7 Best Sound Machines for Deeper, More Restful Sleep (2024)

Possibly the most straightforward sound machine you can buy, this device generates sound with an actual internal whirring fan, not a digital recording. If you're highly sensitive and can hear when digital sound machines loop — a nearly inaudible break or click before the sound starts from the beginning again — this model prevents that.

Even though it produces only one sound, our testers loved the simplicity of the product and were grateful for it when the room was dark and they were sleepy. "There's no clicking past other sounds to find what you want," one tester said. "You either press the top of the button for low fan or the bottom of the button for high fan, and that's it." If you want to fine-tune it further, you can adjust the volume by twisting the body of the machine. If you set that up once, you won't have to do it again.

Using this could replace the need to have a real fan plugged in and going in your bedroom, a hassle when the room temperature is fine and you don't want the blowing wind, just the soothing sound.

Adult sleep is just one of many ways to use this device. It's also great for babies' sleep, office privacy and drowning out construction noise or barking dogs during the daytime — and there are plenty more examples beyond those. Its low profile fits on a nightstand or down on the floor in a classroom, home or office setting. It works with a cord or with batteries and has an optional timer, so you get lots of customization for a low price.

We noted that the six digital sounds that come out of this speaker aren't of the highest quality, but we feel that's an expected sacrifice for the low price. The features our experts wish the brand would fix are the glowing green indicator lights, which can be a bit distracting in the dark.

Get extra use out of this little machine: The LectroFan Micro2 has the ability to connect to Bluetooth and become a speaker that plays music or podcasts from your device, so you can use the sound machine for activities during waking hours too. You can charge it with a USB cord and take it with you or leave it plugged into a USB port on your desk or nightstand. It's truly tiny — only about two inches in diameter and just a few inches tall when stored. To use it, slide out the miniature speaker and angle it to your liking.

When you're ready to go to sleep, "you have to cycle through other sounds to get to the one you like, which is annoying, unless of course you like the first sound," said our lead tester. But users of this device were able to get used to it. It comes in a sleek all-black version as well.

Let's talk about what you get if you spend a little more money for this sophisticated — and larger than most — sound machine: more sounds, a timer that gently lowers the volume as the time winds down and instant volume adjustment if the machine senses loud noises in your environment. You can also fully turn off the display's lights.

Its sound library includes 16 categories and 64 total choices, with high-quality nature sounds (ocean, rainfall, meadow and more), civilization sounds (city din, train ride, fireplace, coffee shop and more), fan sounds and white, pink and brown noises (the different "colors" have different frequencies or pitches). "The sounds come through very clear," one tester confirmed.

Press the "adaptive" button on the Sound+Sleep SE, and it will scan the room for any extra noise, then adjust your chosen sound to be louder or richer to cancel the extra noise out. You can connect headphones to the machine with the built-in audio jack if others in your household would prefer not to listen along. The sound machine also includes two USB ports you can use to charge other devices.

Though the selection isn't as varied as our pick for most advanced sound machine for sleep, this smaller unit has 16 different sound choices clearly labeled in a ring around the speaker, from the Dohm brand's signature sounds to different fans, white noise variations and soundtracks, including nature recordings like chimes and rain, as well as soothing songs deliberately composed at 60 beats per minute for maximum relaxation.

Testers loved how easy it was to set up and the variety of sounds available. Note, though, that this is another machine that runs via USB cord only; to plug this into a regular electrical outlet, you'll need to have a USB adapter plug (one of the little "bricks" we all seem to have so many of). Finally, it has a timer, but the timer effectively runs all night for six or eight hours.

This inexpensive sound machine is a favorite of our former contributing health writer's — read why she can't sleep without it. A big selling point is its compact four-inch size that takes up little room, fitting easily even on a small nightstand. It's similar to our best value pick but takes up less space. This machine is touted as portable because, in addition to being small, it can run on batteries: handy if you go camping or travel overseas and may not have a standard U.S. outlet. In fact, Good Housekeeping Institute Chief Technologist & Executive Technical Director Rachel Rothman recently used this sound machine while traveling internationally and loved how useful and easy to tote along it was.

