I have chronic insomnia. I need a white noise machine, a sleep mask, a pitch-black room, and maybe some light tranquilizers just to fall asleep. (I'm joking, sort of.) If I'm traveling and forget my sound machine, I have to play white noise from my perpetually dying phone. Whether you're shopping for your kiddo or yourself, a white noise machine can help everyone sleep better at night.

These devices are simple, even as companies keep adding bells and whistles. They now come in all shapes and sizes, with options for playing different noise frequencies and soothing nature sounds—whether you need one at home or a portable model for life on the go. And they’re not just for kids or babies; if, like me, you want to quiet your inner monologue and finally drift off, this guide is for you.

We've tested everything: the best sleep trackers, sunrise alarm clocks, mattresses, and extreme alarm clocks. Check out all of the WIRED Reviews team's sleep coverage for our recommendations.

Note: If you're buying for a child or a baby, keep sound machines to no more than 50 decibels and farther than 200 centimeters (6.5 feet) from where they sleep.

“Colors” of noise are measured similarly to light. Pure white noise is a mix of all the frequencies humans can hear, so while these machines are often called “white noise" machines, white noise itself isn't always a relaxing sound (think of the static on your TV). Pink and brown noise are at the lower end of the spectrum, aren't as grating, and have been found to help people sleep a little more deeply. If you've seen pink noise, brown noise, and green noise amid all the white noise machine chatter, it's because, more often than not, you'll find those options bundled into one machine. If you think of sound waves as being loosely analogous to light waves, then the different colors of noise refer to different parts of the sound spectrum. The fun thing about using a sound machine for sleep is that you get to experiment with these noise frequencies to find what works best for you.

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Best White Noise Machine With Sunrise ClockHatch Restore 3Read more$170

Amazon

Best White Noise Machine With Sleep TrackingHatch Sleep ClockRead more$250

Hatch

Best Analog White Noise MachineSnooz Smart White Noise Sound MachineRead more$100

Amazon

Best White Noise Machine for KidsHatch Baby Sound MachineRead more$80

Babylist

Best White Noise Machine With Sunrise Clock

Hatch Restore 3, a semi-circular shaped alarm clock with an illuminated linen textured front, sitting on a wooden nights

Restore 3

We're always on the lookout for new products to add to our Best Sunrise Alarm Clocks guide, and the Hatch Restore 3 definitely earned its place. It builds on earlier Hatch models—which we also tested and really enjoyed—with two additional buttons, bringing the total to four. That might not sound like a major change, but when you're sleepy and want to make a quick adjustment without reaching for the app, those extra buttons come in handy. During her testing, WIRED reviewer Nena Farrell found that this model's light wasn't as bright as in previous iterations and didn't quite deliver on the sound machine's “Sunlight” function. Still, it offers an extensive sound collection when you sign up for the subscription.

Best White Noise Machine With Sleep Tracking

Semi-circular clock with fabric front cover

Sleep Clock

WIRED’s resident wearable tester, Boutayna Chokrane, tested this clock for her sleep trackers guide. (Read her full review here.) This brand-new white noise machine also doubles as a sunrise alarm clock and a passive sleep tracker. It uses motion-based tracking to monitor your sleep from your nightstand. The data focuses on the essentials—sleep duration and stages—and appears in interactive visuals. There are no cameras or microphones monitoring you as you sleep, and best of all, your data isn’t locked behind a Hatch+ membership. The machine also features adjustable volume, fade-out timers, customizable full-color light scenes, a gradual sunrise light to wake you gently, and a sunset wind-down light to help you prepare for bed. For sleep-inducing sounds, it offers white noise, nature sounds, sleep stories, and guided meditations. With a Hatch+ subscription, you'll also get access to more than 2,500 sounds, stories, and meditations to help lull you to sleep. Although it's the priciest option in this guide, it's a triple threat: a sunrise clock, a dimmable bedside light, and a sound machine.

Best Analog White Noise Machine

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Smart White Noise Sound Machine

The Snooz white noise machine focuses on one thing and one thing only: white noise. Its sound is generated by a real fan, not just fan sounds. There's no need to push extra buttons or fidget when you'd rather be falling asleep. Its design is simple, and there's no overthinking this device—it's insanely easy to use. Simply plug it in, press the power button, then twist the mesh sleeve to increase or decrease the volume. Note that it's also meant to be placed away from the bed in a more central position in the bedroom, rather than on a nightstand. This helps project the sound more evenly. —Julia Forbes

Best White Noise Machine for Kids

Image may contain: Lamp Image may contain: Clock, Digital Clock, Alarm Clock, Computer Hardware, Electronics, Hardware, Monitor, and Screen

Baby Sound Machine

Hatch (With 3 Month Hatch+ Subscription)

As Hatch phases out the older Hatch Rest, this kids' sound machine takes its place with a fresh look and an updated app interface, making it easier than ever to create routines for your kids. Reviewer Nena Farrell uses it with her son, who loves it—especially the easy-to-use nightlight button he can press himself. Unlike other Hatch sunrise clock models, this one doesn't offer gradual sunrises, but it does glow in fun colors and play music. You'll also get a three-month subscription to Hatch+ content.

