Fan noise for sleep
The steady whoosh of a box fan with a faint motor hum, no electricity bill and no draught. It is one of the most popular sleep sounds for a reason.
- Spectrum
- Brown-ish airflow rolled off above 2 kHz, with a 62 Hz hum
- Good for
- People used to sleeping with a fan on
- Hotel rooms and travel
- Masking hallway and traffic noise
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Why so many people sleep with a fan
A fan is a white noise machine you already own: moving air makes broadband noise, darker than white noise because the fan housing and room absorb the highs. Years of use turn it into a sleep cue, and missing it can make a new room feel too quiet.
How our fan sound works
We shape random noise to the gentle downward slope of airflow, roll off the treble, and add a quiet hum at 62 Hz with two harmonics, the kind of tone a small motor produces. Turn the Fan fader down and add brown noise for a larger, slower fan.
Questions
Is fan noise the same as white noise?
Similar, but darker. Real fans lose high frequencies, so fan noise sits between white and brown noise.
Is it OK to sleep with fan noise every night?
Yes, at a comfortable volume. Using the sound instead of a real fan also avoids dry eyes and a draught.