Sleeping seven to eight hours a night is easy in theory, but difficult in practice — especially if you’re sensitive to sound or chronically toss and turn in bed. It’s even harder if you live in a loud home, next to a busy intersection, or sleep next to a chronic snorer. You’re gonna need to block out those noises. While sound machines can be one effective solution, sleep earbuds offer a more compact, subtle, and personal approach.
ZDNET staffers have done hands-on testing and extensive research to find sleep headphones equipped with flat speakers, active noise canceling (ANC) technology, and a long-lasting battery life that can be a game changer for a good night’s rest, especially if noise is your number one nightmare. Some are earbuds that stick in your ear for the whole night, and others wrap around your head or eyes for a quicker and easier descent into slumber.
Also: The best noise-canceling headphones for working and studying
Our pick for the best sleep headphones overall is the Soundcore by Anker Sleep A10 earbuds, for their in-ear alarm features, sleep-tracking capabilities, and battery life. Find out how the sleep headphones we’ve tested stack up on this list — and on your pillow.
Pros
- In-ear alarm feature
- Tracks your sleep when you wear them overnight
- Choose from pre-set sleep sounds
Cons
- Small size might get lost in bed when tossing and turning
- Not the most comfortable for side sleepers
Soundcore by Anker Sleep A10 Earbuds tech specs: Form factor: In-ear | Connectivity: Bluetooth | Battery: Up to 10 hours | Fit: Earbuds
Not only are these earbuds from Anker small and comfortable enough to sleep in, but they also track your sleep while you wear them. Find out whether you passed the night in a deep or light sleep as well as how long you spent awake each night for a greater grasp on your sleeping patterns.
When ZDNET writer Christina Darby reviewed the Anker Sleep A10 earbuds, she called them a “refreshing addition to a rather scarce market.”
Review: Do sleeping earbuds actually work? I tested the latest pair on the market
As far as sound goes, these headphones use noise masking, broadcasting a low-volume layer of audio to cover up ambient sounds. You can choose from 31 different pre-set sounds in the Soundcore app’s Sleep Music Library, including audio that mimics your brain wave frequencies during periods of rest.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Great for side sleepers
- ANC is fantastic
Cons
- No music playback, just white noise
- Pricey
QuietOn 3.1 sleep earbuds tech specs: Form factor: Earbuds | Connectivity: NA | Battery: 28 hours | Fit: In-ear
Using ANC technology while still having a form factor designed for sleep, QuietOn 3.1 sleep earbuds are like an elevated pair of earbuds. Weighing just 1.8 grams, the lightweight feel is especially noticeable against a pillow — even if you’re a side sleeper.
These earbuds are interesting because they actually don’t play music, making them more like smart earplugs. That said, QuietOn uses advanced ANC technology that makes it easy to block out usual sleep distractions.
With no app, music, or Bluetooth connection, these are great if you simply want a silent night’s sleep, which, according to her testing, Darby did comfortably.
“As a noise-sensitive sleeper myself, I’ve tried sleeping with my 2nd-gen AirPods Pros before but found them too bulky. Therefore, I was impressed to find QuietOn’s ANC comparable to Apple’s while feeling less irritating to wear during sleep,” she wrote.
The earbuds have a 28-hour battery life and a frictionless fit with foam ear tips, which is ideal if all you want is silence and are willing to justify the price tag.
Pros
- No light enters the sleep mask
- Great for partial awareness
- Nice battery life
Cons
- Speakers could be louder
- Charging cord is right next to your face as you sleep
LC-Dolida Sleep Headphones and Mask tech specs: Form factor: Over-ear | Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.2 | Battery life: 8-10 hours | Fit: Adjustable velcro strap
My bedroom looks over a busy Brooklyn street, and I can often hear the honks and skirrrrts of passing cars and cyclists while I try to fall and stay asleep. The street outside my window is also well-lit, so I normally wear a face mask to bed. This is all to say that I am in dire need of a sleeping device that not only blocks out sound but also bright light. The LC-Dolida does both pretty well.
The sleep mask comes with eye cups that truly block out any light in your field of vision, which I love. And the flat headphones hover over your ears. They aren’t notably immersive, but they dampen most sounds if you raise the volume high enough. I like to listen to brown noise playlists with these on to fall asleep, and I can confidently say I’m out in minutes when I have these on. Plus, the battery life is substantial. I can wear these for two nights straight without them dying on me.
I have a small head, move around in my sleep, and can rarely keep a mask on for the entirety of a night, so I wasn’t surprised when I woke up with the headphones off a few times. One other downside of these headphones is the charging cord that hangs right near your temple while you sleep, which doesn’t feel terribly pleasant but is a minor issue at worst.
Pros
- Long battery life
- Comfortable for side sleepers
- Cable slider and adjustable hooks ensure a secure fit all night
Bedphones Wireless tech specs: Form factor: Over-ear | Connectivity: Bluetooth | Battery life: 13 hours | Fit: Adjustable ear hooks
If you want headphones made for sleeping, look no further than the Bedphones. These headphones were designed with side sleepers in mind, as the speakers are thin and covered in soft foam padding. They lay flat against your ears while you listen to soothing sounds.
