why hearing protection is standard at ranges.

Fireworks bursting over a night city skyline with silhouetted spectators

How loud is fireworks?

150–175 dB

Fireworks can produce roughly 150–175 dB peak at the point of detonation and 110–125 dB for spectators close to the launch area. Impulse peaks above 140 dB exceed the ceiling NIOSH recommends and can cause permanent hearing damage.