Why You Can Trust CNET Best Sleep Headphones of 2024
From earbuds to headbands, sleep headphones come in all shapes and sizes. Here are the best headphones to help you sleep soundly through the night.
Listening to music is a great way to help your body relax and get a good night's sleep, as long as you listen to relaxing or soothing music. Michael Breus, sleep medicine expert and the founder of The Sleep Doctor website said, "Relaxing music triggers changes to the body that in many ways mimic a sleep state." Slowing your heart rate and breathing and lowering blood pressure also assist with deeper sleep. With the best sleep headphones, you can stay in this relaxed state and sleep soundly. We tested a variety of sleep headphones to find the best ones.
These include a few headband headphone options, Bluetooth headphones and earbuds that nestle into your ear canal to block out ambient noise. Keep reading for ways to get a deeper sleep.
What are the best headphones for sleeping?
Our top choice for sleep headphones are the Google Pixel Buds Pro because of their versatility. They're great for daytime and nighttime use and effectively block outside noises with active noise canceling.
Best headphones for sleeping for 2024
The Pixel Buds Pro wireless earbuds fit the bill for people who want a pair of quality headphones that are equally as functional during sleep as they are during the day. They have active noise cancellation that helps block distracting noises like snoring while you sleep. Paired with Google's Silent Seal technology, the Pixel Buds' ear tips work to enhance noise cancellation as they form a gentle seal that keeps quality sound in and environmental noises out.
Sleeping with earbuds can be difficult if they fall out too often, but we found that the Pixel Buds Pro comfortably stayed put. Aside from noise canceling, the Pixel Buds Pro have Google Assistant enabled, so with just the click of a button (or voice activation) you can get help on anything from answering a text to directions. They boast up to 31 hours of listening time, crisp sound, wireless charging and more.
Pros:
- Works well for sleep and daytime use
- Active noise cancellation and Silent Seal
- Comfortable and secure
- Long battery life
Cons:
- Pricey
Additional details:
- Headphone type: In-ear
- Connection type: Bluetooth
- Battery life: Up to 11 hours of listening time
- ANC, PNC or other: Active noise canceling
- Price: $149
The Soundcore by Anker Sleep A10 earbuds are small and lightweight. Unlike other bulkier options, they fit entirely in your ear, so you don't have to worry about them shifting or falling out when you roll over at night. Fit is particularly important for side sleepers, who find that other earbuds for sleeping brush against their pillow and make a scratching noise.
In our testing experience, these sleeping earbuds don't actively cancel noise. Instead, they passively block out ambient noise, and your selection of sound options does the rest. These sleeping earbuds have the expected wide range of sleep noises, from white or brown noise to familiar nature sounds like rain or waves crashing. With the Bluetooth connection, you can also play music (or whatever you want) from your phone while you sleep. Keep in mind that playing music does drain the battery quicker. You can get a full night of sleep with the preloaded sounds, but music gets you only a few hours. For only $90, these are some of the most feature-rich and best sleep earbuds you can get.
Pros:
- Lightweight and unobtrusive
- Great quality for price
- Some passive noise cancellation
Cons:
- Shorter battery life with music
Additional details:
- Headphone type: In-ear
- Connection type: Bluetooth
- Battery life: 10 hours (6 hours with music)
- ANC, PNC or other: Passive noise canceling
- Price: $90
If you don't like the idea of wearing a headband to bed, the Bedphones Sleep Headphones are another made-for-sleep option that comes without fabric. This sleeping headphone option features two ultrathin headphone speakers connected by a rubber-coated memory wire that's fully adjustable so you can find your perfect earphone fit.
They come in two versions -- wired and wireless headphone options -- and each one comes equipped with an in-line microphone and three-button remote that allows you to answer phone calls or play, pause or skip whatever you're listening to. A single charge lasts 13 hours, enough for a full night of sleep and more.
Pros:
- Wired and wireless options
- Fully adjustable
- Long battery life
Cons:
- Memory wire could get in the way
Additional details:
- Headphone type: On-ear
- Connection type: Bluetooth or wired
- Battery life: 13 hours
- ANC, PNC or other: Noise masking
- Price: $89
The QuietOn 3.1 earbuds use active noise cancellation and passive noise reduction to deliver some of the best noise-canceling performance we've tested. What looks like wireless headphones in a charging case are small earbuds specifically designed to block noise while you sleep. They don't play music or pair with Bluetooth; they function more like foam earplugs but are much more effective.
