The best sleep headphones can help you block out the sound of snoring, loud neighbors or traffic noise pollution and replace it with calming sounds to lull you into a deep sleep. But sitting in, or top of, your ears throughout the night, they need to be comfortable and secure to make sure they do their job successfully.
Therefore, just using any old headphones won’t do. Our picky sleep tech reviewers have tested specialized sleep headphones alongside headphones our audio editors know and love to find the best ones to wear overnight, according to our strict criteria.
We’ve found options for various sleep positions and budgets, and the even better news is that almost all the best performing sleep headphones are currently discounted in Black Friday sales. Without further ado, here are our top five picks…
1. The best sleep headphones overall
Active noise cancellation? Check. Snore-masking technology? Check. Comfortable and secure fit? Check. Plenty of quality sleep sounds? Check. Good battery life? Check. Honestly, there's little these sleep earbuds don't do well.
Purpose-built with sleeping in mind, the Soundcore Sleep A30 could be game-changing for chronic light sleepers or anyone living with a snoring partner. They're petite and sit flush in your ears, whether you're lying on your side, back or front — no morning ear ache here.
They come with many sizes to help you get the perfect fit and functionality. In the box, you'll find four silicone ear tips, three memory foam tips and three sets of stabilising wings so you can customize your earbuds to suit you.
Soundcore dubs its third-gen sleep earbuds as “the world’s first smart active noise-cancelling sleep earbuds.” And our reviewer, Becca Caddy, reckons they fit that bill. After testing them under our rigorous methodology, she describes them as an "incredibly thoughtful pair of sleep-focused buds" that actually deliver the hush and comfort the brand promise.
They may not deliver the polished audio of Bose and Sony. But, for sleep sounds, the Soundcore Sleep A30 excel. Think warm, clear vocals and soft tracks. Caddy says, "Whisper-based meditation tracks come through beautifully."
So it's top marks so far, but what about battery life and value for money? Honestly, battery power is our only minor complaint about the Soundcore Sleep A30. You can get nine hours from the buds with ANC on. That said, the case packs another 45 hours of charge.
At $179.99, they are slightly pricey for buds you're only meant to wear at night. But they could be the answer to your disrupted sleep, and can you really put a price on better quality sleep? We think not.
What we like...
✅Super comfortable: Compact and light weight, you can hardly notice these earbuds overnight no matter your sleep position (yes, that includes side sleeping).
✅Very effective ANC and snore masking: With specialized snore masking and impressive ANC, these are our top pick for victims of a snoring partner or noise pollution.
✅ Focussed on sleep: These aren't earbuds you wear by day, meaning they are solely geared towards helping you sleep. This means supreme comfort, exceptional sleep sounds and better quality rest.
What we don't like...
❌ Battery life could be better: Lasting just nine hours, the Soundcore Sleep A30 aren't as enduring as other specialized sleep buds. By comparison, the much more affordable MUSICOZY headphones below last 14 hours on a single charge.
The Soundcore Sleep A30 earbuds are some of the most comfortable sleep earbuds I’ve tested. The flush, low-profile fit is a gift for side sleepers, and the adaptive snore-masking along with solid ANC make a real difference if you’re sick of having your sleep interrupted by a snoring partner or ambient night noise. The sleep features here are genuinely well thought-out, the app is stacked, and the custom soundscapes beat most of the competition. If sleep is a real struggle for you, the A30s are very hard to beat.
Read more: Soundcore Sleep A30 review
2. The best budget sleep headphones
An Amazon best-selling sleep gadget, the MUSICOZY Sleep Headphones (or should we say sleep mask) offers exceptional value for money. Literally, you're getting a two-in-one sleep product at a tenth of the cost of other sleep headphones recommended here.
Of course, at this price point, you must forego some luxuries like ANC. But if you're after a cheap noise and light-dimming product to help you sleep in a not-so-sleep-friendly environment, the MUSICOZY is the one for you.