The timer feature, which can run for just 30 minutes or an hour or two, is helpful for lulling a kid to sleep at night before it automatically shuts off. A downside: The buttons make a noticeable amount of noise when pressed, which could potentially wake a light sleeper if you're turning the volume down or the timer off.

Ideally, babies sleep and nap in their cribs. In messy reality, you sometimes find yourself trying to put your baby down in a portable crib at Grandma's house. At 3.5 inches in diameter, this tiny device can be slipped into a diaper bag or attached to a stroller and travel along wherever your baby needs to be, even to day care for nap time there. "It was extra useful when we were trying to get a kid to sleep in a house that had a bunch of relatives talking in another room," one tester said.

The battery recharges via USB, and then it's ready to go for some 20 hours on a single charge. If you want to plug it right into the wall, you'll need an extra USB adapter plug (not included). The Hushh+ has a gentle amber glow, so you can find it in the dark. Plus, there's a child lock to discourage a kid from staying awake and playing with the sounds and volume. (Smart kid alert: Our lead tester noted that "if the child figures out that all they have to do is press the lock button, then they'll know how to unlock it again.") New with this version: The Hushh+ functions as a Bluetooth speaker, and you can stream your own music through it.

For this story, we tested more than a dozen of the best-selling, best-reviewed sound machines in our Lab.

We examined the number of settings to see how customizable each machine is, and we tested the decibel level for each sound on every sound machine to see how loud they get.

Finally, we noted whether each machine must be plugged in or if it can work with batteries for maximum portability in a variety of locations outside the home.

When considering which sound machine for sleep is best for you, ask yourself these questions:

✔️ Where will you be using your sound machine most of the time? Will it sit on a nightstand in your bedroom? Or is this for an office, and will it sit under your desk? Where it will be placed can help you figure out if you want a small sound machine or if you're able to use something larger.

✔️ Will you want to travel with your sound machine? If so, look for one that's small and extra portable, and also consider one that can run on batteries or be plugged into a USB port.

✔️ Are you sensitive to sound? We do like our best overall pick, the Marpac Dohm Classic, because of its clear, steady, non-digital sound. But another way to go is with something that has more than 10 sound options, so you can toggle around to find something you like.

You can use a sleep app on your phone or even dial in 10 hours of soothing sounds via YouTube, but both of those options require having a device open and in use. If you want to get more sleep, our editors suggest practicing good sleep hygiene. "Put your devices on Do Not Disturb, and keep them far enough away that you won't be tempted to peek at email, texts, social media and news alerts," says Good Housekeeping Institute Chief Technologist & Executive Technical Director Rachel Rothman, who frequently tests tech for our Labs.

If you get an affordable sound machine (most on our list are less than $50), it's a simple way to block out sounds and help you drift off to sleep. We like to recommend sound machines for babies, kids and adults. Every age can benefit from having soothing sounds as a part of their nightly routine.

Other good sleep practices include limiting food and alcohol consumption near bedtime, changing into pajamas (we have a list of the best cooling pajamas if you get too hot at night), brushing your teeth, turning off the TV, shutting your blinds, lowering the lights, doing something relaxing — like reading a book, journaling or listening to a podcast — and then finally turning on your sound machine when you turn out the lights.

For more than a century, the Good Housekeeping Institute has provided reliable reviews of consumer products. Our scientists and researchers test them in our Lab and rely on staff and consumers to provide additional data after using the products in their home. The GH Institute reviews products in individual categories, such as the best countertop microwaves, and also organizes broad annual awards programs, such as Good Housekeeping's Fitness Awards.

Research for this story was conducted by Test Engineer Alec Scherma. He frequently designs testing protocols and collects data on new consumer technology, wellness products and home innovations. See his choices for the best video game consoles and the best portable air conditioners.

This story was written by Contributing Editor Jessica Hartshorn, a longtime market editor and 30-year veteran of the magazine industry. She's also written about the best cat carriers and the best dehumidifiers.