Why people fall asleep on planes
Inside a cruising airliner, the constant rush of air over the fuselage and the engine drone combine into a loud, very low, very steady noise. Measurements usually put it somewhere around 75 to 85 decibels in the cabin, with most of the energy in the bass. Acoustically it is close to brown noise, and many people find it remarkably sleep-inducing, helped by the gentle vibration and the lack of anything else to do.
Airplane cabin noise has become a popular sleep sound in its own right. It is deeper and smoother than a fan, and it hides almost everything.
How our cabin noise is made
The default mix layers deep brown noise for the airflow with the fan generator for the engines’ steady whoosh and faint hum, with Tone turned down to remove the hiss. You can see in the spectrum display that almost all the energy sits below 1,000 Hz, as in a real cabin. Unlike the real thing, you can play it at a gentle volume.
Adjust the flight
| Want | Do this |
|---|---|
| Seat over the wing | Raise Fan for more engine |
| Seat at the front | Lower Fan, keep brown noise, Tone darker |
| Overnight long-haul | Add Gentle swell and a sleep timer |
| Small propeller plane | Raise Fan, Tone slightly brighter |
Keep it at a gentle volume
A real cabin is loud enough that frequent flyers and crew often use hearing protection. At home there is no need to recreate that level: the sound works just as well quietly. Aim for well under the volume of conversation, especially for long or all-night listening.
Frequently asked questions
Why is airplane noise so relaxing?
It is a deep, steady, featureless sound, close to brown noise, that masks everything around it. Many people also associate it with having nothing to do but rest.
Is airplane noise the same as brown noise?
It is very close. Cabin noise is dominated by low frequencies like brown noise, with an extra engine hum. Our mix combines brown noise and a fan-like engine layer.
Can I use airplane noise for a baby?
Yes, at a low volume and with the speaker at least 2 meters from the crib. Its deep tone makes it softer than white noise at the same level.