Sound Meter
See how loud your surroundings are in decibels, using your computer or phone microphone. The meter shows the current level, the minimum, maximum and average, and a chart of the last minute.
How it works
- 1Press Start measuring and allow microphone access.
- 2Hold the device still and point the mic toward the sound.
- 3Read the current, min, max and average levels, and reset to start a new measurement.
How the sound meter measures
The meter reads the microphone signal many times a second and smooths it with the same fast 125 millisecond response that handheld sound level meters use. It shows the level in dBFS, which is what the microphone actually reports, and an estimated dB figure for the sound in the room. The chart keeps the last minute so you can see patterns, like a fridge cycling on or traffic peaks.
Calibrating for better numbers
Out of the box, the estimate assumes a typical mic, which is often off by 5 to 10 dB. If you have access to a real sound level meter, or a phone app that's been calibrated, play a steady sound such as pink noise from our noise generator, read both meters, and move the calibration offset until they agree. The offset then holds for that device and microphone.
Typical decibel levels
A quiet bedroom at night measures around 30 dB, normal conversation about 60 dB, a busy restaurant 70 to 80 dB, and a nightclub or concert 100 dB or more. Decibels are logarithmic: every 10 dB increase sounds about twice as loud and carries ten times the energy, so 80 dB is far more than a third louder than 60.
Getting a steady reading
Put the device down rather than holding it, since handling noise shows up as spikes. Keep the mic uncovered, away from fans and your own breathing, and use a wired or built-in microphone: Bluetooth headsets process the sound heavily. For loud events, expect readings to top out around 100 to 110 dB because small mics can't measure much higher.