Can White Noise Machines Block Snoring? (We Checked)

A quiet room is ideal for a peaceful sleep, but if you have a snoring roommate, your quality of sleep can be affected. White noise machines can play peaceful sounds to help you fall asleep.

Can they also be used to mask the sounds of snoring?  

Here’s How White Noise Machines Block Snoring:

Bose Sleepbuds can block out snoring – but white noise machines typically cannot (not over 50 decibels which can damage your ears). White noise machines can play a steady sound that ‘tricks’ your brain into muting out other noises.

What Are the Most Effective White Noise Machines for Snoring?

If you’re looking for white noise machines that reduce the sound of snoring, these are the most recommended:

1. LectroFan High Fidelity White Noise Machine

The LectroFan has a variety of 20 realistic fan and ambient sounds so that you can choose a few favorites.

Several users say that it can completely block snoring sound by turning the volume up. 

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The LectroFan is also compact (about 3 inches), so it doesn’t take up a lot of space in your bedroom. 

You can also bring it with you while traveling since it’s so small.

2. Marpac Dohm Classic White Noise Machine

The Marpac Dohm Classic White Noise Machine is perfect if you’re used to sleeping with the sound of the fan on but don’t like how it turns your room cold.

It has a built-in fan that naturally cancels out disruptive noises, including snoring.

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It only has 2 volume settings, low and high, but can be heard clearly in a regular-sized room.

All in all, it doesn’t have a lot of features, but it’s a reliable traditional white noise machine.

3. Big Red Rooster White Noise Sound Machine

If the steady hum is not for you, then maybe you’ll like what Big Red Rooster’s White Noise Machine can offer.   

Besides white noise, it also has 5 relaxing ambient sounds resembling nature. It includes the sound of rain, ocean, or thunder.

Users say it’s loud enough to neutralize the sound of snoring while still maintaining a peaceful environment. 

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Another great feature about this white noise machine is you can either plug it in or use batteries. So you can still use it even when there’s no power on, or take it with you on vacations.

4. HoMedics White Noise Sound Machine

HoMedics White Noise Sound Machine is the most affordable one on this list.

It also contains 6 ambient recordings of nature sounds, including white noise.

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Despite its 2-inch size, its volume can go very high. So it’s sure to cancel out the sound of snoring.

You can also choose to plug it in or use batteries so that you can take it with you everywhere.

5. Sound+Sleep High Fidelity Sleep Sound Machine

The Sound+Sleep Machine is more on the pricier side.

It also automatically adjusts the volume once it senses other extra noises in the background. So it’s convenient for when your partner or roommate starts snoring.

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It contains 30 recorded ambient sounds to choose from.

It also has a 3.5 mm audio jack so you can plug in headphones not to disturb others.  

Do People use White Noise Machines to fix Snoring Issues?

White noise machines only block out distracting exterior noises to help you fall asleep. They are not meant to fix any snoring issues.

You can check with a medical professional if you’re concerned about your roommate or partner’s snoring.   

What Are the Best Sounds to Drown out Snoring?

White noise machines usually have 2 types of sound categories.

They’re either white noise or a recording of the sounds of nature.

White noise usually sounds like the soft hum of an electric fan. 

Some white noise machines have a built-in fan to play their actual sound. In comparison, others have a digital recording of a fan.

White noise machines can also play digital recordings of the ambient sounds of nature. They’re usually the sounds of rain, ocean waves, thunder, waterfalls, and many more. 

White noise machine users usually prefer the sound of white noise more. They find it more effective to block out the snoring sound than the sounds of nature. The steady hum of white noise is easier for their brain to get used to, so it neutralizes snoring sound faster.

What Are the Best Ways to Block Out Snoring?

If white noise machines aren’t enough to block out the sound of snoring, here are a few alternatives to try out:

Earplugs:

Let’s face it, earplugs are the tried and tested way of blocking out noise.

It’s an old method, but it’s still effective.

Try to get the foam types of earplugs so that they can expand to the natural shape of your inner ears. This is better than plastic or rubber earplugs, where they stay the same size and shape.

Also, make sure that earplugs are the right size for your ears, so they don’t easily go into or fall out of your ears.

Noise-Canceling Headphones:

Noise-canceling headphones are the upgraded versions of earplugs.

You don’t need to invest in high-end headphones to get a good noise-canceling feature.

There are plenty of budget headphones that can offer comparable noise-canceling features. You can find one that is effective for blocking out snoring.

Opt for in-ear headphones so they won’t hurt your ears if you tend to sleep on your side.

You can also choose between wired or wireless headphones, but wireless headphones are recommended if you move a lot in your sleep.

But the best part of having noise-canceling headphones is you can also listen to your favorite music while you drift off to sleep.  

Fall Asleep First:

If your partner’s snoring doesn’t affect you when you’re fast asleep, then you better get used to sleeping earlier.

This may be an effective method if you tend to sleep through the night and aren’t a light sleeper.

Turn on a Humidifier:

If a dry mouth causes your partner’s snoring, you can reduce it by using a humidifier.

A humidifier adds moisture back into the air, thus improving your partner’s airflow. 

Allergies can also trigger snoring.

Allergens tend to float around when the air in your room is dry, but if you turn on a humidifier, it weighs them down so it can’t affect your partner’s allergy-induced snoring.

Sources:

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