{"id":55912,"date":"2015-10-24T15:55:18","date_gmt":"2015-10-24T13:55:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wpcalc.com\/?p=55912"},"modified":"2026-09-28T09:35:30","modified_gmt":"2026-09-28T06:35:30","slug":"sound","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/converters\/sound\/","title":{"rendered":"Sound Converter"},"content":{"rendered":"<section class=\"not-prose calculator-box\" aria-labelledby=\"calculator-title\"><div class=\"flex items-baseline sm:items-center justify-between gap-2 sm:gap-3\"><div class=\"flex flex-col sm:flex-row sm:items-center gap-2\"><span class=\"icon icon-calculator text-primary-700! text-base! dark:text-primary-300!\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><h2 id=\"calculator-title\" class=\"text-lg font-display font-bold\">Convert Sound Level, Pressure, Intensity, and Power<\/h2><\/div><div class=\"calcdash-favorite group\">\n  <button type=\"button\" class=\"favorite\" id=\"favorite\" data-favorite-id=\"55912\" data-favorite-title=\"Sound\" data-favorite-url=\"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/converters\/sound\/\" data-favorite-excerpt=\"Convert sound pressure levels between dB SPL, Pa, and \u00b5Pa, or sound intensity between dB IL and W\/m\u00b2. Enter a Sound value and choose the From unit and To unit.\" aria-label=\"Add to Favorites\" data-favorite-icon=\"icon icon-physic\">\n    <span class=\"icon icon-shape-star-empty\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\n  <\/button>\n  <div class=\"calcdash-favorite__tip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n   <span class=\"favorite-tooltip\" id=\"favorite-tooltip\"><\/span>\n  <\/div>\n  <span class=\"sr-only\" role=\"status\" id=\"favorite-status\"><\/span>\n<\/div><\/div><form action=\"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/converters\/sound\/\" method=\"POST\" class=\"calculator\" id=\"calculator-55912\" data-post=\"55912\"><fieldset class=\"fieldset-input\"><legend class=\"sr-only\">Input Fields<\/legend><div class=\"field is-single\" id=\"input-1\"><label for=\"field-1\">Sound value<\/label><input type=\"text\" name=\"sound_value\" id=\"field-1\" aria-describedby=\"calc-unit-1 calc-info-1\" data-number inputmode=\"decimal\" autocomplete=\"off\" spellcheck=\"false\" min=\"0\" value=\"85\"\/><div class=\"unit\" id=\"calc-unit-1\"><\/div><small id=\"calc-info-1\">Enter the sound value to convert (e.g., sound pressure level)<\/small><\/div><div class=\"field\" id=\"input-2\"><label for=\"field-2\">From unit<\/label><div class=\"grid grid-cols-1\"><select id=\"field-2\" name=\"from_unit\"><option value=\"dB SPL\">Decibel Sound Pressure Level (dB SPL)<\/option><option value=\"Pa\">Pascal (Pa)<\/option><option value=\"\u00b5Pa\">Micropascal (\u00b5Pa)<\/option><option value=\"W\/m\u00b2\">Watt per square meter (W\/m\u00b2)<\/option><option value=\"dB IL\">Decibel Intensity Level (dB IL)<\/option><\/select><svg class=\"pointer-events-none col-start-1 row-start-1 mr-2 size-5 self-center justify-self-end text-gray-500 sm:size-4\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" fill=\"currentColor\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-slot=\"icon\">\n              <path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M4.22 6.22a.75.75 0 0 1 1.06 0L8 8.94l2.72-2.72a.75.75 0 1 1 1.06 1.06l-3.25 3.25a.75.75 0 0 1-1.06 0L4.22 7.28a.75.75 0 0 1 0-1.06Z\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" \/>\n            <\/svg><\/div><\/div><div class=\"field\" id=\"input-3\"><label for=\"field-3\">To unit<\/label><div class=\"grid grid-cols-1\"><select id=\"field-3\" name=\"to_unit\"><option value=\"dB SPL\">Decibel Sound Pressure Level (dB SPL)<\/option><option value=\"Pa\">Pascal (Pa)<\/option><option value=\"\u00b5Pa\">Micropascal (\u00b5Pa)<\/option><option value=\"W\/m\u00b2\">Watt per square meter (W\/m\u00b2)<\/option><option value=\"dB IL\">Decibel Intensity Level (dB IL)<\/option><\/select><svg class=\"pointer-events-none col-start-1 row-start-1 mr-2 size-5 self-center justify-self-end text-gray-500 sm:size-4\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" fill=\"currentColor\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-slot=\"icon\">\n              <path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M4.22 6.22a.75.75 0 0 1 1.06 0L8 8.94l2.72-2.72a.75.75 0 1 1 1.06 1.06l-3.25 3.25a.75.75 0 0 1-1.06 0L4.22 7.28a.75.75 0 0 1 0-1.06Z\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" \/>\n            <\/svg><\/div><\/div><\/fieldset><div class=\"buttons\"><button type=\"submit\" data-text=\"Re-Calculate\" id=\"calculate-button\" data-post=\"55912\">Calculate<\/button><button type=\"reset\">Reset<\/button><\/div><div class=\"field is-checkbox hidden!