Sleep and relaxation sounds

Sounds that help you sleep, focus and relax

A steady, featureless sound masks the noises that wake you or break your concentration: traffic, a neighbour's television, a snoring partner, an office conversation. Because it changes very little, your brain stops paying attention to it. Every sound here is generated live by your browser rather than played from a recording, so it never loops, clicks or stops at the end of a track, and it keeps playing with the screen locked on most phones.

Which sound should I choose?

Sound	What it sounds like	Often used for
White noise	Bright, even hiss like radio static	Masking speech and sharp noises, babies, offices
Pink noise	Softer and fuller, like steady rain	Sleep for people who find white noise too harsh
Brown noise	Deep rumble, like a waterfall heard from a distance	Sleep, focus, blocking low traffic noise
Green noise	Mid-range, gentle, often called nature-like	Relaxation and sleep
Fan noise	A box fan or air conditioner with a soft hum	People used to sleeping with a fan on
Rain and ocean	Natural textures with gentle variation	Relaxing, falling asleep, reading

Prefer a blend? The sleep sounds mixer layers rain, waves, wind, a crackling fire, a stream and any noise colour, and remembers your mix.

For babies

White noise for babies adds shushing, a heartbeat and a womb-like sound, and lullabies plays gentle music-box versions of classic public-domain lullabies. Keep the volume low and the phone or speaker away from the cot; the baby page explains safe-volume tips.

Use the sleep timer

Every sound has a sleep timer that fades out gently, so it does not stop abruptly or play all night unless you want it to. Listening at a moderate volume is kinder to your ears, especially with earphones; if you use sounds because of ringing in the ears, the hearing test and a talk with a doctor or audiologist are good next steps.

Guides

• White, Pink and Brown Noise: What's the Difference?: White, pink, brown and green noise explained: how each one sounds, what the colours mean in acoustics, and which noise to choose for sleep or focus.
• Is White Noise Safe for Babies? Volume, Distance and Timing: Is white noise safe for babies? How loud it should be, how far from the cot, how long to play it, and what research says about infant sleep machines.

All guides

Frequently asked questions

Are these sounds free and do they need an app?

Yes, they are free and play in your browser on phones, tablets and computers. There is nothing to install and no sign-up.

Do the sounds keep playing with the screen locked?

On most phones, yes: start the sound and lock the screen. Some browsers pause audio in the background to save battery; keep the page open if yours does.

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

White noise has equal energy at every frequency and sounds bright like static. Pink noise is softer at high frequencies, and brown noise is deeper still, like a low rumble or distant waterfall.

How loud should white noise be for a baby?

Keep it quiet: many guidelines suggest no louder than about the level of a soft shower, with the speaker well away from the cot. The baby white noise page has practical safe-volume tips.

Are the sounds recordings?

No. Every sound is generated live in your browser, so it never loops or cuts off, and nothing is downloaded or uploaded.