Sleep Sounds

What is brown noise?

Brown noise is the deep, soft rumble that sits behind a waterfall or a plane cabin. In technical terms it has more energy in the low frequencies and less up high, which is why it sounds rounder and less hissy than white noise. Most people find it the easiest of the three to sleep to, because it is closer to a comforting roar than a sharp static.

The sound here is generated fresh in your browser rather than streamed from a file, so there is nothing to download and no ads. It loops seamlessly, with no gap or click, so there is nothing to break the calm once you have pressed play.

Brown, pink or white: which should you pick?

• Brown is the deepest and softest. Start here for sleep; it is the one most people reach for.
• White is the brightest and most even, a full static hiss. Some find it the best at covering sudden noises, though it can feel sharp.
• Pink sits in the middle, softer than white but not as deep as brown. A gentle all-rounder for sleep or focus.

There is no single right answer. Play each for a few seconds and keep whichever one your shoulders drop to.

Why noise helps you sleep and focus

It is not that the sound itself is magic. Steady noise works by masking: it raises the background level so the sudden changes that jolt you, a door, a car, a snoring partner, no longer stand out against silence. Your brain has less to latch onto, so it is easier to drift off and to stay asleep. The same masking helps some people concentrate in a noisy office or a quiet room that feels too quiet.

Honest caveat: noise is a helpful tool, not a cure. It will not fix a body clock set to the wrong hour or the racing thoughts of real stress. It pairs best with the rest of a good wind-down.

Using it overnight

• Keep the volume low. Just loud enough to blur the background, no louder. A gentle level all night is kinder to your ears than a loud one.
• Use the sleep timer. If you would rather it not run until morning, set it to fade out after 20 or 30 minutes, usually long enough to get you over the edge into sleep.
• Plug in if you can. Generating and playing audio all night uses battery. On a charger it is nothing to think about.
• Position matters more than loudness. A phone a little way from your head, not on the pillow, spreads the sound more evenly.

Frequently asked questions

What is brown noise?

Brown noise is a deep, low, steady sound, softer and rounder than white noise because it has more energy in the low frequencies. Think distant thunder or a strong waterfall. It is the noise most people find easiest to relax and fall asleep to.

Is brown noise or white noise better for sleep?

For most people, brown, because its deeper tone is less harsh over a long night. White noise is brighter and some find it better at masking sudden sounds, but it can feel sharp. The honest answer is to try both at a low volume and keep whichever settles you faster.

Is it safe to sleep with noise on all night?

At a low, comfortable volume, it is fine for most people. The thing to watch is loudness rather than duration: keep it just loud enough to blur the background, not so loud that it is the main thing you hear, to be kind to your ears over a full night.

Does brown noise help with focus or ADHD?

Many people find steady noise helps them concentrate by masking distractions, and brown noise in particular has a following for focus. The evidence is mixed and it varies from person to person, so treat it as a personal tool to try rather than a guaranteed fix.

What is the difference between white, pink and brown noise?

They differ in how the energy is spread across frequencies. White is even across the whole range and sounds like a bright hiss. Pink softens the high end and sounds more balanced. Brown rolls off the highs further still, leaving a deep, soft rumble. Brown is the deepest, white the brightest, pink in between.

Pairs well with

Sound is the last layer of a good wind-down. Settle first with a breathing exercise for sleep, then press play and let the noise carry you off. And to go to bed at a time that fits your sleep cycles, our sleep calculator works it out from your wake-up time.