Fan Noise Generator
The steady hum of a box fan, without the cold air. Press play, then use the ten faders to make it deeper or breezier. It keeps going with your screen locked.
What makes fan noise sound the way it does
A fan makes two sounds at once: a low hum from the motor and blades, and a softer rush of moving air on top. Most of the energy sits low, which is why a fan sounds warm and heavy next to the hiss of white noise.
The Box fan preset copies that shape. Its loudest faders are 63 and 125 Hz, and it falls off steadily toward the treble, leaving just enough high end to sound like air. It's steady noise, not a recording of a real fan, so there's no rattle, click or loop.
Make it sound like your fan
For a bigger, slower fan, raise the 31 and 63 faders a step or two. For a small desk fan, lower them and raise 500 Hz and 1k instead.
For more rushing air, like a fan on high, raise 2k and 4k a few steps.
Turn on Drift and the bands slowly rise and fall, a little like air moving around a room. Leave it off for the perfectly even sound of a fan on one setting.
Why use a fan sound instead of a fan?
Plenty of people can't sleep without a fan running, even in winter. A fan sound gives you the noise without the draft, dry eyes or dust blowing around, and it doesn't take up space on the nightstand.
It also travels. Hotel rooms, tents and a friend's couch rarely come with a box fan, but your phone is always there. Load this page once and it works offline, so it keeps playing in places with weak signal.
Like other steady sounds, fan noise works by covering things. A constant hum makes a door, a car or a neighbor's TV stand out less, so they're less likely to wake you.
Questions
Is fan noise the same as white noise?
No. White noise has equal energy at every frequency, so it sounds bright and hissy. Fan noise is much heavier in the bass. Brown noise is closer, and the Box fan preset sits between brown and pink noise with an extra bump in the low hum.
Can I play it all night?
Yes. It plays until you stop it, with no gaps. If you'd rather it stop once you're asleep, set the sleep timer and it fades out over the last few minutes.
Does it work without internet?
Yes, after the first visit. The page saves itself for offline use, and the sound is generated on your device, so nothing streams.
Does it keep playing when I lock my phone?
Yes. It plays like a music track, so it keeps going with the screen locked and you can pause it from the lock screen. The built-in browser inside some apps may still stop it. If that happens, open this page in Safari or Chrome.
Can I save my own fan sound?
Yes. Once it sounds right, save it as a mix to find it again on this device, or use Copy link to send the exact sound to someone else.