The sound people miss in winter
Many people cannot sleep without a fan running, even when it is cold. The air is not the point: the sound is. A fan makes a soft, steady whoosh that hides small noises in the house and outside. This page gives you that sound with no draft and no dust.
Our fan is made live by your browser: a soft airflow, closer to pink noise than to a hiss, with a little air on top, a faint motor hum, and the light flutter of the blades, a very small, fast change in level that gives a real fan its texture. It is the gentlest of the Home sounds.
A fan or white noise?
Both mask sounds. White noise is brighter and covers voices and sharp sounds better. The fan is softer and warmer, with less treble, so many people find it easier to listen to all night. If the white noise feels too hissy, try the fan; if the fan does not cover enough, go back to white or pink noise.
| Sound | Brightness | Masks best |
|---|---|---|
| White noise | Bright | Voices, sharp sounds |
| Fan | Soft | Small house noises, light traffic |
| Brown noise | Dark | Low rumble, bass from neighbors |
| Vacuum | Middle, strong | Almost everything, but louder |
All night, safely
A fan sound is often played all night. Set the timer to “off” for no limit, keep the volume low, and put the phone a little away from your pillow. On a phone, plug it in: the page keeps the screen awake while it plays, and full screen dims the display after a few seconds. If you prefer the sound to stop after you fall asleep, choose 45 minutes or 1 hour; the end fades out over two minutes.
For a baby, the fan is a good choice once the baby is calm, because it is soft and discreet. Keep the phone across the room and use a timer, as explained on our white noise for babies page.