Why so many people sleep with a fan on
For millions of people the hum of a fan is the sound of sleep. Fans produce a broad, steady noise, mostly in the lower and middle frequencies, much like a blend of brown and pink noise, with a gentle pulse from the blades. It masks outside sound, and after years of use it becomes a powerful bedtime cue.
The trouble is that a real fan also moves air. In winter that means a cold draft; for some people it dries the eyes, nose and throat, stirs dust or makes allergies worse. A fan sound gives you the hum without any of that.
How the fan sound is made
The fan is built from brown and pink noise, filtered to remove the hiss, with a very slight pulsing at about seven beats a second, the rhythm of the blades, plus the faintest motor hum underneath. It sounds like a fan on a medium setting in the corner of the room. Use Tone to move between a deep floor fan and a lighter desk fan.
Fan sound variations
| Want | Do this |
|---|---|
| Big floor fan | Tone toward Darker, add some brown noise |
| Desk fan | Tone toward Brighter |
| Air conditioner | Fan with pink noise, Tone slightly darker |
| Airplane cabin | The Airplane cabin quick mix, or the [airplane noise](/airplane-noise/) page |
| Fan on a rainy night | Fan plus the Rain tile at a low level |
Take your fan anywhere
Hotels, guest rooms and tents rarely have the fan you are used to. Download a 10 minute loop before you travel and play it on repeat from your phone: the loop is seamless, so it sounds like an endless fan. It uses no data and keeps playing with the screen locked.
Frequently asked questions
Is fan noise the same as white noise?
Not quite. A fan is closer to brown or pink noise, with more low end and less hiss than true white noise, plus a gentle blade rhythm. That is why many people find it softer.
Is it bad to sleep with a fan on every night?
A real fan can dry your eyes and airways or stir up dust and allergens, and it can make you cold. A fan sound has none of those effects, and is fine nightly at a low volume.
Can I use fan noise for a baby?
Yes. Keep the speaker at least 2 meters from the crib and the volume soft, as with any sleep sound.