The earbuds are smaller than any wireless headphones you own and fit snugly inside your ear. This prevents them from falling out during the night and makes them comfortable enough for side sleepers to wear to bed. It takes 20 seconds from the time you remove them from the case to activate the active noise canceling, but once it switches on, the difference in sound is significant. We ran an extra-loud snoring simulation during the night, and the only sound we could hear while wearing the QuietOn 3.1 buds was our own breathing. The key is to ensure the earbud is snug in your ear, and you may need to change the ear tip for a more sealed fit. The battery life also lasts up to 28 hours on a single charge. They're expensive, but if you're consistently losing sleep because of disruptive noises, these may very well be worth it.
Pros:
- High-quality noise cancellation
- Secure fit
- Long battery life
Cons:
- Expensive
- Can't play your own sounds
Additional details:
- Headphone type: In-ear
- Connection type: None
- Battery life: 28 hours
- ANC, PNC or other: Active noise canceling
- Price: $289
Most sleep headphones aren't designed for side sleeping, but the Dormi Wireless Sleep Headphones function as a moisture-wicking, lightweight headband side sleepers can wear to bed so they can rest comfortably without an earbud pressing into their head. Two thin speakers within the headband line up with your ears and deliver surprisingly clear sound quality. The headband pairs with any Bluetooth device, boasts a 10-hour battery life and even has a built-in mic so you can talk on the phone. It's also machine washable -- just make sure you take out all the electronics inside before you wash it.
These headphones are available in two different sizes and multiple colorways. The only downside is for hot sleepers. The material feels like breathable athletic wear and should be fine for most people, but folks who are prone to sleeping warm might heat up wearing a band around their head all night.
Pros:
- Comfortable headband fit
- Machine washable
- Ultra-fast charging
Cons:
- May be too warm for hot sleepers
Additional details:
- Headphone type: Over-ear
- Connection type: Bluetooth
- Battery life: 10 hours
- ANC, PNC or other: Noise masking
- Price: $50
If you really want to enhance your sleep quality, these sleep headphones combined with a sleep mask from Lightimetunnel (formerly Watotgafer) are a double whammy. Equipped with flat headphones and an ergonomic eye design that doesn't put too much pressure on your face, the setup effectively blocks out noise and light all at once. The flat headphones are tucked into a breathable, slow-rebound memory foam fabric that's also designed to release tension and stress in your face so you can drift off to a more restful sleep.
The Bluetooth controls are placed in the middle of the eye mask, so you can easily control your music or white noise app even when sleeping on your side. A single charge lasts at least eight hours, so you should be able to run them all night without interruption.
Pros:
- Blocks both noise and light
- No pressure on the eyes
- Easy Bluetooth controls
Cons:
- Battery life could be longer
Additional details:
- Headphone type: On-ear
- Connection type: Bluetooth
- Battery life: 10 hours
- ANC, PNC or other: Noise masking
- Price: $23
The SoundOff Sleep Noise Masking Device is another option that's similar to the QuietOn Sleep Earbuds in function. Like the QuietOn Sleep Earbuds, they play one sound: a pink noise that has an almost wavelike vibe. Pink noise is similar to white noise but with a smoother sound that hits the same frequencies as sounds you'd find in nature (wind, rain or waves). It's supposed to help you fall asleep faster and sleep more soundly and, in our experience, it worked effectively. The pink noise playing in the SoundOff device was soothing, calming and effective at blocking out snoring. We were able to get through two nights of sleep without needing a recharge.
Rather than a slim earbud or squishy foam that you put in your ear, these earbuds are shaped like a hearing device, with an earpiece that goes in your ear and a looped plastic piece that wraps around the outside of your ear and holds the earplugs in place. They were surprisingly comfortable. The adjustable plastic is soft, and it bends and moves with you. (Note that we reviewed this product's discontinued version, and we're now linking to the current one.)
Pros:
- Long battery life
- Soothing pink noise instead of white noise
- Comfortable
Cons:
- Pricey
- Can't play own sounds
Additional details:
- Headphone type: In-ear
- Connection type: None
- Battery life: Up to 16 hours
- ANC, PNC or other: Noise masking
- Price: $180
The ultra-lightweight design and squishy silicone ear tips make these minimalistic earbuds for sleeping an excellent option for travel. The ear tips have an ergonomic double-layer design that fits snugly in most ear canals to drown out the noise around you effectively. At the same time, the mini speaker in each earbud provides quality, balanced sound without too much bass.
