Online decibel meter — measure generator, AC and ambient noise from your browser
Useful before you buy a generator, install an HVAC unit, or check whether the neighbour really is too loud at 11 pm. Audio is processed locally — nothing is recorded or uploaded.
Below the meter you'll find a 21-row reference of real-world sound levels, a noise comparison of 16 generators from our catalog, the NIOSH/OSHA safe exposure table, and an FAQ that covers calibration, complaints and hearing damage thresholds.
We sample the microphone with the Web Audio API, compute RMS over a ~46 ms window, and convert to a dB SPL approximation. The calibration slider lets you align the reading with a known reference.
Phone and laptop mics have built-in AGC and a frequency response biased toward speech. They under-read low frequencies (HVAC rumble, generator chug) and clip above ~95 dB. Treat the result as a relative measurement.
Comparing two appliances side-by-side. Checking whether your standby generator install meets local noise ordinances. Verifying that an inverter is in its quoted dB range under load. For legal noise complaints you need a calibrated Class 1 meter.
How loud is X dB? Reference chart of 21 sounds
The decibel scale is logarithmic — every 3 dB doubles the sound energy, and every 10 dB roughly doubles perceived loudness. A whisper at 20 dB has 1/100,000th the energy of a vacuum cleaner at 70 dB.
| Decibels | Real-world sound | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| 0 dB | Threshold of human hearing | Quiet |
| 10 dB | Normal breathing, leaves rustling | Quiet |
| 20 dB | Whisper at 1.5 m | Quiet |
| 30 dB | Quiet bedroom at night | Quiet |
| 40 dB | Library, soft music | Quiet |
| 45 dB | Refrigerator hum | Quiet |
| 50 dB | Light rain, quiet office | Moderate |
| 55 dB | Coffee percolator, dishwasher | Moderate |
| 60 dB | Normal conversation at 1 m | Moderate |
| 65 dB | Quiet standby generator at 7 m | Moderate |
| 70 dB | Vacuum cleaner, busy traffic at 3 m | Moderate |
| 75 dB | Inverter generator at 7 m, hair dryer | Loud |
| 80 dB | Garbage disposal, blender, alarm clock | Loud |
| 85 dB | Heavy traffic, NIOSH 8h exposure limit | Loud |
| 90 dB | Lawn mower, motorcycle at 8 m | Loud |
| 95 dB | Open-frame generator at 7 m, subway | Very loud |
| 100 dB | Jackhammer at 15 m, snowmobile | Very loud |
| 110 dB | Rock concert, chainsaw at 1 m | Very loud |
| 120 dB | Ambulance siren at 3 m, thunderclap | Harmful |
| 130 dB | Jet engine at 30 m, fireworks at 1 m | Harmful |
| 140 dB | Threshold of pain, gunshot | Harmful |
Safe noise exposure (NIOSH and OSHA)
NIOSH (the research arm of the CDC) recommends keeping noise under 85 dBA averaged over 8 hours. OSHA mandates hearing protection above 85 dBA in workplaces. Beyond 85 dB, safe exposure halves every 3 dB.
| Noise level | Maximum safe exposure (NIOSH) |
|---|---|
| 85 dB | 8 hours |
| 88 dB | 4 hours |
| 91 dB | 2 hours |
| 94 dB | 1 hour |
| 97 dB | 30 min |
| 100 dB | 15 min |
| 103 dB | 7.5 min |
| 106 dB | 4 min |
| 112 dB | 1 min |
| 115 dB | < 30 sec |
Source: NIOSH Recommended Exposure Limits, 1998 (and re-affirmed 2013). OSHA Permissible Exposure Limits use a more lenient 90 dBA / 8h baseline but most modern hearing-conservation programs follow NIOSH.
Generator noise comparison — 16 models from our catalog
All values are manufacturer-quoted dB at 7 m / 23 ft, half load. Use this to sanity-check claims like "ultra quiet" before you commit to a unit. Battery power stations are silent in any practical sense; gas inverters are tolerable; open-frame portables are jobsite-loud.
