Noise Meter

Get a rough idea of how loud it is around you, using your device's microphone.

  1. Press Start meter and allow microphone access.
  2. Hold your device still, with nothing covering the mic.
  3. Read the live level, plus the average and loudest so far.

– dB (est.)

 

Average
–
Loudest
–
Quietest
–

Press “Start meter” to begin.

An estimate, not a measurement

Phone and laptop microphones aren't calibrated, so readings can be off by 10 dB or more. Use this to compare places and times, not to prove noise levels for work, legal or health purposes.

How the noise meter works

The page listens to your microphone with the usual call-app processing turned off, measures how strong the sound is several times a second, and converts that into an estimated decibel (dB) level. Decibels are logarithmic: every 10 dB increase sounds roughly twice as loud.

The average is an energy average, the same way sound engineers average levels, so short loud bursts count more than they would in a simple average.

Making it more accurate

  1. Compare with a known sound. If you have a real sound level meter, adjust the calibration slider until the readings match. The setting is remembered on this device.
  2. Keep the mic uncovered and point it towards the sound.
  3. Use the built-in mic. Headsets with noise cancelling hide the background sound you're trying to measure.

Frequently asked questions

Why does the reading stop going above a certain level?

Very loud sounds can overload small microphones. Above that point, the meter can't tell how much louder it gets.

How loud is too loud?

Long exposure to sounds above about 85 dB can damage hearing, and the safe time halves for roughly every 3 dB above that. If a place reads high here, consider ear protection, and use a proper meter if it matters.