Decibel Calculator
Combine several sound levels into a total, remove background noise, convert between decibels and power or voltage (amplitude) ratios, turn dB SPL into pascals, or work out how much quieter a sound gets as you move away from it.
Use the same unit for both distances
How to use the Decibel Calculator
- Pick a mode: add levels, subtract background, ratio ↔ dB, distance, or dB SPL ↔ pascals.
- Enter your values. For adding, type the levels separated by commas, spaces or new lines.
- Choose the ratio type (power or amplitude) or the source type (point or line) where asked.
- Read the result and the working.
- Use the table or chart to compare other values, or download it as CSV.
Decibel formulas
| Task | Formula | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Add levels | L = 10 log₁₀(Σ 10Lᵢ/10) | 85 + 85 dB = 88.0 dB |
| Subtract background | L = 10 log₁₀(10Lt/10 − 10Lb/10) | 75 − 70 dB = 73.3 dB |
| Power ratio | dB = 10 log₁₀(P₂/P₁) | ×2 power = +3.01 dB |
| Voltage / pressure ratio | dB = 20 log₁₀(V₂/V₁) | ×2 voltage = +6.02 dB |
| dB SPL | L = 20 log₁₀(p ÷ 20 µPa) | 1 Pa = 93.98 dB SPL |
| Point source at distance | L₂ = L₁ − 20 log₁₀(r₂/r₁) | 90 dB at 1 m → 70 dB at 10 m |
| Line source at distance | L₂ = L₁ − 10 log₁₀(r₂/r₁) | 70 dB at 10 m → 60 dB at 100 m |
Quick rules of thumb
- Two equal sources: +3 dB. Four: +6 dB. Ten: +10 dB.
- If one source is 10 dB or more louder than another, the quieter one adds less than 0.5 dB.
- Doubling the distance from a small source: −6 dB; from a long road or pipe: −3 dB.
- +10 dB is ten times the power and is usually heard as about twice as loud.
Approximate everyday sound levels
| Sound | Typical level |
|---|---|
| Threshold of hearing (1 kHz) | 0 dB SPL |
| Quiet library / whisper | 30–40 dB |
| Normal conversation at 1 m | ~60 dB |
| Busy traffic | ~80–85 dB |
| Lawn mower, power tools | ~90–100 dB |
| Rock concert near the stage | ~110–120 dB |
Long exposure above about 85 dB(A) can damage hearing; use hearing protection for loud work and events.
Frequently asked questions
How do you add decibels?
Decibels are logarithmic, so you add the underlying energies, not the dB numbers: L = 10 × log₁₀(10^(L₁/10) + 10^(L₂/10) + …). Two equal sources give +3.01 dB, so 85 dB + 85 dB = 88 dB, not 170 dB. Ten equal sources add 10 dB.
What is the difference between 10 log and 20 log?
Power-like quantities (watts, intensity, energy) use dB = 10 × log₁₀(P₂/P₁). Amplitude or field quantities (voltage, current, sound pressure) use dB = 20 × log₁₀(V₂/V₁), because power is proportional to amplitude squared. Doubling power is +3.01 dB; doubling voltage is +6.02 dB.
How much does sound drop with distance?
From a point source in open space, sound pressure level falls by 20 × log₁₀(r₂/r₁): about 6 dB every time the distance doubles (the inverse-square law). A long line source such as a busy road falls about 3 dB per doubling. Real rooms, walls and ground reflections change this.
What does 0 dB SPL mean?
Sound pressure level is measured relative to 20 micropascals, roughly the quietest sound a young healthy ear can hear at 1 kHz: dB SPL = 20 × log₁₀(p ÷ 20 µPa). 94 dB SPL is 1 pascal, a common calibration level.
How do I subtract background noise?
Convert both levels to energy, subtract and convert back: L_source = 10 × log₁₀(10^(L_total/10) − 10^(L_background/10)). If the total is less than 3 dB above the background the result is very uncertain; at 10 dB or more above, the background barely matters.
Is a 10 dB increase twice as loud?
Roughly. A 10 dB increase is ten times the sound power, and listeners typically judge it as about twice as loud. A 3 dB change is just noticeable in most situations, and 1 dB is about the smallest change you can detect in a direct comparison.
What is the energy average of dB levels?
It averages the sound energy rather than the dB numbers: L_avg = 10 × log₁₀((10^(L₁/10) + … + 10^(Lₙ/10)) ÷ n). It is always at least as high as the arithmetic mean, and it is the basis of the equivalent continuous level Leq for equal time intervals.