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Sleep is crucial to health. But disruptive noises—from snoring partners to traffic—can prevent you from falling asleep. White noise machines could help, according to one 2021 study.
“Listening to white noise, sleep sounds, and audio stories can mask background noises, distract us from our stressful thoughts, and provide a non-stressful stimulus for us to focus on,” says Craig Richard, a physiology professor at Shenandoah University, researching autonomous sensory meridian response or ASMR. Richard hosts an ASMR history podcast and says that many people use ASMR to fall asleep and relax.
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White noise makers and sound machines come with an assortment of audio options and features, such as sound speed and timers. Our top pick for best white noise machine is the LectroFan Classic. It’s affordable, compact, and has a great selection of sounds with an adjustable volume.
Our picks for the best white noise machines
• Best overall: LectroFan Classic
•Best Plug-in:Hatch Restore 2
• Best Battery Operated: Yogasleep Rohm+Travel Sound Machine
• Best Smart: Loftie Clock
• Best for Babies: Hatch Rest+
• Best for Additional Sounds: Sound+Sleep SE Special Edition High Fidelity Sleep Sound Machine
Best overall: LectroFan Classic
Check the price onAmazon
Why we like it:The LectroFan Classic noise machine offers 20 non-looping, digitally created sounds. They range from the whirring of fans to calming white noises, including pink and brown noise. You can also adjust the volume.
With a compact size, the Classic takes up little space on your nightstand. It comes with a 60-minute timer and charges with a USB cable or AC adapter, making it a great option for travelers. Some reviewers said the LectroFan Classic is one of the best white noise machines for drowning out conversation, barking dogs, and traffic. It’s also affordable at under $50.
Keep in mind:The LectroFan Classic is a basic white noise machine. It doesn’t have nature sounds, like other white noise makers on this list. For nature sounds, check out the LectroFan EVO.
Product details:Powered by: USB or AC power | Sound options: 10 different fan types, and 10 noise types (white to brown)|Sleep Trial: 1000 nights
Best Plug-In: Hatch Restore 2
Check the price onAmazon
Why we like it:The Hatch Restore 2 is a well-designed sound machine that offers everything from meditation to a lighting program designed to help you fall asleep and wake up. You can also turn off the digital clock while you’re sleeping.
The Hatch Restore 2 adds more features than the Hatch 2. It comes with a free app to manage sleep routines, 10 new alarms set to sunrise, 21 new sleep sounds, new light and sound pairings, and a library of additional stories, sounds, and features in the app. The noise machine has garnered rave online reviews.
Keep in mind:You can’t pair headphones with the Hatch Restore 2, so it could disrupt a partner’s sleep schedule. It’s pricey at close to $200 and requires an additional $4.99 monthly subscription for upgraded features, such as sleep stories, ASMR, and soundscapes. You also have to connect the Hatch to WiFi for updates.
Product details:Powered by: AC power | Sound options: White noise, nature sounds, sleep stories, and more |Sleep trial: 60 nights
Best Battery Operated: Yogasleep Rohm+ Travel Sound Machine
Check the price on Amazon
Why we like it:Small and compact, the Yogasleep Rohm+ travel sound machine plays 20 sounds, has a sleep timer, and doubles as a Bluetooth speaker for when you need to make a conference call on the road. It includes white noise, brown noise, nature sounds, and music. It can be charged either via a USB-C or wireless pad. Bonus: it’s water- and dust-resistant.
Keep in mind:Some reviewers noted that the USB-C to A adapter can be fidgety and that the battery life can vary. The Rohm+ travel sound machine only comes in black, and it’s pricier than other battery-operated sound machines.
Product details:Powered by:Rechargeable through USB | Sound options: 20 different sounds including music, nature, white, pink, and brown noise, as well as Bluetooth speaker features to allow you to play your own music or sounds |Sleep trial: 30-day sleep trial
Best Smart: Loftie Clock
Check the price onAmazonandLoftie
Why we like it:Like the Hatch Restore 2, the Loftie Clock uses sound and lights to help ease you into and out of sleep. It’s also a good choice if you’re looking for a way to use AI to improve your sleep.
Loftie’s Magic Story Maker AI is an upgraded feature that lets you create sleep stories via Typeform. It then uses Chat GPT and ElevenLabs AI to craft your story. Loftie Clock comes with an app to control additional sounds and features.
Keep in mind:Unlocking the Magic Story Maker AI requires an upgrade to a Loftie+ account in the app ($5 per month). Volume, sounds, routines, and brightness are managed on your smartphone. Loftie also requires Wifi connection for software updates and can’t be used with headphones.
Product details:Powered by:AC power | Sound options: Nature sounds, white noise, breathwork, sound baths, and AI-generated personal stories |Sleep trial: 60-day
Best For Babies: Hatch Rest+
Check the price onAmazon
Why we like it:The Hatch Rest+ is a solid choice when it comes to a white noise, sound machine, and audio monitor all in one. It comes with 11 soundscapes, from nature sounds to white noise and lullabies. Lighting configurations help growing toddlers figure out when it’s time to get out of bed. You can also control it through Alexa.
