Understanding decibels helps you set meaningful noise thresholds for your property. This article explains how sound is measured, how to read the noise graph in the Minut app, and what threshold values work best for different types of properties.
How sound is measured
Sound is measured in decibels (dB); a logarithmic scale that reflects how the human ear actually perceives loudness. Because the scale is logarithmic, a 10 dB increase roughly doubles the perceived volume. A sound at 80 dB feels twice as loud as one at 70 dB, and four times louder than 60 dB.
The scale starts at 0 dB, which is the quietest sound a human ear can detect. Most environments register above 20 dB; even a very quiet room typically measures around 30–35 dB. This is why the Minut noise graph starts at 30 dB rather than 0: anything below that level is essentially silence for practical monitoring purposes.
The dB scale is logarithmic, not linear. This means that 80 dB is not twice as loud as 40 dB: it is many times louder. Small numerical differences at the high end of the scale represent significant jumps in actual sound intensity. Setting your threshold at 75 dB vs 80 dB is a meaningful difference in practice.
Sound levels at a glance
The table below shows common sound levels alongside the noise monitoring thresholds most relevant for short-term rental properties. Use this as a reference when choosing your daytime and quiet hours thresholds.
Level | What it sounds like | Minut relevance |
30 dB | Quiet room, soft whisper, rustling leaves | Graph start point |
40 dB | Library, quiet office, gentle background noise | Normal baseline |
50 - 60 dB | Normal conversation, moderate TV volume | Normal daytime activity |
60 - 70 dB | Dinner party, loud TV, lively conversation | Acceptable daytime level |
65 - 70 dB (recommended night) | Lively conversation, background music | Recommended quiet hours threshold |
70 - 75 dB (recommended day) | Small gathering, raised voices, music at moderate volume | Recommended daytime threshold |
70 - 80 dB | Party noise, loud music, multiple overlapping conversations | Early party indicator |
80 - 90 dB | Loud party, shouting, heavy bass music | Significant noise event |
Not sure what 75 dB sounds like at your property? Try this: play music at a moderate volume in the main living area for 15 minutes while watching the noise graph in the Minut app. This gives you a real feel for how your property translates into decibel readings and helps you calibrate your threshold before guests arrive.
Every property is different — a studio apartment will register differently from a detached house. The graph is your best calibration tool.
How to read the noise graph
The noise graph is available for each sensor in your rental unit. You can access it by tapping the sensor in the unit view from the Minut app or web app. It shows noise levels over time, updated continuously while the sensor is online.
Solid black line
| Average noise level measured across the time period shown |
Grey shaded area | The range between the minimum and maximum values detected in each period |
Dashed red line | Your current noise threshold: noise above this line for longer than the set duration triggers an alert |
Second dashed line | Your quiet hours threshold, if enabled: a stricter level applied during the nighttime window you set |
The graph starts at 30 dB because this represents a very quiet room; the practical lower limit for a monitored indoor space. Sound below 30 dB is not meaningful for property monitoring.
The noise monitoring graph
You can see the noise levels represented in a graph, for each device in your property. When the Minut records sound in a quiet room, the levels are around 35 dB. This is, for the human ear, a quiet surrounding. That is why the sound graph begins at 30dB in the app. Since the dB scale is logarithmic this gives you very precise measurements for levels higher than 40dB, when there is relevant noise detected.
High spikes are normal. The grey shaded area can spike significantly above the black average line; a single loud sound like a door slamming or a shout will show as a tall spike even if the average level was low. Minut uses duration-based thresholds (5–15 minutes) rather than instant triggers, so one-off spikes don’t cause false alerts.
Choosing the right threshold for your property
There is no universal right answer. The best threshold depends on your property type, local noise regulations, and what you consider acceptable for your guests. These starting points cover the most common situations.
Standard short-term rental (apartment or house) | 75 dB daytime & 70 dB quiet hours (10pm–8am) A good default for most properties that balances normal guest behaviour with meaningful noise protection. |
Urban property with strict local noise rules | 70 dB daytime & 65 dB quiet hours Tighter thresholds match stricter local ordinances and give you earlier warning before noise becomes a neighbour issue. |
Detached property or rural location | 80 dB daytime & 70 dB quiet hours More headroom is appropriate where sound doesn’t carry to neighbours — reduces false positives from normal activity. |
Hotel room or shared building | 65–70 dB at all hours Shared walls and corridors mean sound carries further. Lower thresholds are appropriate for individual rooms in multi-unit buildings. |
To change your thresholds, quiet hours, or alert settings, use Noise Presets.
What extended loud noise does to people
Beyond the property monitoring context, it’s worth understanding why noise matters for your guests and neighbours. Extended exposure to high noise levels has real health effects which is why noise regulations exist in most jurisdictions and why setting appropriate thresholds protects everyone involved.
Short-term: temporary hearing change: Brief exposure to very loud noise (above 85 dB) can cause a temporary feeling of stuffiness or ringing (tinnitus) that fades within minutes or hours.
Physiological stress: Sustained noise above 65–70 dB even when not perceived as painful causes measurable physiological stress responses, including elevated cortisol and disrupted sleep architecture.
Sleep disruption: Noise above 40 dB during sleep can cause measurable sleep disruption. The World Health Organisation recommends night-time noise levels below 40 dB for healthy sleep which is why quiet hours thresholds exist.
Long-term: permanent hearing damage: Repeated exposure to noise above 85 dB over time can cause permanent hearing loss. This level is well above typical threshold settings. Your property monitoring threshold is about detecting disruptive noise for neighbours and guests, not about preventing hearing damage.