Best Sleep Headphones of 2025

When they were first released back in 2018, Bose’s noise-masking Sleepbuds were hailed as game-changers for light sleepers and those dealing with sleeping partners who snored. Alas, Bose ran into some issues with the battery on both the original model and the second-gen version and ended up discontinuing the Sleepbuds, much to the chagrin of a lot of folks who really liked them. Well, three former Bose engineers acquired the rights to the Sleepbuds and have now come out with new Sleepbuds under their new Ozlo brand. They feature the same design as the original Sleepbuds — both the buds and charging case essentially look identical — but have a key new feature: you can now stream other audio to the buds from your phone over Bluetooth (the original Sleepbuds just stored the noise-masking sounds on the buds and didn’t allow for streaming music).

How they sleep: One of the Sleepbuds’ biggest strengths is how tiny they are and how comfortably they fit most people’s ears (they come with four different-sized ear tips). I didn’t have any wearability issues with them even though I’m a side sleeper.

How they sound: They’re not active noise-canceling earbuds, they have good passive noise isolation and do a very good job eliminating ambient sound when you apply one of the masking sounds, whether it’s waves crashing on the beach, falling rain, the crackling of a burning fire and more. You can also set a personal alarm to go off in your ears so your sleeping partner isn’t disturbed and the buds can sense when you’ve fallen asleep while listening to music and automatically kick in your chosen noise-masking sound. Finally, there are also some sleep-monitoring features.

I can’t say everything worked perfectly all the time and I think Ozlo is still working out the kinks with its companion app for iOS and Android. When streaming music — don’t expect much bass but the sound was better than I thought it would be — you have to keep the buds’ case nearby because the case is used for streaming — and charging (the buds are rated for up to 10 hours of battery life). All in all, I was impressed with this new iteration of Sleepbuds and hope there are no battery issues going forward.

Pros:

• Has a sound library
• Can stream your own audio
• Great at noise masking
• Comfortable for all sleeper types

Cons:

• Expensive
• You have to keep the case nearby for streaming

The QuietOn 3.1 Sleep Earbuds are nearly three times smaller than the Apple AirPods. They effectively cancel lower-frequency, consistent sounds such as snoring, car traffic, a running dishwasher or the bass from songs your annoying neighbor blasts at midnight. The earbuds come with foam tips in four different sizes so you can find the right fit for you.

How they sleep: The QuietOn 3.1 Earbuds are surprisingly tiny and light, fitting snugly into your ears so you can sleep in every position, including your side — although, at first, I had to adjust my head while sleeping on my side to prevent unwanted pressure from the earbud against the pillow. I typically don’t like wearing earbuds, but I found these to be more comfortable than most other brands I’ve tried. 

For the active noise cancellation to work correctly, you have to wear the right size of foam tip in your ears. The fit should be snug and airtight, which may be uncomfortable for those with extremely sensitive ear canals. I tried the XS and small sizes before finding the medium was much more effective at reducing the noises around me.

How they sound: These headphones do not have Bluetooth or connectivity; instead, they actively cancel out ambient sounds by generating opposite waveforms against the noise. This technology does not create any sound you can hear, like faint white noise, contrary to what I had expected. They’re like advanced earplugs — the goal is quietude. It’s important to note that these headphones do not block everything. You can still hear higher-frequency sounds and sudden noises, which can be good if you still want to hear certain things, such as your alarm clock.

I tried a few simulations and found that it significantly reduced lower-frequency sounds. As for snoring, I could still hear it faintly next to me when the snoring simulation was at full volume, but it was much less noticeable.

The QuietOn 3.1 Earbuds come with a compact carrying case for easy traveling and charging. The headphones’ materials are high-quality and durable, and the battery life is impressive, lasting up to 28 hours on a single charge. At nearly $300, they’re expensive, but if you’re consistently losing sleep because of snoring and other disruptive noises, these may be worth it.

