Struggling to sleep? Want to know what are the best ASMR sounds for sleep?
ASMR or Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response is a response to certain sounds that cause waves of relaxation and a tingling sensation at the top of the head, down the neck and spine, which some people get when exposed to particular audiovisual triggers.
ASMR can help send you to sleep as it helps create a feeling of calm and relaxation. An example of sleep ASMR includes the sounds of whispering, running water or brushing. This style of sleep audio helps the listener to feel relaxed and calm, often leading to sleep.
ASMR for sleep has become crazily popular and you can find millions of ASMR videos and tracks online via YouTube, Spotify and Google.
Throughout this article we’ll be discussing how ASMR works, why it’s good for sleep and which ASMR sleep tracks are top rated on the web.
What is ASMR for sleep?
ASMR for sleep often focuses on the sounds of whispering. Someone whispers gently into a microphone, creating an autonomous sensory meridian response, allowing the listener to relax and enter an almost hypnotic state. The response starts at the scalp and runs down the neck and spine.
How the best ASMR sounds for sleep work
Sleep ASMR works by tapping into someone’s sensory response which can lead to ‘brain tingles’ and helps them to relax and feel calm as this tingling feeling runs from their scalp to the bottom of their spine.
Most sources agree that the first ASMR term and video were coined in 2009 by a cyber security professional called Jennifer Allen. Allen uploaded the first ASMR video to YouTube and the popularity grew and grew to millions of ASMR videos in 2021. Although there are so many fans of ASMR for sleep, there has been limited research into the effects of tuning into ASMR. However, one study by Sheffield University, found that those who felt a response when watching ASMR videos had significantly reduced heart rates compared to those who didn’t experience ASMR. There was an average decrease of 3.14 beats per minute.
The study also highlighted how those experiencing ASMR showed significant increases in positive emotions such as relaxation and sociability. The study also highlighted that some people don’t get any type of physical response to ASMR.
People who do respond have said how it helps them de-stress, unwind and fall asleep more easily. Some people say that it can make them feel agitated or uncomfortable, highlighting that the reaction to ASMR is personal to the individual.
The most common form of ASMR recording involves gentle and soothing whispering. The recorded whispering sounds as though someone is whispering directly into the listener’s ear. Many ASMR recorders use binaural setups, which means using two or more microphones to create a 4D sound experience - as if the noise is happening next to you.
Best ASMR sounds for sleep - whispering
- ASMR 20 Triggers To Help You Sleep by ASMR Darling
- ASMR A-Z Triggers to Help You Sleep by ASMR Darling
- [Binaural ASMR] Close Whispering - Just Talking by Gibi ASMR
- The Best Unintentional ASMR voice EVER re-edited to help you sleep in seconds | John Butler ASMR BY Pure Unintentional ASMR
- ASMR For People Who DON'T Sleep (10+ HOURS) by Jojo’s ASMR
- ASMR 50+ Triggers over 3 Hours (NO TALKING) Ear Cleaning, Massage, Tapping, Peeling, Umbrella & MORE by ASMR Magic
- ASMR Intense Relaxation for Sleep and Tingles (Close Whisper) by Tingle Belle ASMR
- ASMR Guided Sleep Hypnosis by LunaRexx ASMR
- ASMR Dream Ocean by ASMR For Sleep
ASMR 20 Triggers To Help You Sleep by ASMR Darling
This ASMR sleep video has had over 38 million views and is one of the internet’s most popular. Taylor Darling is well-known for her videos, with many focusing on ASMR for sleep. Throughout the 57-minute video, Taylor focuses on different ‘triggers’ which are the types of sounds that trigger an ASMR. These include:
- Whispering/Tapping
- Face touching
- Hair Brushing
- Scalp Massage
- Fabric sounds
- Microphone Brushing
- Water sounds.
Each sound aims to trigger a response from the listener and help them to relax, de-stress and drift off to sleep.
ASMR A-Z Triggers to Help You Sleep by ASMR Darling
This is another ASMR video for sleep by ASMR Darling. It has 24 million views and thousands of positive comments, highlighting how the video succeeds in helping listeners sleep.
The video includes triggers such as the sounds of aluminum foil, drawing, finger fluttering, glue peeling, water, opening lids and whispering.
The videos are a little longer at just under 2 hours.
[Binaural ASMR] Close Whispering - Just Talking by Gibi ASMR
This is another ASMR video by Gibi who has nearly 4 million subscribers. It features continuous whispering for 22 minutes. It’s up to you if you watch the video or just listen to the audio, but we’d recommend just listening to the audio to help you switch off and fall asleep more easily.
