The best headphones for sleeping in 2024: tested, reviewed and sleep-coach-approved

Cost: $200 | Type: Wireless earbuds | Noise canceling: No | Battery life: 14 hours | Connectivity: Bluetooth

The Soundcore Sleep A20 from Anker takes the top spot as the best sleep headphones overall. Not to judge a book by its cover or anything, but right out of the box, these sleep earbuds look pretty sleek. The soft brushed plastic gives the case and earbuds a premium look and feel.

Like many of the sleep headphones on our list, the SoundCore A20 works with an app. Once you complete the incredibly easy setup, you can choose from a pretty decent library of sounds. There are all the usual suspects — rain, campfire crackling and an assortment of other white noise options — or you can pull from your own music apps and playlists. As I cycled through the sounds, many of the options seemed more like static to me. Ultimately, I chose Arvo P?rt's 'Spiegel im Spiegel' from my classical playlist — the music was crisp and clear.

In terms of comfort, the earbuds are furnished with rubber padding around the body and tip, and it's this design feature that makes these earbuds shine, as they're comfortable even when you're lying on your side. Moreover, they have a low profile with no protrusion, so there's little to no pressure on your ear when your head hits the pillow. For that reason, these earbuds are a great option for side sleepers.

While the A20 doesn't have active noise cancellation, the added padding does a decent job of blocking noise. Using my snoring dog as a barometer, I could hear the snorts and grumbles, but it wasn't as disruptive as usual. 

To test the A20's staying power, I repeatedly tossed and turned, and through it all, the earbuds stayed put. I'm not one to use eye masks or headphones to sleep (outside of testing them), but I did manage to nod off with the A20. When I woke up a little later, however, I ended up removing them because they were a bit uncomfortable — since it's not part of my routine, it would take some getting use to to sleep through the night while wearing them.

If you're looking for earbuds with a microphone that allow you to accept calls or to have more robust noise cancellation, you won't find them here. Users should also be aware that there's no wear detection, so if they happen to fall out while you're tossing and turning at night, they won't turn off and you'll likely wake up to a drained battery. The A20 also features top controls, which, to be honest, weren't all that fluid. Tapping the earpiece worked in some instances, and other times, it didn't.

Ultimately, I think the A20s racked up a lot of points for their outstanding design and feel, as well as their comfort. Initially, I didn't think earbuds could work for side sleepers, but these were quite comfortable.

Cost: $30 | Type: Wireless sleep mask | Noise canceling: No | Battery life: 14 hours| Connectivity: Bluetooth

Musicozy Sleep Headphones were a sleeper hit (no pun intended). Coming in at $30, I didn't expect much, but I was pleasantly surprised. The material has a velvety feel that's soft against your skin. Furthermore, the mask is generously sized, so those who want a blackout sleep mask and headphones combined will find it here. 

Connecting the mask to my phone via Bluetooth was a breeze. Once connected, I could use the panel located in the center of the mask to control the music — starting playback, controlling the volume and even skipping tracks. I don't think anyone is looking for Apple-quality sound here, nor should they, but I found the sound to be crisp, clear and quite decent. Considering that most sleep headphones on the market are somewhere north of $100, this is a fantastic pick for anyone looking for a budget-friendly option.

I was worried that the sound from the headphones would be audible to my husband, but even when I turned the volume up quite a bit, he couldn't hear anything. And while I could hear the low tones of my dog snoring while using the product, it did a good job of masking the noise.

My main concern with most of the sleep headbands I tested was how they would fare for side sleeping. This was a budget pick, but the speakers and the headband were thin and surprisingly comfortable when lying on my side. The main thing to keep in mind with these is that when you toss and turn and move around, the headband does shift.

Cost: $80 | Type: Wireless headband | Noise canceling: No | Battery life: 10 hours | Connectivity: Bluetooth

If you'd rather skip the earbuds and eye masks, consider HoomBand's Bluetooth Sleep Headphones for a less invasive option.

Again, sleeping comfortably on my side was top of mind for me, and these headphones worked just fine. The Velcro fastener allowed me to get a snug fit, and the breathable mesh fabric was comfortable to wear. While bulky speakers are often an issue with sleep headphones, the HoomBand's speakers are tucked into the headband's thermoformed foam; they're relatively flat and can be moved around and repositioned, so they weren't as distracting as I thought they would be.

