7 Best Noise-Cancelling Earbuds for Sleeping 2023
You’ve just settled in for the night, found the cool spot on your pillow and started drifting off to dreamland. The next minute, your partner starts doing their best impersonation of a human chainsaw.
If this situation sounds familiar, sleeping with earbuds could be the solution to a good night’s sleep.
Senior Lecturer at the Sleep/Wake Research Centre at the School of Health Sciences, Dr Karyn O’Keeffe, said earbuds for sleep “haven’t been well evaluated, and there is little scientific research investigating their benefits”.
However “there is emerging research about the use of sound during sleep”, she added.
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If you do a quick survey of friends and family, you’ll likely find that some say white noise helps them as they’re counting sheep, while others mention they zonk out sooner when listening to a podcast.
So, if you want a good sleep and nothing else is working, we’ve rounded up the top products reviewers say help them to get a good night’s kip.
Can’t sleep in anything but silence? We’ve got you covered there too with the top earbuds for sleeping without music.
Prices are correct and products are in stock at time of publishing.
HOW WE CHOOSE PRODUCTS
Our team of experienced writers spend hours researching products to include in articles. We find out what factors make a good product by talking to experts, reviewing test results and analysing thousands of customer reviews.
In this article
BEST HEADBAND HEADPHONES FOR SLEEPING
MUSICOZY Sleep Headphones Bluetooth Sports Headband, $17.24 (down from $33.99), Amazon Australia
What you need to know
If just the thought of wearing earbuds through the night has your ears feeling sore, this nifty product could be worth a try. Able to be worn as either a headband or an eye mask, the MUSICOZY band is made of soft, breathable material and features on-ear headphones that reviewers say are comfortable enough for side sleepers.
While they lack active noise cancellation, they deliver decent sound for the price and have a battery life of up to ten hours, so they won’t disconnect in the middle of the night. They also have a control module on the front so you can easily adjust the volume without taking them off.
One five star reviewer on Amazon Australia said they are “so comfortable to sleep in” and are the “perfect solution to listening to something without disturbing your partner sleeping next to you”.
BEST BOSE SLEEP EARBUDS
Bose QuietComfort II Earbuds, $349.95 (down from $429.95), Myer
What you need to know
While Bose’s dedicated Sleepbuds II would have been our top pick for this category, the pair have sadly been discontinued. If you want the great audio quality and noise cancelling the Bose brand is known for, however, you can turn instead to the QuietComfort II Earbuds.
Delivering exceptional noise cancellation, the earbuds block out maximum background noise so you can fall asleep sooner. They also have an Aware mode that allows enough transparency to hear your surroundings, which is great for those who want to shut-out some noise while still being able to hear a morning alarm or crying child.
While they are a little bulky, they have a winged design that sits snugly in your ear, and come with three sizes of ear tips and three stability bands (both small, medium and large). There’s also adjustable EQ and simple touch controls, making them an all-round great buy.
Like some other noise cancelling buds on this list, the battery life is limited to up to six hours, so they may not be enough to get you all the way through the night. But for those who just want some help getting to sleep, these are a top choice.
BEST EARBUDS FOR SLEEPING WITH MUSIC
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen), $345 (down from $399), Amazon Australia
What you need to know
While Apple’s AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) weren’t designed with sleep in mind, some people absolutely swear by them. Arriving with four ear tip sizes and a curved design that keeps them in your ears, the buds offer a comfortable experience for back sleepers, though side sleepers may find them a little bulky.
Delivering great audio quality and minimal noise leakage, they’re a top choice for listening to your favourite Apple Music or Spotify playlist as you’re counting sheep. They also provide excellent noise cancellation, helping you to block out that annoying upstairs neighbour that insists on rearranging furniture at 1am.
On the downside, the buds only have around six hours of battery life off a single charge, so they may not last all night.
BEST COMFORT WIRELESS EARBUDS FOR SLEEPING ON YOUR SIDE
1More Comfobuds Mini Wireless Earbuds, $134.99, Amazon Australia
What you need to know
With its flat design, MUSICOZY’s earphone headband is our top recommendation for side-sleepers. If you’re specifically looking for earbuds though, many side-sleeping reviewers on Amazon like these 1More Comfobuds Mini earbuds.
As one of the smallest pairs of noise cancelling earbuds on the market, they’re about as comfortable as it gets when it comes to sleeping with something poking out your ears. They’re also easy to set up and allow you to listen to both your own music and thirty different “soothing sounds”.
