pinknoise.fmPink noise vs white noise
White noise has equal energy at every frequency, so it sounds bright and hissy, like radio static. Pink noise turns the higher frequencies down by about 3 decibels per octave, so it sounds softer and rounder, like steady rain. Neither is proven better for everyone: white tends to cover sharp sounds best, pink tends to be easier to live with for hours, and the research rarely compares them head to head.
What is the difference between pink noise and white noise?
Both are random sound. What changes is how the energy is spread across pitches. White noise is flat, so the higher pitches our ears are most sensitive to dominate, which is why it sounds bright. In pink noise the power falls by about 3 decibels with each octave up, giving it more weight in the low and middle tones. The player above makes pink noise; try our white noise player to hear the difference.
Which is better for sleep, pink or white noise?
Neither has been shown to be better. White noise is brighter and good at masking voices and sharp sounds, while pink is softer and some people find it easier to fall asleep to. Lab research on pink noise and sleep has used very short bursts timed to brain waves, not continuous background sound: in Ngo and colleagues (Neuron, 2013) that boosted deep-sleep brain activity and overnight word memory in 11 adults. Treat that as interesting rather than proof. See pink noise for sleep and white noise for sleep.
Which is better for babies, pink or white noise?
Parents use both, and we can't say one is better. The trial often cited for white noise is small: Spencer and colleagues (Archives of Disease in Childhood, 1990) found 16 of 20 newborns fell asleep within five minutes with white noise, against 5 of 20 without. The key safety research is about loudness rather than colour: Hugh and colleagues (Pediatrics, 2014) found 14 infant sleep machines at maximum volume were all louder than 50 dBA at 30 cm, the recommended limit for infants in hospital nurseries. Whichever you choose, keep it quiet, across the room and on a timer. See pink noise for baby sleep and white noise for babies.
Which is better for focus and studying, pink or white noise?
Not shown to differ. A 2024 meta-analysis (Nigg and colleagues) found a small benefit on lab attention tasks for people with ADHD or high ADHD symptoms, but 12 of its 13 studies used white noise and only one used pink, so it cannot say which is better. See pink noise for focus and studying.
Which is better for tinnitus, pink or white noise?
Tinnitus UK lists natural sounds, white noise and gentle music as options and suggests trying different sounds to find one that is pleasant and doesn't demand attention. It doesn't recommend one colour of noise over another. See white noise for tinnitus, which also links the NHS advice.
How do I choose between pink and white noise?
| If you want… | People often pick |
|---|---|
| To cover voices and sharp sounds | White noise |
| A softer, rain-like sound for long listening | Pink noise |
| Something deeper than either | Brown noise |
Try each at a low volume for a few days and keep the one that feels most comfortable. Claims that one colour will transform your sleep or brain are not something we can back up. Our brown vs pink vs white noise guide covers all three.
Pink noise playlist
Keep the volume low and read our safe listening guidance.