Sound Pressure Level Calculator

Sound Pressure Level Calculator calculator can be used to calculate the Sound Pressure Level (SPL) in decibels (dB) from the sound pressure in pascals (Pa).

Input Parameters

Default is 20 micropascals (20 × 10-6 Pa)

Calculation Results

Calculation Formula

SPL = 20 × log10(p / pref)

Where:
SPL = Sound Pressure Level (dB)
p = Sound Pressure (Pa)
pref = Reference Sound Pressure (20 × 10-6 Pa)

Result

Sound Pressure Level (SPL):

dB

Sound Pressure Level Calculator Calculator Usage Guide

Learn how to use the Sound Pressure Level Calculator calculator and its working principles

What is Sound Pressure Level (SPL)?

Sound Pressure Level (SPL) is a logarithmic measure of the effective sound pressure relative to a reference sound pressure. It is commonly used to express the intensity of sound in a way that is more easily perceived by the human ear.

How to Use This Calculator

  1. Enter the sound pressure in pascals (Pa) in the first input field. For example, 0.001 Pa represents 1 millipascal.
  2. The reference sound pressure is set to the standard value of 20 micropascals (20 × 10-6 Pa) by default. This value represents the threshold of human hearing (at 1 kHz).
  3. Click the "Calculate" button to compute the Sound Pressure Level in decibels (dB).
  4. The result will be displayed in the SPL field.

Example Calculation

If the sound pressure is 0.01 Pa (10 millipascals), the calculation would be:

SPL = 20 × log10(0.01 Pa / 20 × 10-6 Pa) = 20 × log10(5000) ≈ 83.01 dB

Applications

This calculator is useful in various fields including:

  • Acoustics and noise control
  • Audio engineering and sound design
  • Environmental monitoring
  • Industrial safety