Unless you are a motionless back-sleeper, most earbuds and headphones are far too bulky to wear comfortably overnight. Even the smallest pair of true wireless earbuds can fall out, become lost, or cause other problems. Sleep headphones are supposed to be the solution for people who want to block out sounds, fall asleep to music, or mask issues such as tinnitus—but when we set out to find the best sleep headphones, our dreams were dashed. Every pair we tested let us down in some way. We still have recommendations to address specific needs, but you should be prepared to accept a number of compromises.
Read more
If you like to fall asleep to music or other audio
The headband-style SleepPhones come in different sizes and fabrics, and you can stream any audio to them wirelessly via Bluetooth. But they cost more than many similarly styled competitors.
$100 from Amazon$100 from SleepPhonesIf you like to listen to music, watch video, or use a meditation app to help you drift off to sleep, the AcousticSheep SleepPhones Wireless set delivers the most reliable experience available. They’re the only headband-style sleep headphones we’ve found that offer headbands in different sizes and fabrics, so there’s a better chance they’ll fit you comfortably. The flat, felt-covered speakers aren’t painful to lie on, and they produce better bass than the cheap alternatives do. You can stream audio wirelessly from any Bluetooth source (be it a smartphone, tablet, or TV), and the 12 hours of battery life should be enough for a full night’s rest. The Bluetooth module and speaker drivers are easier to remove than the pieces in competing models, which makes washing the headband less arduous. However, the headband-style design could interfere with hair bonnets, dental headgear, or nighttime skin treatments, and folks hoping to block external noise—such as the loud snoring of a partner—may find that the cloth isn’t isolating enough. Plus, the $100 price tag may seem steep for headphones that you use only in bed.
Advertisement
If you need to block or mask sounds
These pricey earbuds mask loud noises and aren’t painful to lie on like standard wireless earbuds can be, but they limit you to playing the sounds and music provided in the Bose Sleep app.
Use promo code SHOPREFURB15
You save $50 (25%)
$249 from Amazon$250 from Best BuyIf you’re trying to rest next to a loudly snoring partner, night-owl neighbors, or a construction zone, consider the Bose Sleepbuds II earbuds, which were the only sleep headphones we tested that effectively masked noise. These high-tech earplugs don’t offer the active noise cancellation found in many Bose headphones (like our top over-ear pick in our guide to the best noise-cancelling headphones), but they do a solid job of reducing the impact of the sounds around you. The earbuds’ isolating design creates a physical barrier against the din, and you can mask it further by playing white noise or other sounds. To keep the earbuds as small as possible (so they’re comfortable for side-sleepers), Bose had to remove the wireless streaming capabilities. This means you must preload all the listening content onto the earbuds, and unfortunately you’re limited to the library of sounds and music provided in the Bose Sleep app. The Sleepbuds II set includes an alarm and call-alert option, but no awareness mode—so you may not hear crying babies, barking dogs, or home-security alerts. The pair’s 10 hours of battery life is adequate, but folks who like to sleep in may long for more listening time. If you’re desperate to rest in a distracting environment, the Bose Sleepbuds II pair is the best option available—but for many people, the $250 price tag is simply too steep.
If you want basic, affordable sleep headphones
This very inexpensive pair of headband-style sleep headphones is reasonably comfortable and can play any audio source streamed via Bluetooth, but it comes in only one size option and has no customer support or warranty.
Buy from Amazon*At the time of publishing, the price was $21.
If you are willing to take a bit of a gamble, the Moita Sleep Headphones are the best budget option we tested. This headband-style pair was the only under-$20 option that had reasonably comfortable speakers for side-sleepers to lie on. However, the one-size-fits-all headband is on the large side, the blue Bluetooth light is bright and blinks annoyingly in the dark, and the speakers’ bass response is lackluster. Perhaps most important, Moita seems to be a direct-to-Amazon seller, as we were unable to find any sort of company website or contact information. If your pair breaks outside of the Amazon return period, you may have no recourse, and we can’t guarantee that this design will remain consistent in the long term (plus, availability is spotty). But given the low price of the Moita Sleep Headphones, the risks might be worth taking if you need help falling asleep.
If you like to fall asleep to music or other audio
The headband-style SleepPhones come in different sizes and fabrics, and you can stream any audio to them wirelessly via Bluetooth. But they cost more than many similarly styled competitors.