Best White Noise Machine for Infants

Portable White Noise Machine With Night-light

This compact, portable sound machine is specifically designed for parents to take on the go. One side is the speaker, and the other is a night light. The night light isn't super bright, but it will help you navigate around a sleeping baby rather than using your phone’s flashlight. During testing, former WIRED reviewer Julia Forbes found that the included clip isn't the most flexible, but it allows for attachment to a stroller strap, diaper bag, purse, or backpack. You can choose from several options beyond white noise, and the sound is surprisingly strong and crisp for such a small machine. With Bluetooth connectivity, you can also stream your child's preferred sounds.

A Super Portable White Noise Machine

Mini Sound Machine

The Restnature sound machine is tiny—it would easily fit in a pocket. When a former WIRED reviewer tested it, she was impressed by its 16 diverse sound options, including birds, fire and other nature sounds, lullabies, and different-color noises. There are convenient 30-, 60-, and 90-minute timer options, and it gets very loud—but the sound quality starts to suffer at the highest volume. The other portable players on this list offer more features, but this is still a solid choice if you need a machine that's as small as possible to take on the go. (Rechargeable with USB-C.)

A Tried-and-True White Noise Machine

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SoundSleep White Noise Sound Machine

I've had this basic white noise machine for over a decade, and it still works well. It has a DC power jack, but it can also be used cord-free with four AA batteries for portability. It's pretty basic, but it has everything most people are looking for in a sound machine. There's a knob to control volume and a button for 15-, 30-, or 60-minute timers (after which the machine will turn off). You can also choose between thunder, ocean waves, brook (which sounds like a bubbling river and running water), summer night (which sounds like wind, owl hoots, and chirping), rain, and classic white noise. The volume knob has worn a bit over a decade of use and needs to be set high to sound loud. It can also be finicky when used only on batteries and may suddenly die. However, since this thing is only $25 and has worked well for over a decade, I'm not too mad that it's showing some signs of age.

When I first get a sound machine, I note how clear the directions are, and the difficulty and time it takes to set up the gadget. I test each of these machines every night for at least one week of nightly testing (I often test them for longer).

During testing, I'm asking these questions and looking for these standard features:

Volume: Is it controlled with buttons or a knob? How easy is it to control the volume, especially when on my nightstand? I make sure to note how quiet and loud it is on each end of the spectrum.

Timers: Many folks like to turn off their sound machine after they've fallen asleep. Does the white noise machine offer preset timers, and if so, does it have several options to customize the time? Does it work accurately?

Sound options: This may be the biggest feature people are looking for. I tend to recommend white noise machines with various sounds, from white noise to nature noises, so that there's an option for every type of snoozer. I try to sleep with at least one sound per night during testing, and note if any have strange patterns. (Although I love the Homedics pick above, I tend to focus on the nature sounds, as its white noise option has an imperceptible beeping in the background that only I seem to hear.)

Other special features: Some of the best WIRED-tested sound machines on this list also double as a sleep tracker or sunrise alarm clock! If you have limited space or budget, it's ideal to get a machine that can do multiple things for you. Conversely, I love that the Snooz option above is analog and only uses a real fan machine to generate noise, so I note that for folks who want to pare down their number of bedside gadgets.

Can White Noise Machines Typically Run All Night?

If you plan on keeping your white noise machine playing sound on a loop all night, make sure first that it has the capacity to do so. Some machines run on 30-, 60-, or 90-minute timers that auto-shut off, while others are continuous.

Does a Fan Make a Good White Noise Machine?

In a pinch, a desk or box fan can stand in for a white noise machine. It provides steady noise to help you fall asleep and can also keep hot sleepers comfortable. But if you’d rather not cool the room or want a wider range of sounds, a sound machine is the better choice.

How Does WIRED Select Models to Be Reviewed?

WIRED’s product recommendations are chosen to serve readers, based on what's new, popular, and useful on the market. Although we receive a small cut of most sales when readers click to buy recommended products, revenue does not influence our choices. Samples are either provided by companies or purchased and expensed.

What Does WIRED Do With the Sound Machines After Testing Them?

Just like all products we test, some top picks are kept for long-term testing and comparison purposes, while everything is donated to our local communities when testing is finished.

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