At one point in your life, you probably suffered a sleepless night of tossing and turning, whether it's from stress or environmental factors. In fact, the Cleveland Clinic reports that one in three adults globally presents common symptoms of insomnia, including trouble falling and staying asleep.
If this sounds familiar, you've probably tried everything under the sun to help improve your sleep quality. One popular recommendation that comes from experts is investing in a white noise machine, especially if you have trouble relaxing or live in a noisy environment. That's why we tapped two sleep experts to help further break down the benefits of white noise machines. Plus, we ranked some of the best noise machines we've tried throughout our testing for various Awards franchises and otherwise.
Can white noise machines help you sleep?
According to Research Fellow for the National Sleep Foundation, Natalie Dautovich, the ideal sleep environment is a bedroom that is dark, quiet and cool. She explains that a white noise machine is a way to mask unwanted noise that can disrupt your sleep. "When sleeping with white noise you may be less likely to wake up from ambient noise," Dautovich says. "Even if you don’t fully wake up, small noises in the environment can cause you to move from a deeper to a lighter stage of sleep, resulting in less restorative sleep overall."
You may even have nights when your mind is racing and having a difficult time relaxing, well there is a reason for that. Dr. Rebecca Robbins, a Sleep Scientist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, says our sound sense affects the ability to relax and unwind before bed. "White noise machines and their sounds, such as the sound of rushing water or wind, can be soothing to some, and help them elicit their relaxation response as they approach bedtime," says Robbins.
The sleep scientist also has similar notes and says white noise creates a "constant background level of sound" to help mask random noises in the night, especially if you live in a large city and hear sirens, garbage trucks and other intermittent noises.
Best overall white noise machine
Value: 5/5 | Quality: 5/5 | Satisfaction: 5/5 | Overall score: 5/5
Editorial assistant Annie Shigo is very familiar with this white noise machine from Dreamegg. After using it for the first time on a trip to Ireland last year, she says she takes it with her on every trip and still has yet to need to charge it. She also uses it at home, saying, "It is great if you snore (oops) ... my roommates didn't notice when I did with this on."
It comes loaded with 21 different sounds, customized timers, various volume levels and memory functions. While there are a few other white noise machines that also scored a perfect 5 in our tests, this one takes the cake for its affordable price point.
More white noise machines, tested by editors
Multi-editor approved:
Value: 5/5 | Quality: 5/5 | Satisfaction: 5/5 | Overall score: 5/5
The Hatch restore has the seal of approval from multiple Shop TODAY editors. It has tons of features, including a sunrise-simulated alarm clock and allows you to completely customize your wind-down routine.
“As someone who tends to sleep through just about anything, I never thought I needed a white noise machine. That is, until I met the Hatch Restore,” says former commerce editor Kelly Vaughan. “This is so much more than a white noise maker, it’s also an alarm clock and bedside light that I can completely customize to fit my sleep habits. I swear by it, and dare I say, sleep worse without it,” Vaughan adds.
“Aside from that, I love that my dark, cave-like room finally gets some light in the morning. Everything is super customizable — from the color of the light (currently loving “Conquering Fiji”), to the sound that wakes you up (“Morning Singing Bowl” all the way) to the wind-down routines you can create for bedtime (“Brown Noise” is my #1),” says associate editor Lauren Witonsky.
Even associate editor Kamari Stewart-Jackson loves the endless sound options the Hatch has available. “I’m also a fan of the sounds you can set for both sleepytime and morning. I personally do rain for sleep and ocean sounds for the morning ... according to a few TikToks I’ve seen, you can also do custom sounds,” says Stewart-Jackson.
Best for littles (and adults):
Value: 5/5 | Quality: 5/5 | Satisfaction: 5/5 | Overall score: 5/5
Spoiler Alert: You don’t need a baby to enjoy this. Although the features for babies are impressive. I [Garlin] love the sleek look and the way it acts as a lamp, alarm clock and sound machine. It also looks beautiful on my night stand.
This was so easy to use and set up. The features are amazing and I feel like I haven’t even fully explored it. You can easily set things up and save it via the app. To cycle through your favorites on the gadget, you just hit the top button. Turning it adjusts the sound, too. This is a great option even if you don’t have a baby and want the look/options of a hatch at a more affordable cost.
Budget-friendly award winner:
Value: 5/5 | Quality: 5/5 | Satisfaction: 5/5 | Overall score: 5/5
I [Garlin] live on the ground floor, so you can imagine how noisy my sleeping environment can be. This white noise machine has been a game changer. It has tons of different sound options and the volume goes up pretty loud and I like to blast it. The machine also functions as an adjustable light, which is great if you get up in the night because you don't need to turn on a big light, you can just tap it.
However, I'm most impressed by the tone and quality of the sound. I like the pink noise option the best because it helps drown out my neighbors and any street noise. I even have it on when I'm in bed reading, as it helps relax my mind so I can concentrate.
It was also a winner in our 2025 Sleep Awards!