\" id=\"field-auto-calc\"><input type=\"checkbox\" id=\"auto-calc\"><label for=\"auto-calc\">Calculate automatically<\/label><small>If enabled, the result will update automatically when you change any value.<\/small><\/div><div class=\"fieldset-result is-hidden\" aria-labelledby=\"result-title\" aria-live=\"polite\" role=\"region\"> <h3 class=\"result-title bg-gradient-to-r from-primary-50 to-gray-50 dark:from-primary-900 dark:to-gray-800\" id=\"result-title\"><span class=\"icon icon-s-pulse\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span> Your Results<\/h3><div class=\"result-box\"><div class=\"field-result\" id=\"output-1\"><span class=\"field-title\"><span>Converted Sound Value<\/span><\/span><span class=\"field-value\" id=\"result-1\"><\/span><button type=\"button\" class=\"copy-result\" data-tooltip=\"Copy Result\" aria-label=\"Copy Result\"><span class=\"copy-icon icon icon-document-copy\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><\/button><\/div><\/div><div class=\"result-actions\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"copy-link\"><svg viewBox=\"0 0 20 20\" fill=\"currentColor\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M12.232 4.232a2.5 2.5 0 0 1 3.536 3.536l-1.225 1.224a.75.75 0 0 0 1.061 1.06l1.224-1.224a4 4 0 0 0-5.656-5.656l-3 3a4 4 0 0 0 .225 5.865.75.75 0 0 0 .977-1.138 2.5 2.5 0 0 1-.142-3.667l3-3Z\"\/><path d=\"M11.603 7.963a.75.75 0 0 0-.977 1.138 2.5 2.5 0 0 1 .142 3.667l-3 3a2.5 2.5 0 0 1-3.536-3.536l1.225-1.224a.75.75 0 0 0-1.061-1.06l-1.224 1.224a4 4 0 1 0 5.656 5.656l3-3a4 4 0 0 0-.225-5.865Z\"\/><\/svg><span class=\"copy-link__text\">Copy link to this calculation<\/span><\/button><span class=\"sr-only\" role=\"status\" id=\"copy-link-status\"><\/span><\/div><\/div><a href=\"#respond\" class=\"hidden transition-opacity duration-300 opacity-0 w-50 text-sm justify-center items-center gap-2 px-4 py-2 rounded bg-gray-200 text-gray-700 hover:bg-gray-300\" id=\"leave-comment\"><span class=\"icon icon-comments\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>Leave a Comment<\/a><\/form><\/section><section id=\"calc-reactions\" class=\"not-prose hidden my-12 bg-gradient-to-r from-primary-50 to-gray-50 border border-indigo-100 rounded-xl px-6 py-4 shadow-sm\" data-post=\"55912\" aria-live=\"polite\" aria-labelledby=\"calc-reactions-title\"><p id=\"calc-reactions-title\" class=\"text-sm text-gray-500 text-center mb-2\">How did this result make you feel?<\/p><div role=\"group\" aria-labelledby=\"calc-reactions-title\" class=\"grid grid-cols-3 sm:flex sm:flex-row sm:justify-around gap-4 sm:items-center sm:flex-wrap\"><button type=\"button\" aria-pressed=\"false\" class=\"reaction-btn flex flex-col items-center gap-1 text-sm text-gray-700 hover:text-primary-600 cursor-pointer transition-transform hover:scale-105\" data-reaction=\"like\"><span class=\"reaction-count\" data-reaction-count=\"like\">0<\/span><span class=\"reaction text-3xl\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\ud83d\ude00 <\/span><span class=\"reaction-description font-medium\">Like <\/span><\/button><button type=\"button\" aria-pressed=\"false\" class=\"reaction-btn flex flex-col items-center gap-1 text-sm text-gray-700 hover:text-primary-600 cursor-pointer transition-transform hover:scale-105\" data-reaction=\"helpful\"><span class=\"reaction-count\" data-reaction-count=\"helpful\">0<\/span><span class=\"reaction text-3xl\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\ud83d\udca1 <\/span><span class=\"reaction-description font-medium\">Helpful <\/span><\/button><button type=\"button\" aria-pressed=\"false\" class=\"reaction-btn flex flex-col items-center gap-1 text-sm text-gray-700 hover:text-primary-600 cursor-pointer transition-transform hover:scale-105\" data-reaction=\"confused\"><span class=\"reaction-count\" data-reaction-count=\"confused\">2<\/span><span class=\"reaction text-3xl\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\ud83d\ude15 <\/span><span class=\"reaction-description font-medium\">Confused <\/span><\/button><button type=\"button\" aria-pressed=\"false\" class=\"reaction-btn flex flex-col