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A quick look at the best headphones for sleeping
- Best overall headphones for sleep: LC-Dolida Sleep Headphones
- Best budget headphones for sleep: MMUSS Sleep Ultra Thin Pillow Speakers
- Best noise-canceling headphones for sleep: HIGHEVER Sleep Headphones
- Best earbuds for sleep: Bose Sleepbuds II
- Best headband-style headphones for sleep: EverPlus Sleep Headphones
- Best waterproof headphones for sleep: MUSICOZY sleep headphones
- Best kids headphones for sleep: Number-One Kids headband headphones
According to a 2019 survey from the Better Sleep Council, people are struggling to get enough sleep. And the COVID-19 pandemic has made adequate sleep schedules and routines even harder to come by. More people are reporting that their sleep is poor, and fewer are getting an ideal amount of sleep.
A quality mattress and a good set of pillows can help make your bed a comfy place to rest your head, but there are also other ways to help you doze off to dreamland.
While it doesn’t work for everyone, some people find listening to music, podcasts, or soothing sounds before bed helps them fall asleep faster.
Below, we’ll take a look at the best headphones for sleep and outline the safety considerations for listening to audio at bedtime.
How we chose the best headphones for sleeping
Here’s what we considered when deciding on the best headphones for sleep:
- Construction. Are the headphones expressly made for sleep? We didn’t consider regular headphones for this list and prioritized models made with soft, comfortable materials. We also opted for wireless models over wired ones.
- Customer reviews. We went through hundreds of reviews and chose only the headphones beloved by reviewers.
- Price. We tried to include a range of prices, from budget options to premium ones with a higher price tag.
Pricing guide
When buying regular headphones, most people seek excellent sound quality. Because of this, a good pair of headphones can set you back hundreds of dollars. For sleep, though, sound quality is less of a concern.
Comfort is key if you plan on wearing headphones to sleep, and a comfortable set of sleep headphones won’t typically cost more than $100. Here’s a quick pricing guide for our product list below:
- $ = under $20
- $$ = $21–$50
- $$$ = over $50
Healthline’s picks for the best headphones for sleep
Best overall headphones for sleep
LC-Dolida Sleep Headphones
- Price: $$
- Best for: side sleepers and blocking out light and noise
The molded eye mask from LC-Dolida is an ergonomically designed sleep mask with built-in headphones. Bluetooth technology means there are no wires to fiddle with in the middle of the night, and the headband design makes this a great option for side sleepers.
You may like this option if you want to simultaneously block out light and sound. Reviewers say the mask is well-padded and comfortable. It does let in some light, but not enough for people to dock it stars.
Buy LC-Dolida Sleep Headphones online.
Best budget headphones for sleep
MMUSS Sleep Ultra Thin Pillow Speakers
- Price: $
- Best for: side sleepers and people who hate headphones
If you’ve tried wearing headphones in bed and still can’t find the perfect pair, try these pillow speakers. The thin design slips under your pillow, so you can enjoy music, podcasts, or white noise without squishing your ears.
Reviewers like how unobtrusive the speakers are, but some complain about cord durability.
Buy MMUSS Sleep Ultra Thin Pillow Speakers online.
Best noise-canceling headphones for sleep
HIGHEVER Sleep Headphones
- Price: $
- Best for: people with tinnitus or other hearing-related conditions
While noise-canceling is great for tuning out annoying repetitive sounds (like the hum of a subway car), the feature won’t block all noises.
That said, noise-canceling headphones do allow you to listen to your music or white-noise sounds at a lower volume, which can help protect your hearing and prevent tinnitus (the medical term for ringing in your ears) from worsening with regular headphone use.
These thin headband headphones are made of breathable mesh and feature removable speakers for easy machine washing. The Bluetooth headphones have a range of 65 feet and can last up to 10 hours on a single charge.
Buy HIGHEVER Sleep Headphones online.
Best earbuds for sleep
Bose Sleepbuds II
- Price: $$$
- Best for: relaxing noise-masking sounds
The Bose Sleepbuds are the priciest on our list, and they’re also the most high-tech. These headphones are explicitly designed for use while sleeping. They feature noise-masking technology to help block out night-time disturbances.
The Sleepbuds work with the Bose Sleep app, which allows you to choose from various sleep sounds. You use the app to control the volume and even select a wake-up alarm sound. The battery is meant to last up to 10 hours.
Additionally, the headphones are made of soft silicone, so they’re designed to be comfortable for all types of sleepers. Unfortunately, you can’t stream other content using the headphones — meaning no podcasts or relaxing jazz tunes.
Some side sleepers complain the headphones aren’t as comfortable as they expected.
Buy Bose Sleepbuds II online.
Best headband-style headphones for sleep
EverPlus Sleep Headphones
- Price: $$
- Best for: simple sounds for sleeping
This stretchy Bluetooth headphone headband is made of washable material and features ultra-thin removable speakers. They have a range of 45 feet, and a single charge lasts about 10 hours. The headphones also have built-in playback controls and a microphone.
Many reviewers say these headphones are comfortable and have good enough sound quality for simple sounds. But reviewers also say the quality isn’t quite good enough for listening to everyday music or ASMR.
Buy EverPlus Sleep Headphones online.
Most versatile headphones for sleep
MUSICOZY Sleep Headphones
- Price: $
- Best for: working out
The MUSICOZY headphones are best for sweaty sleepers or for those wanting to use soft sleep headphones while working out.
