The live meter below runs on the same calibrated on-device engine as the Sound Level Meter, preset for noise work: A-weighting, Leq visible, spectrum available. Bookmarks and calibration carry over.
Noise vs Sound — Is There a Difference?
Instrumentally, no. Acoustically, sound is the physical phenomenon (pressure waves in dB) and noise is sound that is unwanted in a given context. A 70 dBA street level is "sound" to a city planner and "noise" to the resident trying to sleep. The measurement is identical — the framing and what you do with the number differ. That is why this noise meter page exists separately from the Sound Level Meter page: same engine, intent-specific guidance.
When a Noise Meter Helps
- Home & neighbor noise: quantify intrusive bass/music through walls; document Leq over 10–15 min at the exposed position.
- Classroom & office: check background levels for concentration and speech intelligibility.
- Street & traffic: compare window open vs closed, or different times of day, from the same spot.
- Appliances & HVAC: find the loudest source in a room, before and after changes.
- Personal awareness: flag sustained levels near 85 dBA+ early (see Exposure Calculator).
For each, noise is the subjective label; dBA + duration is the objective handle you can compare and act on.
How to Measure Noise Here
- Open the meter at the place where noise is actually experienced (ear height at a desk or bedside — not next to the source).
- Use A-weighting for general noise; switch to C (dBC Meter) if you suspect intrusive bass.
- Measure long enough: 1–2 min for steady hum, 10–15 min for intermittent neighbor/traffic noise, full duration for exposure questions. Use Leq and average; avoid judging by a single instant.
- Note distance, weighting, and calibration offset; export CSV/JSON or Journal for a record. Repeat on a different day to confirm.
Interpreting Noise Levels
- 30–40 dBA: quiet room / bedroom at night. Where many people want to sleep.
- 50–60 dBA: moderate suburb / normal conversation. Usually fine for work.
- 65–75 dBA: busy street, vacuum cleaner. Noticeably loud; prolonged exposure starts to matter for concentration.
- 80–90 dBA: heavy traffic, restaurant rush, power tools. Conversation is effortful; duration now matters for comfort and hearing.
- ≥85 dBA sustained: enter hearing-risk thinking — use Exposure Guide and calculate maximum time.
A noise complaint needs more than "it was loud" — it needs distance, weighting, duration, and Leq. See How to Measure Decibels for the repeatable workflow and Accuracy for limits. Phone readings are useful context and for quantifying change (e.g. "window closed reduced Leq by ~8 dB"), not legal evidence.
FAQ — Noise Meter
Is a noise meter different from a sound level meter?
What level counts as noise?
Can a phone measure noise accurately?
How do I document neighbor or traffic noise?
What duration should I measure for noise?
Related: Sound Level Meter · dBA Meter · Leq Meter · Frequency Analyzer · Sound Level Chart