Quiet Fireworks vs ‘Silent’ Fireworks: What’s Real and What’s Marketing Fluff?

If you’ve just searched “silent fireworks UK”, “quiet fireworks for dogs” or “low noise fireworks New Year’s Eve”, you’ve probably seen the same two phrases everywhere:

• “Silent fireworks”

• “Low-noise” or “quiet” fireworks

They sound similar. They are not the same.

Animal charities, councils and vets are all pushing for quieter celebrations. The RSPCA talks about quiet and low-noise alternatives, and is very clear there are no truly silent fireworks – only reduced-noise ones.

The British Veterinary Association also wants fireworks clearly labelled for noise level and has called for lower legal limits for consumer fireworks so people can make informed choices.

Meanwhile, a few retailers are bandying around the phrase “silent fireworks” like they’ve just solved physics.

So, let’s cut through it. Here’s what’s real, what’s marketing fluff, and how to actually pick fireworks that keep the drama in the sky – not in your neighbours’ WhatsApp group.

Why “Silent Fireworks” Became a Thing

Over the last few years, fireworks have been under pressure from all sides:

• Pet charities pointing out how many animals struggle during firework season

• Horse and livestock owners sharing horror stories on social media

• Councils looking at tighter rules, control zones and, in some cases, bans on fireworks at specific venues

At the same time, surveys show huge public interest in quieter celebrations, whether that’s low-noise fireworks, drone shows or light displays.

Result: demand for fireworks that don’t sound like a small war has absolutely rocketed (sorry).

Most of the industry has responded honestly – talking about low-noise or quiet fireworks and explaining the limitations.

For example, this article “UK Fireworks Noise Debate: Why Loud Fireworks Are in the Headlines”, which looks at the politics and pet concerns around bang levels.

But a few players have gone for the more dramatic “silent fireworks” label instead.

Which brings us to the obvious question…

Can Fireworks Ever Be Truly Silent?

Short answer: no.

Longer answer: several very sensible people have already gone to the trouble of saying this out loud:

UK fireworks experts at UKFR put it bluntly: “completely silent aerial fireworks do not exist”. To get an effect into the air, you need a lifting charge – which always makes some sound.

Even if you remove the big “bang” at the top of the burst, you still have:

• The lift charge: a small explosion at ground level that launches the effect

• The whoosh / whistle / crackle of the effect itself

• The crowd noise (which might be the biggest source of stress for some pets anyway)

So when you see “silent fireworks”, what you’re really looking at is low-noise fireworks with a very optimistic marketing label.

They are quieter. They are not silent.

What “Quiet” or “Low-Noise” Fireworks Actually Are

While “silent fireworks” are basically a myth, quiet or low-noise fireworks are very real and genuinely useful.

They work by changing three things:

1. The type of effect

   • Fewer giant aerial bursts, more graceful comets, horsetails, strobes and strobing stars

   • More fountains, mines and low-level effects that don’t require a huge lift charge

   • Minimal or no whistles and crackle (which can be surprisingly sharp)

2. The size of the lift and burst charges

   • Smaller, carefully tuned lift charges = less of that heavy “thud” up into the air

   • No big salutes (those single massive white bangs that wake entire postcodes)

3. The design of the barrage aka 'cake'

   • Compacted sequences of lower-noise shots rather than a few huge mortars

   • Choreography that creates interest with patterns and colour, not brute-force noise

The British Veterinary Association would like to see consumer fireworks capped at 97 dB at 15 metres, with clear labelling so people can actually tell the difference between “low noise” and “loud”.

Some retailers and campaigners mention rough ranges like 70–90 dB for quieter pieces vs 120+ dB for traditional big salutes, but those numbers vary, and there’s no single legal quiet-vs-loud threshold yet.

The important bit is this quiet fireworks reduce the intensity and distance of the noise. They don’t completely remove it.

Stand right next to a low-noise cake and it will still sound lively. Stand a couple of streets away and you’ll barely notice it compared with a conventional display.

How “Silent Fireworks” Get Used (And Misused) in Marketing

Some “silent” labelling is well-meaning: venues, councils and even wedding suppliers use the phrase because it’s become a kind of shorthand for “we’re doing fireworks, but we’re being considerate about noise”.

The trouble starts when:

• “Silent” is slapped on anything that’s just a bit quieter than average

• Sellers don’t explain what’s actually different about the product

• Customers then assume these fireworks are literally inaudible, and are shocked when they still hear whooshes, pops and crackle

There’s also a risk of over-promising to pet owners and animal lovers. If you genuinely think you’re buying fireworks your dog won’t hear, you’re going to be disappointed – and so is the dog.

As one fireworks campaign site puts it: “There are quieter fireworks… but ‘silent fireworks’ are not a thing.”

And that’s where the line between helpful explanation and marketing fluff lives.

Spotting Genuine Low-Noise Fireworks (vs. Wishful Thinking)

So, how do you tell if a “quiet” or “silent” firework is genuinely low-noise, rather than just a normal cake in a softer box?

