Background Noise for an Open Office
Free white noise, right in your browser, to mask crosstalk in an open office. Why it works better than music, and what volume to use.
In an open office, what breaks your focus isn't the overall noise level — it's the conversations you can understand. It only takes someone saying your name at the next desk to make you look up without deciding to. A sound with no words or language structure doesn't compete for that same attention.
White noise covers the frequency range where a human voice lives, which is why it's the color most used to mask crosstalk — several desks talking at once, a call happening nearby — in a shared workspace.
Ready to play. Start low, then raise it if you need to.
Generated right in your browser — nothing downloaded, no audio sent anywhere.
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How to use it
- Use headphones instead of a speaker: besides masking voices better, you won't add sound to the rest of the office
- A low volume, just above the conversations around you, is usually enough — you don't need to cover them completely
- If white noise feels too sharp to run all day, try pink noise at /en/sounds/pink-noise/
- Save it for tasks that need real focus — mechanical or short tasks don't need it
Keep reading
Frequently asked questions
- What noise masks conversations in an open office?
- White noise tends to be the most effective, because it covers the frequency range where a human voice lives and helps make nearby conversations harder to follow.
- Is it better to use headphones or a speaker for office noise?
- Headphones — they mask nearby voices better because the sound goes straight to your ear, and you won't add extra background noise to the shared space.
- What volume should I use white noise at in the office?
- Just above the conversations around you, no more. If you have to raise your voice to talk to the person next to you, it's too loud for a full workday.
- Does white noise get tiring if I listen all day at work?
- For some people, yes, because of how much treble it carries. If you notice fatigue after a few hours, pink noise is a gentler alternative for a full workday.
