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What Is Pink Noise and Can It Actually Help You Sleep?

Brittany DoohanMandy Armitage, MD
Written by Brittany Doohan | Reviewed by Mandy Armitage, MD
Updated on November 6, 2025
Reviewed by Mandy Armitage, MD | November 6, 2025

An optimal sleep environment is different for everyone. Some people can sleep on a crowded, turbulent airplane, while others can only drift off in a silent, pitch-black room. If you’re one to appreciate a little white noise but still have some trouble sleeping occasionally, there may be one more trick for you to try: pink noise.

Pink noise has been found to improve sleep quality by slowing and regulating brain waves, which may help you wake up feeling more rested.

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Brittany Doohan
Written by:
Brittany Doohan
Brittany Doohan was the Content Director at HealthiNation and is currently the Editorial Director at Medscape. Through her work with Medscape, she won a Silver Telly Award in May 2022 for "Sleepless Nation: A Public Health Epidemic — Episode 2: A Decade Without a Diagnosis." She has worked in health journalism and video production for more than 8 years, and loves the challenge of explaining complex topics in an easy-to-understand and creative way.
Mandy Armitage, MD
Reviewed by:
Mandy Armitage, MD
Mandy Armitage, MD, has combined clinical medicine with her passion for education and content development for many years. She served as medical director for the health technology companies HealthLoop (now Get Well) and Doximity.
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