Free Classroom Noise Meter
A noise level meter for the classroom screen. Bouncing balls, a bubble or a traffic light show how loud the room is, against a quiet line you set. Free, with no sign-up, and nothing is recorded.
The sound is measured on this device. Nothing is recorded or sent anywhere.
Turn it up if the meter barely moves, down if it sits high in a calm room.
Start the meter to set the line from the room.
Want something on the wall too? Australian teachers sell voice level posters, noise indicator charts and classroom management packs, most for under $5.
Voice level and noise posters by Aussie teachers
How to use a noise meter in class
- Set the line together. Show the class what partner talk sounds like and press "Set from the room", so the line matches the volume they agreed to.
- Name the voice level for each task. Silent reading, partner talk and group work need different lines. Move the slider as you change activities and say why.
- Praise the quiet, not just the loud. A green light during independent work is worth noticing out loud.
- Let it do the reminding. A bubble creeping towards the ring tells the room to bring it down before you need to.
- Use it for a goal, not a punishment. Five minutes in the green can earn a class point, a brain break or choosing the next song.
Three ways to show the noise
- Bouncing balls: coloured balls hop higher as the room gets louder. Younger students love keeping them below the dashed line.
- Bubble: a bubble that grows with the noise, with a ring for the quiet line and a level from 0 to 100. Clear from the back of the room.
- Traffic light: green for quiet, amber for getting loud, red for too loud. Simple for any age.
Press Full screen to fill the projector or interactive whiteboard. For more ways to manage the room, read the behaviour management strategies guide.
Noise meter questions
Is this classroom noise meter free?
Yes. It is free to use every day, with no sign-up, no account and no time limit. Open the page on the classroom screen and press Start.
Does the noise meter record my class?
No. The microphone is read inside your browser and turned into a single loudness number many times a second. No sound is recorded, saved or sent anywhere, and nothing leaves the device. When you press Stop or close the tab, the microphone is switched off.
Which browsers and devices does it work on?
It works in current versions of Chrome, Edge, Safari and Firefox, on Windows laptops, Macs, Chromebooks, iPads, Android tablets and phones. On an interactive whiteboard or projector, open it on the computer connected to the board. The device needs a microphone; most laptops and tablets have one built in.
How do I calibrate the noise meter for my classroom?
Ask the class to work at the volume you are happy with, then press "Set from the room". The meter listens for 5 seconds and puts the quiet line a little above what it heard. You can also drag the quiet line slider yourself. If the meter barely moves, turn the sensitivity up; if it sits near the top even when the room is calm, turn it down.
The page says the microphone is blocked. How do I allow it?
The browser asks once, and if the answer was Block it remembers. Click the lock or settings icon to the left of the web address, set Microphone to Allow, then press Try again. On an iPad, go to Settings, then Safari, then Microphone. School managed devices sometimes block the microphone for every site; your IT team can allow it.
Is the number in decibels?
No. Every laptop and tablet microphone hears the same room differently, so the meter shows a level from 0 to 100 instead of decibels. What matters is where the level sits against the quiet line you set for your room.
Will the chime set off the noise meter?
No. The chime is off unless you turn it on, and it plays once each time the room goes over the quiet line. It cannot play again until the room has come back under the line, so the chime cannot keep itself going. The visual alert is usually all a class needs.