What decibel level is safe for extended listening?

NIOSH recommends that exposure above 85 dBA should not exceed 8 hours. For every 3 dB increase, the safe exposure time is cut in half: 88 dBA for 4 hours, 91 dBA for 2 hours, and so on. At 100 dBA, safe exposure is about 15 minutes.

Sound Level Meter

Measure Noise Before It Damages Your Hearing

Q: How loud is too loud?

Sound above 85 dB can cause permanent hearing damage with prolonged exposure. Brief exposure to sounds above 120 dB can cause immediate damage. The risk grows with both volume and duration.

Q: What is A-weighting (dBA)?

A-weighting adjusts the measured sound level to reflect how the human ear perceives different frequencies. Low frequencies and very high frequencies are naturally less damaging to hearing at the same physical intensity. dBA measurements are the standard for occupational noise exposure limits.

By Dan McCoy, Audiology Industry Professional · Updated June 2026

Measure the noise around you in real time — so you know when to protect your hearing before it's too late. Some people find themselves using the meter to check whether there's sound in the room at all, not just whether it's too loud. If that's you, the free hearing test is a good next step.

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LSTN sound level meter app showing 92 dB noise reading on iPhone

Know the Numbers

Common Sound Levels and Their Risks

What is a Sound Level Meter?

A sound level meter measures the intensity of sound in decibels (dB) in real time. It shows how loud your environment is, helping you identify when noise levels are high enough to cause permanent hearing damage with prolonged exposure.

Sound is measured in decibels (dB). The scale is logarithmic — every 10 dB increase represents a tenfold increase in sound intensity. The damage potential grows dramatically with small increases in volume.

The exposure limits below are based on NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) guidelines, which use a 3 dB exchange rate — the standard for hearing damage risk assessment.

30 dB

Quiet library, whisper

Safe at any duration

60 dB

Normal conversation

Safe at any duration

75 dB

Busy restaurant, vacuum cleaner

Safe for extended periods

85 dB

Lawnmower, heavy city traffic

Safe for up to 8 hours

91 dB

Motorcycle, power drill

Safe for up to 2 hours

100 dB

Nightclub, concert

Safe for up to 15 minutes

110 dB

Live music near speakers

Safe for under 2 minutes

120 dB+

Jet engine, gunshot

Immediate damage risk

Concerned about years of noise exposure? LSTN's free hearing test screens for noise-induced hearing loss in under five minutes.

How It Works

Real-Time Decibel Measurement

LSTN uses your device's microphone with A-weighting (dBA) — the same standard used in occupational health guidelines. This matches how human hearing perceives different frequencies and reflects real-world damage risk more accurately than unweighted measurements.

Open the meter

Launch LSTN on any device and open the Sound Level Meter. Grant microphone access when prompted.

Point at the source

Hold your phone toward the sound source. The meter updates continuously with the current dBA reading.

Know when to protect

Readings above 85 dBA signal that ear protection is appropriate. Use the result to decide whether to stay, reduce volume, or use earplugs.

Where to Use It

Environments Worth Measuring

Concerts and live music

Venues regularly exceed 100 dB near the speakers. Even 15 minutes at this level can cause lasting damage.

Workplaces

OSHA requires hearing protection above 90 dB for 8-hour exposures. Measure your workspace to know whether you qualify.

Home power tools

Drills, saws, and leaf blowers often exceed 90-100 dB. Short exposure without ear protection adds up over a lifetime.

Restaurants and bars

Loud dining environments can reach 80-90 dB. Worth measuring if you go regularly, especially if you already have hearing loss.

Children's environments

Toy sirens and children's headphones can exceed safe levels. Measure before letting children use audio devices at high volume.

Sporting events

Stadiums can reach 100+ dB during peak crowd noise. Regular attendance without ear protection carries cumulative risk.

Common Questions

Sound Level Meter FAQ

How loud is too loud?

Sound above 85 dBA can cause permanent hearing damage with prolonged exposure. The risk doubles with every 3 dB increase: safe for 8 hours at 85 dB, 4 hours at 88 dB, 2 hours at 91 dB, and so on. Brief exposure to sounds above 120 dB can cause immediate damage.

Can I use my phone as a sound level meter?

Yes, with caveats. Smartphone microphones are not calibrated to laboratory standards, but a well-designed app can give useful readings accurate to within a few dB for most environments. For professional industrial hygiene measurements or OSHA compliance, a certified sound level meter is required.

What is A-weighting (dBA)?

A-weighting adjusts measured sound levels to reflect how the human ear perceives different frequencies. Very low and very high frequencies are naturally less damaging at the same physical intensity. dBA measurements are the standard for occupational noise exposure limits set by OSHA and NIOSH.

Does noise damage hearing permanently?

Yes. Noise-induced hearing loss damages the hair cells in the cochlea, and those cells do not regenerate. The damage is cumulative and permanent. Hearing protection prevents damage — it cannot reverse it.

What if the meter shows loud sounds I can barely hear?

That gap between what the meter detects and what you perceive is worth paying attention to. If your environment is reading 75 dB or higher but sounds seem faint, muffled, or distant to you, that discrepancy can be an early sign of hearing loss - particularly in the frequencies most affected by noise damage. The meter measures what is physically present in the room. Your perception of it reveals how well your hearing is processing those sounds. If you notice a consistent gap, LSTN's free hearing test can help you screen for loss and understand which frequencies may be affected.

What type of hearing protection should I use?

Foam earplugs (NRR 29-33) are the most effective and affordable option for high-noise environments. Earmuffs offer similar protection with easier use. Musicians and frequent concert-goers often prefer filtered earplugs, which reduce volume without distorting sound quality.

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