Guide / Updated 24 October 2026
Timer or all night: which should you choose?
Use a timer when sound is mainly helpful for falling asleep. Choose longer playback only when interruptions continue later and the low level remains comfortable. Source ↗
- Start with a timer when noise is mainly for settling.
- Use longer playback only for real later interruptions.
- A fade can soften the change to silence.
How to try it
Start with 30 minutes and a five-minute fade. If the fade wakes you, lengthen the timer; if you sleep through the night, keep the shorter exposure. The right duration is a practical observation, not a fixed rule.
- Start with 30 minutes and a five-minute fade.
- If the fade wakes you, lengthen the timer; if you sleep through the night, keep the shorter exposure.
- On a phone, browser audio can stop when the system suspends the page.
What to consider
On a phone, browser audio can stop when the system suspends the page. Test a locked-screen run before you depend on the generator for overnight masking.
Map the noise across your night
A roommate arriving at bedtime is different from traffic continuing until morning. Write down when the disturbance usually happens before choosing a duration. A 30-minute timer can cover settling in; a longer one may suit a changing environment later. If the room is quiet most of the night, all-night playback adds sound without a clear job.
Try several nights at the shorter setting, then note whether you actually wake after the sound ends. A single restless night cannot tell you much, especially if the room or bedtime also changed.
Use the fade as a transition
An abrupt stop can make the room feel newly silent, which may reveal another sound. The fade control lowers output during the final part of the timer. Choose a fade shorter than the timer and see whether you notice the change. A five-minute fade is a sensible starting experiment if the stop feels abrupt.
If the fade itself attracts attention, shorten it or begin at a lower level. Do not assume a longer fade is always gentler; some listeners prefer an ordinary stop they never notice because they are already asleep.
Keep duration separate from loudness
Playing longer makes a low-level setting more important. The browser percentage is not an acoustic measurement; your device and speaker decide what reaches the pillow. Start from the quietest useful level, especially if a timer is set for several hours.
The sleep-aid review does not establish a fixed duration that helps everyone. Personal comfort and the timing of your room’s interruptions are more useful than a universal number.
Test your browser before relying on it
A selected timer can count down only while the page’s audio is allowed to run. Some devices suspend web audio when locked or when another app takes control. Try a locked-screen test while awake. If the browser pauses, use the site for sleep onset or consider a dedicated app.
Set a separate wake alarm for any essential morning commitment. A noise timer stops or fades playback; it is not a reliable alarm.
If your schedule varies
A weekend bedtime and an early work night may call for different durations. Adjust the timer to the actual period when you need masking, rather than saving one all-night setting for every occasion. A flexible shorter choice can reduce unnecessary playback while still covering the disruptive first hour.
Common questions
What timer length should I try first?
Thirty minutes is a practical experiment, not a rule. Adjust it after noticing when interruptions occur.
Will a timer force the browser to stay active?
No. The operating system may suspend a background tab regardless of the timer.
Is an all-night setting always more effective?
No. More duration adds sound after it may have stopped being useful.