We updated this article in March 2023 to ensure that all sound machines previously tested and vetted by the Good Housekeeping Institute were in stock and correctly priced. We added two new choices, Sound+Sleep SE and Yogasleep Hushh+, and updated our Homedics pick to the SoundSleep.

Noise can keep you up at night, from your partner's snoring to a neighbor dragging out their garbage cans. Then again, sometimes it's silence that's hard to sleep through. In a Good Housekeeping Institute sleep survey of more than 4,000 people, 76% reported they weren't sleeping well, and 56% felt they slept too little. That's a problem, since a lack of sleep can negatively affect your physical and mental health. Fortunately, there are tiny tweaks you can make to your bedroom environment that promote better sleep. The easiest change? Invest in a quality sound machine to help you fall and stay asleep. Sound machines help mask ambient noise so you won't be startled awake by something abrupt, like a car alarm going off or a door slamming. They might use white noise, the sound of crashing waves or other soothing sounds to do the job.

At the Good Housekeeping Institute, we rigorously test hundreds of sleep-related products every year, from the best mattresses to the best down comforters. For example, our most recent Best Bedding Awards collected data from more than 500 consumer testers to help us select the best products you can buy to make your bed as comfy as possible. Yes, there are sleep apps to help you drift off faster, but if you prefer to stay off your phone at bedtime (as recommended by sleep experts), try one of our favorite sound machines instead.

Our top picks:

At the end of this list, read about how we test sound machines and what to look for when you shop for one. Want to wrap yourself in coziness as you listen to your new machine? Check out our top choices for the best weighted blankets and the best comforters for your bed, based on your individual sleeping needs.

Marpac

amazon.com

$40.98

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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.

Homedics

amazon.com

$17.59

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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.

Adaptive Sound Technologies

amazon.com

$29.99

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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.

Adaptive Sound Technologies

amazon.com

$106.60

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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.

Marpac

amazon.com

$35.98

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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.

Big Red Rooster

amazon.com

$24.99

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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.

Marpac

amazon.com

$49.99

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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.