The 9 Best Headphones for Sleeping in 2024

The best headphones for sleeping will drown out the commotion and usher in the zzz’s. Here’s our top picks to help you get a restful night’s sleep.

iStock

The products featured in this article have been independently reviewed. When you buy something through the retail links on this page, we may earn commission at no cost to you, the reader. Sports Illustrated editorial staff are not involved in the creation of this content. Learn more here.

If you struggle with insomnia, odds are you have specific requirements to help you drift off, such as a cooling mattress, a mattress that’s just the right firmness and maybe even a supplement to support sleep. Another thing you might need? Headphones. After all, counting sheep alone only goes so far for those afflicted with sleep issues. Instead, many of us (and I say “us” deliberatively, as a member of the troubled sleeper tribe) rely on drifting off to calming noise apps, (intentionally) boring podcasts and serene music.

You’ll particularly want to invest in the right tools to help you sleep if you are an athlete with major fitness goals: Lack of sleep can hinder muscle growth and fat loss. Fortunately, a good pair of headphones for sleep doesn’t have to blow the budget since there are excellent options for every price range. And I’d know—I’ve tried several of these models myself, since I like to try new brands when I inevitably misplace my own pea-sized earbuds. And with that, let’s talk about the best headphones to get a great, restorative night of sleep.

Note that there are risks to falling asleep with earbuds. According to the Cleveland Clinic, in-ear headphones can trap moisture in the ear canal, which can lead to bacterial growth, external ear infections and earwax buildup. 

Our Picks for the Best Headphones for Sleeping in 2024:

• Best Overall Headphones for Sleeping: Raycon The Fitness Earbuds
• Best Sleep Headphones for Side Sleepers: LC-dolida Bluetooth Headband Headphones
• Best Sleep Mask with Headphones: Lightimetunnel Washable Sleeping Headphones
• Best Noise Canceling Headphones for Sleep: Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 True Wireless Earbuds
• Best Bluetooth Headphones for Sleeping: Skullcandy Push Active True Wireless Earbuds
• Best Budget Headphones for Sleeping: Maxrock Sleep Earbuds
• Best Wireless Headphones for Sleeping: Sony WF-1000XM4 Truly Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones
• Best Over-Ear Headphones for Sleeping: Bose Quietcomfort 45 Wireless Bluetooth Noise Cancelling Headphones
• Best Audio Quality Headphones for Sleeping: Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 Earbuds

Best Overall: Raycon The Fitness Earbuds

Amazon

Key Specs:

• Headphone Type: In-ear
• Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Battery Life: 56 hours
• Noise Cancellation: Yes
• Tap/Touch Controls: Yes

Raycon Fitness Earbuds boast a staggering amount of 5-star reviews (37,000+) thanks to their quality, value and ease. As you’ve probably surmised by the name, these make excellent workout headphones. “From someone who's struggled for a long time to find earbuds that stay in my ears, I'm blown away by how well these fit!” wrote one reviewer. “In the middle of a sweaty workout with a lot of change in direction, or just some intense dancing, I don't think about them. I don't even notice they're there, it's amazing,” adding that the sound quality is excellent and the controls are easy to master.

By my logic, these earbuds’ snug, comfortable ergonomic gel fin design makes them perfectly well-suited to play sleepy-time sounds. That’s especially true if, like me, you’re prone to moving around a lot as you try to get in the perfect position to doze off. The earbuds are an attractively modest price point ($119.99), and come in black, purple, blue and green color options.

