Decibel Calculator

Decibel Calculator calculator can be used to calculate the sound level in decibels (dB) based on sound intensity.

Input Parameters

Calculation Results

Calculation Formula

L(dB) = 10 * log₁₀ (I / I₀)

Where:
L(dB) is the sound level in decibels
I is the sound intensity in W/m²
I₀ is the reference intensity in W/m²

Result

Decibel level will be shown here

Decibel Calculator Calculator Usage Guide

Learn how to use the Decibel Calculator calculator and its working principles

How to Use the Decibel Calculator

  1. Enter the sound intensity in W/m². This is the power of the sound per unit area.
  2. Optionally, enter a reference intensity. The default is 1×10⁻¹² W/m², which is the threshold of hearing for the human ear.
  3. Click the "Calculate" button to compute the sound level in decibels.
  4. The result will be displayed in dB (decibels).

Understanding Decibels

Decibels (dB) are a unit of measurement for expressing the ratio of one value of a physical quantity to another, usually on a logarithmic scale. In the context of sound, decibels measure the intensity of sound relative to a reference intensity.

The formula used is: L(dB) = 10 * log₁₀ (I / I₀), where I is the sound intensity and I₀ is the reference intensity.

Example

If the sound intensity is 1×10⁻⁶ W/m² (a moderate sound like a conversation), the decibel level would be:

L(dB) = 10 * log₁₀ (1×10⁻⁶ / 1×10⁻¹²) = 60 dB