There may be no ANC but the thick material of the mask does introduce some passive noise cancellation. Meanwhile, the padded eye cups block out light and provide a comforting weight on the face.
Back to the audio. You simply can't expect the MUSICOZY to deliver a rich, detailed sound profile comparable to the best wireless earbuds, but that doesn't mean you have to settle for horrid, tinny sounds (that's no way to send you to sleep).
Our reviewer notes the audio quality is best when listening to ambient sounds like white noise, brown noise and pink noise, and ASMR and meditations at low volumes are passable too.
They hold a 14 hour battery life, but with limited functionality through the day, charging isn't a burden. Overall, we enjoyed testing the MUSICOZY Sleep Headphones - they're an excellent budget-friendly choice for travel that double up as a sleep mask. They deserve their 4-star Amazon rating.
What we like...
✅ Outstanding value for money: Under $20 now, you won't find cheaper sleep headphones. But that doesn't mean they are low quality. They muffle ambient sound and replace it with decent quality audio.
✅ Two-in-one sleep gadget: With the MUSICOZY, you get sleep sounds built into a sleep mask, saving you money and space on your bedside table while you block out sleep-stealing light and sound.
✅ Satisfactory sound quality: For the price, you can't expect state-of-the-art acoustics, yet for sleep sounds, the MUSICOZY does the job (minus ANC).
What we don't like...
❌ Battery longevity is doubted: Some customers complain the eye mask stops charging or struggles to hold battery after frequent use.
❌ Can get warm: Made from a thick fabric, the MUSICOZY can become flustering overnight, especially if you already sleep hot. Plus not everyone likes sleeping in a mask.
I tend to prefer silence when sleeping but the MUSICOZY’s combo of blackout, reassuring pressure and my chosen sleep sounds made for a soothing and immersive wind-down. The sound quality is average and I don’t see the battery holding up to frequent use but for $30, the MUSICOZY is an excellent travel companion and a handy accessory when the neighbors are keeping me awake.
Read more: MUSICOZY Sleep Headphones review
3. The best luxury sleep headphones
Designed by ex-Bose engineers to help you sleep better, the Ozlo Sleepbuds are outstanding sleep earbuds, if a little expensive.
Once you've found your correct tip size (there's four to chose from), the Ozlo Sleepbuds sit flush in your ear and stay secure through the night. They're feather light at 1.6g per bud and you can hardly notice them even when you lay on your side.
The ANC and audio quality are reliable. These earbuds blocked out our reviewers noisy dog-neighbour and replaced it with smooth nature sounds that helped her relax at the end of busy days and soothed her to sleep.
To set up the Sleepbuds and customize the audio, you must connected them to the Ozlo app rather than simply connecting to your phone via Bluetooth. This means they require some tech-savviness to use and need frequent reconnecting, but we haven't experienced any glitches with them.
Speaking of the Ozlo app, here you'll find a library of 32 sleep sounds, volume controls and your alarm dashboard. This alarm feature makes the Ozlo Sleepbuds a great option for couples with different wake-up times.
They may be on the higher end of the price spectrum at $349/£299 MSRP, but for this you get basic sleep tracking too. That's right, these tiny earbuds hold an accelerometer that can detect sleep stages and sleep timings. But for more in-depth tracking check out our best sleep trackers of the year.
What we like...
✅ Multiple size options: The Ozlo Sleepbuds come with four different size tips, so you can rest knowing they'll stay secure through the night.
✅ Great sound quality and ANC: There's no sound slipping through these earbuds. With exceptional ANC and a library of sleep sounds they can replace your partner's snoring with calming melodies.
✅ Sleep tracking included: Thanks to sensors in the earbuds and case, the Ozlo Sleepbuds offer basic sleep tracking metrics.
What we don't like...
❌ Expensive: While they're great quality, supremely comfortable and can certainly level up your sleep quality, at $349 MSRP the Ozlo Sleepbuds are a luxury purchase.
