These sleep headphones helped me catch up on lost rest and fall asleep faster
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It's a challenge getting to bed some nights, especially if your environment isn't quiet. Sound machines can effectively block out noises, the best sleep earbuds offer a more compact, subtle, and personal approach.
ZDNET staffers' hands-on testing found that sleep headphones with flat speakers, active noise canceling (ANC) technology, and a long battery life are a game changer for a good night's rest. Some of our top picks are earbuds and others wrap around your head or eyes for a quicker and easier descent into slumber.
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What are the best sleep headphones right now?
Our pick for the best sleep headphones overall are the Ozlo Sleepbuds for their comfortable fit and the effective white noise production. I've also included alternatives with different price ranges and form factors, from a headphone sleep mask to sleep earplugs. Find out how the sleep headphones we've tested stack up on this list -- and on your pillow.
Also: The best cheap headphones: Budget-friendly options in 2025
The best sleep headphones of 2026
Why we like them: The Ozlo Sleepbuds are impressively effective at their job: getting you to bed. Once the Sleepbuds are in your ears, they produce noise-masking (not noise-canceling) white noise that's dialed at the perfect volume to reduce external distractions and help you quickly fall asleep (and you don't even need to connect them with a phone or the app for this to work). My bedroom overlooks a bustling Brooklyn street that is always polluted with noise, like police sirens, screaming ambulances, neighbors singing and celebrating into the wee hours of the night, and pedestrians yelling at each other. These earbuds simplified my descent into sleep -- I put these earbuds in and couldn't hear a song or chatter outside my window.
If you download the app, you can customize your sleep sounds with up to 10 to choose from, set up an alarm in the earbuds, and put a timer on the earbuds for them to shut down after you've gone to bed. Some features, like sleep tracking, will also be coming soon in an over-the-air app update.
As far as comfort goes, you won't find a sleep earbud that's more comfortable to sleep in. This is thanks to the stabilizing ear wings that keep the buds in place without additional pressure buildup (that tends to cause soreness and sensitivity). I'm a side sleeper and found these the most comfortable to wear as I turned from one side of my head to the other. In my review, I write that they dissolved into my ears, becoming nearly invisible as I fell asleep, which is all that you really want out of a sleep earbud.
Ozlo recently partnered with soundscape app Calm for a pair of Calm x Ozlo Sleepbuds that deliver soundscapes and bedtime stories through the earbuds.
Who should buy them: Of course, $300 is still a pretty penny to pay for a decent night of uninterrupted sleep. But the Ozlo Sleepbuds are the best earbuds for a reason: they have a thoughtful design, are an effective sound-masking technology, and are a comfortable fit that makes me want to wear them every night.
If I could describe the Ozlo Sleepbuds' perfect customer, it would be someone who has a noisy partner or bedroom conditions that prevent them from easily falling asleep. They have some money to spend on the finest sleep earbuds on the market. Maybe they're a side sleeper and are seeking out a sleep earbud that will feel comfortable as they lie on their side.
Who should look elsewhere: If $350 is too much to spend, I suggest the Anker A20 sleep earbuds. These also produce noise-masking soundscapes and offer a flat, comfortable fit, but are half the price. It's worth noting that at the time of publication, the Ozlo Sleepbuds were on sale for $299.
Also: I actually want to put these $350 sleep earbuds in my ears every night
Ozlo Sleepbuds tech specs: Form factor: Earbuds | Connectivity: Bluetooth | Battery: 10 hours in the earbuds | Fit: In-ear | Price: $299
Why we like them: This is the first pair of sleep earbuds I've tested that has "noise-canceling" in its description. That's a pretty big deal when companies are constantly slapping "noise-masking" on every product but failing to truly implement reliable noise-cancelation. The earbuds come with two sets of ear tips -- one set for noise-cancelation and another set for a more comfortable wear.
The app offers a selection of ambient soundscapes like soothing binaural beats I used during my testing. Users can toggle between local mode, which stores audio within the earbuds, or Bluetooth mode, which connects to a streamer. I recommend using local mode.
The earbuds come with automatic sleep monitoring, which only works if you can keep these in your ears all night. If you can't, use Soundcore's Find My earbuds feature to scavenge for the lost bud in bed.
Who should buy them: Wear these if you want to dim down your environment with a healthy dose of noise-cancelation and ambient soundscapes. These are around $100 less than the Ozlo Sleepbuds and function as a midrange sleep earbud option.
Who should look elsewhere: The noise-cancelation isn't the strongest, and the earbuds somewhat rely on the noise-masking soundscapes to quiet down your environment. Despite its noise-canceling claims, sometimes the ANC felt negligible. I couldn't really tell the difference between when ANC was on or off in both my office and my bedroom. Instead, I relied more on the noise-masking. Soundcore is seemingly relying on those noise-canceling ear tips and not the tech inside the earbuds to dim down noise.