Best Sleep Headphones for Side Sleepers - LC-dolida Bluetooth Headband Headphones

LC-dolida

Key Specs:

• Headphone Type: Headband
• Weight: 2.8 ounces
• Battery Life: 8-10 hours
• Noise Cancellation: No
• Tap/Touch Controls: Volume control on headband

Many of us know and love earbud brands like the ubiquitous Apple AirPods. However, even a high-end earbud like the AirPods Pro won’t necessarily do if you’re a side sleeper. Fortunately, there’s a remarkably budget solution in the form of Bluetooth-connected headphones in a soft headband, so you don’t have to break the bank in order to enjoy both. Having this problem, I bought the LC-dolida headband so I could comfortably fall asleep on my side to audiobooks. I don’t use mine beyond the confines of the bedroom, but the headband is definitely stylish enough to rock in public as well. Plus, if you use the headband in the gym, it can even double as a sweatband. And there are instructions included to remove the electronic components so you can wash the headband as needed.

Best Sleep Mask with Headphones: Lightimetunnel Washable Sleeping Headphones

Amazon

Key Specs:

• Headphone Type: Mask
• Weight: .14 ounces
• Battery Life: 12 hours
• Noise Cancellation: No
• Tap/Touch Controls: Volume control on mask

Cousin to the headphone headband is the headphone eye mask. Their construction is similar: Both are fabric bands with small speakers sewn in close to each ear. The difference with a mask is that it’ll be thick enough and/or shaped to cover both your eyes and ears. That makes this a prime accessory for bedrooms with too much light and red-eye flights alike. The battery life on these devices won’t be as impressive as earbuds with wireless charging cases, but they’ll last through the night, which is what counts after all. And like the LC-dolida, this headband mask is also machine washable.

Best Noise Canceling Headphones for Sleep: Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 True Wireless Earbuds

SAMSUNG

Key Specs:

• Headphone Type: In-ear
• Weight: .176 ounces
• Battery Life: 7.5 hours per charge
• Noise Cancellation: Yes
• Tap/Touch Controls: Yes

The Galaxy Buds 2 are the first AirPods alternative I tried, and I’ve never looked back. The fun lavender color piqued my interest in Galaxy Buds when perusing Best Buy. But the audio quality, the Bluetooth range and solid active noise cancellation (often shortened to “ANC”) earned my allegiance. The only problem with the noise-canceling earbuds are the jumpscares I bring onto myself when I’m gardening in my Galaxy Buds and someone approaches me from behind.

Because the audio is so golden, I usually opt to go with one earbud on the side I’m not sleeping on. However, the buds also have a low enough profile and cushioning silicone covers, making it possible to get comfy side sleeping. And another huge perk of going from Apple to Samsung: USB-C charging, complementing most of my other devices.

Best Bluetooth Headphones for Sleeping: Skullcandy Push Active True Wireless Earbuds

Amazon

Key Specs:

• Headphone Type: In-ear 
• Weight: 3.35 ounces
• Battery Life: 44 hours
• Noise Cancellation: No ANC, noise isolating
• Tap/Touch Controls: Yes

Skullcandy is known for having headphones as eccentric and colorful as its name. And the brand, which I fondly remember seeing at its inception in plastic packaging in aisles of drugstores, has long since graduated from wires to Bluetooth. That’s good news since a cord-free listening experience can be pretty paramount to a good pair of headphones for sleeping. For that reason, most of the headphones on this list, like the Skullcandy Push Active, are Bluetooth capable. We particularly like the Push Active for sleeping because of the low profile, snug fit and lengthy 44-hour battery life.

Best Budget Headphones for Sleeping: Maxrock Sleep Earbuds

Amazon

Key Specs:

• Headphone Type: Wired in-ear buds
• Weight: .8 ounces
• Battery Life: N/A
• Noise Cancellation: No ANC, noise isolating
• Tap/Touch Controls: No

These earbuds break the mold from the rest: they’re wired. While that may not be appealing for many, there are pluses, too (like never losing an earbud in the sheets). The old-school build also makes these headphones highly affordable ($11.99). The dual-layer tip ensures a snug fit, with the inner tip plugging the ear canal and the outer tip preventing slippage. “They fit deep in the ear so I can lay on my side, listen to books, fall asleep, and mostly not feel them,” wrote one reviewer on Amazon.

