There’s so many different sleepers. Some who need absolute silence to get their shuteye, those who like to read a book before hitting the hay and then those who like to transport their atmosphere with the sound of rain falling, ocean waves crashing or fire crackling — to name a few. Aside from living in Seattle, you’re likely not living in a place where it rains every single night so your best bet is investing in a sound machine.
They’re ideal for masking your partner’s snoring, the voices from the apartment next door or even helping your toddler nap in the middle of the day — among many other situations.
While not everyone benefits from white noise sound machines, they can be great for people who have a hard time getting good sleep due to distracting sounds.
Ahead we’ve rounded up the best white noise machines for adults and babies, and while this article is catered towards sleep, many of them would be great for the office or studying environment, too.
Looking for other products to help better your sleep experience? Check out our articles on the best places to buy mattresses, sheets, duvets, pillows, sleep eye masks, bed frames and more.
1. Hatch Restore Sound Machine, $130
- Reviews: 7,700+ Amazon reviews, 4.1-star rating
After the brand’s debut on “Shark Tank” in 2016 (previously known as Hatch Baby) has become one of the most well known of white noise and sunrise light machines. The Hatch Restore Sound Machine offers a variety of traditional white noises, natural sounds, medications, sleep stories and light adjustments to easily incorporate into your sleep routine with a simple app. Another well-loved quality of the Hatch Restore is the programmable sunrise alarm that subtly wakes up the user by mimicking the rising sun.
“The Hatch has made waking up in the morning, and falling asleep at night a seamless experience. I love getting woken up to the soft sounds and light in my room over 30 minutes,” said one Amazon reviewer. “I feel so much more awake than being jolted out of sleep at 5am by my phone alarm. It also allows me to not have my phone right next to bed at night which I love.”
2. SNOOZ Smart White Noise Machine, $100
Reviews: 5,700+ Amazon reviews, 4.7-star rating
The SNOOZ machine is another fan favorite that is powered by a fan to create the perfect white noise sound — without the need to blow cold air out. The volume is easy to adjust on the device but can easily be done remotely on a compatible smartphone app, which also includes a timer. Choose the tone of the fan and pick from 10 different volumes to find the perfect level of noise to relax. Another added benefit is the nightlight feature, making this ideal for kids, too. Since this is device is on the smaller side, it’s also ideal for travelers.
“[I] have used all kinds of noise machines over the years but Snooz is by far my favorite. It’s a steady, low-pitched fan noise, no ‘adaptive’ volume changes, no ‘city’ noises, no crackly static,” an amazon shopper said. “Just a steady fan without the air circulation. [It also has good] range of volume settings and a small footprint on my nightstand.”
3. Yogasleep Dohm Classic Sound Machine, $50
Reviews:19,700+ Amazon reviews, 4.6-star rating
For the shopper who wants a no-frills, simple white noise machine, the Yogasleep Dohm Classic Sound Machine is the way to go. Simply flip the switch to either the low or high setting and adjust the sound of the fan by turning the top of the machine. This changes the pitch and tone of the noise, allowing for brown and pink noise if desired.
“As someone who has used the Yogasleep Dohm White Noise Machine for several years, I can confidently say that it is a great product,” said an Amazon reviewer. “The machine is incredibly easy to use and comes with various settings to customize the volume and tone of the white noise. I found that the sound quality is excellent and it effectively masks other noises that may disrupt sleep.”
4. Magicteam Sound Machine, $22, original price: $30
Reviews: 48,400+ Amazon reviews, 4.5-star rating
The Magicteam Sound Machine comes equip with 20 sleep sounds including white noise, brown noise, pink noise, blue noise, fan, rain, ocean, bird, bonfire and more. With 32 levels of volume and the option to time out exactly how long you need the noise to run — as well as the less-than-$25 price tag, you won’t be disappointed.
“I’m thrilled with this sound machine. It’s simple to use and has clear instructions. There are lots of different sounds to choose from and I was very pleased with how high quality and sleek it is for being such an inexpensive option,” said an Amazon shopper. “I especially like that it’s made of metal and not plastic, it gives it a ‘high end’ feel. I bought it for my infant daughter, but even my husband has been using it and says it helps him sleep during the day (he’s a third shift worker). I’d say we’ll be using this for a long time.”
5. Letsfit White Noise Machine, $25, original price: $35
Reviews: 49 Walmart reviews, 4.9-star rating
For a sleek, modern option that will not only help you sleep at night but also look great on your nightstand, consider the Letsfit White Noise Machine. It comes with a nightlight feature, 14 different sounds and has a built-in timer to allows you to program your white noise intervals from 15 to 120 minutes.
“My husband and I received this sound machine as a gift. It has great sound options, a warm night light which isn’t too bright, and it’s very simple and straightforward to operate. The dryer sound option was actually very relaxing. If you’re looking for a great basic sound machine that’s functional and reliable, I’d highly recommend this one,” said a Target reviewer.
6. Homedics SoundSleep White Noise Sound Machine, $24
Reviews: 58,800+ Amazon reviews, 4.6-star rating
For a simple pick, this Homedics machine is the way to go. It offers six different sounds, ranging from thunder to ocean waves and has a timer option for 15, 30 or 60 minutes.
Note: this device has a bright green light on top that shines while it’s running so if you’re sensitive to light, opt for another sound machine on our list.
“We have had lots of strong wind lately and every time the power always seems to go out at bedtime. Our kids sleep so much better with a sound machine and this has been perfect,” one Amazon shopper said. “The sound is clear and the volume adjustment is very easy. Straight forward to use. Very happy with it so far.
7. Yogasleep Hushh+ Portable White Noise Machine for Babies, $50
Reviews: 25,600+ Amazon reviews, 4.5-star rating
For the perfect white noise machine for your baby, go with the portable Yogasleep Hushh+ device. It features 20 different sleep sounds from rain to lullabies, a wireless speaker that’s perfect for listening to music, podcasts, audiobooks and other background sounds. Enjoy a long lasting battery and the lightweight, easy to travel-with design to help your little one fall asleep at home or on the go.
“When we first had our little one, we started using a sound machine to drown out the noises and avoid startling her. But we only had a plugged in sound machine in our bedroom. I found this one and my baby girl can sleep in the carseat (which she hates) and even sleep through shopping and eating at restaurants,” said a happy Amazon customer.
8. Sound+Sleep SE Special Edition High Fidelity Sleep Sound Machine, $90, original price: $130
Reviews: 1,900+ Amazon reviews, 3.9-star rating
If variety of sleep sounds is on the top of your list, the Sound+Sleep SE Sound Machine is the product for you since it has 64 sounds! These noises are not only great for sleep but also ideal for studying, working and even mediating. From meadow sounds to the ambiance of a crowd, there’s plenty of dreamy noises for you to experiment with.
“There are a lot of sound settings on this device. [My] wife and I had fun running through each of them until we found one that we both really liked,” said an Amazon reviewer. “It provides a soothing background noise that blocks out the random noises from the neighborhood and the occasional snoring from you know who.”
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