Keep in mind:The Hatch Rest+ (sometimes referred to as the Rest+ Classic) is an older Hatch product. The second generation version doesn’t have the audio monitor feature. Additionally, the Hatch Rest+ doesn’t come with a baby camera monitor. The Rest+ doesn’t require Wifi, but the second generation does. Because it’s wireless, it requires regular charging.
Product details:Powered by:AC and rechargeable | Sound options: 11 different soundscapes including nature, lullabies, and white noise | Sleep trial:60 day
Best For Additional Sounds: Sound+Sleep SE Special Edition High Fidelity Sleep Sound Machine
Check the price onAmazon
Why we like it:If you’re looking for a sound machine with tons of choices for sleep sounds and adaptive sound, the Sound+Sleep SE is a good choice. It offers non-looping sounds from nature and fans to white or brown noise. You can also layer the sounds to make them more unique. The SE version comes with a charging port for phones, plus a headphone jack and audio port you can plug a device into for playing music through the Sound+Sleep SE.
Keep in mind:Some reviewers felt that the water sounds weren’t very natural. It also requires a USB-A to C cord to charge newer smartphones. It doesn’t have Bluetooth or a sleep trial and can’t be returned, even through Amazon.
Product details:Powered by:AC power | Sound options:64 different sounds that range from nature to different noise colors |Sleep trial:None
Our review process
We combed through a variety of sources (and took our own experience into account) to come up with the best white noise makers for this list.
Third-party reviews: We scoured online reviews from manufacturers, retailers, and social media sites such as Reddit to find the best-reviewed white noise machines.
Brand reputation:A company’s reputation and history were important considerations in assessing the best white noise machines. There are a handful of big players in this market, including some like YogaSleep, which as been making white noise machines since the 1960s. Newer makers like Loftie and Hatch offer good-looking devices with plenty of smart and customizable features.
Ease of use:We took a closer look at characteristics like button configuration and app integration to determine how easy a sound machine is to use.
Features: With so many white noise makers on the market, feature variety was an important factor in finding the best machine. We weighed each option for different sleepers, from babies to travelers.
Cost: You can get a great white noise machine for under $50, but if you’re looking for one that includes connected features or an app, expect to spend much more.
What to know about white noise machines
White noise machines should be reasonably priced and offer timers and alarm clock options, quality speakers, and a large library of sounds (eg, white noise, fan types, nature sounds, and sleep stories). It may go without saying, but Craig Richard advises anyone looking for a white noise machine to listen to the sounds before purchasing to make sure they’ll work for you. It’s also a good idea to look for a money-back guarantee or sleep trial.
Sound variety
White noise machines offer a variety of sound types. White noise sounds like static and tends to have a high frequency. Pink and brown noise tend to have low frequencies. It’s important to figure out which noises are most relaxing for you. If you’re not sure, search YouTube videos and start with familiar noises, such as the whirring of a fan or dryer, and go from there.
Portability
For travelers or people who want to use their white noise machines in different areas of the house, portability and ruggedness are key components. Consider size, shape, volume levels, and overall design to ensure you can use the sound machine in a variety of places.
Volume control
One thing to consider when looking at noise machines is just how loud they are. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that sound machines in nurseries and hospitals be kept at 50 decibels or lower to prevent damage to children’s hearing, notes Craig Richards. He also warns that you can become overly dependent on sound machines for sleep. If you find you can’t sleep without one, he suggests turning the volume down a little each night.
Ease of use
The best white noise machine should be easy to use. The sound makers on this list don’t have too many buttons, so you can easily adjust sounds without turning on the lights. They also have low light or no light features that won’t disturb your sleep.
The way it looks
A white noise machine will occupy a permanent spot on your nightstand, so it should look good.
Frequently asked questions
How do I choose a sound machine?
When shopping for a white noise machine, it’s important to determine what types of sounds relax you. Once you’ve decided on that, weigh price against features that are important to you, such as portability, charging, design, kid-friendliness, etc.
Are all white noise machines the same?
White noise machines are not all the same. Some use looping digital sounds, which some people find disruptive. They also offer a wide variety of sounds and audio, like sleep stories.
What volume should you have white noise on?
Keeping white noise machines at the right volume is crucial. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health says that extended exposure to noise at or above 85 decibels over an eight-hour period can be detrimental to your hearing. Normal conversations tend to ring in at about 60 decibels. Children shouldn’t use sound machines over 50 decibels.
Abigail Bassett is an award-winning freelance journalist based in Los Angeles, California. She has written for CNN, National Geographic, and Elle, among other outlets. Follow her on Instagram.
*Although we are sharing our personal opinions of these experiences or products with you, National Geographic is not endorsing these experiences or products on behalf of anyone. It has not performed product safety testing on any of these products, did not manufacture them, and is not selling, or distributing them and is not making any representations about the safety or caliber of these products or experiences for individual consumers. Prices and availability are subject to change from the date of publication.
An earlier version of this story included photos of a different model of the Yogasleep Rohm+ Travel Sound Machine. It also misidentified Craig Richard as a psychology professor. Both have been corrected.
