The Best Sound Machines of 2026

Whether you have trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or like to block out the sounds of passing vehicles, you might be in the market for a sound machine. Offering nature sounds, ambient noise, and other high-tech features, a good sound machine (or white noise machine) will make your nighttime routine less of a nightmare. . Our favorite, the Sound & Sleep by Adaptive Sound (available at Amazon) is the perfect way to drown out the outside world, and it did better than nearly any other machine we tested at masking other noises.

With thousands of these machines on the market—not to mention the countless smartphone apps available for download—how can you tell which one is right for you? No need to fret: We’ve done all the hard work for you.

Just because something might look like the best rated sleep sound machine, it might not be right for your needs. The best sound machine for adults might not be the best sound machine for babies, and everyone has different sleeping preferences. So, after hours of exhaustive research into the best sound machines on the market, followed by thorough hands-on testing and scientific sound quality comparisons, we've uncovered the best sound machines money can (currently) buy.

We love the Sound & Sleep because of its volume range, sound quality, and intuitive extra features. However, there are plenty of other great sleep sound machine options at all price ranges so you can sleep soundly knowing you chose the right one.

Other Sound Machines We Tested

How We Tested Sound Machines

First, we spent days researching the sound machines most highly rated by expert reviewers and users alike. In addition to ratings, we considered factors like decibel levels, sound settings, size, weight, and extra features. We narrowed down our list to twelve top contenders, including the sound machines that Kevin originally tested.

Upon unboxing, we inspected each device thoroughly and took note of build quality. We took notes on ease of setup and portability and ran through each machine’s entire feature list to compare special features and functions. We used a decibel reader to determine a rough estimate of how loud each machine is at both minimum and maximum volumes and listened closely for looping sounds and overall sound quality.

We set up all the sound machines in the same room and took a decibel reading of the ambient noise level for a baseline. In an adjacent room, we played a variety of sounds that commonly disturb sleep, including party noises, construction sounds, dogs barking, and babies crying.

We measured how loud each of these noises was in our test room, then set each machine to its white- noise setting. We then measured the decibel level and volume setting it took for each machine to cover the intrusive noises.

What You Should Know About Buying Sound Machines and White Noise Machines

Types of Noise

While you may be familiar with a white noise machine or the term white noise, you may not be familiar with how it differentiates from brown noise or pink noise. White noise, a combination of all frequencies on the acoustic spectrum, is often compared to the static hiss of a television. Pink noise contains bass, lower frequencies, and sounds more like steady rainfall. Brown noise, which has the most bass and even lower frequencies than pink, is said to be like strong winds or the rush of a river.

Many noise machines offer at least one white-noise option, and many include variations on pink or brown noises as well. If you’re new to sound machines, you’ll want to pick one that has a variety of tones and sounds to experiment with—often you’ll find nature sounds that mimic white, pink, or brown noise like rushing rivers, storms, rain, or waves. Some include alternate tracks like birds or crickets, the rush of traffic or meditation chimes.

Whatever option you go for, make sure that the noise machine you choose doesn’t loop sounds that can draw your attention and keep you awake.

Location

It’s also important to consider where a noise machine will be placed. It’s recommended that a noise machine be positioned at least 7 feet away from your head and in between your bed and the source of any background noise you’re trying to mask.

Consider where the speakers on the machine are placed, as well; speakers on a noise machine can be on top of the machine, on the front, or even through vent holes on the side and bottom.

It’s worth noting where your available electrical outlets are placed, as many noise machines will need to get plugged in (though some will also take batteries). If you’re planning to travel with the same noise machine you use at home, you’ll want to ensure that you choose a portable sound machine that’s lightweight enough that you’ll actually want to bring it along.

Features

Your sound machine should provide you with quality background noise to help you sleep, but it can also do double duty as a night light, an alarm clock, a rise-to-wake smart machine, or a Bluetooth speaker.

Some sound machines also have companion apps that will allow you to control the machine from your phone, access meditation or wellness programs, or even play your own music from the device.

Finding a noise machine that also has a nightlight or an alarm clock isn’t hard—many of the machines on this list have either or both—but it’s also possible to snag a sound machine that includes meditation or wellness programming, rise-to-wake settings, a Bluetooth speaker, or even a smartphone app.

It’s worth thinking about where and how you’ll be using your sound machine, to determine if any of these features are of value to you but keep in mind that any additional features are usually found on higher-priced devices.

Sound Machines vs. White-noise Apps

There are dozens of white-noise and noise-generating apps available for both iOS and Android. While many of these apps—including our favorite, Relax Melodies—offer an affordable and easy way to drown out some unwanted noise, there are drawbacks.

For instance, a phone speaker can't get anywhere near the decibel level of an external speaker. If your phone is acting as a white noise machine, then it often can’t be used for anything else, which means you can’t have white noise and run a meditation podcast, or use a journaling app, or anything else you may need from your smartphone.

A dedicated sound machine can also be positioned in places you may not want to leave a smartphone—say, on the ground outside of a bedroom door. Many dedicated sound machines now also have additional features, so they also work as an alarm clock or nightlight to boot.

Basically, those who want more volume, more features, and richer sound would be better served by a dedicated sound machine.

Are Sound Machines Harmful

There’s been an increased focus on potential downsides to sound machines, but the short answer is there isn’t enough data to know whether using a sound machine is harmful. One comprehensive scientific review, done by Mathias Basner,concluded that further research is necessary to recommend noise as a sleep aid or prove that it is causing damage.

However, almost all experts agree that the safest way to use a noise machine is to keep the decibel level as low as possible to prevent hearing loss. According to the CDC prolonged exposure to noises over 70 dB, which is slightly louder than a normal conversation, can cause damage.

The CDC also recommends placing the sound machine as far from your bed as possible and, ideally, to set a timer so your brain isn’t constantly perceiving and attempting to process audio signals throughout the night.

Using a sound machine should also be part of a larger nighttime routine that signals to your body that it is time to wind down and rest.

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