If you sleep well every night, consider yourself lucky. Those who don't are always looking for ways to enjoy a more restful slumber on a nightly basis, even if that means turning to tech to find a solution. It might seem counterproductive to plug your ears with earbuds or headphones, but they may also help produce — or reduce — the sounds that can lull you to pass out.
Some manufacturers are trying to answer the call by making earbuds and headphones specifically focusing on sleep quality. They all aim to do it in different ways, so it depends on what you feel may be the best fit for you.
What are the best headphones and earbuds for sleep?
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Back on track
The Soundcore Sleep A10 will let you play whatever you want to help you fall asleep, though you get some built-in audio in the Soundcore app if you prefer. The app also includes sleep tracking and has the smarts to automatically lower the volume once the buds sense you've passed out. Max battery life stands at 10 hours.
Pure solitude
The QuietOn 3.1 earbuds aren't about playing content; they're simply there to keep it all out. Our review found them super comfortable to wear throughout the night, coupled with effective active noise cancelation (ANC) to drown out the background. Great for lighter sleepers, though pricey, given they don't play any music.
Reliably restful
The 1More SleepBuds look to do a little bit of everything, which is to say you can play whatever you like, while also sleeping on your side without discomfort. Their feathery weight and smaller size might even make you forget you're wearing them when waking up. Not to mention the solid noise isolation and built-in soothing audio available through 1More's app.
Under the covers
The Bedphones Sleep Headphones were made to cater to side sleepers who might otherwise feel uncomfortable wearing earbuds while asleep. Soft padding covers the thin cups helping them lay flat and not apply pressure, while the ear hooks hold them in place so they don't slip out. You can listen to whatever content you want and the 13-hour battery life is plenty for a good night's sleep.
Swooned and cocooned
These headphones are largely based on the Kokoon Nightbuds, which are wireless, yet not truly wireless because the earbuds connect to a module in the middle housing sleep sensors to track your slumber. You can play any content you like through them, but they're not sonically special and work best with their own content.
Cover your eyes and ears
If you want to black out your eyes while listening to whatever will help you sleep better, Musicozy covers both. These are headphones built-in to a one-size-fits-all headband and versatile enough that you can play what you like. Even meditate with them, if you want. They're also washable once you remove the earpieces and front switch.
Budget choice
The IFecco Invisible Sleep Earbuds are affordable buds designed with side sleepers in mind, thanks to a smaller and lighter build that nestles in the ear without sticking out. You can listen to any audio content you like, including sounds to help lull you to sleep every night. They are surprisingly durable and should maintain a strong connection at all times.
Keep it simple
The Maxrock Sleep Headphones are as budget as it gets for this purpose, but are smartly designed with thinner cables, smaller earpieces, and dual-layered tips. Whether you're a side sleeper or not, these earbuds won't get in the way, keeping everything simple, though you will need a USB-C adapter to use them with most phones.
Better sleep may be between the ears
Sleep quality is so highly subjective that it's hard to know what will work best for one person or another, which is why these earbuds and headphones try to tackle it in different ways. Even the best noise-canceling earbuds could be alternatives, though they're not specifically built to deal with sleep quality.
The Anker Soundcore A10 take a very direct approach yet still leave it open enough to listen to whatever content helps you pass out, offering great comfort and consistent performance in the process. The QuietOn 3.1 are smaller and more singularly-focused by taking a very different approach to content playback in that there simply isn't any. However you choose to go forward, and regardless of your sleep situation, these devices give you a chance to make it better.
