Not all headphones are designed for sleeping, but those that are (or those that are comfortable enough to sleep in) allow you to fall asleep comfortably while listening to soothing sounds or your go-to sleeping playlist. With features like flat speakers and active noise-canceling (ANC) technology, sleeping headphones are a game-changer when you need a good night’s sleep.
We’ve rounded up the best headphones for sleeping for all types of sleepers so you can tune out the noise around you at night.
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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 so you can lay flat against your ears while still listening to soothing sounds. The adjustable memory wire ear hooks make these sleeping headphones fit all ears. While wireless, a cable connects the two drivers, and you can wear the cable in front or behind your neck and tighten the cable slider to ensure the headphones stay secure even on restless nights. A 13-hour battery life and an inline microphone with a single-button remote are also impressive features. A more budget-friendly option for sleeping headphones is this headband headphone design from Perytong. The headband is made of soft, breathable material (that’s also machine washable) with detachable on-ear headphones for a comfortable fit for back and side sleepers. The headband holds a decent charge at 10 hours and comes in more than 15 color options. These sleeping headphones could also work great for listening to music while running or zoning out while meditating. Not only are these earbuds from Anker small and comfortable enough to sleep in, but they also track your sleep while wearing them. These sleeping headphones track whether you were in deep or light sleep and the times you were awake so you can better understand how you sleep at night. As far as their sound goes, these headphones for sleeping 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 resting. Read the review: Do sleeping earbuds actually work? I tested the latest pair on the market If you’re looking to cancel noise around you while sleeping, these Bose QuietComfort noise-canceling earbuds have some of the best ANC technology on the market, and they also happen to be comfortable to sleep in. These noise-canceling earbuds offer three modes: no noise-canceling, quiet mode, and aware mode to switch between by the touch of a button on the earpiece. Read the review: Step aside, AirPods. There’s a new ANC champion in town Since it’s a part of their name, let’s talk about comfort. According to ZDNET’s Christina Darby, who contributed to this article, reviewed the buds back in October, “felt less intrusive than other wearables” she had tasted thanks to the lack of in-ear pressure build up. While a tad bulky on the outside, the earbuds have a winged design that is super comfortable and snug in your ear no matter your ear size, thanks to the different size options. Note that the old-school bluetooth like design may take some adjusting to for side-sleepers, but are a natural choice for those who sleep on their stomach and back. These sleeping headphones are part headphones and part sleep mask to block out light in your room, making them a perfect option for light sleepers. The breathable fabric comes in 15 color options that contain over-ear headphones within the mask. With these sleeping headphones, you’ll get about 10 or more hours of playtime. The built-in adjustable speakers also have a microphone if you need to take an early-morning call without ever opening your eyes. These earbuds are interesting because they actually don’t play music, making them more like a smart earplug. 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 just want a silent night’s sleep. Which, according to her product spotlight, ZDNET’s Christina Darby did comfortably. “As a noise-sensitive sleeper myself, I’ve tried sleeping with my second-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.” The earbuds tote a 28 hours of battery life and a frictionless fit with foam eartips, which is ideal if all you want is silence and are willing to justify the hefty $289 price. 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.
