How Loud are Fireworks?

One of the most controversial aspects of fireworks is the sound. While there are many who absolutely love the bangs, crackles and whistles, there are many who’d consider fireworks extremely loud.

families watching firework display

But how loud are fireworks exactly? Here’s a look at how firework sound is measured and tips for turning down the volume if you’re not a fan of the booms.

Sound Measurements

People who are surprised by the sudden bang of fireworks often say the sound nearly got them killed. While it is true that sound waves could potentially be lethal, fireworks don’t actually reach deadly levels.
Vibrations in the air create sound. The air vibrates by moving from air molecules to the other, which is why a vacuum is the only place where sound can’t travel. So, it is possible to measure the loudness of the sound by focusing on the air vibrations.
Sound is commonly measured on the decibel (dB) scale. The scale uses complex logarithms, which help simplify the sound differences. When you look at the decibel scales, you can’t directly see how much louder a specific noise is in comparison to another sound.
As an example, a whisper measures 15dB, while a jet engine can reach up to 120dB. Yet, a jet engine isn’t eight times louder than a whisper, but rather 1,000,0000,0000,0000 times more powerful!
But where does a firework fall in the decibel scale? Here are some of the most common sounds with their decibel measures:

  • Normal conversation 60dB
  • Car engine 70dB
  • Jackhammer 100dB
  • A band playing 110dB
  • Legal limit of fireworks 120dB
  • Aircraft take-off 180dB

Our War Hawks rockets, for example, belong to the highest noise level group, which is five (We measure the noise level from 1 to 5).

Are All Fireworks the Same?

As the above shows, the UK noise limit for fireworks is 120dB. But this doesn’t mean fireworks all make the same amount of noise. In fact, firework manufacturers have been able to come up with low noise fireworks.
There are also further noise guidelines to ensure you don’t damage your hearing with loud things such as fireworks. For example, the EU has a law that means a person can’t work over eight hours in an environment that would exceed 89db on a continuous basis.
So while the 120dB bang fireworks make is quite a loud noise, the sudden burst doesn’t cause damage because it isn’t a sustained noise. While your heart might jump into your throat when the bangs go off, your ears will return to normal after a few minutes.
As we mentioned above, if you are worried about the loud noise – kids and pets can easily find the noise too much – the low noise options are a fantastic alternative to the loud bangs.
Compare the War Hawks to the below video of Kronos Fountain and you can hear the difference.

So, fireworks are definitely among the loudest bursts of noise you can hear. But if you aren’t a fan of the noise, then you can always opt for quieter options instead. If you are worried about the noise levels of fireworks as you are preparing a display, you can contact our customer service for more information.

Share to Social Media

Subscribe for the latest news and blog updates

You might also be interested in

Our lineup for new firework selection boxes 2024 is nothing short of spectacular. We’ve curated the finest assortment of rockets,...

Brightstar has once again raised the bar with their new fireworks collection. Established in 1992, Bright Star Fireworks continues to...

At Firework Crazy, we’re dedicated to curating exhilarating fireworks that surpass the competition while adhering to legal regulations. The new...

Scroll to Top

Delivery Information

Next Day

 – You will receive your order the following working day from day of despatch (not including Saturday/Sunday). We endeavour to dispatch all orders placed before 12pm the same day although this is not always possible in our busy season, October – December. If you require your order by a certain date enter this in the “order notes” section on the next page. All dates are treated as the latest date for delivery NOT the date you would like delivery.


Hold For Later Delivery

– This option is for those who would like us to hold on to their order and deliver it nearer to the date of their display. You should enter this date in the “order notes” section on the next page.


Collect from Chelmsford Store

– Select this option if you would like to collect your order. Enter the date you would like to collect and AM/PM in the “order notes” section on the next page. Collection is not available on SATURDAY 2nd NOVEMBER 2019. You will be required to bring the card you used to pay with and photo ID before you can collect your order. THESE MUST MATCH.


Add to Existing Order

 – If you already have an order with us and would like to add to it before it is shipped, select this option then enter your existing order number in the “order notes” section on the next page.


Saturday Delivery

 – Enter the date you would like your order delivered in the “order notes” section on the next page. If this is blank your order will be delivered on the next Saturday after the day of ordering. PLEASE NOTE it is not possible to deliver orders on the Saturday either side of Bonfire Night, Christmas or New Year


AM DELIVERY

 – Your order will be delivered before midday the day after it has been dispatched (excluding Saturday / Sunday)


Before 10:30 am

 – Your order will be delivered before 10:30am the day after it has been dispatched (excluding Saturday / Sunday).