Listeners have commented on the fact there’s no background noise distracting them from the whispering and their sleep.
The Best Unintentional ASMR voice EVER re-edited to help you sleep in seconds | John Butler ASMR BY Pure Unintentional ASMR
This video has more than 12 million views and here’s why...
John Butler, a British author, YouTuber, Spiritualist and retired farmer, is seen and heard being interviewed. The YouTuber Pure Unintentional ASMR has created a video edit of this interview after they realised Butler’s voice sounds like an ASMR audio, hence the name of the video “The Best Unintentional ASMR voice EVER”. Butler’s voice is known for being calming, soothing and relaxing and that’s why it makes for excellent ASMR audio.
Have a listen to Butler’s voice and try not to feel relaxed - it’s impossible! As one listener put it: “His voice is so incredible; his words are so wise; he is so calm… Is this the perfect ASMR-Video?”.
ASMR For People Who DON'T Sleep (10+ HOURS) by Jojo’s ASMR
This ASMR for sleep video is quite frankly bonkers. Jojo has created 10 hours(!!) worth of ASMR triggers which include mouth sounds, tapping, hand sounds, whispering, microphone brushing and more.
The aim is to have the audio playing all night to help you fall asleep and in case you wake up. One user says: “I have a problem with sleeping and this has really helped now I can’t sleep without it so thank you”. Give it a try and see what you think.
ASMR 50+ Triggers over 3 Hours (NO TALKING) Ear Cleaning, Massage, Tapping, Peeling, Umbrella & MORE by ASMR Magic
This 3-hour ASMR sleep video has more than 88 million views. It’s one of the most-watched ASMR videos on the internet.
The video features more than 50 varied relaxing ASMR triggers for sleep without any talking. ASMR Magic uses a binaural head microphone and other high-tech microphones to record the sounds so they’re crisp and detailed. Sounds that feature include tapping, spraying, rain, fizzing, scalp massage, water, sponges and much more.
One listener describes how they “never get tired of watching this video, it is so relaxing!”. Worth a listen for a good night’s sleep.
ASMR Intense Relaxation for Sleep and Tingles (Close Whisper) by Tingle Belle ASMR
This 20-minute ASMR for sleep video has over 4 million views and focuses on relaxation.
The video features guided relaxation followed by a countdown to sleep from 100, via close up whispering.
This is how one listener described their experience: “This got me more relaxed than I've been in a long time. I felt like I was having an out-of-body experience towards the end. Wonderful!”
ASMR Guided Sleep Hypnosis by LunaRexx ASMR
This Spotify audio by LunaRexx focuses on guided hypnosis for sleep. It’s very short at just over 5-minutes long. Luna offers 5 minutes of relaxing ASMR audio with the aim to send the listener to sleep.
This a great shortcut into the world of ASMR, especially if you’re short on time.
ASMR Dream Ocean by ASMR For Sleep
This very short track (just under 2 mins) plays the sounds of the ocean to help the listener relax and drift off to sleep. It’s a small snippet for you to dive into. And although it doesn’t feature a whispering voice, it does, however, feature whispering waves picked up by a high-tech microphone - you can hear every detail crisply and clearly.
How to use ASMR audio for sleep
ASMR audio is most effective when you can get the following things right:
- Find the right audio for you.
- Optimise your environment.
- Find the right time to listen.
- Listen to your audio as often as you can.
- Use the Kokoon app.
1. Find the right audio for you
There are so many different types of ASMR audio out there, so picking the best one for you can be tough. Start by working your way through our list of ASMR audios, until you find your favourite. Or mix it up and keep listening to different tracks.
2. Optimise your environment
Listen to the ASMR audio with headphones that mask external disturbances. Kokoon’s Nightbuds are noise masking and the perfect choice if you want the ultimate undisturbed sleep experience, wherever you’re listening.
You can find out more on the Kokoon Nightbuds page.
3. Find the right time to listen
Try to listen to the audio when you’re home alone or when there’s minimal chance of getting disturbed.
4. Listen to your audio as often as you can
Once you’ve found the audio that helps you fall asleep, make sure you listen to it as often as you can. Consistency is the key here to boost the chances of a positive outcome.
5. Use the Kokoon app
Listen to your favourite ASMR audio alongside the Kokoon app, so when you do start to fall asleep, the app will play white noise to mask disturbances.
Get started with ASMR for sleep
Not sure where to start? Pick one of the best ASMR audios featured in this article and listen before bed or whilst in bed tonight. Why not start with ASMR 20 Triggers To Help You Sleep by ASMR Darling and see where ASMR will take you?
