How to use the green noise player
- Press Play (or the Space bar). The sound fades in gently.
- Set the Volume to a low, comfortable level where background noises fade away.
- Choose a Sleep timer to stop after 15 minutes up to 8 hours, with a 45-second fade at the end, or leave it off.
- Move Softness to the right for a darker, more muffled sound.
- Switch on Gentle variation to let the tone and level drift slowly, which can make the sound feel more like a natural ambience.
Your settings are saved in this browser. On phones, lock the screen and keep the tab open; on most phones the sound carries on playing.
What is green noise?
Green noise is not a standard scientific noise colour. White, pink and brown noise have precise mathematical definitions based on the slope of their spectrum. "Green noise" does not: it is a popular name, used by apps, videos and sound machines, for noise whose energy is concentrated in the middle of the audible range, with less deep bass and less high hiss than other colours. (In image processing, "green noise" means something unrelated, a kind of dithering pattern.)
The name is often linked to the idea of the "sound of nature": mid-range noise resembles a breeze through leaves, a gentle stream or distant surf more than the hiss of static. Some sources go further and claim it is "the background noise of the planet". That is a nice image rather than a measured fact, so we do not rely on it here.
This page follows the popular meaning. It starts from pink noise and applies gentle filters on both sides, so most of the energy sits between roughly 300 Hz and 2 kHz, peaking around 400 to 600 Hz, with soft slopes above and below. Two long random buffers play together, so it never repeats audibly, and the left and right channels are independent.
Green noise compared with other colours
| Sound | Where the energy is | Character |
|---|---|---|
| White noise | Equal per hertz, so dominated by highs | Bright hiss |
| Pink noise | Equal per octave (falls 3 dB/octave) | Balanced, like steady rain |
| Brown noise | Mostly bass (falls 6 dB/octave) | Deep rumble |
| Green noise | Mid range, about 300 Hz to 2 kHz here | Soft, rounded, nature-like |
Without strong bass, green noise sounds lighter than brown noise and works well on phone and laptop speakers, which cannot reproduce deep bass anyway. Without strong treble, it lacks the hiss of white noise. Because the mid range overlaps with the human voice, it can still take the edge off nearby conversation. Read more about the colours in white, pink and brown noise: what's the difference?
When people use green noise
- Relaxing and winding down: many people describe it as calmer and more natural than white noise.
- Sleep: as a gentle mask for household and street noise.
- Reading or light work: a soft backdrop that is less intrusive than brighter noise.
- As a base for nature sounds: if you like the idea of nature, the rain sounds, ocean sounds and sleep sounds mixer add real texture.
Does green noise help with sleep?
There is essentially no research on green noise as such, because it is not a defined scientific category. What we know comes from studies of steady noise in general, mostly white and pink. Those suggest the main benefit is masking: a constant sound makes sudden noises less disruptive. Results vary from person to person, and reviews of noise as a sleep aid have rated the evidence as low quality.
In practice, the best noise colour is the one you find comfortable at a low volume. If green noise helps you relax, that is a perfectly good reason to use it. It does not treat insomnia, anxiety or tinnitus, so if sleep problems persist, speak to a doctor.
Listening safely
Keep the volume moderate, below the level of normal conversation for sleep. With earphones or headphones, keep it low and avoid loud, long sessions; a speaker across the room is gentler on your ears. The volume slider is capped, but your device volume adds to it. To check your hearing, try the online hearing test.
Privacy: green noise is generated live by your browser on your device. No audio is downloaded or uploaded, and only your settings are kept, in this browser's local storage. See all sounds, including a fan and lullabies, on the sleep and relaxation sounds page.
Frequently asked questions
Is green noise a real noise colour?
Not in the scientific sense. White, pink and brown noise have exact definitions; "green noise" is a popular name for noise concentrated in the mid frequencies, often described as sounding like nature.
What does green noise sound like?
A soft, rounded "whoosh" without deep rumble or sharp hiss, often compared to a breeze, a stream or distant waves.
What is the difference between green noise and pink noise?
Pink noise spreads energy evenly across every octave, from deep bass to high treble. Green noise, as used here, is pink noise with the lowest and highest frequencies filtered away, so the middle dominates.
Is green noise better for sleep than white or brown noise?
There is no evidence that any colour is best for everyone. Green noise is a good choice if white noise feels harsh and brown noise feels too heavy, especially on small speakers.
Will green noise keep playing when my phone is locked?
On most phones, yes, provided the browser tab stays open. It plays through a media player with lock-screen controls. Battery-saving modes can occasionally pause it.
Can I use a sleep timer with green noise?
Yes. Choose 15 minutes to 8 hours; the sound fades out gradually over the last 45 seconds.
Updated