It took a few days for me to feel comfortable wearing the earbuds to bed. If you are sensitive as well, you might want to opt for the Ozlo Sleepbuds, which deliver a more flexible wear.
Also: I tested Soundcore's new sleep headphones. Here's who should buy them
Soundcore Sleep A30 earbuds tech specs: Form factor: Earbuds | Connectivity: Bluetooth | Battery: 45 hours in the charging case | Fit: In-ear | Price: $194
Why we like them: A good pair of sleep earbuds should be nearly unnoticeable in your ears as you sleep. When I slept with them for a few nights, the new Soundcore A20 sleep earbuds got as close to invisible as a pair of earbuds can. As a side sleeper, I had no trouble wearing these while I slept because the flat end of the earbud doesn't put pressure into my ear or cause discomfort that keeps me up.
The A20 improves on the previous model, the A10, through longer battery life, a new find my earbuds feature, and Twin Seal ear tips for added noise masking. But while the updates make the earbuds easier to use, the earbuds still aren't without their flaws. These aren't the best for canceling environmental noise, like a snoring partner, a busy street your bedroom looks out upon, or a loud upstairs neighbor blasting their music.
Who should buy them; I'd recommend these less for people who want to dim down a loud bedroom setting and more for others who already have a silent sleep environment and are looking for a comfortable earbud to use for listening to audiobooks, music, or other soundscapes to fall asleep.
These are a great mid-range option if the Ozlo Sleepbuds are out of your budget.
Who should look elsewhere: If you want an earbud that will do a stronger job of masking most noises, I'd recommend the Ozlo Sleepbuds.
Also: These sleep earbuds are a dream for side sleepers. But there's a catch
Soundcore Sleep A20 earbuds tech specs: Form factor: Earbuds | Connectivity: Bluetooth | Battery: 14 hours in the earbuds and 80 in the charging case | Fit: In-ear | Price: $180
Why we like them: The sleep mask comes with eye cups that truly block out any light in your field of vision, which I love. And the flat headphones hover over your ears. They aren't notably immersive, but they dampen most sounds if you raise the volume high enough. I like to listen to brown noise playlists with these on to fall asleep, and I can confidently say I'm out in minutes. Plus, the battery life is substantial. I can wear these for two nights straight without them dying on me -- for around $20 (Amazon says it costs $40, but is normally around the $20 range with wavering discounts), that's not bad at all.
I have a small head, move around in my sleep, and can rarely keep a mask on for the entirety of a night, so I wasn't surprised when I woke up with the headphones off a few times. "If you sleep with a partner who snores, live next to a busy street, or have loud roommates, you will surely benefit from this headphone sleep mask. It's everything I want out of a sleep device: it's got a decent battery life, it's comfortable, and it immerses you in noise that dulls -- but doesn't fully eliminate -- distracting sounds around you," I wrote in my spotlight of the sleep mask.
Who should buy them: This product is a great gateway into sleep headphones with dual functionality as a sleep mask. It's also the most affordable headphone choice on this list. So if you're dabbling in the sleep headphones space and don't want to spend lots of money to try out a pair of headphones, I'd recommend these.
Who should look elsewhere: These won't eliminate all sounds around you, so if you want a pair of earbuds that will do that better, I'd recommend the Ozlo Sleepbuds or the Anker A20 sleep earbuds.
Also: Trouble sleeping? I used this $19 wearable to fall asleep near instantly
LC-Dolida Sleep Headphones and Mask tech specs: Form factor: Over-ear | Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.2 | Battery life: 8-10 hours | Fit: Adjustable velcro strap | Price: $27
Why we like them: Maybe all you want is silence -- no ambient noise or music or Bluetooth connection to whisk you away to slumber. If that's the case, I 100% recommend these earplugs to get that job done. You'll need some patience to try on the right size ear tip and secure it into place in your ear. At first try, it may not even feel like it's doing anything. Lift up your ear, twist the earplug into place, and then press it, and you'll hear absolutely nothing.
I was astonished upon trying the Loop Dream on because I rarely experience silence in my Brooklyn bedroom -- not from my roommates' chatter or the noisy street outside my bedroom window. I did when I put these on. To test out how they'd work with a snoring partner, I played snoring sounds on my phone, and the earplugs made the sounds on medium volume sound far more distant than they were.
The earplugs sit comfortably and inconspicuously in your ears thanks to the flat wing. These are great for side sleepers like myself, because of how small, light, and flat they are.
Who should buy them: People who want to dim down their environment but don't want to listen to music or soundscapes will love these earplugs. They get me as close to silence as I can in my noisy bedroom.