Because they don't have a flat design, they aren't ideal for side sleeping, but if you're a back sleeper or need something to drown out ambient noise on a plane or train, these headphones do the trick. Because they're so cheap, it won't be a total disaster if they get lost somewhere along the way.
Pros:
- Affordable
- Lightweight
Cons:
- Not ideal for side sleeping
Additional details:
- Headphone type: In-ear
- Connection type: Wired
- Battery life: N/A
- ANC, PNC or other: Passive noise canceling
- Price: $12
The Hoomband Headband has two ultrathin, flat speakers that are placed under foam, so you can hear them but can't feel them. The headband itself is made from a 3D mesh that's soft, thin and helps regulate temperature so you don't get too hot while you sleep.
The Bluetooth headphone setup comes with a free app that includes 100 hours of audio content -- including ambient sound options, documentaries, white noise, guided meditations, soothing sounds and more -- but it also works like regular headphones that allow you to connect with your favorite apps, like YouTube, Spotify and Headspace via Bluetooth.
Pros:
- Free app with tons of content
- Comfortable
- Somewhat cooling
Cons:
- Battery life could be longer
Additional details:
- Headphone type: On-ear
- Connection type: Bluetooth
- Battery life: Up to 10 hours
- ANC, PNC or other: Noise masking
- Price: $80
How we test the best headphones for sleep
We looked at the following criteria when testing sleep headphones and earbuds for sleeping:
- Noise cancellation: A snoring simulation was played at high volume near our bedside to test the headphones' ability to block out environmental noises.
- Comfort: Sleeping with too much pressure against the head can cause headaches. Headphones were tested in each sleeping position -- side, back and stomach -- to determine ear tip comfort, stableness of earbuds in the ear and how accommodating they felt from the perspective of different types of sleepers.
- Sound quality: We tested headphones for clarity of sound. Crystal clear sound quality isn't required for sleep headphones, but it should be up to par in order to minimize sudden changes in sound that can cause sleep disruption.
- Price: We included a variety of headphones and earbuds for sleep that fall in different price categories, from wallet-friendly to cream of the crop, so most sleepers can find a good pair regardless of their budget.
- Special features: We considered added features or perks that made headphones even more functional, such as a free audio library, Google assistant and machine-washability.
Factors to consider when choosing sleep headphones
Sure, any decent set of headphones can play music or meditations, but it's the design that sets sleep headphones apart. Regular headphones can be bulky and uncomfortable to lie on, but sleep headphones are made with a minimal, barely there feel that lets you drift off to sleep while wearing them comfortably throughout the night. For the best sleep headphones, keep an eye out for these features:
- Noise cancellation
- A battery life of eight hours or longer
- Ergonomic, comfortable ear tips
- Flat, thin designs such as headband headphones
Read more: How We Test Products and Services
How sound affects sleep
Sound has a significant influence on sleep quality, both negative and positive. "There's data that suggests soothing, relaxing music can bring about these effects on you physically," Breus said, going on to list:
- Slower breathing
- A lower heart rate
- Lower blood pressure
- A quieted nervous system
- Reduced muscle tension
- Lowered stress and anxiety
- The release of sleep-friendly hormones, including serotonin and oxytocin, and a reduction in hormones like cortisol
Breus went on to explain that "just like soothing sounds can mimic a sleep state, certain sounds signal an alarm for your brain (sirens, loud neighbors, weather, etc.), so when you hear them, it can cause some level of anxiety. Anxiety is really the opposite of sleep."
As a result, sleep headphones act as a good solution for people to listen to relaxing sounds while drowning out the noisy, distracting sounds that evoke anxiety and disrupt sleep.
Headphones for sleeping FAQs
Is it OK to wear headphones while sleeping?
Yes. There's no harm in wearing headphones while sleeping, as long as your earbuds are comfortable enough to keep from disrupting you during the night and your volume is not set to a harmful decibel. Listening to music or a relaxing podcast before you go to bed can lower your heart rate and also keep your mind from thinking about your daily stressors.
What type of headphones are most comfortable to sleep in?
Some of the best headphones for sleep include:
- Pixel Buds Pro
- Hoomband Headband
- Bedphones Sleep Headphones
Can sleeping with headphones cause headaches?
If you're wearing improper headgear while you sleep, it's possible it could lead to an external compression headache. That's caused by having too much pressure around your head and can be avoided if you use earbuds meant for sleeping that fit snugly in your ear.
What are the best earbuds to drown out snoring?
The QuietOn 3.1 sleep buds are pricey but do an impressive job of blocking out sound, including loud snoring. They passed all our tests, including a snoring simulation and longevity test.