For sone values below 1, use the lower end of published conversion charts rather than relying solely on the formula.
| Sone Rating | Perceived Loudness | Example Environment / Appliance | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | Near silent | Ultra-quiet fan / Library whisper | | 1.0 sone | Quiet | A quiet refrigerator / Very quiet room | | 1.5 sones | Quiet | A modern, quiet bathroom exhaust fan | | 4.0 sones | Moderate to loud | A normal dishwasher or vacuum cleaner | | 6.5 sones | Loud | A powerful range hood on high setting | | 8.0 sones | Loud | Normal conversation or background noise | sone to dba verified
Because sones and dBA measure sound differently, there is no perfect, exact scientific conversion for every type of background noise. However, acoustical engineers use a universally accepted formula to estimate the relationship for steady equipment noise, like household fans. For sone values below 1, use the lower
Because human hearing is highly complex, direct conversions represent a standardized approximation with an industry-accepted accuracy of Because human hearing is highly complex, direct conversions
To convert , acoustic experts use the industry-verified mathematical formula:
28-30 dBA: As a general rule of thumb, 1 sone is roughly equivalent to 28 to 30 dBA at a frequency of 1000 Hz.