The number of things that can get in the way of a good night’s sleep seems nearly infinite, from noisy neighbours and snoring partners to rumbling traffic and all-night parties. Especially if you’re up at 3 a.m. listening to them. For years, I struggled with sleeplessness, falling asleep only to wake up an hour later due to the tiniest noise.
I’d be jolted awake by a passing automobile or a distant conversation, and I’d be awake for the remainder of the night. Things have improved dramatically in that sense, although I’m still a light sleeper. As a result, when it comes to keeping sound out of my ears while sleeping, I’ve tried just about every method available.
Foam, silicone, and other sorts of earplugs, earphones of all shapes and sizes, white noise machines, cotton wool, and even several pillows put forlornly over my head in a particularly loud and awful hotel were all used. None of them have been ideal, but I’ve noticed that some brands and models of earbuds perform better than the others in general.
Note that I’m using the term “earbuds” in a broad sense here, to include classic in-ear buds, flat over-ear versions, and anything else that forces sounds or quiet into your ear canals while you’re attempting to sleep. Headphones, on the other hand, are not included in that description.
I’ve tried sleeping in a variety of brands and types over the years, but none were tiny or comfortable enough for much more than a little nap because I sleep on my front with one ear on the cushion. Headphones, on the other hand, provide the best noise cancellation money can buy and can be useful in certain situations.
Headphones may still be useful if you sleep on your back and don’t move for the entire night, or if you want something to help you sleep when sitting upright on planes. If that’s the case, the Sony WH-1000XM4 or Bose 700’s high-end noise cancelling will drown out all but the noisiest neighbours or loudest snorers, and the pads are soft enough not to pinch or squash your ears even when worn for hours.
However, if you sleep on your stomach or side, or if you move around a lot while sleeping, earbuds or small earphones are the way to go. In 2021, these are the best among them.
1. Best Overall: QuietOn 3
QuietOn is one of the few technological firms dedicated solely to helping people who are sleep deprived. Its noise-canceling earbuds don’t play music or podcasts, and they don’t link to any of your other devices. They simply block out background noise to assist you in getting a better night’s sleep, and they do it admirably.
These deceptively basic devices are extremely compact and light. The brains are on the inside, with noise-canceling technology that effectively blocks out low-frequency sounds like snoring and rumbling traffic. To get the most out of them, you’ll need to get the fit right (there are four earbud tips in the box).
For a few weeks, I tested the QuietOn 3 buds and found them to be more pleasant in my ears than other earbuds and most earplugs. Even so, it was sometimes difficult to arrange my “lower” ear in such a way that it remained comfortable throughout the night when I shifted around when sleeping on my front or side. However, it’s not as bad as it is with other in-ear buds, and if you sleep on your back, the problem goes away.
The effectiveness of the QuietOn 3s with just one earbud inserted astonished me both while writing the review and after. When I’m woken up in the middle of the night by loud traffic or loud conversations on the street outside, I’ll put one of the earphones in, place my other ear on the pillow, and immediately fall back to sleep.
The QuietOn 3 earbuds may not be perfect for everyone, but their small size, long battery life, and effective noise suppression make them a solid choice for many. They’re the best technique I’ve found to block out the world when sleeping, and as a result, they’re our top overall recommendation. With the code TMA10, you’ll get a 10% discount.
2. Best Bluetooth Headband: SleepPhones
You have two fundamental options if you want to drift off to music, white noise, or whatever else without disturbing others: something with wires or something without. Both have advantages and disadvantages: connected versions are less expensive and won’t run out of battery, while wireless versions won’t strangle you in the middle of the night.
Both possibilities are available with the SleepPhones, which are created by the charmingly titled Acoustic Sheep. One of the first sleep-aid headbands, the basic approach is the same regardless of whatever version you get. A pair of flat speakers are held in place by a fitting headband that may be rotated around to align with your ears as needed.
For folks who sleep on their side or front, headbands like these are usually the most comfortable solution, and you can also draw them down over your eyes to block out the light in bright settings. SleepPhones are available in a variety of colours and fabrics, including fleece for comfort and moisture-wicking for warmer climes.
The Bluetooth module is likewise housed within the headband and has a 12-hour battery life. You may charge it by removing it from the band and connecting it to a USB charger, or by purchasing the Effortless version with a wireless charger and placing it on top.
I evaluated the wired version of the SleepPhones a few years back, and when I was finished, I gave them to my girlfriend. They were quite useful to her until the cable broke after a year or two of tossing and turning in her sleep. Wireless is the way to go if you move around a lot in bed.
Expect average audio quality from the modest flat speakers, which prioritise comfort over crisp midrange and thunderous bass. After all, the purpose is to get you to sleep, not to appreciate the complexities of Handel’s Messiah. There’s also not a lot of noise isolation, so you’ll have a hard time drowning out particularly loud situations without turning up the volume to the point where it’ll keep you awake.
However, there is no such issue in calmer rooms. The SleepPhone Bluetooth headband is arguably the most practical sleep “earbud” solution for the greatest spectrum of insomniacs. It’s simple to use and comfortable to wear.
3. Best Wired Headband: CozyPhones
You have two fundamental options if you want to drift off to music, white noise, or whatever else without disturbing others: something with wires or something without.
