White Noise Generator

Free online white noise, pink noise, and brown noise — no download, no ads.
Adjust volume, bass, treble, and set a sleep timer.

WHITE NOISE
00:00

Noise Type

Volume
70%

Equalizer

Bass 0 dB
−12 dB +12 dB
Treble 0 dB
−12 dB +12 dB

Sleep Timer

Free Online White Noise Generator — Sleep, Focus & Relax

A white noise generator produces a steady broadband sound that contains all audible frequencies at equal intensity — similar to the hiss of an untuned radio, a fan, or a running shower. Research published in journals including Sleep Medicine Reviews and Frontiers in Neuroscience consistently shows that white noise and related colored noises improve sleep onset speed, enhance concentration during deep work, and provide relief from intrusive background sounds.

This free online white noise machine runs entirely in your browser using the Web Audio API — no downloads, no subscription, no ads. Choose between white noise, pink noise, and brown noise, adjust volume and EQ, and set a sleep timer so the sound fades automatically. Works on desktop, mobile, tablet, and smart TV browsers.

What Is White Noise Used For?

White noise masks disruptive sounds and creates a consistent acoustic environment for sleep, work, and wellbeing.

White Noise for Sleep

White noise for sleep works by raising the ambient sound floor of your bedroom so that sudden noises — a door slam, traffic, snoring partner — no longer cause a sharp contrast that triggers waking. A 2021 meta-analysis found white noise reduced sleep onset latency by an average of 38% in adults who struggled with environmental noise. Set the sleep timer to fade out after 30–60 minutes once you have fallen asleep, preserving natural sleep cycles.

White Noise for Studying & Focus

Open-plan offices, coffee shops, and home environments present constant cognitive interruptions. White noise for studying reduces distraction by masking unpredictable speech fragments — the primary disruptor of reading comprehension and working memory. Many students and knowledge workers prefer pink noise for focus over white noise because its warmer, softer frequency profile is less fatiguing over long study sessions.

White Noise for Babies & Infants

Newborns spend nine months in the womb surrounded by constant low-frequency sound — heartbeats, blood flow, digestion — at approximately 85–90 dB. White noise for babies replicates this intrauterine acoustic environment, triggering the calming reflex described by paediatrician Dr. Harvey Karp. Keep baby white noise at 50–65 dB at the crib (roughly the volume of a quiet shower) and use the sleep timer to reduce volume after your infant is settled. Brown noise for babies is often preferred for its deeper, womb-like rumble.

White Noise for Tinnitus Relief

Tinnitus masking uses broadband noise to partially cover the ringing, buzzing, or hissing that tinnitus sufferers hear. While white noise does not cure tinnitus, it reduces the perceived loudness of the phantom sound by raising the auditory threshold. Audiologists often recommend sound masking therapy as part of Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT). Adjust treble upwards if your tinnitus is high-frequency, or increase bass for lower-frequency tones.

White Noise vs Pink Noise vs Brown Noise

All three are colored noises — broadband sounds named for their relationship to the visible light spectrum. They differ in how energy is distributed across frequencies.

White Noise

Equal energy at every frequency — like a TV static or a de-tuned radio. The highest-pitched of the three, it can feel bright or harsh over long exposure.

Best for

Office sound masking, ADHD focus, blocking loud environments

Pink Noise

Energy decreases by 3 dB per octave as frequency rises — matching the natural frequency profile of wind, rain, and rustling leaves. Softer and warmer than white noise.

Best for

Deep sleep, studying, meditation, listening fatigue reduction

Brown Noise

Energy decreases by 6 dB per octave — deep, low-frequency rumble similar to thunder, a strong waterfall, or ocean waves. Also called red noise or Brownian noise.

Best for

Babies, tinnitus masking, anxiety relief, ADHD calm

Property
White
Pink
Brown
Spectral slope
Flat (0 dB/oct)
−3 dB/oct
−6 dB/oct
Character
Bright, hissy
Balanced, natural
Deep, rumbling
Sounds like
Static, fan
Rain, wind
Thunder, waterfall
Sleep quality
Good
Very good
Excellent

How to Use This White Noise Machine

No sign-up, no download. Follow these steps for the best experience.

  1. 1

    Choose a noise type

    Start with white noise for office masking or ADHD focus. Try pink noise for a softer, more natural sound. Use brown noise for deep sleep, babies, or anxiety relief.

  2. 2

    Set the volume

    For sleep, use 50–65 dB — roughly the level of a quiet shower. For studying, keep it low enough to mask speech fragments without occupying active attention. For babies, place the device at least 2 metres from the cot and keep volume below 65 dB.

  3. 3

    Adjust the EQ (optional)

    Boost bass for a deeper, more soothing sound. Roll off treble to reduce harshness during long sessions. For tinnitus masking, increase treble if your tinnitus is high-pitched.

  4. 4

    Set a sleep timer

    If using white noise for sleep, set a 30–60 minute timer. The sound will fade gradually so you are not woken by sudden silence. For overnight use (e.g. babies) choose the 8-hour option.

Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to the most common questions about white noise.

Yes, for most adults. The key is keeping the volume at a safe level — below 70 dB for adults and below 65 dB for infants. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends placing white noise machines at least 2 metres from a baby's sleep space. Some sleep researchers note a theoretical risk of auditory habituation with very high volumes over years, but this has not been demonstrated at normal listening volumes in peer-reviewed studies.

Research into ADHD and colored noise is still emerging, but several small studies suggest white noise and brown noise are most effective for improving attention and working memory in people with ADHD. The stimulating quality of white noise may help regulate the under-aroused prefrontal cortex. Brown noise is increasingly popular in the ADHD community for its calming, grounding effect during focused work. Start with brown noise and switch to white if you find it insufficient.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends keeping infant white noise below 65 dB measured at the cot. Place the device at least 2 metres (7 feet) from the baby — do not put it inside the cot or directly against the crib slats. Use the sleep timer to reduce volume after your baby is settled, and avoid running it at full volume all night. At 50% volume on this generator through a typical phone speaker, the output will be within safe range for most rooms.

Yes — multiple peer-reviewed studies suggest pink noise may enhance slow-wave (deep) sleep. A 2017 study in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience found that pink noise synchronized with slow brain oscillations increased time in slow-wave sleep by 23% and improved memory consolidation. The 1/f frequency profile of pink noise closely matches the natural power spectrum of the sleeping brain, which may explain this synchronising effect.

White noise is a standard tool in Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT) and sound therapy. It does not cure tinnitus but reduces its perceived prominence by adding background sound that partially masks the phantom ringing. The goal is to bring the signal-to-noise ratio of your tinnitus below the threshold of conscious attention. Many audiologists use broadband white noise generators at low volumes (just below the tinnitus level) to retrain the auditory cortex over time.

Yes — 100% free, forever. No account required, no subscription, no ads interrupting playback. The noise is generated locally in your browser using the Web Audio API; nothing is downloaded and no audio data is sent to any server. You can bookmark the page and return at any time.

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