A few pointers:

Look for honest language

Good retailers will talk about:

• “low-noise” or “quiet” fireworks rather than “silent”

• What types of effect you’re getting (comets, horsetails, fountains, strobes)

• Who they’re for – pets, young children, built-up areas, sensitive venues

If a product page just says “silent!!!” with a lot of exclamation marks and no detail, be sceptical.

Check for noise ratings

Here at Epic Fireworks, like many responsible retailers, we use volume ratings on our product pages, using a scale where:

• 1–4 = low-noise

• 4-7 = medium

• 7+ = loud

Look at the category and safety distance

Fireworks labelled Category F2 with 8–15m safety distances are generally smaller, less powerful pieces – perfect for gardens and often quieter by design.

Category F3 and anything with 25m+ safety distance is more likely to pack a serious punch – including in the noise department.

It’s not an absolute rule (you can get low-noise F3 effects), but if something is sold as a “silent monster barrage” with 30m clearance, your eyebrows should probably raise.

Consider the effects shown in videos

Most reputable sellers (us included) provide firing videos on their product pages. Watch them with the sound on:

• Do you hear big lift thumps and heavy bursts?

• Or is it mainly whooshes, crackles and small pops?

If the audio sounds like heavy artillery, it’s not low-noise – no matter what the label says.

Why You Might Want Quiet Fireworks Anyway

Even if “silent” is off the table, there are loads of good reasons to go low-noise:

• Pets – Dogs Trust, Blue Cross and vets across the UK all stress how badly many animals cope with traditional fireworks. Quieter effects help reduce the impact.

• Young children – Little ones often love the colours but hate the bangs. A quiet display lets them enjoy the show without attaching “terrifying” to every burst.

• Neighbours and community – Councils like Brighton & Hove explicitly encourage low-noise displays as less offensive to neighbours and their pets.

• Local wildlife and livestock – BVA policy on fireworks and animal welfare highlights the stress loud fireworks cause to farm animals, horses and wildlife, and backs lower-noise options.

None of that means fireworks are cancelled. It just means being thoughtful about what you light.

Building a Genuinely Quiet Display with Epic Fireworks

If you want the low-noise experience in your own garden, the good news is that Epic already does most of the thinking for you.

Recent Epic blog posts that are worth a read:

• “2025’s Best Quiet Fireworks For Low-Noise Displays” – a curated list of low-noise fountains, barrages and more.

• “Best Quiet Fireworks of 2025 You Can Still Buy for New Year’s Eve” – time-sensitive picks that are still in stock for NYE.

• “The Ultimate Guide to At-Home Firework Displays: Part Thirteen – Low Noise Displays” – full-on guide to designing a quiet show, including layout and firing order ideas.

• “Epic Bestsellers: Quiet Fireworks” – real-world favourites that customers keep coming back for.

With a quiet, low-noise display you still get:

• A proper “we put on a display” feeling

• A sky full of colour and movement

• A sense of build-up and finale

Just… without everyone’s dog trying to dig through the kitchen floor.

Quick FAQ: Quiet vs “Silent” Fireworks

Are there any truly silent fireworks?

No. Reputable sources – from UK fireworks experts to the RSPCA – all agree there are no completely silent aerial fireworks. You can reduce noise drastically, but you can’t remove it entirely.

So what does “quiet” or “low-noise” actually mean?

It means the fireworks have been designed to minimise big bangs, using smaller lift charges and quieter effects (comets, horsetails, fountains, strobes) instead of huge salutes. They are much gentler on ears and nerves – especially a street or two away – but still audible up close.

Is it misleading to say “silent fireworks”?

In our view: yes. It raises expectations that can’t be met. Better to call them low-noise and explain what that actually means.

Are quiet fireworks worth it?

Absolutely. For pets, kids, sensitive neighbours and built-up areas, they’re a massive improvement on traditional heavy-bang displays – and modern quiet cakes can still look spectacular. Your own Epic bestsellers list is a good example of how far low-noise designs have come.

The Honest Bottom Line

Here’s the simple version:

• “Silent fireworks” is a catchy phrase, not a category of miracle products.

• Quiet / low-noise fireworks are the real deal – they cut the worst of the bang while keeping the colour, pattern and “ooh” factor.

• Animal charities, vets and local councils are all pushing for more low-noise options and clearer labelling, not pretending noise can be magicked away.

Epic Fireworks sits on the sensible side of that line: no nonsense, no fake “silent” claims – just:

• A huge choice of genuinely quieter fireworks,

• Blog guides that show you how to use them properly, and

• Display ideas that let you celebrate without turning your street into a war film soundtrack.

If you want New Year’s Eve (or any other celebration) to light up the sky, not blow up the decibel meter, the recipe is simple:

Skip the “silent fireworks” hype.

Pick honest low-noise pieces.

Design a display that keeps pets, kids and neighbours in mind.

Epic Fireworks can help with all three – and we’ll do it without pretending physics doesn’t exist.

Shop our range of quiet, low noise fireworks today