| Brand · Model | Type | dB at 7 m | Watts | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bluetti · Elite 300 (battery) | Battery / Power station | 28 dB | 3,000 W | 28 dB — quieter than most ceiling fans. |
| EcoFlow · DELTA Pro Ultra (battery) | Battery / Power station | 30 dB | 7,200 W | Battery — fan-only noise, no engine. |
| Anker · SOLIX F3800 (battery) | Battery / Power station | 30 dB | 6,000 W | Battery — silent under typical load. |
| Yamaha · EF2200iS | Inverter portable | 57 dB | 2,200 W | 57 dB at quarter load — quietest in class. |
| Predator · 3500W Inverter | Inverter portable | 57 dB | 3,500 W | Cheapest credible 3.5 kW inverter on the market. |
| Wen · 56380i Super Quiet | Inverter portable | 57 dB | 3,800 W | Best value inverter under $700. |
| Ryobi · RYi2300BTA 2300W | Inverter portable | 58 dB | 2,300 W | Bluetooth control, parallel-ready. |
| Firman · W03083 3300W | Inverter portable | 58 dB | 3,300 W | Whisper Series — direct EU3000IS competitor. |
| Honda · EU3000IS | Inverter portable | 59 dB | 3,000 W | Reference standard for quiet inverter generators. |
| Champion · 4000W Dual-Fuel Inverter | Inverter portable | 64 dB | 4,000 W | 64 dBA at 23 ft is RV-park-legal noise. |
| Kohler · 20RCAL | Permanent standby | 64 dB | 20,000 W | Slightly quieter than Generac equivalent — composite enclosure. |
| Generac · Guardian 22kW | Permanent standby | 65 dB | 22,000 W | QuietSource series with sound-attenuating enclosure. |
| Generac · Guardian 26kW | Permanent standby | 67 dB | 26,000 W | 67 dB at 23 ft — comparable to a normal conversation. |
| Westinghouse · WGen7500 | Open-frame portable | 72 dB | 7,500 W | Best-selling open-frame portable. RV-friendly with electric start. |
| Briggs & Stratton · 8000W Storm Responder | Open-frame portable | 78 dB | 8,000 W | Loud but cheap — typical contractor-grade noise. |
For a deep comparison of the quietest standby generators tested at WattBunker, see our quietest standby generator 2026 ranking. Or browse the full whole-house standby category.
How to measure decibels with your phone
- Open this page on a modern browser — Chrome, Safari, Firefox or Edge, on phone, tablet or laptop.
- Click "Start measuring" at the top of the meter widget. Allow microphone access when prompted.
- Hold your device 1 m from the noise source for a stable reading. For generators, measure at 7 m / 23 ft (the industry standard).
- Calibrate against a reference — if you have a Class 1 SLM or a calibrated app, use the offset slider to match. A standard reference is 94 dB SPL at 1 kHz from a calibrated calibrator.
- Read peak / current / average. Average over 5 seconds is the value most relevant for noise ordinances and hearing safety.
Why we built this
Most "quiet" generator marketing is meaningless without a reference distance and a load. A 22 kW standby unit might be rated at 65 dB(A) at 7 m, half-load — that's the kind of small print that decides whether your neighbours will tolerate the install. This meter helps you do a sanity check on the unit you're considering, in the actual spot you'd put it.
Pair this tool with our sizing calculator and the LFP vs NMC chemistry guide before you commit to a backup power solution.
Frequently asked questions
How loud is 60 decibels?
60 dB is the level of normal conversation at one meter, or a quiet office. It's also roughly the noise floor of a quiet standby generator measured at 7 meters. The dB scale is logarithmic, so 70 dB is 10× the sound energy of 60 dB.
How loud is 75 decibels?
75 dB is a vacuum cleaner, a hair dryer, or a typical inverter generator measured at 7 m. NIOSH considers 75 dB safe for unlimited exposure, but past 85 dB the safe exposure window starts halving every 3 dB.
How accurate is an online decibel meter?
A browser-based meter is indicative, not lab-grade. It depends on your device microphone, which is tuned for speech and clips above ~95 dB SPL. Use the calibration slider to align it with a known reference (a calibrated SLM or a phone app that has been calibrated).
Do you record or upload my microphone?
No. All audio processing happens locally in your browser using the Web Audio API. Nothing is sent to a server and nothing is stored.
At what dB level should I worry about hearing damage?
NIOSH recommends keeping exposure under 85 dBA averaged over 8 hours. Every 3 dB above that halves the safe exposure time, so 88 dB = 4 h, 91 dB = 2 h, 100 dB = 15 min, 110 dB = under 2 min, 120 dB = immediate damage risk.
How loud is a generator typically?
A modern inverter portable runs 57–65 dB at 7 m at quarter load. A permanent standby (Generac, Kohler) runs 64–67 dB at 7 m. Open-frame contractor generators run 70–80 dB. Battery power stations run under 35 dB — fan noise only.
What is the OSHA decibel limit?
OSHA mandates a maximum 8-hour time-weighted average of 90 dBA in workplaces, with hearing protection required above 85 dBA. NIOSH (the research arm) recommends a more conservative 85 dBA TWA, which is what most modern hearing-conservation programs use.
Can I use this online decibel meter to file a noise complaint?
Not for legal purposes. Noise ordinances typically require a calibrated Class 1 sound level meter and a certified operator. Use this tool to verify whether the noise plausibly exceeds the limit, then call your local environmental health department for an official measurement.
How do I measure decibels with my phone microphone?
Open this page on a modern browser (Chrome, Safari, Firefox or Edge), allow microphone access when prompted, and click "Start measuring." The meter samples your mic at ~46 ms intervals and converts RMS to dB SPL using a calibration offset you can adjust.