Pink noise
A soft, balanced hush, gentler than white noise.
Noise colorsMade live in your browser
White noise
A bright, even hiss that covers sudden sounds.
White noise
Made live, so it never loops. Free, for as long as you like.
- Slope
- 0 dB/oct
- Playing for
- 0:00
Sleep timer
What it sounds like
White noise is a bright, even hiss, like a radio between stations or a television with no signal. It carries equal energy at every frequency, so the high pitches are strong and the sound has plenty of sparkle. It has no pitch, no beat and no pattern to latch onto. Because the treble is so present, it covers a lot of ground, and it feels airy, dry and clean. At low volume it blends into a room as a plain wash. At high volume it becomes sharp, so many people keep it quiet.
When it helps
White noise is one of the most widely used sounds for covering other sounds. People play it to blur conversation, street noise, a neighbor's television or a hallway. Its broad hiss reaches into every part of the range, so a sudden sound is less likely to stand out. It is used for work and study, for naps and for settling down at night, and many families know it from a nursery. If it feels too bright, pink or brown are softer options. Keep it quiet, and keep any device away from a crib.
How it compares
White noise is defined by a flat spectrum: equal energy at every hertz. The ear hears pitch in octaves, and each octave holds twice as many hertz as the one below, so a flat spectrum sounds bright and hissy. Pink noise cuts the energy per hertz to give equal energy in every octave, which sounds more balanced. Brown noise cuts it further, falling 6 decibels per octave, and sounds like a rumble. Blue and violet noise tilt the other way and rise with frequency, so they sound even thinner and sharper than white. White sits in the middle of the family as the plain, flat reference.
Seven colors, side by side
Each color is the same steady hiss with its energy tilted a different way. Press any of them to hear the difference; only one plays at a time.
- White noise
- Pink noise
- Brown noise
- Gray noise
- Green noise
- Blue noise
- Violet noise
Blue noise+3 dB/oct
A crisp, airy hiss that leans toward the high pitches.
Brown noise−6 dB/oct
A deep, even rush, like a far-off waterfall.
Green noisemid hump
A gentle mid-range rush, like a breeze through the woods.
Gray noiseear-shaped
A smooth, level hush, balanced to how the ear hears.
Pink noise−3 dB/oct
A soft, balanced hush, gentler than white noise.
Violet noise+6 dB/oct
A fine, very bright hiss, with the lows taken out.
White noise0 dB/octthis page
A bright, even hiss that covers sudden sounds.
The colors in words
| Color | Energy | Sounds like |
|---|---|---|
| Blue noise | +3 dB/oct | A crisp, airy hiss that leans toward the high pitches. |
| Brown noise | −6 dB/oct | A deep, even rush, like a far-off waterfall. |
| Green noise | mid hump | A gentle mid-range rush, like a breeze through the woods. |
| Gray noise | ear-shaped | A smooth, level hush, balanced to how the ear hears. |
| Pink noise | −3 dB/oct | A soft, balanced hush, gentler than white noise. |
| Violet noise | +6 dB/oct | A fine, very bright hiss, with the lows taken out. |
| White noise | 0 dB/oct | A bright, even hiss that covers sudden sounds. |
Goes well with
Press play on one to layer it under White noise.
Electric Fan
A small electric fan humming steadily nearby.
Gentle Shush
A soft, steady shush, like a parent soothing.