Best Wireless Headphones for Sleeping: Sony WF-1000XM4 Truly Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones

Amazon

Key Specs:

• Headphone Type: In-ear
• Weight: 1.45 ounces
• Battery Life: 24 hours with wireless charging case
• Noise Cancellation: Yes
• Tap/Touch Controls: Yes

Stellar sound and top-tier active noise cancellation are the hallmarks of these Sony wireless earbuds. The unique ear tips have a memory foam-like consistency, allowing for a snug fit. You can also use the Sony app to test and optimize the fit of your earbuds. My only misgiving with these wireless sleep headphones is for side sleepers and stomach sleepers since the profile of the shell is slightly larger. Still, I think you could get comfortable long enough to fall asleep. If you’re on a budget and don’t mind losing the active noise cancellation, the Sony WF-C500 earbuds are also an excellent, less expensive alternative.

Best Over-Ear Headphones for Sleeping: Bose Quietcomfort 45 Wireless Bluetooth Noise Cancelling Headphones

Amazon

Key Specs:

• Headphone Type: Over-ear
• Weight: 15.5 ounces
• Battery Life: 22 hours per charge
• Noise Cancellation: Yes
• Tap/Touch Controls: Yes

Over-ear or on-ear headphones aren’t exactly the first headphone type to come to mind when you think of the best for sleeping; the majority of us are side sleepers, after all. However, for the dedicated back sleeper who may want a nice pair of over-ear phones, our top pick is Bose Quietcomfort 45. The ear cups’ active noise blocking impressively muffles nearby sounds, so a partner could theoretically watch TV out loud while you snooze soundly. And if you’re all about that bass, there’s an adjustable equalizer for enhanced bass, mid-range and treble levels. A nice final touch: the earphones fold flat for easy bedside drawer storage.

Best Quality Audio Headphones for Sleeping: Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 Earbuds

Sennheiser

Key Specs:

• Headphone Type: In-ear
• Weight: 8.1 ounces
• Battery Life: 28 hours
• Noise Cancellation: Yes
• Tap/Touch Controls: Yes

For the audiophiles out there, Sennheiser has unequivocal clarity. While I’m not an audiophile myself, my DJ partner owns these headphones, so I can attest to the immersive plunge you take when you pop these in. The earbuds also have a highly customizable equalizer, aka EQ, controllable via the Sennheiser app. A final point on the audio side—the earbuds do an incredible job drowning out loud background noises, ensuring that the snorer next to you can’t disrupt your zzz’s. As far as comfort, I’ve slept soundly many times wearing these headphones. Almost dangerously so. Make sure to set an alarm (or two).

How We Chose The Best Headphones For Sleeping

Sleep is integral to well-being, so we carefully curated the headphones we thought would best promote comfort and rest. There were the factors I weighed most heavily, in ascending order of importance:

1. Comfort: Comfort is king when selecting the top headphones for sleep. Lightweight and low-profile designs that wouldn’t agitate the ears of side sleepers were heavily favored.
2. Wireless design: While one wired headphone design snuck in as our best budget pick, I favored wireless capability to allow freedom of movement and minimize the chance of being disturbed by a short or tangled cord.
3. Noise Cancellation: The ability to block outside noise may be why you’re seeking headphones for sleeping in the first place. Therefore headphones with active noise cancellation got the most regard, followed by models with passive noise isolation akin to standard earplugs.
4. Audio Quality: Having the best sound not only ensures you’ll have a good listening experience, but that your sleep partner won’t be able to hear your audio blaring, disturbing their sleep. Consider as well if you’ll use these earbuds for taking phone calls, which, particularly in a professional setting, demands high quality audio.
5. Touch/Tap Controls: Although there are ways to lower the light and make your screen warmer, you should generally avoid looking at your screen. For that reason, I prioritized headphones with touch and tap controls, so you can circumvent the screen to pause and play audio.
6. User Feedback: I heavily vetted reviews, especially for models I hadn’t personally tested myself like the Galaxy Buds, LC-dolida headband and Sennheiser earbuds, to see that people could attest to the ability to sleep with the headphones.
7. Budget and secondary use: Pricier headphones, in theory, should be your primary headphones, so I wanted to be sure that any higher-end headphones recommended could serve dual purposes, like being worn at the gym. On the other hand, lower-end headband-style headphones may lack durability and use outside the bedroom, but their low price point can justify the expense.