If you're looking for a product with sleep sounds, guided meditations or sleep stories, the HoomBand app has a comprehensive library. You can find more than 100 hours of content created by sleep specialists, including hypnotherapists and sleep doctors. However, if you prefer to listen to '80s power ballads (you know who you are), it's also compatible with popular music apps like Apple or Spotify. One thing to be aware of, though, is that while you can turn the unit on and off from the headband, you can't control the volume, which could make this a deal-breaker for some.

This headband delivers decent sound quality, but if you're looking for noise blocking or active noise cancellation, you'll want to pick a different device. After testing a series of sleep headphones and earbuds, I thought this headband was actually the worst at blocking ambient noise — I could hear my dog snoring as clear as day. Turning the volume way up might help, but that defeats the purpose and could do a number on your hearing, long-term.

Cost: $143 | Type: Headphone/sleep mask combo | Noise canceling: No | Battery life: 20 hours | Connectivity: Bluetooth

Those looking for sleep headphones that pull double duty with a mask to block light will find a solid option with Manta's Sound Sleep Mask.

Out of the box, this mask feels and looks high-end compared to some similar entries on our list. Design features include C-shaped eyecups to accommodate side sleepers and a Velcro fastener and pull tabs on either side so you can adjust the speaker position based on your head size.

The mask itself is fully adjustable, and once you have the mask in place, you can change the speakers' locations using the sliding blue tab on either side of your head. That said, the Velcro adjustments didn't feel as strong as some others we tested, which made me question its long-term durability. 

Connecting Manta Sound to my iPhone via Bluetooth was a breeze — in fact, it was pretty intuitive. I'm not a tech wizard, but I've handled enough Bluetooth devices in my life to know how to connect them. Manta doesn't have an app, but connecting to your device via Bluetooth allows you to listen to whatever you choose from your own library.

At $143, it's a bit disappointing that the Manta Sound isn't equipped with active noise cancellation. That said, it did a decent job at blocking the sounds around me, including my snoring dog. My husband also said he couldn't hear the sound coming from my speakers even with the volume turned up relatively high.

One of the product's key marketing points is its perforated headband that's supposed to maximize airflow and ventilation. I was excited about this, considering I'm at that stage in life where I'm not as good at regulating my own body temperature, but unfortunately, the Manta Sound didn't come through for me here. I had a hot flash and I ended up taking the headband off for the duration of the heat wave since it made me feel even more uncomfortable. To be fair, it's probably not Manta's fault — I'll let Mother Nature take the heat for this one — but it also wasn't as light and cool as I was hoping.

Ultimately, this sleep headphone option was the one I was most excited about, but unfortunately, I came away with mixed emotions, mainly because the price seems high given its features. 

Cost: $184 | Type: Wired | Noise canceling: No | Battery life: 10 hours | Connectivity: Bluetooth

For the purpose of our roundup, we're calling the Philips Kokoon the best wired sleep headphones, but they're not wired in the traditional sense. The Kokoon features earbuds connected to a control box with squiggly wires (it looks kinda space-agey or like something out of the Matrix), so I was excited to try them. In the end, I found that they're good at some things and maybe not so good at others.

In the plus column, the wires loop over your ears, which adds some security and decreases the risk of losing the earbuds. If you're looking to mitigate ambient noise, the Kokoon doesn't provide active noise cancellation; however, they do have passive noise cancellation — the seals on the earbuds physically block sound.

The Kokoon works with an app, and while you can play your own music or sleep sounds, they have a robust library of options to choose from including guided meditations, white noise and relaxing music.

The Philips Kokoon also stands out as a sleep monitoring device. It tracks and logs your sleep data, providing information on what time you fell asleep, how many hours you were down for the count, how much time you spent in light, deep and REM sleep, the music you fell asleep to and how many times you woke up throughout the night.

In case you were wondering, the night I used the Kokoon, I slept 6 hours and 36 minutes, woke up seven times and fell asleep to Celestial Binaural Beats. Incidentally, you can also click over to the trends tab in the device's app and take a gander at your monthly averages for a range of data points. Moreover, the Kokoon's sensors monitor when you nod off and fade the audio once you're asleep.

