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What is pink noise?
Updated 22 October 2026
Pink noise is random noise with equal energy in every octave. Its power falls 3 decibels each time the frequency doubles, so the high end is softer than in white noise. To the ear it sounds balanced and natural, like steady rain or wind in trees.
Press play
Play opens the sound masker with this mix already loaded, so you can hear it and shape it.
How to set it up
- Play Pink noise.
- Compare with White and Brown. Pink sits right between them.
Why pink noise sounds balanced
Our hearing works in octaves. Pink noise gives each octave the same energy, so the bass, middle, and treble all sound about equally present. That is why audio engineers use pink noise to tune speakers and rooms.
Pink noise in nature
Many natural sounds and patterns are close to pink: rain, rustling leaves, a waterfall at a distance, even heartbeat variability and the flow of rivers over years. It is sometimes called 1/f noise, after its mathematical shape.
Pink noise and sleep
Pink noise shows up in sleep research. In small lab studies, short pulses timed to slow brain waves during deep sleep improved memory the next day. Continuous pink noise from a speaker is a different thing, but it is still a comfortable sound to sleep with.
Questions
What does pink noise sound like?
Like steady rain or a waterfall: full, but not sharp.
Is pink noise better than white noise for sleep?
Many people find it more comfortable. Both can cover disturbing sounds.