Best headphones and earbuds for sleeping that have noise blocking features
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City living isn’t always as glamorous as it appears. Though the concept of a city that never sleeps may seem appealing to young adults moving into the capital for the first time, listening to the roar of traffic and disturbingly loud conversations outside your ground-floor window in the early hours of the morning is not exactly relaxing.
With the option of retiring 40 years early and convalescing in the English countryside a pipe dream, those of us who can only function on a full eight hours of shut-eye must improvise, adapt and overcome these noisy, sleep-preventing obstacles. Plus, moving further afield won’t stop your partner from snoring. In fact, the increased pollen levels might actually make their unconscious habit even worse.
The most popular accessory used by those who can’t fall asleep in noisy environments is earplugs. Often made from foam and wax materials, disposable earplugs are not a very environmentally friendly means of gaining noise-free slumber. Though multipacks are wallet-friendly, investing in a reusable pair of hi-tech sleep headphones might just deliver your best night’s sleep yet.
Likewise, old-school wired headphones just don’t take the biscuit anymore. Saving up for a decent pair of noise-cancelling earmuffs, whether used to improve your sleep conditions or to dull the deafening screech of the underground, can be life-changing. They may also be used to aid those with sensory issues or particular sensitivity to loud noises, whether the user is asleep or awake.
We’ve rounded up a selection of the best headphones and earbuds for sleeping to block out the sounds of the city. Keep scrolling for sweet dreams.
Best headphones and earbuds for sleeping at a glance
- Best for day-to-night noise reduction: Loop earplugs - £19.95, Loop
- Best for hi-tech deep sleeping: Philips Kokoon Nightbuds - £213.74, Kokoon
- Best for noise-masking that ensures you hear your alarm: Soundcore Sleep A10 - £109.99, Amazon
- Best for two-in-one comfort: Ink-topoint wireless sleep headband - £15, Amazon
- Best for a simple yet savvy sleep solution: ATHRZ Sleep Earbuds - £28.99, Amazon
- Best for wireless and compressive relief: Sleephones - £99.95, Amazon
- Best for side sleepers: QuietOn 3.1 - £247.95, Healf
- Best for day to night: Sony LinkBuds - £119, Amazon
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Loop earplugs
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Best for: day-to-night noise reduction
A low-tech, low-maintenance option for both sleeping and waking states, Loop earplugs are a subtle noise-reducing product made from flexible soft-touch silicone for an ultra-comfortable and barely-there feeling. Capable of up to 26dB of noise reduction, these earplugs are a budget-friendly reusable option for light sleepers and those with sensory sensitivities.
Loop’s fantastic technicolour noise blockers come with four interchangeable ear tip sizes so you can find your perfect fit. Easy to clean and wonderfully hygienic, these earplugs are a value-for-money all-rounder that can be used over and over without any loss of quality.
Philips Kokoon Nightbuds | Sleep Headphones
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Best for: hi-tech deep sleeping
On the other end of the technological spectrum comes the Nightbuds from Kokoon. Designed to deliver intelligent noise-masking, Kokoon earbuds are capable of monitoring your sleep and adapting the level of audio accordingly. What’s more, the audio levels automatically fade like the end of a 90s hit song as you drift off into your deepest sleep yet.
Choose from a series of curated sleep audios via Spotify, Apple Music or YouTube, and drift off to sleep before the Nightbuds automatically introduce coloured noise to mask disturbances all night long
Soundcore Sleep A10
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Best for: noise-masking that ensures you hear your alarm
Renowned for their ability to provide night-long comfort for side-sleepers, the Soundcore Sleep A10’s will sit snugly in your ears no matter how much you wriggle around in your sleep. Equipped with smart volume control which automatically adjusts the volume of sleep sounds to mask pesky external noises, simply download the Soundcore app and browse a selection of unlimited relaxing sounds.
Ink-topoint wireless sleep headband
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Best for: two-in-one comfort
Designed to function as a two-in-one, blackout eye mask and over-ear sleep headphone set, the Ink-topoint sleep headband is a Bluetooth-operated device which can be used for everything from yogic meditation to achieving a restful eight hours of sleep.
ATHRZ Sleep Earbuds
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Best for: a simple yet savvy sleep solution
A wallet-friendly wireless option for those looking to purchase hi-tech sleep earbuds on a budget, this nifty set from ATHRZ has been designed to fit comfortably in the ear canal without shifting or causing pain.
Compatible with a range of smart devices including your phone, watch, tablet or even gaming console, the only gripe we have with these earbuds is their battery life. Though they’ll last you a full night’s sleep, you’ll have to make sure they’re fully charged before each use.
Sleephones
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Best for: wireless and compressive relief
Machine washable thanks to the removable wireless Bluetooth speakers, this ultra-soft and even more hygienic headband provides compressive relief while lulling you into your deepest sleep yet.
The soft, stretchy and moisture-wicking fabric won’t leave you with sweat-induced breakouts in the morning, while the fantastically flat speakers ensure you’ll be comfortable and ear pain-free all night long.
QuietOn 3.1
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Best for: side sleepers
Lauded by QuietOn as the world's smallest noise-cancelling earbuds, these are perfect for people who find themselves sleeping on their side.
Not only are they teeny tiny, but they pack a powerfully techy punch too, actively eliminating disturbances like snoring and urban noise. With just one charge, you'll be able to enjoy three nights of peaceful, undisturbed sleep.
Sony LinkBuds S Truly Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones
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Best for: day to night
Whilst Sony's LinkBuds aren't specifically designed for sleeping, the ultra-comfortable fit and flat exterior lend themselves to catching Z's. Even better, they work like normal earphones, too, so you can use them throughout the day for music and calls. Just make sure you charge them up before bed so the active noise cancelling sees you through the night.