Road & rail noise map for Birmingham
City in Birmingham, West Midlands
We analysed 6,864 postcodes in and around Birmingham, Birmingham against DEFRA's Strategic Noise Mapping (Round 4, 2022). 40% of them (2,716) have mapped road noise of 55 dB or more by day, and 4% have mapped rail noise. 59% of postcodes have no mapped road or rail noise at all — though that reflects major-source modelling, not guaranteed quiet. The highest modelled level we found is at B5 5RD.
Noise map of Birmingham
How many postcodes are affected?
Road noise
| Band | Day (LAeq,16h) | Night (Lnight) |
|---|---|---|
| 55.0–59.9 dB day · 50.0–54.9 dB night | 23% (1,580) | 10% (673) |
| 60.0–64.9 dB day · 55.0–59.9 dB night | 12% (808) | 8% (573) |
| 65.0–69.9 dB day · 60.0–64.9 dB night | 4% (284) | 2% (162) |
| 70.0–74.9 dB day · 65.0–69.9 dB night | <1% (44) | <1% (16) |
| 75.0 dB or more day · 70.0 dB or more night | 0% (0) | 0% (0) |
| Below mapped bands / not mapped | 60% | 79% |
Rail noise
| Band | Day (LAeq,16h) | Night (Lnight) |
|---|---|---|
| 55.0–59.9 dB day · 50.0–54.9 dB night | 2% (134) | 2% (137) |
| 60.0–64.9 dB day · 55.0–59.9 dB night | 2% (109) | 1% (81) |
| 65.0–69.9 dB day · 60.0–64.9 dB night | <1% (21) | <1% (12) |
| 70.0–74.9 dB day · 65.0–69.9 dB night | <1% (4) | <1% (5) |
| 75.0 dB or more day · 70.0 dB or more night | <1% (5) | <1% (3) |
| Below mapped bands / not mapped | 96% | 97% |
Share of the 6,864 postcodes within ~5 km of the Birmingham centre. Source: DEFRA Strategic Noise Mapping Round 4 (2022), Open Government Licence.
Noisiest postcodes in and around Birmingham
Check a specific postcode
Example searches: B11 2HP · B11 4AB · B11 1AJ · B11 1RB · B11 4AA · B11 4AJ
What this data does — and doesn't — cover
- Modelled, not measured.These are DEFRA's computer-modelled estimates (Round 4, 2022), not microphone readings at your door.
- Major sources only. The model covers major roads, major railways and large urban areas. Smaller local roads, neighbours, pubs, building sites and aircraft are not included.
- No mapped noise ≠ quiet. If a location shows no band, it means it falls outside the mapped contours — not that it is silent.
- 2022 snapshot.New roads, developments or traffic changes since 2022 won't show. The next DEFRA round is due around 2027.
More detail on the methodology page.
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Nearby areas
Frequently asked questions
- How noisy is Birmingham?
- We analysed 6,864 postcodes in and around Birmingham, Birmingham against DEFRA's Strategic Noise Mapping (Round 4, 2022). 40% of them (2,716) have mapped road noise of 55 dB or more by day, and 4% have mapped rail noise. 59% of postcodes have no mapped road or rail noise at all — though that reflects major-source modelling, not guaranteed quiet. The highest modelled level we found is at B5 5RD.
- Where is the most road noise in Birmingham?
- The postcodes with the highest modelled daytime levels in and around Birmingham are B5 5RD, B5 5RG, B5 5RB, based on DEFRA's 2022 model of major roads and railways.