$100 from Amazon$100 from SleepPhonesIf you need to block or mask sounds
These pricey earbuds mask loud noises and aren’t painful to lie on like standard wireless earbuds can be, but they limit you to playing the sounds and music provided in the Bose Sleep app.
Use promo code SHOPREFURB15
You save $50 (25%)
$249 from Amazon$250 from Best BuyIf you want basic, affordable sleep headphones
This very inexpensive pair of headband-style sleep headphones is reasonably comfortable and can play any audio source streamed via Bluetooth, but it comes in only one size option and has no customer support or warranty.
Buy from Amazon*At the time of publishing, the price was $21.
The research
Why you should trust us
Senior staff writer and headphone editor Lauren Dragan holds a bachelor’s degree in both music performance and audio production from Ithaca College, and she has tested more than 1,200 pairs of headphones while working for Wirecutter. In addition to reviewing gear for AV magazines, she has been in and out of top recording studios for over a decade, first as a radio producer/on-air talent and then as a professional voice actor. Her articles have been featured in Fast Company, Forbes, the Los Angeles Times, and Time, as well as on Good Morning America, the BBC World Service, and NBC Nightly News.
Senior staff writer Brent Butterworth performed the technical headphone measurements for this guide. He has been reviewing audio gear professionally since 1990. He previously worked as an editor or writer for Sound & Vision, HomeTheaterReview, Home Theater Magazine, and numerous other publications. Brent is one of the extremely small number of audio journalists (maybe two or three total) who own laboratory-grade headphone test equipment.
Who should get sleep headphones
Sleep headphones are for people who have difficulty falling or staying asleep and find that audio—be it white noise, music, or meditations—can help. Traditional earbuds and headphones are usually uncomfortable to lie on, and earbuds can fall out once you sink into your pillow. Sleep headphones are supposed to be soft enough to lie on all night (though many we tested were not), and when they fit properly, they should stay in place until morning.
Of course, headphones aren’t the only sleep-assistance option. If you live alone, or if you and the person you share a bedroom with enjoy the same tastes in listening material, a small speaker or a white noise machine could serve you just as well. If your aim is simply to block disruptive noises, earplugs are a far more economical choice. But for folks who find that earplugs aren’t sufficient, or who bunk with someone who isn’t into the same audiobook, TV, or ASMR bedtime habits, sleep headphones provide a way to drift off to your favorite media without disturbing others.
How we picked and tested
What people need to sleep comfortably is very personal, and someone might want to wear headphones while they’re sleeping for a number of reasons. Some folks want to fall asleep while listening to audio without disturbing a roommate or partner. For others, the goal is to muffle and mask disturbances. People with tinnitus may need a distraction from the irritating ringing in their ears that can prevent sleep altogether.
So, when we approached the idea of reviewing sleep headphones, we knew that we’d likely end up with several recommendations to address different situations. We created an ambitious list of the most important features necessary in a good pair of sleep headphones:
With all of the above criteria in mind, we called in every brand-name set of sleep headphones we could find and a selection of affordable but lesser-known options on Amazon. (And what we received proved to be quite interesting—check out the Competition section for more details.)
I tested each set for Bluetooth-connection reliability, fit, comfort, and sound quality. I paired each device to my phones (a Pixel 4a and iPhone 12), and if the headphones came with an app, I installed it and ran any calibration or update software. Wearing each pair, I tried lying in bed in various positions. I also placed my phone on a table and walked several rooms away to see how far I could get before the connection stuttered or dropped. To note audio quality and to check for delays caused by Bluetooth-signal latency, I listened to music and watched streaming video. For the headband-style models, I took the drivers and Bluetooth modules out of the headbands and put them back in again to gauge the difficulty of the process. And of course I tried sleeping in every pair. Only two of them made it through the night.
Unfortunately, none of the sleep headphones we tested met all of our criteria. Each model had at least one major flaw that kept us from wholeheartedly recommending it: The headphones were uncomfortable or didn’t fit properly, were overpriced, were difficult to reassemble after cleaning, or produced distractions that might interfere with sleep—or many of the above. We had hoped to send the most promising options to various panelists with different head sizes, sleep positions, and sleeping needs to get feedback and to narrow in on a “best” pick. But with only a few passable choices remaining after our initial tests, we shifted our focus to finding useful choices for people based on specific needs, even if the choices were imperfect. Of course, if more companies begin making better and more affordable sleep headphones, we’ll update this guide with more enthusiastic picks.