Both have advantages and disadvantages: connected versions are less expensive and won’t run out of battery, while wireless versions won’t strangle you in the middle of the night.
Both possibilities are available with the SleepPhones, which are created by the charmingly titled Acoustic Sheep. One of the first sleep-aid headbands, the basic approach is the same regardless of whatever version you get. A pair of flat speakers are held in place by a fitting headband that may be rotated around to align with your ears as needed.
For folks who sleep on their side or front, headbands like these are usually the most comfortable solution, and you can also draw them down over your eyes to block out the light in bright settings. SleepPhones are available in a variety of colours and fabrics, including fleece for comfort and moisture-wicking for warmer climes.
The Bluetooth module is likewise housed within the headband and has a 12-hour battery life. You may charge it by removing it from the band and connecting it to a USB charger, or by purchasing the Effortless version with a wireless charger and placing it on top.
I evaluated the wired version of the SleepPhones a few years back, and when I was finished, I gave them to my girlfriend. They were quite useful to her until the cable broke after a year or two of tossing and turning in her sleep.Wireless is the way to go if you move around a lot in bed.
Expect average audio quality from the modest flat speakers, which prioritise comfort over crisp midrange and thunderous bass. After all, the purpose is to get you to sleep, not to appreciate the complexities of Handel’s Messiah.
There’s also not a lot of noise isolation, so you’ll have a hard time drowning out particularly loud situations without turning up the volume to the point where it’ll keep you awake. However, there is no such issue in calmer rooms. The SleepPhone Bluetooth headband is arguably the most practical sleep “earbud” solution for the greatest spectrum of insomniacs. It’s simple to use and comfortable to wear.
4. Best on a Budget: Panasonic RP-HS46
The Panasonic RP-HS46 is hard to beat if you’re on a tight budget and just need a pair of cheap headphones to listen to music while you fall asleep. They lack good quality, extra features, or a memorable brand, but they do have two things: flat speakers and a low price. The speakers’ small form makes them at least partly suitable for side sleepers.
They’re more comfortable than most earbuds or (particularly) headphones, though you’ll still feel them squished between your ear and the pillow. They include a 48-inch wire that connects to anything with a regular headphone port, and they clip into each ear to keep them in place.
However, you shouldn’t anticipate much in the way of sound isolation, either coming in or going out, due to the design. These headphones perform best in a peaceful atmosphere, and if you sleep with a spouse, you may need to keep the volume down to avoid waking them up.
As a result, I wouldn’t recommend these to anyone trying to sleep with a lot of outside noise blocked off. However, if all you need is a little white noise or a truly dull podcast to help you drift off, these are a simple and inexpensive way to do so.
5. Best Wireless Earbuds: Apple Airpods Pro
It’s difficult to recommend general-purpose wireless earbuds for sleeping because you’ll have to make a tradeoff somewhere. You can have tiny size, extended battery life, strong noise cancellation, or reasonable comfort levels, but you can’t have all of them right now. If sleep is your primary concern, a dedicated gadget like the QuietOn 3 (above) is still a superior alternative.
Apple’s Airpods Pro are the best (or least-worst) noise-canceling earbuds for sleeping if you also want to listen to music and podcasts. That’s largely due to the fact that they’re smaller and more comfortable to rest on than the majority of the competition, and the noise cancellation is decent.
They’re clearly a capable pair of true wireless earphones in their own right. I won’t go into detail about their features because that isn’t the point of this essay, but suffice it to say that they have consistently ranked around the top of most best-of lists since their release.
The battery life, on the other hand, is the main drawback for sleeping: at 4-5 hours, they just won’t last all night. To make matters worse, they alert you to their low battery status with a loud tone that may wake you up… just in time for you to need to recharge them.
If you sleep on your back and don’t move very much, lying on your earbuds for long periods of time is less of an issue. In that scenario, the Sony WF-1000XM4 might be a better option. Their increased size corresponds to a larger battery, and you may use them for up to 8 hours before they die.
Tip for Side Sleepers: Use a Pillow With a Hole!
It’s difficult to recommend general-purpose wireless earbuds for sleeping because you’ll have to make a tradeoff somewhere. You can have tiny size, extended battery life, strong noise cancellation, or reasonable comfort levels, but you can’t have all of them right now. If sleep is your primary concern, a dedicated gadget like the QuietOn 3 (above) is still a superior alternative.
Apple’s Airpods Pro are the best (or least-worst) noise-canceling earbuds for sleeping if you also want to listen to music and podcasts. That’s largely due to the fact that they’re smaller and more comfortable to rest on than the majority of the competition, and the noise cancellation is decent.
They’re clearly a capable pair of true wireless earphones in their own right. I won’t go into detail about their features because that isn’t the point of this essay, but suffice it to say that they have consistently ranked around the top of most best-of lists since their release.
The battery life, on the other hand, is the main drawback for sleeping: at 4-5 hours, they just won’t last all night. To make matters worse, they alert you to their low battery status with a loud tone that may wake you up… just in time for you to need to recharge them.
If you sleep on your back and don’t move very much, lying on your earbuds for long periods of time is less of an issue. In that scenario, the Sony WF-1000XM4 might be a better option. Their increased size corresponds to a larger battery, and you may use them for up to 8 hours before they die.