I think the biggest drawback for the Philips Kokoon is the bulky control module positioned at the back of your head. Considering that the device is for sleeping, it makes very little sense. I found it uncomfortable and distracting when I rolled over on my back. Side sleepers are probably going to want to skip this one.

Cost: $180 | Type: Earbuds | Noise canceling: No | Battery life: 16 hours | Connectivity: N/A

When I first opened the box to the SoundOff Sleep Earbuds, I was both intrigued and concerned. As I unwrapped the packing, it was hard to grasp that these were actually sleep earbuds.

First, let's talk about what the SoundOff Sleep Earbuds can do. Unlike our other entries, these sleep headphones don't connect to an app or pair with your phone for music playback. The SoundOff earbuds are noise blockers and noise blockers only. More specifically, they use passive and active noise-masking technology, in this case, the brand's proprietary pink noise, to drown out the other ambient sound in your sleep space.

According to the brand, pink noise helps you get better, deeper sleep and wake up more refreshed, and there's some research to back this up. For instance, one 2017 study showed that pink noise significantly enhanced deep-sleep stages and next-day memory recall in older adults. 

By skipping the apps and Bluetooth connectivity, these earbuds are super easy to use. Take them out of the box, charge them up, place them in your ear and you're ready to roll. The only drawback is managing the foam ear tips.

To make them work as intended, you need to roll the foam tips into a cylinder, insert them into your ear and hold them gently in place as the foam expands. This seal is crucial for the earbuds' passive noise masking, so getting it right is essential.

Once the earbuds are in place, simply press the power button on the bottom of each earpiece for three seconds to turn them on. You can also cycle through eight volume settings. To turn the unit off, just hold the power button on each earpiece for five seconds.

The SoundOff earbuds fit comfortably around my ear and would be great for back or stomach sleepers. However, side sleepers might face some issues. The thick piece of plastic that wraps around your ear settles in the space where your jaw and ear connect — the mandibular process. After 20-30 minutes, I found that the pressure from my head on the pillow, with the earbuds in between, caused noticeable discomfort, especially at the top of my ear. It became so uncomfortable that I had to take them off because I couldn't fall asleep.

Overall, I thought these earbuds delivered what they promised — noise masking to help you sleep. The sound of my dog's snoring was barely audible; I probably could have drowned it out completely by turning up the volume, but I chose not to.

Cost: $155 | Type: Headband | Noise canceling: No | Battery life: 20 hours | Connectivity: Bluetooth

Side sleepers rule the world. I'm kidding, but in fact, research shows that most of us are side sleepers. Finding the right sleep headphones can be tricky for this segment of the population, but SnoozeBand MAX gets it right.

Featuring soft jersey knit fabric, adjustable eyecups that effectively block out ambient light and barely noticeable speakers that you can reposition as needed, SnoozeBand MAX are the best sleep headphones for side sleepers. These sleep headphones are a sleep mask and headphones combo like the Manta Sound Sleep Mask. Plus, the eyecups are removable, so you can wear the SnoozeBand MAX as an eye mask or as a headband, depending on your preference.

Like many of our top picks, Bluetooth connectivity allows you to enjoy your favorite sleep sounds, audiobooks, guided meditations or whatever floats your boat, courtesy of the built-in wireless headphones. For those who'd rather not overthink things, the SnoozeBand MAX also comes preloaded with 10 sleep sounds, so you can listen directly from the headband without needing to connect to other devices.

Overall, the sound was crisp and clear. Again, you're not going to find Apple- or Bose-quality sound here, but it's not staticky or distracting either.

Another nice feature of this headband is that you can power it on, adjust the volume, play or pause your music and skip tracks from the headphones. And you can also answer calls on these sleep headphones — it may be counterintuitive to sleep, but you can do it!

The SnoozeBand MAX also features an automatic timer. Double clicking the power button allows the unit to shut itself off in one or two hours.

In terms of comfort, these headphones are pretty fantastic. The fabric is incredibly soft, and unlike the Manta, it feels lightweight on your face. The speakers are also ultra thin, so they're barely perceptible when lying on your side. 

So, if you're a side sleeper who's looking for sleep earbuds, SoundCore's A20 is where it's at. But if you're a side sleeper who wants a mask and headphone combo, the SnoozeBand MAX is a solid option.