I care a whole lot about my sleep, and if you’re anything like the 30% of adults who deal with insomnia, you probably do too. While I don’t have insomnia, thankfully, I treat my sleep routine the way athletes treat their workout regimen — seriously. If I get a few days’ worth of bad sleep, I don’t feel like myself for weeks, and I prioritize getting to bed around the same time most nights and getting around eight hours of sleep a night.
But sound outside my bedroom window is one factor I can’t control. That’s why sleep headphones and earbuds have been a saving grace for me. Although sound machines can effectively block out noises while you sleep, sleep earbuds offer a more compact, subtle, and personal approach that won’t wake the partner sleeping across from you.
Also: The best noise-canceling headphones
ZDNET staffers conducted 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.
What are the best sleep headphones right now?
Our pick for the best sleep headphones overall are the Ozlo Sleepbuds for their comfortable fit for side sleepers and the effective white noise they produce that masks disruptions around you. Find out how the sleep headphones we’ve tested stack up on this list — and on your pillow.
The best sleep headphones of 2024
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Ozlo Sleepbuds
Best sleep headphones overall
Bose had an avid following when it launched its Sleepbuds, but discontinued the product after it “didn’t reach the level of adoption” Bose hoped it would, according to a Bose spokesperson. That’s when three ex-Bose engineers took the sleep earbuds under their wing and developed a brand and product of its own, under Ozlo. The Ozlo Sleepbuds are the best, most comfortable sleep earbuds I’ve tried to date.
While a new product isn’t without its flaws — the major one being that the app setup was annoyingly glitchy — the product itself is impressively effective at what it does: getting you to bed. Once the Sleepbuds are in your ears they produce noise-masking (not noise-canceling) white noise that’s dialed at the perfect volume to reduce external distractions and help you quickly fall asleep (and you don’t even need to connect them with a phone or the app for this to work). My bedroom overlooks a bustling Brooklyn street that is always polluted with noise, like police sirens, screaming ambulances, neighbors singing and celebrating into the wee hours of the night, and pedestrians yelling at each other. These earbuds simplified my descent into sleep — I put these earbuds in and couldn’t hear a song or chatter outside my window.
Also: I actually want to put these $300 sleep earbuds in my ears every night
If you download the app, you can customize your sleep sounds with up to 10 to choose from, set up an alarm in the earbuds, and put a timer on the earbuds for them to shut down after you’ve gone to bed. Some features, like sleep tracking, will also be coming soon in an over-the-air app update.
As far as comfort goes, you won’t find a sleep earbud that’s more comfortable to sleep in. This is thanks to the stabilizing ear wings that keep the buds in place without additional pressure buildup (that tends to cause soreness and sensitivity). I’m a side sleeper and found these the most comfortable to wear as I turned from one side of my head to the other. In my review, I write that they dissolved into my ears, becoming nearly invisible as I fell asleep, which is all that you really want out of a sleep earbud.
Of course, $300 is still a pretty penny to pay for a decent night of uninterrupted sleep. But the Ozlo Sleepbuds are the best earbuds for a reason: they have a thoughtful design, are an effective sound-masking technology, and are a comfortable fit that makes me want to wear them every night.
Ozlo Sleepbuds tech specs: Form factor: Earbuds | Connectivity: Bluetooth | Battery: 10 hours in the earbuds | Fit: In-ear
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Soundcore by Anker Sleep A20 earbuds
Best mid-range sleep headphones
A good pair of sleep earbuds should be nearly unnoticeable in your ears as you sleep. When I slept with them for a few nights, the new Soundcore A20 sleep earbuds got as close to invisible as a pair of earbuds can. As a side sleeper, I had no trouble wearing these while I slept because the flat end of the earbud doesn’t put pressure into my ear or cause discomfort that keeps me up.
More: These sleep earbuds are a dream for side sleepers. But there’s a catch
The A20 improves on the previous model, the A10, through longer battery life, a new find my earbuds feature, and Twin Seal ear tips for added noise masking. But while the updates make the earbuds easier to use, the earbuds still aren’t without their flaws. These aren’t the best for canceling environmental noise, like a snoring partner, a busy street your bedroom looks out upon, or a loud upstairs neighbor blasting their music.
