Ocean waves are picked. Press Play — they keep rolling until you stop them or the timer ends.
Stopped.
Your sound and volume are saved in this browser for next time.
About Ocean Waves
This page plays ocean wave sounds: a slow swell that rises, breaks and pulls back, about every 11 seconds. Press Play and the waves keep rolling until you stop them, or until the sleep timer ends.
Waves are one of the calmest sounds there are. They are steady, but not flat: the sound moves up and down in a slow rhythm, so it feels alive without asking for your attention. Many people use it to relax, to read, or to fall asleep.
The waves are made live in your browser from filtered noise. There is no recording, no gulls, no voices and no music — just the sea.
Features
- Waves first — the page opens on ocean waves, ready to play
- A slow, calm swell — one wave about every 11 seconds, a little brighter as it breaks
- Five other sounds — white, pink and brown noise, rain and a fan, one tap away
- Sleep timer — stop after 15, 30, 60 or 120 minutes, 3 hours or 8 hours
- Soft fade — the sound fades in and out, so nothing startles you
- Remembers your settings — your sound and volume are saved in this browser
- Free and private — no sign-up, no download, no ads in the sound
How the waves are made
Each wave is soft, deep noise that swells and fades. Two things move together, slowly:
- The volume rises as the wave comes in and falls as it pulls back.
- The brightness opens up as the wave breaks — the filter lets more high tones through, from about 400 Hz up to about 1,400 Hz — and closes again as the water runs back.
Both follow one slow wave of 0.09 times a second, so a full wave takes about 11 seconds. That is close to the rhythm of a calm swell on a beach. The noise under it is drawn fresh each time you press Play, in a long stretch of about 20 seconds, so the waves never line up into a pattern you can hear.
Ocean waves, rain or brown noise?
| Sound | What it is like | Many people choose it for |
|---|---|---|
| Ocean waves | slow swell, rises and falls | relaxing, reading, falling asleep |
| Rain | soft, steady rain with a light rise and fall | sleep, study |
| Brown noise | deep, smooth rumble | sleep, long work sessions |
| Pink noise | even "shhh", like a river | study, sleep |
Waves move more than the other sounds. If the swell keeps pulling your attention while you work, try rain or brown noise instead. If you want the beach with a breeze, the Ambient Sound Mixer has a Beach mix of waves and wind.
Listening for hours: good to know
- Keep this tab open. You can switch to another tab or app, but closing the page stops the sound.
- Phones and screen lock. Some phones pause web audio when the screen locks. If the sound stops, keep the screen on with low brightness, or plug the phone in.
- Keep it quiet. Waves are nicest a little in the background. Use the lowest volume that still covers the noise around you.
- Nothing is recorded and nothing is sent anywhere. The sound is made on your device.
This page is for relaxing and covering noise. It makes no health claims.
Frequently asked questions
Is this a real recording of the sea?
No. The waves are made in your browser from filtered noise that swells and fades. That is why the page is small, starts at once, and has no gulls, boats or voices in it.
How long is one wave?
About 11 seconds from one wave to the next. The sound rises and gets a little brighter as the wave breaks, then falls back.
Do the waves repeat?
The swell keeps the same calm rhythm, like a quiet sea. The noise inside each wave is made fresh each time you press Play, so it does not sound like a short loop.
Can I add wind or rain to the waves?
On this page you play one sound at a time. To mix waves with wind, rain or other sounds, use the Ambient Sound Mixer.
Can I play ocean waves all night?
Yes. Set Stop after to 8 hours or to Never, and keep the tab open. Keep the volume low.
Is it free?
Yes. No sign-up, no app and no ads in the sound. The page needs the internet to open, but the sound is made on your device.
Related tools
- Rain Sounds — soft, steady rain for sleep and study
- Ambient Sound Mixer — mix waves with wind, rain or a fire
- Thunderstorm Sounds — heavy rain, wind and rolling thunder
- Brown Noise — a deep, soft rumble
- Pink Noise — a soft, even sound between white and brown noise
- Breathing Exercise — slow, guided breathing to wind down
How to use it
- Ocean waves are already picked — press Play
- Move the Volume slider until the waves sit softly in the background
- Set Stop after if you want the sound to end by itself — 8 hours covers a whole night
- Tap another sound (rain, brown noise, fan…) any time to switch
- Press Stop when you are done