How Should You Choose Headphones For Sleeping?

How to choose the best headphones for sleep will depend on your personal preferences. For instance:

• For optimal noise masking, look for headphones with active noise cancellation.
• If you want to avoid looking at your phone screen at night to operate the headphones, seek a model with easy touch and tap playback controls, a common perk in new models.
• If the headphones you’ll use for sleep will be a pair that get heavy use throughout the day, you may want to find a model that can quickly catch a charge after being plugged in for a short period of time. Typically earbuds with charging cases fit that bill.

How Does Sound Affect Sleep?

Sound and sleep can be in great harmony, or, as anyone who’s ever lived in a bottom-level apartment would know, at great odds. Your sensitivity to sound is also wildly influenced by what you’re accustomed to. Many city-dwellers for example may find the quiet sounds of the country unsettling and difficult to sleep to.

If you’re stuck in a situation with unavoidable, disruptive sound, the key is to mask the sounds that are disturbances with soothing sounds. A good pair of sleep headphones with active noise cancellation can go a long way toward doing both.

What Color Noise Is Best For Sleep?

Three noise “colors” have the most conclusive evidence of helping sleep, in ascending order: white, pink and brown noise.

• White noise, also known as “broadband noise,” is the most popularly used for sleep. The sound, which is the compilation of all spectrum of sound frequencies, has a static-like quality.
• Pink noise, also referred to as “ambient noise” also has a hum, but with deeper sound and lower-frequency sound waves. Many find the tone more gentle and soothing.
• Brown noise has a modulating frequency that makes the decibels go up and down and is the preferred noise color of many sleep apps.

Best Headphones for Sleeping FAQs

Why do I sleep better with headphones?

There are many reasons you could sleep better with headphones. Outside of the headphones masking a noisy disruption, listening to certain music, sounds and audio can help lull the body into a relaxed state, prime for falling asleep.

Can you sleep in noise-canceling headphones?

Yes, you can sleep in noise-canceling headphones. However, you may want to set a timer on your device to ensure that at some point, when you’re already asleep, you won’t be blocking out all sound, since you wouldn’t want to miss an emergency or pre-set alarm.

Is it better to sleep with or without music?

There’s no “better” as far as sleeping with or without music, however, if you do, you should take certain precautions, like keeping the volume at a reasonable level that won’t damage your hearing.

How can I wear headphones without hurting my head?

You can absolutely wear headphones without hurting your head. If your headphones are hurting your head, first and foremost you need to check the fit. If earbuds are hurting you when sleeping because of your sleep position, consider a soft headphone headband, which has low-profile, cushioned speakers tucked into the band near the ear that exert minimal pressure on the head.

Final Thoughts: Are Noise-Canceling Headphones for Sleep Right for You?

For me, nighttime is when racing thoughts are the loudest, so wearing headphones helps me drown out both the internal and external noises. But without a comfortable, secure fit, your headphones are liable to hinder rather than help your sleep quality, so don’t compromise when it comes to finding a good pair. Be sure you’re taking care of the precious commodity that is your ears though, too. Hearing loss is irreversible, and the more sound exposure you get, the more at risk you are. Use the tools available to minimize risk. Devices like iPhones let you set “Stop Playing” timers to ensure you’re not consuming more audio than you actually need in order to fall asleep.

Prices are accurate and items in stock as of publish time.