I’d recommend these less for people who want to dim down a loud bedroom setting and for others who already have a silent sleep environment and are looking for a comfortable earbud to use for listening to audiobooks, music, or other soundscapes to fall asleep.
Soundcore Sleep A20 earbuds tech specs: Form factor: Earbuds | Connectivity: Bluetooth | Battery: 14 hours in the earbuds and 80 in the charging case | Fit: In-ear
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LC-Dolida Sleep Headphones and Mask
Best headphone and sleep mask duo
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 — for around $20 (Amazon says it costs $40, but is normally around the $20 range with wavering discounts), that’s not bad at all.
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. “If you sleep with a partner who snores, live next to a busy street, or have loud roommates, you will surely benefit from this headphone sleep mask. It’s everything I want out of a sleep device: it’s got a decent battery life, it’s comfortable, and it immerses you in noise that dulls — but doesn’t fully eliminate — distracting sounds around you,” I wrote in my spotlight of the sleep mask.
More: Trouble sleeping? I used this $19 wearable to fall asleep near instantly
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
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Bedphones Wireless
Best headphones for sleeping
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.
Bedphones Wireless tech specs: Form factor: Over-ear | Connectivity: Bluetooth | Battery life: 13 hours | Fit: Adjustable ear hooks
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Perytong Sleep Headphones
Best budget-friendly sleep headphones
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.
Perytong Sleep Headphones tech specs: Form factor: On-ear | Connectivity: Bluetooth | Battery life: 10 hours | Fit: Headband
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| Sleeping headphones | Price | Battery | Form factor |
| Ozlo Sleepbuds | $300 | 10 hours | In-ear |
| Soundcore by Anker Sleep A20 | $150 | 14 hours | In-ear |
| LC-Dolida Sleep Mask and Headphones | $20 | 8-10 hours | Over-ear |
| Bedphones wireless | $149 | 13 hours | Over-ear |
| Perytong Sleep Headphones | $20 | 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… |
| Ozlo Sleepbuds | The best sleep earbuds you can buy right now, with an uber-comfortable fit and noise-masking that reduces sounds within and outside your bedroom. These are the only sleep earbuds I can see myself wearing every night. |
| Soundcore by Anker Sleep A20 | The best sleep earbuds for an already-quiet environment. Unobtrusive, these earbuds are no bigger than a nickel, have a 14-hour playback battery life, and track your sleep. They don’t cancel noise, so I’d recommend these to people who sleep in a silent bedroom and want to fall asleep to relaxing soundscapes. |
| LC-Dolida Sleep Mask and Headphones | The best sleep mask and headphone combo that won’t cost you too much. Cancel out noise and sound with this $20 duo. |
| 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.
The same goes for playing music. You should try to keep your volume level between 60 and 85 decibels, audio experts confirm. 60 decibels is equivalent to the volume of a normal conversation you have with someone, while 85 decibels sounds like a trafficked city intersection or a loud restaurant.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are noise-canceling headphones good for sleeping?
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.
Headphones vs earbuds vs Bluetooth sleep masks: Which one takes the crown?
That depends on what you want to get out of your sleep companion. Headphones are best for back sleepers who want to listen to something to get them asleep, while earbuds and sleep masks may work better for side sleepers. Earbuds are the most comfortable, while headphones and Bluetooth sleep masks take some finagling and getting used to.
Best Headphones for Side Sleepers
Our top pick, the Ozlo Sleepbuds are going to be a side sleeper’s best bet. As a side sleeper myself, I found these to work wonderfully on my side, as they prioritized comfort and dimmed down the noise outside my window.
Do sleep headphones block out snoring?
Sleep headphones that include noise-canceling capabilities are your best bet for blocking out snoring. That’s because headphones with noise-canceling technology use reverse sound waves to nix the external noises around you. A headphone with only sound-masking technology can only do so much to block out the sounds of a snoring partner right next to you. Plus, without a noise-canceling feature in your earbuds, you’ll need to raise the volume high on your sleep headphones to mask snoring, but too high of a volume could deter you from falling asleep.
Why were Bose SleepBuds discontinued?
Bose discontinued its popular SleepBuds because, despite the earbuds’ cult following, the earbuds didn’t garner mainstream adoption, a Bose spokesperson told the Verge. But the good news is that three former Bose employees revived the Sleepbuds through a new brand, Ozlo, and you can grab a pair right now through Ozlo’s website.
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.