Pink Noise

What Pink Noise Is

Pink noise has the same energy in every octave. Each octave up the scale spans twice as many frequencies, so the energy at any single high frequency is lower than in white noise. To the ear, that sounds balanced: full and even, without the sharp hiss.

Pink Noise vs White Noise

• White noise sounds bright and hissy, because high frequencies carry as much energy as low ones.
• Pink noise turns the highs down a step at a time, so it sounds softer and more like rain or wind.
• If white noise feels harsh after a while, pink noise is the usual next try.

Pink Noise for Sleep

1. Choose Pink noise for sleep. It softens the top further and turns the tone down.
2. Set the timer to 60 minutes or 8 hours. The sound fades over the last two minutes.
3. Keep the volume low, just enough to cover the sounds that wake you.

You may have read that pink noise improves deep sleep. Lab studies, such as one by Papalambros and colleagues in 2017, played short bursts of pink noise timed to each sleeper's brain waves. That's very different from a steady track like this one, so those results don't carry over to playing pink noise all night.

Pink Noise While You Work or Read

Some people keep pink noise playing quietly while they work or read, the way others use the hum of a café. Pick Pink noise or Pink and brown, and keep the volume just loud enough to cover the sounds around you. On a computer, Esc pauses it and hides the page.

FAQs

Does the pink noise loop?

No. It's made live in your browser, so there's no recording to repeat.

Is pink noise louder than white noise?

At the same volume setting it sounds softer to most people, because it has less energy in the high frequencies, where hearing is most sensitive.

Is pink noise the same as rain?

Not quite, but steady heavy rain has a similar balance of high and low sound. For the real thing, try the rain sounds page.