Pros:

• Effective low-frequency noise cancellation
• Small earbuds create a comfortable and secure fit
• Long battery life
• Can sleep in any position

Cons:

• Expensive
• Can’t play your own audio
• Won’t remove or block all sounds

The SoundOff Sleep Earbuds have unique functionality and design. There’s no Bluetooth connection, so you can’t play your audio; instead, these headphones use proprietary technology to emit a pink noise that specifically masks the frequencies of snoring and other noises that can disturb your sleep.

How they sleep: These earbuds are comfortable (even for smaller ears) yet take some getting used to. Whenever I take them out after wearing them for a while, I’ve noticed that it leaves a lingering sensation of the earbuds still being in and around my ears for a while — but again, I have particularly sensitive ears. With its bendy, moldable material and distinctive shape that hugs around the back of your ear like a hearing aid, they stay on securely — much better than others we tested. They’re also comfortable for all sleep positions, including side sleeping and combination sleepers who flop around at night. 

The memory foam tips mold nicely to your ears, creating a snug fit. Each headphone has a volume button on the bottom, so you have to adjust them individually. I personally don’t love having to adjust them separately, but it could come in handy in certain scenarios — such as wanting to wear only one earbud or having hearing loss or sensitivities in one ear and not the other.

How they sound: These headphones emit a pink noise that sounds like ocean waves, which is a calming soundscape shown to improve sleep. Pink noise has high and low frequencies, helping to drown out distracting noises of various tones and pitches. These headphones don’t completely block out super loud noises (with the TV on high volume, I could still faintly hear it through the headphones) but sufficiently mask out most sounds — especially snoring. My partner spends a good chunk of the night snoring, and I can’t hear him at all with these on.

They come with a neat charging case that can charge your SoundOff Earbuds for up to seven days before the case needs to be charged again. For that reason, they’re super portable and great for traveling with.

Runner-up: The Bedphones Sleep Headphones are another highly rated option. They have super thin on-ear speakers with a wire that also wraps around your ears. You can choose between wired or wireless. Each comes with an in-line microphone, so you can also answer phone calls with them. 

Pros:

• Pink noise effectively masks snoring
• Battery lasts up to 16 hours
• Comfortable, moldable fit
• Comes with a recharging case

Cons:

• Cannot play your own audio
• Expensive
• Have to adjust volume on each earbud separately

The Musicozy 5.2 Sleep Headphones are especially nice for this price point. They won’t remove extraneous noises like noise-canceling headphones, but the sound quality is impressive. The speakers are adjustable, so you can move them within the band to fit comfortably over your ears. For less than $20, this headband offers a solid bang for your buck.

How they sleep: My head is on the smaller side, and this headband has a looser fit, so it tends to slide and shift as I switch positions. These headphones were perfectly comfortable when I was on my back and stomach and pretty good while on my side — I just had to position my head slightly so it wasn’t pressing the speaker into the side of my head.

The spandex-nylon material is light and breathable, and I found the band so comfortable that I forgot I was wearing it during the day as I worked, which leads me to my next point. In addition to sleeping, the Musicozy Headphones are great for listening to audio while working, doing yoga, meditating or exercising — and a bonus if you’re exercising outdoors in cooler weather as they’ll provide a little extra warmth (note: it will not fit under your helmet if you try to wear the headband while skiing or snowboarding. I tried).

How they sound: At full blast, cheaper headphones sometimes produce crackling or static sounds — but not these. My partner could hear my music slightly in bed when I had it at full volume, but I found half-volume plenty loud for wearing while sleeping. If you prefer to keep your phone out of reach to avoid scrolling at night (guilty as charged), you can easily adjust the volume with the buttons on the front of the headband instead of your phone.

This headband has a wireless Bluetooth connection and can play continuously for up to 14 hours, providing more than a night’s sleep on one charge. I’ve found it’s closer to 10 to 12 hours, and I’ve been charging it daily.

Runner-up: If you’re looking for an affordable sleep mask and headphones combination, check out Musicozy's Sleep Mask Headphones. Their technology is the same as the cheaper version, but they have a sleep mask shape to block out light, making them great for sleeping and traveling.  

Pros:

• Lightweight and comfortable
• Good sound quality
• Versatile; suitable for sleeping and exercising
• Affordable

Cons:

• Have to charge often
• Slides around if you switch positions a lot while sleeping