How Loud Is a Gunshot in Decibels? What the Research Shows

A sound measured in peaks

A lawn mower is loud in a steady way. You can measure its noise over minutes and get a sensible average. A gunshot is different: a pressure spike that rises and falls in a few thousandths of a second. That is why gunshot loudness is reported as a peak sound pressure level, written as dB SPL or dBP, not as an average.

And the peaks are high. Very high.

The numbers

Here are the figures reported by NIOSH researchers and the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). These are measurements at or near the shooter's ear without hearing protection.

What the limit is

NIOSH and OSHA both use 140 dB peak as the limit for impulse noise. ASHA says exposure above 140 dB peak can permanently damage hearing, even from a single occurrence.

Look back at the table. Even the quietest entry, a .22 rifle at about 144 dB, is above that limit. Most firearms are well above it.

Decibels are logarithmic, so the gaps are bigger than they look. Every 10 dB is ten times the sound energy. A 160 dB shot carries a hundred times the energy of a 140 dB one.

Indoors is worse

Outdoors, sound spreads out. Indoors, it bounces off walls, ceilings and floors. The NIOSH-led summary lists indoor ranges and enclosed structures as settings that increase risk because hard surfaces reflect sound back at shooters and bystanders. Covered firing lines and shooting from inside vehicles or structures fall into the same category.

The same summary offers a rule of thumb for bystanders without protection on an uncovered outdoor range: stay about 15 metres back from the firing line, and wear protection if you need to be closer or if large-caliber rifles with muzzle brakes are in use.

How much protection you need

Hearing protectors reduce the peak level that reaches your ear. The 2007 Hearing Review article by NIOSH authors gives these typical peak reductions:

• Earplugs: about 10–30 dB, depending on type and fit.
• Standard earmuffs: about 20–38 dB.
• A foam earplug added under an earmuff: about 21 dB more.
• Earmuff plus a deeply inserted foam plug: up to about 50 dB combined.

Run the numbers. A 12-gauge at about 161 dB with a muff alone in that study came down to about 130 dB under the protector. That's below 140 dB, but the researchers' formula still limits how many such shots per day are considered safe. Adding a foam plug brought the allowable number up dramatically.

That's why the recommendation from NIOSH researchers is simple: double protection, a foam earplug inserted deeply plus a well-sealed earmuff, every time you shoot. The 2013 summary puts it plainly: use hearing protection for every shot.

Getting a good fit

A protector only works if it seals.

• Foam plugs: roll them thin, pull the top of your ear up and back, insert and hold for a few seconds while they expand. If half the plug is sticking out, it's not deep enough.
• Muffs: shooting glasses arms can break the seal. Thin-arm glasses help, and NIOSH researchers note the muff must stay sealed against the head when glasses are worn.
• Hats and hair can also lift muffs. Check the seal before the first shot.

Our electronic vs passive guide explains how electronic muffs differ.

Why NRR numbers aren't the whole story

Packaging lists a Noise Reduction Rating (NRR). It's a useful comparison between products, but it's measured for steady noise in a lab. For impulse noise such as gunshots, real-world protection depends heavily on fit. A well-fitted plug with a modest NRR can beat a poorly fitted one with a high NRR. That's why doubling up matters more than chasing the highest number on the box.

How the "shots per day" math works

The Hearing Review article by NIOSH authors explains a simple way researchers estimate how many impulses per day are allowable at a given peak level under the protector. The idea is that every 10 dB above the 140 dB limit cuts the allowable number of shots by a factor of ten, and every 10 dB below it multiplies the allowance by ten.

So a protected level of 130 dB allows roughly ten times as many shots as 140 dB, and 120 dB allows roughly a hundred times as many. That's why a single extra layer of protection matters so much: knocking off another 20 dB or so with a foam plug under a muff moves you from a handful of shots to hundreds or more by this estimate.

Warning signs to take seriously

Hearing damage from noise is often gradual and painless. Signs worth noticing after a range session include:

• Ringing, buzzing or hissing in the ears (tinnitus).
• Muffled hearing, as if your ears are full.
• Trouble following conversation in noisy rooms.

If these happen, your protection probably wasn't enough or didn't seal. If they persist, see an audiologist or doctor. A baseline hearing test is a sensible step for regular shooters.

ASHA also notes a pattern in long-gun shooters: right-handed shooters typically lose more hearing in the left ear, and left-handed shooters in the right, because the ear nearer the muzzle takes more of the blast.

Building a hearing kit

A simple kit covers most situations:

1. A box of foam plugs in every range bag and vehicle.
2. A pair of earmuffs, passive or electronic, sized to fit over plugs with your shooting glasses on.
3. Spare plugs for guests, because someone always forgets.
4. Kids' protection if young people come along.

Kids and new shooters

Children's ears are smaller, and adult plugs and muffs may not fit well. Use protectors made for kids, check the fit, and consider double protection. Keep young bystanders well back from the firing line, especially at covered or indoor ranges.

Quick reference

• Most firearms: well above 140 dB peak at the shooter's ear.
• Even a .22 rifle: about 144 dB in NIOSH-reported data.
• Indoors and under cover: more reflected sound, more risk.
• Every shot: wear protection.
• Best practice: foam plugs plus earmuffs.

Editorial note: This is an independent editorial overview built from manufacturer specifications, retailer listings and published sources. We have not performed hands-on testing of the products discussed, and nothing here is a performance guarantee. Verify specifications, compatibility and the law where you live.

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