I've never been one for sleep sounds, but after trying the Ozlo Sleepbuds to block out my neighbour's barking dog, I'd say I'm a convert. With my Ozlo buds sitting comfortably in my ears, I drift off to calming ocean sounds. They even helped me sleep for a solid five hours on a recent transatlantic flight. The alarm feature is also a great addition considering the ANC blocks out your usual alarm.
Read more: Ozlo Sleepbuds review
4. The best overhead sleep headphones
Sure, specialized sleep headphones are great, but we couldn’t rule out the arsenal of the best headphones our expert audio team recommend here at Tom’s Guide. After our testing revealed they are great for sleeping as well as everyday use, we recommend the Bose QuietComfort as the best overhead headphones for sleep.
Due to their design, they are best suited to back sleepers (side sleepers, consider the Ozlo Sleepbuds or Soundcore Sleep A30 above) or jet-setters who do a lot of sleeping on the go.
They make look a little clumpy, but the Bose QuietComfort are comfy and low weight thanks to their plush memory foam padding and smooth leather. In fact, they are some of the softest and easiest to wear over-ears seasoned tech reviewer Becca Caddy has tested. She describes wearing them "like a gentle head hug."
They offer reliable noise cancelling and the audio quality can best be described as "warm, smooth and easy-going", says Caddy — which is exactly what you want when using them for sleep sounds and calming pre-bed tracks.
Providing up to 24 hours battery life, the Bose QuietComfort Headphones will see you through three full night's sleep, providing you get the recommended eight hours. And there's fast charging via USB-C. A 15 minute top-up can give you around four hours of extra use, which is useful if you realise they’re low just before getting into bed.
What we like...
✅ Battery life beats other buds here: The Bose QuietComfort have the longest battery life out of all the sleep headphones recommended here. In testing, our reviewer squeezed roughly 26 hours out of the headset at moderate volume with ANC on.
✅ Knock-out sound quality: From Bose, you expect good audio and that's exactly what you get with the QuietComfort Headphones — gentle, non-fatiguing tuning that you can listen to for hours.
✅ Surprising comfort: The saying 'don't judge a book by its cover' rings true here. The Bose QuietComfort may look bulky but they are incredible lightweight and comfortable to wear when back sleeping.
What we don't like...
❌ Not suitable for all sleep positions: Side sleepers won't be best happy with these headphones as the cans would cause discomfort. They're better off with small, sleek earbuds like the Ozlo Sleepbuds.
The Bose QuietComfort Headphones really live up to their name, especially at night. They’re incredibly quiet thanks to their effective ANC, which melts away any annoying sound into silence. The soft cushioning on the cups and headband makes them some of the most comfortable over-ears I’ve ever tested (and I’ve tested a lot). Over-ears like these won’t suit every sleeper, but if you sleep on your back and prefer headphones to earbuds, they’re my top overnight pick for blocking out the world and settling down into uninterrupted rest.
Read more: Bose QuietComfort Headphones review
5. The best sleep headphones
Now, the Sony Linkbuds S aren't specifically designed for sleep and they are a couple of years old — so why have we included them here, you ask? That's mainly down to one reason: they’re incredibly comfortable to wear overnight.
They're minimal, comfortable and get the job done without fuss. Their shape is also accommodating to smaller ear canals. With these earbuds, "comfort is king", says our sleep-focussed reviewer, Becca Caddy.
She adds: "If you’re a sensitive side sleeper you may still notice some pressure, but for short naps or back sleepers, they’re more comfortable than most other buds."
As standard earbuds, they can be used by day too. In fact, Sony say they are so comfortable you can wear them all day long (our audio team tested this premise and found they didn't budge through their whole daily routine, including workouts and commutes).
The Sony Linkbuds S have adjustable ANC that can be controlled either through the Sony Sound Connect app or via the earbuds themselves. It’s simple to switch between ANC and Ambient Sound mode, and there's 20 adjustment levels for you to control how much sound comes in.
Battery life is satisfactory. You can get six hours from the buds with ANC on, or nine hours with ANC off. Then an extra two full charges from the case.