Who should look elsewhere: If $50 is still too much to spend to get to sleep, I'd recommend the LC-Dolida sleep headphones mask for some ambient noise to fall asleep to.
Also: These $50 earplugs replaced my $300 sleep earbuds
Loop Dream tech specs: Form factor: In-ear | Connectivity: None | Battery life: None | Fit: Flat ear wings | Price: $50
Which sleeping headphones are right for you?
It depends on what you're looking for relative to the position(s) you sleep in, whether you want ANC, and what price point you're willing to spend.
| Choose these headphones for sleeping... | If you want... |
| Ozlo Sleepbuds | The best sleep earbuds you can buy right now, with an uber-comfortable fit and noise-masking that reduces sounds within and outside your bedroom. These are the only sleep earbuds I can see myself wearing every night. |
| Soundcore by Anker Sleep A20 | The best sleep earbuds for an already-quiet environment. Unobtrusive, these earbuds are no bigger than a nickel, have a 14-hour playback battery life, and track your sleep. They don't cancel noise, so I'd recommend these to people who sleep in a silent bedroom and want to fall asleep to relaxing soundscapes. |
| LC-Dolida Sleep Mask and Headphones | The best sleep mask and headphone combo that won't cost you too much. Cancel out noise and sound with this $20 duo. |
| Loop Dream earplugs | The best sleep earplugs you can buy if all you want is silence. |
How did we choose these headphones for sleeping?
We selected these top sleeping headphones by doing extensive research into the product category, as well as performing some testing of our own while considering the following factors:
- Flat speakers: There's no point in sleeping in headphones if they're not comfortable -- and nothing is more uncomfortable than something poking in your ears. We looked for headphones with speakers that sit comfortably in your ears and against your pillow.
- Active Noise Canceling capabilities: We looked for headphones that cancel or block out noise so that you can have undisturbed rest.
- Battery life: All of our picks have battery life that will last you through the night from six to 28 hours.
- Price: The sleeping headphones on this list range in price from $12 to $300. While you don't need to spend hundreds on a pair of good-quality sleep headphones, more features come with a higher price tag.
Latest news on sleep headphones
In September, Calm and Ozlo partnered up to release a collaborated sleep earbud that plays Calm sleep stories. Upon purchase of Ozlo's Sleepbuds, users can unlock one free year of Calm Sleep's subscription.
FAQs on sleep headphones
Is it OK to sleep with headphones in?
Yes, it is medically safe to fall asleep while wearing headphones. It is recommended to keep the volume below 85 dB. Also, on-ear or over-ear headphones are preferred over earbuds when considering long-term use since wax buildup and ear canal damage can potentially happen over time with earbud use. So if you're concerned with that, consider a sleep headphone headband instead of one of the earbuds on the list.
What about playing music with headphones in?
The same goes for playing music. You should try to keep your volume level between 60 and 85 decibels, audio experts confirm. 60 decibels is equivalent to the volume of a normal conversation you have with someone, while 85 decibels sounds like a trafficked city intersection or a loud restaurant.
Are noise-canceling headphones good for sleeping?
Noise-canceling headphones are great for sleeping since they have built-in technology that virtually blocks out any noise in your bedroom, making it easier to fall asleep in silence.
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 -- especially if you already consider yourself a heavy sleeper.
Headphones vs earbuds vs Bluetooth sleep masks: Which one takes the crown?
That depends on what you want to get out of your sleep companion. Headphones are best for back sleepers who want to listen to something to get them asleep, while earbuds and sleep masks may work better for side sleepers. Earbuds are the most comfortable, while headphones and Bluetooth sleep masks take some finagling and getting used to.
Do sleep headphones block out snoring?
Sleep headphones that include noise-canceling capabilities are your best bet for blocking out snoring. That's because headphones with noise-canceling technology use reverse sound waves to nix the external noises around you. A headphone with only sound-masking technology can only do so much to block out the sounds of a snoring partner right next to you. Plus, without a noise-canceling feature in your earbuds, you'll need to raise the volume high on your sleep headphones to mask snoring, but too high of a volume could deter you from falling asleep.
Latest updates
- In our November 2025 update, we added the Soundcore by Anker Sleep A30 earbuds as our pick for noise-canceling earbuds. We also included news of Calm and Ozlo's partnership.
Alternative sleep headphones worth considering
The Bonamour Sleep System uses sound brainwave entrainment technology to get you to sleep and keep you there. These sleep earbuds, according to Bonamour's product page, are great for side sleepers.
These aren't headphones, but I use them to go to bed every night and mute the city sounds outside my window, and I can't recommend the earplugs enough. If you want to ditch the tech and reduce up to 26 decibels of noise, consider the Loop Quiet earplugs as an amazing option for easy sleeping.