items-center gap-1 text-sm text-gray-700 hover:text-primary-600 cursor-pointer transition-transform hover:scale-105\" data-reaction=\"disappointed\"><span class=\"reaction-count\" data-reaction-count=\"disappointed\">1<\/span><span class=\"reaction text-3xl\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\ud83d\ude1e <\/span><span class=\"reaction-description font-medium\">Disappointed <\/span><\/button><button type=\"button\" aria-pressed=\"false\" class=\"reaction-btn flex flex-col items-center gap-1 text-sm text-gray-700 hover:text-primary-600 cursor-pointer transition-transform hover:scale-105\" data-reaction=\"inaccurate\"><span class=\"reaction-count\" data-reaction-count=\"inaccurate\">3<\/span><span class=\"reaction text-3xl\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\u274c <\/span><span class=\"reaction-description font-medium\">Inaccurate <\/span><\/button><\/div><div id=\"reaction-message\" class=\"hidden mt-8 rounded-md border border-primary-100 bg-white\/50 backdrop-blur-sm px-4 py-2 text-sm text-center shadow-sm\"><\/div><\/section><div class=\"calcdash-ad not-prose calcdash-ad--calc_result calcdash-ad--in-article\"><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1721569815777345\" data-ad-slot=\"6317458308\" data-ad-layout=\"in-article\" data-ad-format=\"fluid\"><\/ins><script>(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});<\/script><\/div>\n<style id=\"wpcoderpro-inline-1\">.formula-box {\r\n\tborder-bottom: none !important;\r\n}<\/style><section class=\"formula-box\" aria-labelledby=\"formula-title\">\r\n\t<div id=\"formula-title\" class=\"not-prose font-display mb-4\"><span class=\"icon icon-formula\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><h2>Sound Converter Formula<\/h2><\/div>\r\n\t<figure class=\"not-prose formula\">\r\n\t\t<figcaption class=\"formula-title\">Formula<\/figcaption>\r\n\t\t<div class=\"text-base text-gray-800\" id=\"formula\">\n\\[p=p_0\\,10^{L_p\/20}\\]\n<\/div>\r\n\t<\/figure>\r\n\t<\/p>\n<p><strong>Where:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\\(p\\) \u2014 sound pressure in pascals (Pa)<\/li>\n<li>\\(p_0\\) \u2014 reference sound pressure in air, \\(20\\times10^{-6}\\) Pa<\/li>\n<li>\\(L_p\\) \u2014 sound pressure level in dB SPL<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>This formula converts a sound pressure level to its corresponding pressure. The calculator also supports the reverse conversion, conversions involving micropascals, and separate sound intensity conversions.<\/p>\n<p>\r\n<\/section>\n<style id=\"wpcoderpro-inline-459\">.calculation-box {\r\n\tborder-bottom: none !important;\r\n}<\/style><section id=\"calculation\" class=\"calculation-box\" aria-labelledby=\"calculation-title\">\r\n\t<div id=\"calculation-title\" class=\"not-prose font-display\"><span class=\"icon icon-unordered-list\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><h2>Sound Converter \u2013 Calculation Example<\/h2><\/div>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> convert the default Sound value of 85 dB SPL to Pa.<\/p>\n<p>\\[p=(20\\times10^{-6})10^{85\/20}\\approx0.355655882\\ \\mathrm{Pa}\\]<\/p>\n<p><strong>Result:<\/strong> 0.355656 Pa, rounded to six decimal places.<\/p>\n<p>\n\r\n<\/section>\n<h2>How to use the calculator<\/h2>\n<ol>\n<li>Enter a nonnegative number in <strong>Sound value<\/strong>. The default is 85.<\/li>\n<li>Choose the value\u2019s current unit in <strong>From unit<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Choose the desired unit in <strong>To unit<\/strong>. The default selections convert dB SPL to Pa.<\/li>\n<li>Read <strong>Converted Sound Value<\/strong>. If it says \u201cUnsupported conversion,\u201d select one of the supported unit pairs below.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>The calculator supports conversions in either direction between <strong>dB SPL and Pa<\/strong>, <strong>dB SPL and \u00b5Pa<\/strong>, and <strong>dB IL and W\/m\u00b2<\/strong>. It does not directly convert Pa to \u00b5Pa, even though those are both pressure units; for that conversion, use a <a href=\"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/converters\/pressure\/\">pressure converter<\/a> or multiply Pa by one million.