Check how loud your apartment, workspace, or practice room is. The meter shows live, max, average, and min dB from your microphone and charts the last 30 seconds. Readings are estimates.
This tool runs entirely in your browser. What you enter is never sent anywhere.Your input is never sent anywhere.
DetailsEstimated level
Now
Max
Avg
Min
Last ~30 seconds
Start measuring to see your sound level over time.
Everyday sound comparison
Start measuring and this box shows which everyday sound your current level is closest to.
Reading log (up to 20)
Click Log This Moment to save the current reading to this list.
Sensitivity adjustment
If a quiet room reads far too high or too low, move this slider. A higher offset raises every reading. Microphones differ by device, so treat the numbers as estimates.
Threshold alert
NOTE
This tool estimates sound levels from your device microphone. Readings shift with mic quality, device position, and room echo, so use them as a rough guide. For official or legal measurements, use a dedicated sound level meter or an acoustics professional.
Decibel Meter for Phone and Computer Microphones
Wondering how loud the neighbors, a construction site, or your own piano practice really is? This decibel meter uses the microphone on your phone or computer to show an estimated sound level in dB, right in your browser.
It shows the current level plus the max, average, and min since you started, with a chart of the last 30 seconds. That makes it easy to tell a single loud bang from a steady hum. Set a threshold alert to flag the moment the level goes over a limit you choose.
Treat the numbers as an estimate. Phone and laptop mics differ, so readings work best for comparing one moment to another on the same device. For official or legal measurements, use a dedicated sound level meter or an acoustics professional.
When to Check the Noise Level
Noisy neighbors or a loud building
Footsteps, music, or TV sound through a wall or ceiling. Log the level and time so you have specific notes to share with your landlord, property manager, or HOA.
Construction or traffic outside
Keep the meter running during work hours to see how high the peaks go and what the average level is over a few minutes.
Practicing an instrument at home
Play a passage and watch the max reading. Compare it before and after you add rugs, curtains, or a practice mute to see if it helps.
Home office, studio, or classroom background noise
Check the room before a video call, a recording session, or a class. A fan, HVAC, or street noise shows up in the average and min values.
How to Measure Sound Level in 4 Steps
- Click Start Measuring and allow microphone access when your browser asks.
- Watch the live dB value. Max, average, min, and the chart update on their own.
- Click Log This Moment to save the current reading to a list of up to 20 entries, then use Copy Log to paste it elsewhere.
- Adjust the sensitivity offset if a quiet room reads off, or turn on the threshold alert to flag loud moments.
Note: Audio stays in your browser. The tool reads the mic signal to calculate a level and does not record or upload it. Stopping the measurement releases the microphone.
Tips for Steadier dB Readings
- Treat readings as estimates. Mic quality, device position, and room echo all change the number. The tool does not apply A-weighting, so values can differ from dBA readings on a sound level meter, especially for bass-heavy sounds.
- Keep the device in the same spot and pointed the same way when you compare readings from different times.
- Keep your hand and phone case away from the mic opening. Covering it lowers the reading.
- The tool asks your browser to turn off echo cancellation, noise suppression, and auto gain, but some devices may still apply their own processing.
- If you turn on the alert sound, the beep plays through your speakers and the mic can pick it up. Use headphones or leave the sound off if that affects your reading.
How Loud Is It? Common Sounds in Decibels
Commonly cited dB ranges for everyday sounds. Real readings depend on distance, room, and the source.
| dB range | How it sounds | Common examples |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 30 dB | Very quiet | Whisper, rustling leaves |
| 30-40 dB | Library quiet | Quiet library, refrigerator hum |
| 40-50 dB | Quiet room | Quiet office, light rain |
| 50-60 dB | Normal conversation | Normal talking, background TV |
| 60-70 dB | Moderately loud | Vacuum cleaner, raised voices |
| 70-80 dB | Loud | Busy street traffic, noisy restaurant |
| 80-90 dB | Very loud | Subway car, lawn mower |
| 90+ dB | Extremely loud | Construction site, passing train nearby |
Reading the table:
Moving closer to a sound source raises the reading and moving away lowers it, so the same sound can land in a different row.
- Local rules: Noise ordinances vary by city and zoning, and many set different limits for day and night. Check your local rules for the limits that apply to you.
