White Noise for Sleeping
Updated April 2026
A free, live-generated white noise player built for sleep, focus, and sound masking. The audio above is synthesised in your browser using the Web Audio API. There are no downloads, no audio files, no account, and no ads on the player. Five noise colours (white, pink, brown, violet, grey) plus low-pass and high-pass filters let you shape the sound to the task.
If you are looking for something specific (helping a baby sleep, quieting ADHD mental chatter, masking tinnitus, studying without distraction) the sections below link to dedicated guides with research, suggested presets, and safety notes.
Five noise colours, one player
Noise colour describes how energy is distributed across the frequency spectrum. The right colour for you depends on what you are trying to mask and what your ears find comfortable at low volume. A quick reference:
White noise
Equal energy across all frequencies. Bright, hissy, masks speech well.
Typical use: Office masking, short focus sprints
Pink noise
Rolls off 3 dB per octave. Balanced, close to the sound of steady rain.
Typical use: Baby sleep, relaxation, reading
Brown noise
Rolls off 6 dB per octave. Deep and rumbling, like strong wind or thunder.
Typical use: Sleep onset, ADHD focus, tinnitus masking
Violet noise
Rises 6 dB per octave. High-frequency dominant, sharp and airy.
Typical use: Tinnitus research, niche masking tasks
Grey noise
Psychoacoustically flat. Equalised so each octave sounds equally loud.
Typical use: Hearing tests, balanced background tone
For a deeper comparison with spectrum plots and perceived-loudness notes, see White vs Pink vs Brown.
Common uses
Babies and infants →
AAP safety guidance, crib placement, volume limits, when to stop using it.
ADHD and focus →
What the research actually says, plus a brown-noise preset tuned for attention.
Studying and deep work →
Which colour for which task, and how filters shape cognitive load.
Tinnitus relief →
Masking versus habituation, notched-noise approaches, suggested filter settings.
Sound machine buyer's guide →
Hatch, Yogasleep, and alternatives reviewed against using a free browser player.
White vs pink vs brown →
Side-by-side comparison of spectrum, perceived loudness, and best-use scenarios.
How the audio is generated
White noise is produced by summing uniformly random samples. Pink noise uses the Voss-McCartney algorithm across 16 octave bands, which approximates a 3 dB per octave roll-off without an expensive filter. Brown noise is generated by integrating white noise (a running sum, scaled to avoid DC drift). Violet noise is produced by differentiating white noise. Grey noise applies an inverse equal-loudness contour so each frequency band is perceived at approximately equal volume.
Every sample is computed live in your browser. Nothing is streamed, nothing is cached on disk, and the player works offline once the page has loaded. The spectrum visualisation above the player is a real-time FFT of the output, rendered at 60 fps via an AudioAnalyserNode.
Full technical notes, spectral plots, and references are on the Science page.
Frequently asked questions
Is white noise safe to use all night while sleeping?
Yes, for most adults. Keep the volume at a conversational level (ideally below 50 dB measured at the ear) and use a sleep timer if you prefer to sleep through silence after a wind-down period. For infants, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends placing the sound source at least 7 feet from the crib and keeping the volume below 50 dB. See the Baby Safety guide for details.
What is the difference between white, pink, and brown noise?
White noise has equal energy across all frequencies (bright, hissy). Pink noise rolls off at 3 dB per octave, giving equal energy per octave (balanced, like steady rain). Brown noise rolls off at 6 dB per octave, producing a deep, rumbling sound (like distant thunder or strong wind). Brown noise is often preferred for sleep and focus because it lacks the high-frequency content that can sound harsh at low volume.
Does this site require signup or download anything?
No. The noise is synthesised live in your browser using the Web Audio API. Nothing is downloaded, nothing is uploaded, and no account is required. The player works offline after the page has loaded.
Can white noise help with tinnitus?
For some people, yes. Broadband noise is widely used in tinnitus masking and sound therapy to reduce the perceived loudness or intrusiveness of tinnitus. Response varies by individual and tinnitus type. See the Tinnitus guide for a breakdown of the evidence and suggested filter settings.
What noise colour is best for sleep?
Brown noise is the most commonly preferred colour for sleep onset because its low-frequency weight masks traffic, voices, and other environmental sounds without the high-frequency hiss of pure white noise. Pink noise is a balanced second choice. The Sleep preset in the player loads brown noise with a mild low-pass filter and a 60-minute timer as a starting point.
Are there ads on this site?
No ads on the player. The site is independently operated. Information pages may reference products by name where relevant for comparison, but the generator itself runs free of advertising or interruptions.
Does it work on phones and tablets?
Yes. The Web Audio API is supported on modern iOS Safari, Chrome on Android, and every major desktop browser. On mobile, the audio continues when the screen turns off if the tab is the active playing tab; locking the screen on iOS may pause audio in some browser configurations.
More questions answered on the FAQ page.
About this project
An independent white-noise generator and information resource. Not affiliated with myNoise, Sleep Foundation, Hatch, Yogasleep, or any other brand. Information on baby safety references the American Academy of Pediatrics 2023 policy statement. This is not medical advice; consult a pediatrician, sleep specialist, or audiologist for individual guidance.
Licensing and permitted-use information for the audio engine is available on the Licensing page.