The electronic components are IPX6 rated, which means they’re waterproof against high-pressure jets (so they’d do well even in heavy rain), but still shouldn’t be immersed in water.
A single charge on these headphones lasts around 10 hours, and the headphones come with an 18-month replacement guarantee.
Reviewers love the headphones for both sleeping and running. Many customers also say that the sound quality is impressive for this type of device. Reviewers also mention that using the raised controls is easy — even at night. Some side sleepers complain that the headphones put pressure on their ears despite their soft design.
Buy MUSICOZY Sleep Headphones online.
Best kids headphones for sleep
Number-One Kids Headband Headphones
- Price: $
- Best for: traveling with kids
These kid-friendly wireless headphones are great for blocking out noises so kids can sleep peacefully, whether at home, in a car, on a train, or on a plane.
The Bluetooth headphones have a range of 65 feet and can’t go louder than 90db to protect young ears from hearing damage. You can also remove the speakers to wash the headband.
Reviewers say their kids love the headphones, but many complain that the headband is not adjustable.
Buy Number-One Kids Headband Headphones online.
How to shop for headphones for sleeping
Above all, you should choose a pair of headphones at a price point you can afford. You should also consider the following:
Connectivity
How do the headphones connect to your favorite music app? Is there a wire?
Wired headphones are great for everyday listening, but they can be a pain to use while in bed. Instead, opt for wireless headphones that connect via Bluetooth.
Adjustability
Many sleep headphones have a similar headband style. This clever design keeps headphones in place, but certain headbands can get uncomfortable and end up feeling too tight. If you anticipate needing to adjust the headband size, choose headphones with an adjustable design.
Dr. Shelley Borgia, a board certified audiologist in New York City, explains that comfort is the most important factor to consider when choosing sleep headphones. If they bother you while you’re sleeping, they’ll do more harm than good.
Versatility
Do you plan on using the headphones while doing activities other than sleeping? Some headband sleep headphones are also suitable for fitness wear.
The band can do double-duty by keeping your ears warm and staying in place — even as you’re jogging around your neighborhood. If you also want to work out with your sleep headphones, look for a model that’s sweatproof or waterproof.
Headphone type
There are several different types of headphones on the market. For sleeping, though, we recommend headband headphones or earbuds.
Other types of headphones may be too bulky or uncomfortable for all-night wear.
You might get away with regular over-the-ear or clip-on headphones if you sleep primarily on your back. Still, anything with a protruding, hard-shell design might become uncomfortable if you’re sleeping on your side, stomach, or if you toss and turn.
Noise cancellation
If your sleeping environment is already quiet, you might not need the noise-canceling feature on your sleep headphones. Noise cancellation is ideal for blocking out constant, annoying sounds, but it won’t help much if your partner is watching TV at a high volume or if people are having loud conversations nearby.
Noise cancellation is a good option for anyone who tends to turn the volume up on their headphones in an attempt to drown out ambient noise, which is the common background sounds of your environment.
Experts recommend switching to a pair of noise-canceling headphones, so you can keep your volume lower. This helps to prevent hearing damage or worsening symptoms associated with tinnitus.
Company policies
Buy your headphones from a company with a good return policy and warranty. You need to be able to exchange or return the headphones if they aren’t comfortable or if they break out of the blue. After all, an uncomfortable, broken pair of headphones can’t help you sleep.
Price
A higher price doesn’t necessarily translate to better durability, but it’s a good sign that a product will stand the test of time.
A low price tag is a better indication of something too good to be true. Super cheap headphones are more likely to break prematurely or experience connectivity issues.
Benefits of sleeping with headphones
According to a
According to the survey, people listen to music while sleeping for multiple reasons, including:
- They think it helps them fall asleep.
- It’s part of an already established sleep routine.
- It blocks out external noise or other stimuli that impact sleep.
One
However, Borgia suggests that wearing headphones might be beneficial for people with tinnitus because the noise can help put symptoms on the back burner.
“My patients with tinnitus all have varying preferred sounds because the inner-ear ringing presents differently for each of them. I always advise they find a sound source that is agreeable with their tinnitus, meaning [a sound that isn’t] identical to their symptoms,” she adds.
Risks associated with sleeping with headphones
Borgia says sleeping with headphones is generally safe. However, turning up the volume too loud can quickly turn this safe activity into a risky one.
“A good rule of thumb is to listen at a volume that you can comfortably converse over. I find that when you use headphones that fit properly, it’s actually easier to keep the volume lower and maintain the sound quality because it is physically closer to your ear,” explains Borgia.
If there’s noise around you that’s keeping you up, the solution is not to blast the volume — which can potentially damage your hearing — but to find another way to mask the sound, like a sound machine or earplugs.
However, not all experts agree. Dr. Hae-Ok Ana Kim, Otolaryngologist and Associate Professor of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, says that some people, like those prone to ear infections, should avoid blocking their ears with headphones. It could trap moisture and increase the risk of infection.
Takeaway
If listening to music or calming voices is your favorite way to doze off, swap your bulky headset for a pair of soft, comfortable sleep headphones.
By keeping the volume low, sleep headphones may help you fall asleep faster without damaging your hearing.
Steph Coelho is a freelance writer with chronic migraine who has a particular interest in health and wellness. When she’s not click-clacking away on her keyboard, she’s probably nose-deep in a good book.
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