Multi-purpose pick:
Value: 4/5 | Quality: 5/5 | Satisfaction: 5/5 | Overall score: 4.33/5
Commerce writer Emma Stessman has previously used this sunrise alarm clock and says there are several features worth noting. It comes loaded with 20 brightness levels so you can customize the power to your liking. However, it's not just for the morning. It also has wind-down settings where it has a light that gradually dims over the course of 10-30 minutes before the "bedtime" you set.
The features that make this one really stand out? It can be used as an FM radio and has a USB port in the back, so it doubles as a charger!
Splurge pick:
Value: 5/5 | Quality: 4/5 | Satisfaction: 4/5 | Overall score: 4.33/5
"Having never owned a sunrise alarm clock or sleep tracker, this was a wonderful introduction to these kinds of products," says deputy managing editor Jess Bender. "What sold me the most when I first heard about it was all the different soundscapes built into the user interface (confirming that they sound exactly like what you’d hear in nature like the gentle rains) and the different lightscapes you can customize to wake you up or just to have as mood lighting. I also love the subtle controls built in for light and sound."
While it's a higher price point than most upfront, Bender says the fact that you don't have to worry about a subscription to access all of the features makes it worth it.
"For what you’re getting, this has been a really effective tool for refining my sleep routine. Instead of being abruptly shaken out of my REM cycle with blaring chimes from my smartphone alarm, I’m instead gently nudged into waking up with a subtle sunrise (which miraculously stays dim enough to keep my night owl partner sleeping) and a slow buildup of birds chirping over the span of 10 minutes," says Bender. "The user interface is also as simple as it comes when it comes to adjusting alarms and volume and customizing lighting themes and soundscapes."
A gentle start to the day:
Value: 5/5 | Quality: 3/5 | Satisfaction: 5/5 | Overall score: 4/5
Producer Eden Strassburg loved this alarm clock/noise machine because it "takes away the harsh buzzing of normal alarm clocks and makes going to sleep/waking up a peaceful experience."
The sunrise setting is also customizable, as you can choose to have it get brighter over the course of up to 45 minutes. "I had the sunrise come on over a period of 10 minutes and it really helped me gradually wake up," says Strassburg. Definitely improved my mood and quality of sleep!"
While Strassburg admits that it's an investment, she says, "...if you are someone who struggles with winding down or feeling groggy waking up, then the investment could be worth it."
Best for travel:
Value: 5/5 | Quality: 5/5 | Satisfaction: 5/5 | Overall score: 5/5
Former production associate Camryn Privette says she always needs a white noise machine to help her sleep, and this small device from Hatch helps her sleep when she's traveling. "It's pretty basic and has everything you need for a good night's sleep. It has 10 different sounds (rain, ocean, white noise) so you can change it up," says Privette. "The battery lasts for 15-plus hours, so I think overall this is a great value. Obsessed!"
The brand also markets this device for babies. From strollers to car seats, you can clip it on various carriers so they can successfully nap while on the go.
More editor-loved white noise machines to shop
One Shop TODAY writer said that she uses this sound machine’s rain sound to help her sleep. If you prefer nature sounds over white noise, this option has sounds for thunder, ocean, brook and more. Reviewers say they love this machine most for its simplicity and straightforward design.
Stessman says ever since she moved from a quiet Brooklyn neighborhood to Manhattan, she’s been sleeping with a sound machine. She explains that she likes this option for its countless features.
“The brand sent me one to try and I’ve used it pretty much every night I’ve spent at home since. It’s great because it’s basically an entire sleep wellness system packed into a small, sleek gadget. By far, the feature I use most is the white noise (there’s also brown noise, campfire sounds, rain and plenty more, if that’s your thing), but it’s also a great alarm clock overall,” says Stessman. “Once you set everything up, the sounds, brightness, alarms, everything can be controlled right from the device, so you don’t need to have your phone next to your bed when you’re sleeping.”
Sealy Molded Bed Pillow
Real Simple voted this the "Best Memory Foam Pillow" in their Sleep Awards.
$55.95
Amazon
Frequently asked questions
White noise can be useful for those who have difficulty sleeping, have a noisy sleep environment, or need to sleep during the day," says Dautovich. However, she notes that you want to keep the noise level at a safe volume to avoid any hearing damage.
How do you know which white noise is right for you? Well that’s a personal preference and the key is to experiment with sound helps you relax best, explains Dautovich. “White noise comes in different variations, often categorized by ‘color’ based on how sound frequencies are distributed,” she notes.
Below, our sleep experts break down the most common “white” noise sounds:
- White: A static-like sound that spreads noise evenly across all frequencies.
- Pink: A softer, natural sound with lower frequencies that sounds like steady rain or rustling leaves.
- Brown: An even deeper and softer tone that’s similar to heavy rainfall or a strong waterfall.
- Green: Offers mid-frequency tone that can be associated with ocean waves.
Meet the experts
- Dr. Rebecca Robbins, Ph.D., is a sleep scientist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
- Dr. Natalie Dautovich, Ph.D., is a research fellow at the National Sleep Foundation and an assistant professor in psychology at Virginia Commonwealth University.
How we chose
We selected the white noise and sound machines based on sleep experts’ insights and Shop TODAY editor tried-and-true picks. We also looked at verified customer reviews for top-rated white noise machines and alarm clocks.
