Bel to Decibel (Bel to Decibel)
Result
10 Decibel
Formula
Decibel = Bel × 10
1 Bel = 10 Decibel, and 1 Decibel = 0.1 Bel.
Frequency units are SI prefixes of the hertz (one cycle per second). The bel is a base-10 logarithmic ratio; one bel is 10 decibels.
Worked examples
- 1 Bel × 10 = 10 Decibel
- 10 Bel × 10 = 100 Decibel
- 100 Bel × 10 = 1,000 Decibel
Common mistakes
- Decibels are logarithmic: two 60 dB sources together make about 63 dB, not 120 dB.
- dB SPL, dB(A) and dBm use different reference values and weightings; they cannot be compared directly.
Bel to Decibel table
| Bel (Bel) | Decibel (Decibel) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 10 |
| 2 | 20 |
| 5 | 50 |
| 10 | 100 |
| 20 | 200 |
| 50 | 500 |
| 100 | 1,000 |
| 1,000 | 10,000 |
The units
- Bel (Bel)
- 1 Bel = 10 Decibel.
- Decibel (Decibel)
- A unit of sound.
Sources for these factors
- The International System of Units (SI Brochure), 9th edition — BIPM
- Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SP 811), Appendix B: conversion factors — NIST
Last reviewed against these sources. An automated check recomputes every factor from its definition on each build. How we check accuracy