As a final step, we sent the three most palatable pairs of sleep headphones to a Wirecutter staffer who has tinnitus to gain feedback on how well they performed in that situation.
If you like to fall asleep to music or other audio: AcousticSheep SleepPhones Wireless
If you like to fall asleep to music or other audio
The headband-style SleepPhones come in different sizes and fabrics, and you can stream any audio to them wirelessly via Bluetooth. But they cost more than many similarly styled competitors.
$100 from Amazon$100 from SleepPhonesWho it’s for: AcousticSheep’s SleepPhones Wireless sleep headphones are for the person who enjoys drifting off to the sound of their favorite sleep tunes, ASMR videos, or meditations, and who doesn’t want to disturb a partner or roommate. They’re ideal for people who can’t fall asleep in quiet rooms, as well as for those who don’t like the feeling of wearing earbuds while they’re trying to sleep.
Why we like it: This headband-style pair of sleep headphones has the most flexible and comfortable speaker design of all the headphones we tested. No matter how you lie on the SleepPhones, they won’t dig into your ears like many other models we tried. Available in fluffy fleece for folks who prefer a warmer cozy feel or a lighter-weight, more breathable “breeze” fabric, the SleepPhones can work as a headband or sit over the eyes. (Folks who want total light blocking may prefer to use a separate sleep mask instead.) The fabrics are stretchy, and the headbands are available in small, medium, and large sizes—so no matter the circumference of your noggin, you should be able to find a fit that’s snug enough to stay in place but not brain-squeezing tight.
The electronics are removable, so you can easily machine-wash your headband or swap it out when it gets worn. We laundered our headband several times following the instructions, and it washed up perfectly. You can buy additional headbands separately for $20. A small, Velcro-secured slit at the top allows access to the charging port and enables you to thread the drivers and Bluetooth module in and out. The headbands feel better made than those of cheaper competitors, with thicker fabric, better stitching, and a Velcro closure rather than a non-sealable opening.
Another feature that sets the SleepPhones apart from cheaper alternatives is that the speakers are color-coded so that you can easily put them back into the headband properly: The right speaker has red stitching, the left has green stitching, and the softer gray side of the speaker should face toward the ear. With other sleep headphones we tested, we had to guess which way to put the drivers back. Plus, AcousticSheep backs the SleepPhones with a one-year warranty, whereas most of the lower-priced competitors don’t even have a company website for you to contact someone if your headphones break.
The Bluetooth module provides raised controls for volume, track skip, play/pause, and power. Although the module resides under the headband fabric, the controls are relatively easy to use by feel. The company recommends that you wear the module toward your forehead rather than behind your neck so that you don’t inadvertently push the buttons when you lie on your back. Pairing the SleepPhones with your audio device is the same experience as with normal Bluetooth headphones. With my phone placed on the bedside table, I never had connection issues and could even walk a few rooms away to the bathroom with no problem. That said, pipes and metal beams can get in the way of wireless signals, so we suggest keeping your music device in the same room as your bed to avoid any hiccups.
AcousticSheep claims that the battery life of the SleepPhones Wireless pair is 12 to 13 hours for the latest version, but it can vary depending on your volume level and whether you play media all night long or just as you fall asleep. In our testing at 60% volume, we got results right in the claimed window—though that volume level was louder than we’d prefer when trying to fall asleep, and a more moderate volume might have gained us a little extra time. A full charge from a dead battery takes around three hours, so if you want audio to play all night long, it’s best to plug in your SleepPhones every morning.
As for sound quality, the SleepPhones Wireless headphones had more bass response than the cheaper options we tried. The drivers actually played some low bass notes on hip-hop tracks, whereas the budget pairs reproduced only overtones. However, the SleepPhones are by no means bass-heavy and can’t reproduce the deep booms in movies (such as the resonant aspects of the infamous Inception “braaaaam”)—but given the headphones’ intended use, at bedtime, we’re willing to let this slide. Overall, the sound quality was quite good in our tests, with decent clarity on high notes and no harshness or other cheap-sounding aspects to the low and high frequencies.
We found that all of our top models helped to mask tinnitus equally, provided they fit well and offered enough sound options. Our tester who has tinnitus liked that they were able to use the same tracks with the SleepPhones that they usually play through a small speaker.
