If you live in a busy area or struggle with loud neighbors, you may be unable to get a peaceful night’s sleep due to the constant noise outside your home.
If this is the case, you can invest in the best fan for white noise.
It has been proven in clinical studies that white noise can help sleep.
A white noise fan will also help to keep your bedroom cool which promotes sleep as well.
However, there are many types of white noise fans on the market.
They range from small whisper-quiet fans to loud fans for sleeping that may be a tad too loud.
To make things easier we’ve identified the best fan for white noise and a few others for you to choose from.
Best fan for white noise
- Fan Type: Tower
- Dimensions:13 x 13 x 42 inches
- Weight: 12.6 pounds
The best fan for white noise on our list comes from a brand that has been making quality household products for 100 years.
The Lasko Wind Curve T42905 Tower Fan comes with multiple white noise levels so you will be able to customize the amount of white noise you need.
What makes it even better is the built-in Bluetooth technology that allows you to control it all from your smartphone up to 75 feet away.
Setting up the Bluetooth function is quick and easy.
All you need to do is to download the Lasko Connect app from the App Store or Google Play to your mobile device.
From there follow the installation instructions and you’re done
The fan produces a powerful breeze and with three-speed settings and optional oscillation, it gives you maximum air delivery and full room coverage.
Even at its highest, this noise-canceling fan isn’t too loud and creates just the right amount of white noise for you to rest.
It also includes an electric timer that automatically shuts off the fan after 7 hours.
If you need the best fan for white noise, it doesn’t get any better than the Lasko Wind Curve T42905 Tower Fan.
The fan also features a stylish woodgrain finish and will not take up a lot of space in your bedroom.
- Fan Type: Pedestal
- Dimensions: 18.5 x 18.5 x 38 inches
- Weight: 8 pounds
The Vornado 683 pedestal fan improves the airflow of the entire room thanks to its powerful Vortex action.
While expensive, Varnado’s signature vortex technology has proven itself time and time again.
This unit features simple controls, 3-speed settings and a pivoting head to provide a multi-directional airflow.
You can also adjust the fan height from 32” to 38” to get air exactly where you need it.
Its deep pitched blades, inlet cone, enclosed air duct and spiral grill allow the fan to move air up to 75 feet away.
The white noise properties of the fan are great since the fan itself is noiseless.
It allows you to listen to the circulation of air instead of the blades so there’s no distracting background noise to disturb you when sleeping.
- Fan Type: Wall-mounted
- Dimensions: 32 x 19 x 5 inches
- Weight: 7 pounds
The Hurricane HGC736500 wall mount fan is the ideal choice if you want to conserve floor space.
It looks like the upper part of a pedestal fan and has many of the features of a pedestal fan as well.
This makes it familiar and very easy to control.
This wall fan comes with an oscillation feature that allows the head to swing to a 90-degree pivot range.
The dial to control the 3-speed setting lies right under the head and at the highest, the blades manage 1450 rotations per minute.
The powerful motor will provide enough air to keep you cool and the right amount of white noise to lull you into a deep sleep.
To make things easier, the manufacturer has included a pull cord control system which makes it easier to operate the unit.
The left cord is responsible for turning the oscillation feature on or off.
This right cord allows you to change the speed settings and turn the fan off as well.
- Fan Type: Floor
- Dimensions: 24.75 x 12 x 22.5 inches
- Weight: 14.5 pounds
We have yet another Lasko fan on our list.
This 20” Lasko fan can be used as a floor fan or you can mount it on a wall using the mounting brackets.
The stand of the fan easily clips into the mount so this way you can quickly convert the floor fan to a wall-mounted fan.
It comes with 3 powerful speed settings and can be used in any large room including your bedroom.
The powerful motor, metal fan blade and pivoting head direct airflow and circulation for cooling or ventilation of an area.
This Lasko fan is great for white noise since the 3-speed settings allow for all levels of white noise.
The lowest setting produces a quiet whirring sound that is ideal to help you fall asleep.
Meanwhile, the medium and high settings will work great at covering up louder sounds coming from external sources.
This Lasko floor fan was built to last and features a rugged metal assembly with built-in rubber pads on the stand to protect your floors.
- Fan Type: Tabletop
- Dimensions:13.9 x 7.25 x 13.5 inches
- Weight: 4.4 pounds
The Comfort Zone CZ121WT Table fan is the perfect fan to move from room to room depending on where you need white noise.
Although the motor is virtually silent, it can help provide enough white noise to block out medium-level noise from external sources.
Not only can it block out sounds but it also cools and ventilates the entire room by delivering optimal airflow to a wider area with a continuous 90-degree oscillation.
You can customize the airflow to your liking by choosing the high, medium or low settings using the push-button controls.
The table fan is durable and includes a sturdy metal grill to protect the blades from getting dirty fast.
Setup is quick and easy so you can enjoy the cool air and white noise effects to fall asleep faster.
How to choose the best white noise fan
There are some basic features that you should be aware of when shopping for the best white noise fan.
Here are a few things to keep in mind.
Type of fan
There are a few types of fans and you’ll need to choose one that best suits your needs and space.