Delivering both ‘strong’ and ‘mild’ levels of active noise cancellation, the buds are capable of cancelling noise up to 40 dB, and come with ‘wind noise resistance’ in case you also want to wear them on your morning run.
Like the Apple AirPods Pro 2nd Gen (above) though, the Comfobuds Mini earbuds have a short battery life of up to six hours with ANC off and just five with it on. So, if the sound of them disconnecting part way through the night will be enough to wake you, you may want to look instead to a good pair of earplugs.
BEST BUDGET EARBUDS FOR SLEEPING
MAXROCK Wireless Sleeping Headphones, $39.99, Amazon Australia
What you need to know
If you’re just after something cheap and simple, MAXROCK’s Wireless Sleeping Headphones should fit the bill. While we wouldn’t generally recommend anything with a cord, this one sits behind your neck so it can’t wrap around your throat in the night.
Many reviewers on Amazon Australia have mentioned how comfortable the buds are to wear, including for those who sleep on their side. The sound is also decent for the price, although some users have reported that the volume is still quite loud on the lowest setting.
While the brand reports up to six hours of battery off a single charge, some reviewers have said they last longer, so you may be able to squeeze a full eight hours out of them.
One reviewer on Amazon Australia, who rated the pair five stars, said: “The battery life is great, the sound is fine and you can wear them around the house cleaning doing chores listening to podcasts.
“You can take and make calls and you can wear them comfortably to sleep in, hardly know they are there.”
BEST EARBUDS FOR SLEEPING WITHOUT MUSIC
Loop Quiet Earplugs, $34.95, Loop
What you need to know
My partner once joked that I need to pretend I’m dead in order to fall asleep – and he’s not entirely wrong. If there’s the slightest bit of light or sound, I won’t get so much as a wink. If you find yourself in the same boat, earbuds that play music, or even white noise, probably aren’t going to do you any favours. Instead, you’ll want to try a good pair of earplugs.
These Quiet Earplugs from Loop are a top pick, arriving with a 4.3 out of five star customer rating from more than 2000 reviews on the Loop site. The buds offer up to 27 dB of noise reduction and come with four interchangeable ear tip sizes to help you find the proper fit.
Because they don’t have any speakers, the earplugs are also small and flexible enough to sit right in your ears, making them a great choice for side sleepers.
One five-star reviewer on the Loop site called them the “best purchase I ever made”, saying “they are super soft, easy to use, zero noise coming through to wake me up and best of all they are easy to clean so you can reuse them”.
Baxter Blue Ear Plugs, $39, Baxter Blue
What you need to know
Baxter Blue’s Ear Plugs are another great option for those who just want some peace and quiet. The plugs arrive with three different ear tip sizes and a unique shape that’s designed to stay in your ears as you sleep.
Made from silicone, the ear plugs are also easy to wash and reuse, making them a hygienic and eco-friendly choice. They come with a carry case so you can take them with you wherever you go, and can also be used for travel, noisy offices, loud concerts and more.
One five star reviewer on the Baxter Blue site said: “My wife (who I bought them for) is VERY VERY appreciative that she no longer hears my snoring – and guess who’s not being woken up multiple times a night now. Great product quality and an absolute no-brainer for a restful night’s sleep (both ways)!”
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF USING EARBUDS FOR SLEEPING?
As Dr O’Keeffe said, the benefits of sleeping with earbuds aren’t known as there is little scientific research on them.
However, some people may find that sleeping with headphones helps them to drown out noisy sleep environments or quiet their mind by focusing on just one thing.
Keep in mind though that there are risks associated with wearing headphones through the night. According to the Hearing Health Foundation, “sounds above 70 decibels will damage hearing over time”, so you should aim for this volume or lower if you intend on regularly wearing earbuds overnight.
Other safety factors to take into consideration include not sleeping with corded earphones (as they can wrap around your throat) and not using noise cancelling features if it means you’re unable to hear fire alarms or emergency phone calls. You should also ensure your earbuds fit without any pressure, pain or fullness to avoid damaging your ear canal.
DO SLEEPING EARBUDS BLOCK OUT ALL NOISE?
Generally speaking, earbuds and earplugs aren’t made to completely block out noise for safety reasons. However, using earbuds to listen to music, podcasts or white noise could be enough to drown out a snoring partner or noisy neighbour.
If you’re looking to block out as much sound as possible, you can also opt for earbuds with noise cancellation, though you should ensure that you can hear some background noise in the case of an emergency.
If you don’t want to add additional noise, you can instead opt for a pair of earplugs and check the product information to see the level of noise reduction they offer.
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Originally published as 7 best earbuds for sleeping 2023
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