Frequency limits for octave bands and 1/3-Octave bands

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For practical reasons the audible frequency range is separated into unequal segments called
octaves. An octave higher means a doubling of the frequency. Each octave band may be
separated into three ranges - referred to as one-third-octave bands - as indicated in the
table below:

Frequency (Hz)
Octave Bands

1/3 Octave Bands

Lower
Center
Upper
Lower
Center
Upper
Band Limit Frequency Band Limit Band Limit Frequency Band Limit
(Hz)
11

(Hz)
16

(Hz)
22

22

31.5

44

44

63

88

88

125

177

177

250

355

355

500

710

710

1000

1420

1420

2000

2840

2840

4000

5680

5680

8000

11360

(Hz)
14.1
17.8
22.4
28.2
35.5
44.7
56.2
70.8
89.1
112
141
178
224
282
355
447
562
708
891
1122
1413
1778
2239
2818
3548
4467
5623
7079

(Hz)
16
20
25
31.5
40
50
63
80
100
125
160
200
250
315
400
500
630
800
1000
1250
1600
2000
2500
3150
4000
5000
6300
8000

(Hz)
17.8
22.4
28.2
35.5
44.7
56.2
70.8
89.1
112
141
178
224
282
355
447
562
708
891
1122
1413
1778
2239
2818
3548
4467
5623
7079
8913

8913
10000
11220
11220
12500
14130
11360
16000
22720
14130
16000
17780
17780
20000
22390
The "one-third-octaves" have been standardized for scientific instruments commonly used
for tasks like determine NC-criterion and similar.
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