Sound Level Converter
Sound level is expressed on logarithmic scales that compare a quantity with a reference value. The decibel is one tenth of a bel. The neper uses natural logarithms instead of base-10 logarithms; one neper corresponds to about 8.686 decibels for field quantities such as pressure or voltage.
1 Decibel (dB) = 0.1 Bel
How to convert Decibel (dB) to Bel
One Decibel (dB) equals 0.1 Bel, so multiply any value in dB by 0.1 to get B. To convert back, divide by 0.1 — or multiply by 10.
B = dB × 0.1
Example: 25 dB × 0.1 = 2.5 B.
Watch out: These are ratio units, so this converter changes the scale a level is written in. To convert an actual pressure in pascals, use the Sound Pressure converter.
Decibel (dB) to Bel table
| Decibel (dB) (dB) | Bel (B) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 0.1 |
| 2 | 0.2 |
| 3 | 0.3 |
| 4 | 0.4 |
| 5 | 0.5 |
| 10 | 1 |
| 15 | 1.5 |
| 20 | 2 |
| 25 | 2.5 |
| 50 | 5 |
| 75 | 7.5 |
| 100 | 10 |
| 250 | 25 |
| 500 | 50 |
| 1,000 | 100 |
Bel to Decibel (dB) table
| Bel (B) | Decibel (dB) (dB) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 10 |
| 2 | 20 |
| 3 | 30 |
| 4 | 40 |
| 5 | 50 |
| 10 | 100 |
| 15 | 150 |
| 20 | 200 |
| 25 | 250 |
| 50 | 500 |
| 75 | 750 |
| 100 | 1,000 |
| 250 | 2,500 |
| 500 | 5,000 |
| 1,000 | 10,000 |
Sound Level units at a glance
All 3 units this converter supports, each expressed in Decibel (dB) (dB) and the other way round.
| Unit | Symbol | 1 unit in dB | 1 dB in unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Decibel (dB) | dB | 1 | 1 |
| Bel | B | 10 | 0.1 |
| Neper | Np | 8.685889638 | 0.1151292546 |
Where sound level conversions are used
Acoustics, audio engineering, telecommunications signal loss, and noise measurement.
Frequently asked questions
What is 1 Decibel (dB) in Bel?
1 Decibel (dB) (dB) is 0.1 Bel (B).
What is 1 Bel in Decibel (dB)?
1 Bel (B) is 10 Decibel (dB) (dB).
How do I convert Decibel (dB) to Bel?
Multiply the value in Decibel (dB) by 0.1. For example, 5 dB × 0.1 = 0.5 B. To go the other way, divide by 0.1.
How many units does the sound level converter support?
It converts between 3 units: Decibel (dB), Bel, Neper.
What should I watch out for when converting sound level?
These are ratio units, so this converter changes the scale a level is written in. To convert an actual pressure in pascals, use the Sound Pressure converter.
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Figures on this page are calculated with the same conversion factors as the converter above and shown to up to 10 significant figures. See our disclaimer before relying on a result in a professional or safety-critical context.