The adjustable memory wire ear hooks allow these sleeping headphones to fit all ears. While wireless, a cable connects the two drivers, and you can wear the cable in front of or behind your neck and tighten the cable slider to ensure the headphones stay secure even on restless nights.
The 13-hour battery life and inline microphone with a single-button remote are also impressive features.
Pros
- Affordable
- Comfortable to wear
Cons
- No auto-off feature
- Volume can be loud even on the lowest setting
Perytong Sleep Headphones tech specs: Form factor: On-ear | Connectivity: Bluetooth | Battery life: 10 hours | Fit: Headband
This headband headphone design from Perytong is a more budget-friendly option for sleeping headphones. The headband is made of soft, machine-washable, breathable material and features detachable on-ear headphones that can comfortably fit back and side sleepers.
The headband holds a decent battery life that lasts 10 hours per full charge and comes in more than 15 color options. These sleeping headphones can also work well for listening to music while you run or for zoning out while you meditate.
The best sleep headphones are the Soundcore by Anker Sleep A10 headphones for their strong battery life, sleep-tracking capabilities, and pre-set sleep sounds you can use to easily fall asleep.
| Sleeping headphones | Price | Battery | Form factor |
| Soundcore by Anker Sleep A10 | $130 | 10 hours | In-ear |
| QuietOn 3.1 earbuds | $289 | 28 hours | In-ear |
| LC-Dolida Sleep Mask and Headphones | $40 | 8-10 hours | Over-ear |
| Bedphones wireless | $149 | 13 hours | Over-ear |
| Perytong Sleep Headphones | $16 | 10 hours | Over-ear |
*Lowest price at the time of writing. Please note that prices may vary based on retailer and available promotions, sales, or discounts.
It depends on what you’re looking for relative to the position(s) you sleep in, whether you want ANC, and what price point you’re willing to spend.
| Choose these headphones for sleeping… | If you want… |
| Soundcore by Anker Sleep A10 | The best sleep earbuds. Unobtrusive, these earbuds are no bigger than a nickel, have a 10-hour playback battery life, and track your sleep. |
| QuietOn 3.1 earbuds | The best sleep headphones for canceling out noise. QuietOn 3.1’s earbuds are compact, comfortable, and cancel out sound without making any. |
| LC-Dolida Sleep Mask and Headphones | The best sleep mask and headphone combo. Cancel out noise and sound with these on. |
| Bedphones wireless | The best sleep headphones. If you’re a side sleeper, the flat and foam-padded design was made with you in mind. You’ll also get 13 hours of battery life. |
| Perytong Sleep Headphones | The best budget-friendly sleep headphones. Only $20 on Amazon, this over-ear headband is price and comfort-conscious. |
We selected these top sleeping headphones by doing extensive research into the product category, as well as performing some testing of our own while considering the following factors:
- Flat speakers: There’s no point in sleeping in headphones if they’re not comfortable — and nothing is more uncomfortable than something poking in your ears. We looked for headphones with speakers that sit comfortably in your ears and against your pillow.
- Active Noise Canceling capabilities: We looked for headphones that cancel or block out noise so that you can have undisturbed rest.
- Battery life: All of our picks have battery life that will last you through the night from six to 28 hours.
- Price: The sleeping headphones on this list range in price from $12 to $300. While you don’t need to spend hundreds on a pair of good-quality sleep headphones, more features come with a higher price tag.
Yes, it is medically safe to fall asleep while wearing headphones. It is recommended to keep the volume below 85 dB. Also, over-ear or on-ear headphones are preferred over earbuds when considering long-term use since wax buildup and ear canal damage can potentially happen over time with earbud use. So if you’re concerned with that, consider a sleep headphone headband instead of one of the earbuds on the list.
Noise-canceling headphones are great for sleeping since they have built-in technology that virtually blocks out any noise in your bedroom, making it easier to fall asleep in silence.
However, noise-canceling headphones for sleeping are not the best option in the case of an emergency since you’re essentially tuned out to the world — especially if you already consider yourself a heavy sleeper.
Of course, you could always fall asleep using the headphones you already have — they just might not be as comfortable or made for sleep as much as our top picks. So here are some other options we recommend.
Best Bluetooth headphone alternative
SleepPhones Bluetooth sleep headphones
Stream brown or white noise through these Bluetooth headphones for a night of easy dreaming.
Best headphone alternative for side sleepers
Bonamour Sleep System
The Bonamour Sleep System uses sound brainwave entrainment technology to get you to sleep and keep you there. These sleep earbuds, according to Bonamour’s product page, are great for side sleepers.
View at Bonamour Sleep System
Best headphone alternative
Loop Quiet Earplugs
These aren’t headphones, but I use them to go to bed every night and mute the city sounds outside her window, and she can’t recommend the earplugs enough. If you want to ditch the tech and reduce up to 26 decibels of noise, consider the Loop Quiet earplugs as an amazing option for easy sleeping.
ZDNET writer Allison Murray contributed to this story.
