How to use it
- Press Start and allow the microphone.
- Watch the graph for a minute, then set the level a few decibels above your room’s usual sound. Anything louder is logged.
- Put the device near the wall, floor or ceiling the noise comes through. Keep this tab open, the screen on and the charger in.
- When you’re done, download the CSV or print the log, and add it to your noise diary.
How accurate is it?
Treat the numbers as approximate. Phone and laptop microphones are not calibrated, and a browser can’t measure true sound pressure. The readings are usually in the right range, which is enough to see when the noise starts, how long it lasts and how it compares with the rest of the night.
If you own a sound level meter, use Adjust readings to match it. Either way, don’t present these readings as a certified measurement. Times, lengths and how often it happens are what people act on.
What the numbers mean
Typical levels, from New York City’s guide to its noise code:
| Sound | Typical level |
|---|---|
| Whisper | 30 dB(A) |
| Normal conversation or laughter | 50 to 65 dB(A) |
| Vacuum cleaner at 10 feet | 70 dB(A) |
| Washing machine or dishwasher | 78 dB(A) |
| Midtown Manhattan traffic | 70 to 85 dB(A) |
| Motorcycle | 88 dB(A) |
Source: NYC Department of Environmental Protection, A Guide to New York City’s Noise Code. Where a rule sets a limit in decibels, it is measured with a calibrated meter at a set place. See quiet hours, explained.
Sound labels
With Label sounds by type on, each event gets a best guess at what it was: footsteps, thumps and bangs, music and bass, voices, barking, TV, power tools, alarms or a rooster. It’s a guess, so check it against what you heard. Labels also run in your browser, after a one-time download of about 8 MB.
Private by design
Nothing leaves your device. The meter reads the level in this tab, no audio is recorded, and the log lives here until you download or print it. Closing the tab clears it. Your level and adjustment are remembered in this browser only.
Questions
Is this noise meter accurate?
It gives an approximate level. Phone and laptop microphones are not calibrated, and browsers cannot report true sound pressure, so readings can be off by several decibels. It is good for seeing when noise starts, how long it lasts and how it compares with the rest of the night. It is not a certified sound level meter.
Can I leave it running overnight?
Yes, if the tab stays open and the device stays awake and plugged in. On phones, the browser may pause the microphone when the screen locks or you switch apps; the meter asks to keep the screen on where the browser allows it.
Does it record audio?
No. It measures the level and keeps only numbers: the time, length, peak, average and type of each event. No audio is saved or sent anywhere.
Can I use the log as evidence?
It can back up a complaint as part of a noise diary: dates, times and how long the noise went on. It is not a certified measurement, and how it is used is up to your landlord, HOA, council or the police.
Why does an event say “Unclear”?
The sound did not clearly match one type, or several sounds overlapped. The time, length and level are still logged.
Which browsers does it work in?
Recent versions of Safari, Chrome, Edge and Firefox, on phones and computers. You need to allow the microphone when the browser asks.