<\/p>\n<h2>What sound pressure and intensity levels mean<\/h2>\n<p>Sound pressure is the pressure variation associated with a sound wave. Pascals (Pa) and micropascals (\u00b5Pa) express its magnitude on a linear scale: \\(1\\ \\mathrm{Pa}=1{,}000{,}000\\ \\mathrm{\\mu Pa}\\). Sound pressure level, or dB SPL, expresses pressure as a logarithmic ratio to the calculator\u2019s reference of \\(20\\ \\mathrm{\\mu Pa}\\) in air. Thus, 0 dB SPL corresponds to 20 \u00b5Pa, not to zero pressure.<\/p>\n<p>For pressure, \\(L_p=20\\log_{10}(p\/p_0)\\). An increase of 20 dB SPL corresponds to ten times the pressure; an increase of approximately 6 dB corresponds to twice the pressure. These relationships describe pressure ratios, not necessarily how much louder a sound will seem to a listener. Perceived loudness also depends on frequency and other conditions. If you need to convert between cycles per second and other frequency units, use the <a href=\"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/converters\/frequency\/\">frequency converter<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Sound intensity describes acoustic power passing through an area and is measured in watts per square meter (W\/m\u00b2). The calculator uses a reference intensity of \\(I_0=10^{-12}\\ \\mathrm{W\/m^2}\\) and the relationship \\(L_I=10\\log_{10}(I\/I_0)\\). A 10 dB IL increase means ten times the intensity. Consequently, 0 dB IL corresponds to \\(10^{-12}\\ \\mathrm{W\/m^2}\\), not zero intensity.<\/p>\n<p>Although both levels use decibels, dB SPL and dB IL describe different physical quantities. Turning a measured pressure into intensity requires information about the acoustic medium and wave conditions; selecting one decibel unit in place of the other would not provide that information. This calculator keeps its pressure and intensity conversions separate.<\/p>\n<h2>Assumptions and practical limits<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Reference values are fixed.<\/strong> The calculator uses 20 \u00b5Pa for dB SPL and \\(10^{-12}\\ \\mathrm{W\/m^2}\\) for dB IL. Check the reference used by your source before comparing results.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Use positive linear values for logarithmic conversions.<\/strong> Zero Pa, zero \u00b5Pa, and zero W\/m\u00b2 have no finite decibel level because their logarithms are undefined. Negative linear inputs are not accepted.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Negative decibel inputs are not available.<\/strong> The Sound value field has a minimum of zero, even though levels below 0 dB SPL or 0 dB IL are mathematically possible relative to their references.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Results are rounded to six decimal places.<\/strong> Very small intensities can therefore display as 0 W\/m\u00b2. For example, 0 dB IL represents \\(10^{-12}\\ \\mathrm{W\/m^2}\\), but the displayed result rounds to 0 W\/m\u00b2; the underlying intensity is not zero.<\/li>\n<li><strong>This is a unit conversion, not a noise-exposure assessment.<\/strong> It does not apply frequency weighting, account for exposure duration, or calculate a time-averaged level. It also does not convert sound power in watts (W).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>For meaningful measurements, confirm whether a reported pressure is an RMS value or a peak value and whether a reported decibel level is weighted, such as dB(A). A change in those measurement conventions can change the interpretation even when the unit label looks similar.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Convert sound pressure levels between dB SPL, Pa, and \u00b5Pa, or sound intensity between dB IL and W\/m\u00b2. Enter a Sound value and choose the From unit and To unit.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":70,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[34],"class_list":["post-55912","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-converters","tag-physics-units"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55912","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/70"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=55912"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55912\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":65310,"href":"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55912\/revisions\/65310"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=55912"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=55912"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=55912"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}