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The best noise color for sleep

In this guide

The three contenders · How to choose · Our take · Try them free

The honest answer: there's no single best - but the three most popular for sleep are brown, pink and white, and most people quickly prefer one by feel. Here's how they stack up.

The three contenders

Brown

Deepest and most grounding - a low rumble that's gentle for hours. A top pick for sleep.

Pink

Warm and rain-like - softer than white, and linked in some studies to deeper sleep.

White

Brightest and strongest masker - best for covering sudden, sharp sounds.

How to choose

If your problem is sudden noise - snoring, traffic, thin walls - white noise masks it best. If you want the gentlest sound to drift off to for hours, brown or pink usually win. The surest way to decide is to hear them back to back.

Our take

For most people, brown noise is the easiest to fall asleep to, with pink and rain close behind. But your ears get the final vote - and Noizim lets you compare them all free.

Compare them free

Brown, pink and white noise are all free in Noizim, with the drift-off timer. Find your sleep sound tonight.

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Frequently asked

Brown, pink and white are the most popular. Brown and pink are gentler for hours; white masks sudden sounds best. Try each and keep your favourite.

It's the most popular for its deep, gentle rumble, but pink noise and rain are close behind. Personal preference decides.