At $158, we think they're reasonably priced, especially considering you can use them beyond nighttime.
What we like...
✅ Top sound quality: Made by top dogs in audio, you can expect smooth, Sony-level sound quality with these earbuds.
✅ Adjustable ANC: Falling asleep not being able to hear anything in your environment may be unnerving for some people. With the Sony Linkbuds S you can adjust how much sound you block out.
✅ Great for daytime use too: The fact you can use these earbuds all day long adds value to their price tag. Who really wants multiple pairs of earbuds hanging around, after all?
What we don't like...
❌ Battery life falls short: With ANC on, these headphones may not see you through a full night's sleep (they last just six hours). Fine if you just need them to drop off, but great if you benefit from playing sound all the way through to morning.
The Sony LinkBuds S are a great reminder that newer isn’t always better, especially when it comes to finding a good pair of sleep earbuds. I’ve tried countless buds overnight and these are one of only a few pairs that genuinely work for both daytime use and drifting off. They’re small, light and impressively comfortable, with a low side profile that made them one of the only pairs I could actually wear as a side sleeper. Add in Sony-level sound and reliable ANC, and you’ve got a rare set of buds that can handle your whole day and still feel good enough to fall asleep in.
Read more: Sony Linkbuds S review
How we test sleep seadphones
Our sleep headphone reviews follow the same rigorous, repeatable testing we use for all audio tech, but with a sleep-first focus. Because bedtime listening has different needs to daytime listening, we combine objective measurements with hands-on, overnight testing from our audio reviewers and sleep specialists. Our goal is to find the models that genuinely help you fall asleep, stay asleep and block out the sounds that keep you awake.
Sound: Unlike traditional headphone testing, we focus on clarity at whisper levels, especially for spoken word, sleep stories, ASMR and meditations. We test every pair with this low volume content to replicate real bedtime use. Reviewers are looking for clear dialogue, smooth low frequencies and minimal hiss or distortion.
Noise isolation and ANC: Blocking out unwanted sound is one of the main reasons people buy sleep headphones, so we test both passive isolation and ANC performance in real-world conditions, from quiet overnight use to noisy environments, like a running tap or vacuum cleaner. We also watch for unwanted artifacts or pressure sensations.
Comfort: This is the most important factor. We wear each pair for multiple nights, testing how they feel while falling asleep and in different positions. We evaluate fit, weight, low-profile design, head build-up and whether anything digs in or shifts overnight. We also note hygiene factors, like ventilation, water build-up and how easy it is to clean tips or cups.
Ease of use and features: Before bed, simplicity matters. We test how easy controls are to use in low light and whether customization options improve comfort. For wireless models, we run full battery drain tests at 50% volume, with and without ANC, and track standby drain to ensure they last a full night. We also assess sleep specific features, like soundscapes.
Sleep Headphones FAQs
What are the benefits of using sleep headphones?
Sleep headphones can help for a variety of reasons if you struggle to go to sleep or stay asleep. They can block out the sound of snoring partners, noisy neighbours and general night-time distractions, while giving you a comfortable way to listen to sleep stories, meditations or white noise. The best pairs are designed specifically for bedtime, so they stay comfortable for hours. But in our guide above we’ve also included some of the most comfortable everyday pairs that might work for certain sleepers.
Are sleep headphones safe to sleep in?
Yes, most sleep headphones are safe to sleep in. But you do need to use them sensibly. Most headphones are designed to be worn for long periods, but it is still important to keep the volume low, choose a design that has good ventilation and make sure nothing digs in or causes irritation. If you use earbuds, clean the tips regularly to avoid buildup.
Are sleep headphones worth it?
You can use standard headphones. Several of our recommendations in this guide are standard headphones. But most people find the majority of regular headphones aren’t comfortable enough for all night wear, especially if you sleep on your side. Sleep headphones are built for all positions, they’re softer, slimmer and less likely to cause pressure or wake you up.