Pedestal Fan
The first type you’ll find is the regular pedestal fan that you’ve probably seen around.
They have a fairly large and stable base and the fan head may or may not have the ability to swing from side to side directing airflow.
The blades on these types of fans are protected by a grill.
Pedestal fans can be placed on the ground without taking up much room.
They may also come with the option of adjusting the height.
Tower fans
Power fans are standing fans that can be placed on the ground.
However, they are slimmer than pedestal fans so they take up less space.
They do not have a rotating head since their blades are hidden inside the body of the fan.
However, they may come with an oscillating feature.
Floor fans
If you have the floor space then you can opt for a floor fan.
These units are somewhat similar to the fan face of pedestal fans.
They usually come with a short stand with their blades protected by a grill.
These floor units are best for a large room.
Table-top fans
Table-top fans are portable units that can be moved from room to room.
They are small and lightweight which makes moving them easier.
Table-top fans can be placed on multiple surfaces.
Wall-mounted fans
If space is an issue, then you can opt for a wall-mounted fan.
This unit may closely resemble the upper part of a pedestal fan with similar controls.
Some manufacturers may even integrate a pull cord control system which makes it easier to operate your wall-mounted fan.
Noise level
There are quiet fans and loud fans and even though you do want a fan that makes some level of noise, you don’t want it to be incredibly loud.
Choose a unit based on the noise that you need to cover to sleep.
If there’s no noise then a fan where you can simply hear the air circulating will be good enough.
On the other hand, if you need a loud fan to cover excessive noise then you can check the loudness of the fan by gauging the speed settings.
Portability
The portability of the unit will depend on its size and weight.
You’ll find some fans that are small and lightweight so they will be easier to move from room to room.
The most portable type of fun you’ll find is a tabletop model.
However, you may be able to move a pedestal, tower or floor fan if it’s small and lightweight enough.
In some cases, you may even find that the manufacturer has integrated a carrying handle or some other portability features which makes moving the fan easy.
Airflow
Of course, you’re not just purchasing a fan for the white noise effect, you’re also buying a fan to provide some sort of airflow.
To make sure that you’re getting a fan that is good at directing airflow, take a look at how powerful the motor is.
Depending on your needs, you may want a unit with an oscillating head or some other feature that will allow you to direct airflow exactly where you need it.
Build quality
The build quality and quality of materials used in the construction of the fan are important if you want the fan to last a long time.
Look for units from well-known brands that use durable materials to make their products.
Do not go for any unit made from cheap plastic since these may break or put you in harm’s way.
Price
Durability may come at a higher price but this isn’t always the case
However, you do not always have to go with that most expensive fan to get the best quality.
Most of the fans on our list are fairly priced and durable.
What is white noise
White noise is a blend of sound frequencies but there’s more to it than that.
White noise is similar to white light and is an amalgamation of all sound frequencies.
Simply put, it means that white noise is a mix of all frequencies between 20- 200 Hz.
White noise tends to play all of the frequencies at the volume they come in.
This makes it a bit sharper at the high end of the spectrum and is the main reason why white noise can cover up most sounds in that range.
If you’ve ever researched white noise, you may have come across pink or brown noise.
These are along the same spectrum as white noise but they are more balanced between the low and the high end of the spectrum.
Choosing between these 3 types of noise colors is just a matter of personal preference.
Benefits of white noise fans
There are many white noise machines on the market so you may be wondering why choose a white noise fan?
Choosing a white noise fan serves two purposes.
The first is to drown out the noise from external sources and the other is to keep you cool.
It has been shown that those who sleep in cooler temperatures sleep better and longer.
White noise fans may even be cheaper than white noise machines
Here are a few benefits of using a white noise fan:
- White noise fans drown out sounds by producing a steady hum of frequencies.
- They may even drown out your inner voice and prevent you from overthinking.
- You will fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer due to the white noise and cooling effect.
- They may relieve ringing in your ear or tinnitus.
- You will be able to concentrate more which can result in increased productivity.
Disadvantages of white noise fans
Much like everything, white noise fans have a few disadvantages.
These include:
Running a fan all night may make things worse if you have allergies. To tackle this problem you can clean your fan regularly, purchase one with an air filter or point the unit away from you.
The air may dry out your skin. To prevent this make sure that the fan isn’t blowing directly on you or invest in the best quiet humidifier.
Conclusion
In the end, whether you’re trying to sleep or concentrate, the best fan for white noise fan is one of the cheapest and best ways to stay cool and drown out unwanted noise.
A good night’s sleep is essential for human life so address your sleeping conditions immediately if they are less than ideal.
Assess your space and choose a type of fan based on that.
You should also consider the level of noise that you need to block and look at the speed setting and power of the motor on the fan.
Look for a unit from a well-known brand that uses highly durable material which will keep you safe and allow the fan to serve you for a long time to come.
However, do know that using loud fans to drown out noise can only do so much so you can try to soundproof your bedroom or home office if the noise is too much.
To do this, read this article on how to soundproof a room.
You can also check out our white noise machine for office use article