Fireworks Against Other Loud Sounds
The NIDCD's list of common sounds puts fireworks at the top:
- Firecrackers and fireworks: 140–160 dB.
- Sirens from a fire truck, police car, or ambulance: 110–129 dB.
- Rock concerts, parties, or nightclubs: 95–115 dB.
- Sports events: 94–110 dB.
- Lawn mower: 80–100 dB.
- Normal talking voice at arm's length: 65–80 dB.
Sounds at or below 70 dBA are unlikely to cause hearing loss even after long exposure, the NIDCD says. Our noise levels chart shows more everyday sounds and how long each level is safe.
Why a Single Bang Can Do Damage
Most noise damage builds up over hours, which is why limits for concerts and workplaces are set as levels over time. A firework is different: it is an impulse, a short and intense burst. The NIDCD says intense sudden noises such as explosions can cause immediate and permanent damage, including a ruptured eardrum. The CDC lists a single loud sound, like firecrackers near the ear, among the causes of noise-induced hearing loss.
Loud noise can also cause a temporary hearing loss that disappears 16 to 48 hours later. The NIDCD notes that research suggests there may still be lasting damage even when hearing seems to recover. If your ears ring after a display, see what ringing ears mean.
How Far Back to Stand
ASHA advises standing at least 500 feet (about 150 meters) from a fireworks launch site. The NIDCD's advice is the same in principle: increase your distance from the noise source. Sound gets quieter the farther you are from it, so the back of the crowd is the safer place to watch from.
ASHA's 150 dB figure is measured at 3 feet, about where someone lighting a firecracker stands.
Ear Protection for Adults and Kids
ASHA's advice by age:
- Adults and teens: foam earplugs from a drugstore are highly effective at bringing the noise down to a safe level for most people.
- Younger children: well-fitting, child-sized ear muffs.
Our kids' ear defenders guide compares muffs for babies to teens, and what NRR means explains the rating on the packet.
Measuring Fireworks With a Phone
Not the bangs themselves. Phone and computer microphones overload above about 100 to 110 dB, so a peak of 140 dB or more reads too low, and each bang lasts only a moment. Our decibel meter shows a warning when the microphone overloads. See how accurate a phone decibel meter is for what a phone can measure.
A phone is still useful for the general noise level where you stand, between bangs and at a distance. If the meter reads well above 85 dBA for long stretches, or keeps showing the overload warning, move farther back or put protection in.