The table and the tool readings are general reference only.
How the Mic Signal Becomes a dB Number
A short look at what the tool calculates, why readings differ between devices, and how to put them to use.
From microphone signal to dB reading
The tool reads short slices of the live microphone signal, calculates the RMS level of each slice, converts it to decibels, and adds the sensitivity offset (100 by default). The result is shown on a 0 to 120 dB scale.
There is no frequency weighting, so the number is not the same as a dBA value from a sound level meter. Use it as a rough guide.
Why readings differ between devices and rooms
Microphone sensitivity and built-in sound processing vary by device, so the same room can read differently on two phones. The tool asks the browser to turn off echo cancellation, noise suppression, and auto gain, but some devices may still process the audio.
Room echo, distance, and the angle of the mic matter too. The sensitivity offset slider lets you shift all readings up or down to better match a quiet room.
Keeping notes on recurring noise
For noise that comes and goes, log the time, the max, and the average with each reading and note what you heard. Copy Log puts the entries on your clipboard so you can paste them into a message or note.
A short, dated list of readings is easier for a landlord, property manager, or HOA to act on than a general complaint.
Checking practice volume or a quiet workspace
For an instrument, the max value shows how loud the peaks get, so you can test rugs, curtains, or a mute and see which one lowers it most.
For a workspace or recording room, compare the average and min before and after you turn off a fan or close a window to see how much background noise you removed.
Common Mistakes That Skew dB Readings
Moving the phone between measurements
The phone sits in a different spot or points a different way each time, so one day looks louder than another when the noise did not change.
💡 See the solution▼
Skipping a quiet-room check first
You start measuring right away, and a quiet room shows a level that is far higher or lower than you expect, which throws off every later reading.
💡 See the solution▼
Looking only at the max value
A door slam or dropped item sets the max, and you miss the steady background level that is the real problem.
💡 See the solution▼
Presenting the number as official proof
You show a reading from a phone as proof of how loud a neighbor is, and the other side questions how it was measured.
💡 See the solution▼
Questions About dB Readings and Mic Access
Q.Can I use these readings for a noise complaint?
A. Use them as your own notes, not as official proof. The tool estimates the level from a phone or computer mic, and the number changes with the device, its position, and the room. Logging when the noise happens, how long it lasts, and the max and average dB gives you useful details to share with a landlord, property manager, or HOA. For a formal measurement, use a dedicated sound level meter or an acoustics professional. Noise ordinances vary by city and zone, so check with your local noise or code enforcement office for the rules that apply to you.
Q.Why does the dB reading change between phones and laptops?
A. Each device has a different microphone, and many apply their own sound processing. The same room can read a few dB higher or lower depending on the device. If a quiet room reads far too high or too low, use the sensitivity offset slider. The tool adds the offset to the signal level, so a higher offset raises every reading and a lower one reduces it.
Q.How many decibels is a normal conversation or a vacuum cleaner?
A. Commonly cited ranges put a whisper around 30 dB, a quiet library around 40 dB, normal conversation around 60 dB, and a vacuum cleaner around 70 dB. Busy street traffic is often around 80 dB, and a lawn mower or subway car around 90 dB. The reference table on this page lists these, and the tool shows the closest match for your current reading. Distance from the source changes the numbers a lot.
Q.Does the tool record my audio?
A. No. The tool reads the live microphone signal only to calculate a level, and it does not record, save, or upload audio. Stop the measurement or close the page and the microphone is released.
Q.What do the max, average, and min values mean?
A. Max is the highest reading since you started or last reset. Average is a simple mean of the dB readings taken since then, not an energy-based average like Leq. Min is the lowest reading after the first second. Use Reset to clear all three and the chart, then measure a new situation.
Q.Why is my browser not letting me use the microphone?
A. Your browser needs permission before a site can use the mic. Click the lock or site settings icon next to the address bar, set Microphone to Allow, and reload the page. If it still fails, close other apps or tabs that might be using the microphone and make sure a microphone is connected.
Q.How do I check how loud my piano or other instrument is?
A. Watch the max value, since peaks from loud notes drive how far the sound carries. Place the device where you want to check, such as near a shared wall, and keep it in the same spot between tries. Distance, room echo, and soundproofing all change the reading, so compare before and after changes in the same position.
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