Example Sounds at various Sound Levels

(Duplicated from Rossing, table 6.1)

Example Intensity Intensity
Level
General
Description
Jet takeoff at 60 m
1 W/m2
120 dB
 
Construction site
0.1 W/m2
110 dB
Intolerable
Shout at 1.5 m
0.01 W/m2
100 dB
 
Heavy truck at 15 m
10-3 W/m2
90 dB
Very Noisy
Urban street
10-4 W/m2
80 dB
 

Automobile interior while driving

10-5 W/m2
70 dB
Noisy
Normal conversation
10-6 W/m2
60 dB
 
Office, classroom
10-7 W/m2
50 dB
Moderate
Living room
10-8 W/m2
40 dB
 
Bedroom at night
10-9 W/m2
30 dB
Quiet
Broadcast studio
10-10 W/m2
20 dB
 
Rustling leaves
10-11 W/m2
10 dB
Barely audible
Threshold of hearing
10-12 W/m2
0 dB