Fan Noise Generator
Short answer
This free fan noise generator plays the steady whoosh of a box fan, a ceiling fan, a desk fan or an air conditioner in your browser. Pick a fan, choose low, medium or high speed, and set a sleep timer. You get the sound of a fan without the cold air blowing on you.
The sound on this site plays for up to 30 minutes a day. Most phones stop the sound when the screen locks.
Fan sound with the screen off
BRW has box fan, ceiling fan and sleeping fan sounds. It plays offline with the screen off, with a sleep timer.
Why Do People Sleep Better With a Fan On?
For many people, a fan is the first sound machine they ever had. Its sound is steady and does not change. A steady sound makes sudden sounds, like a door or a car outside, stand out less. This is called sound masking.
Habit plays a big part too. If you slept with a fan for years, a silent room can feel strange. A fan sound gives you the familiar sound in any room, in any season.
A review of many studies found that the evidence for noise as a sleep aid is mixed [1]. If a fan sound helps you, that is a good reason to use it.
Which Fan Sound Should You Choose?
| Fan | What it sounds like |
|---|---|
| Box fan | A full, steady whoosh with a soft flutter from the blades. The classic sleep fan. |
| Ceiling fan | A deep, slow whoosh. The softest of the four. |
| Desk fan | A lighter, higher whoosh with a faster flutter. |
| Air conditioner | A smooth rush of air with a low hum and no flutter. |
Speed changes how bright the sound is and how fast the blades flutter. Low is the softest.
Is Fan Noise the Same as White Noise?
Not quite. White noise is a bright hiss with a lot of high sound. A fan has much less high sound and more deep sound. A box fan sounds closer to pink noise, and a ceiling fan closer to brown noise.
That is why many people find a fan easier to sleep with than white noise. If you like the fan sound, try brown or pink noise in the sound machine too.
Fan Sound Without the Cold Air
A real fan blows air on you all night. Some people do not want that, for example in winter, or when they share the room with someone who gets cold. Some people also find that moving air dries their eyes or nose. A fan sound gives you the sound and nothing else.
It also works where you cannot bring a fan: a hotel room, a tent, or a train.
How This Fan Sound Is Made
There is no recording. Your browser makes a steady noise, shapes it to sound like moving air, and adds the soft flutter of turning blades. So the sound never repeats, and there is no loop point to notice.
Fan Sound All Night
The sound on this site plays for up to 30 minutes a day, and most phones stop browser sound when the screen locks. The BRW app has box fan, ceiling fan and sleeping fan sounds. It plays offline, with the screen off, and has a sleep timer.
References
- Riedy SM, Smith MG, Rocha S, Basner M. Noise as a sleep aid: A systematic review. Sleep Medicine Reviews. 2021;55:101385. doi:10.1016/j.smrv.2020.101385 · PubMed 33007706
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do I need a fan to sleep?
A fan makes a steady sound that covers sudden noises, and many people get used to it over years. Without it, a quiet room can feel strange. A fan sound gives you the same sound without the moving air.
Is it bad to sleep with a fan on all night?
The sound itself is fine at a low volume. Some people find that air blowing on them all night dries their eyes or nose, or makes them cold. A fan sound has no moving air.
Is fan noise white noise?
Not quite. White noise is a bright hiss. A fan has less high sound and more deep sound, so a box fan is closer to pink noise and a ceiling fan is closer to brown noise.
Which fan sound is best for sleeping?
Most people like a box fan on low or medium speed. If you want a softer, deeper sound, try the ceiling fan.
Can I play fan noise all night?
Not on this page: the sound on this site plays for up to 30 minutes a day, and most phones stop browser sound when the screen locks. The BRW app plays fan sounds offline with the screen off.