The fabric headband isn’t as isolating as earbuds or the earcups on over-ear headphones, so sounds can get in and out. If you’re listening at a moderate volume, a bed partner likely won’t hear the SleepPhones, but at max volume, someone in bed with you in a very quiet room may hear a buzz or the tizzy outline of what you’re listening to. But it’s still much quieter than sounds played through your cell phone or a bedside speaker. You can still hear some surrounding noise while wearing the SleepPhones, too, though that ability may be a perk for people who are concerned about hearing a child or pet, or someone who prefers auditory awareness for safety.
Flaws that may be dealbreakers: Although the SleepPhones came the closest to being a pair we could wholeheartedly recommend, there are still some significant downsides to consider before you make a purchase. As we mentioned above, fabric isn’t the best sound isolator. While the headband provides a mild muffling effect just by covering your ears, it can’t block out truly disruptive sounds such as snoring, construction, barking dogs, or partying neighbors.
The headband design isn’t ideal for everyone. People who wear hair bonnets to bed, who use nighttime skin treatments that can harm fabric, who wear certain CPAP masks or headgear at night, or who tend to feel hot when sleeping might find that the thick headband just doesn’t fit into their routine.
But the biggest drawback is that the SleepPhones design isn’t one that transitions well to daytime use, which may make it a lot harder to accept the $100 price tag. Maybe on a brisk day, you might enjoy wearing the fleece headband instead of earmuffs, but the fabric is designed to breathe, so it’s not even great for very cold weather. Although AcousticSheep says you can use the breeze-fabric headband for working out, we’d be hesitant to do so since the electronics aren’t rated for any moisture resistance, and sweat damage could void your pair’s warranty. Additionally, the SleepPhones lack a microphone, so if you want to take a call, you need your phone.
If you want to block or mask loud noises: Bose Sleepbuds II
If you need to block or mask sounds
These pricey earbuds mask loud noises and aren’t painful to lie on like standard wireless earbuds can be, but they limit you to playing the sounds and music provided in the Bose Sleep app.
Use promo code SHOPREFURB15
You save $50 (25%)
$249 from Amazon$250 from Best BuyWho it’s for: If you are desperate to block disruptive sounds so that you can sleep, the Bose Sleepbuds II set is the only pair of sleep headphones we’ve found that can help. The isolating design and the masking sounds that Bose provides through its app can cover the most cacophonous snoring partner, the most obnoxious barking dog, and even the most insistent next-door jackhammers well enough for you to get some shut-eye.
Why we like it: The Bose Sleepbuds II earbuds act like earplugs, physically blocking noise and using Bose’s curated soundscapes—which you must load directly onto the earbuds through the Bose Sleep app—to further mask disturbances. Despite Bose’s reputation for offering effective active-noise-cancelling headphones, the Sleepbuds II set is not an active-noise-cancelling device. Active noise cancellation, while effective on sustained low-pitched sounds such as airplane noise, isn’t adept at reducing intermittent sounds like hammering or higher-pitched sounds like voices. So, with the Sleepbuds II, Bose focused instead on designing earbuds that physically isolate your eardrums from soundwaves as much as possible and let you cover up the rest with white noise.
The Sleepbuds II pair does a great job of this. The owners of the building next to mine decided to install a security gate, and workers spent an afternoon jackhammering right below my second-floor bedroom window, which proved to be an excellent test of the Sleepbuds II pair’s noise-blocking abilities. Using a combination of rain sounds and a masking naturescape that Bose calls “Rustle,” I could barely notice the rumbling ruckus mere yards away. Since it was near my lunch break, I caught a quick 30-minute snooze (purely for scientific purposes, of course). So I can assert with some certainty that the Sleepbuds II earbuds can diffuse most any hullabaloo that life might throw at you.
Not satisfied with strictly real-world testing, we measured the isolation of the Sleepbuds II using a method similar to how we test noise-cancelling headphones and earplugs. We found the noise reduction to be an average of 11.1 decibels in the range from 100 to 1,280 Hz, which is the frequency range in which most nuisance sounds sit. Although this result is not as significant as that of the best active-noise-cancelling headphones, a reduction of 11.1 decibels is enough to be meaningfully useful. To equate this data to earplug ratings, an 11-decibel reduction is equivalent to an NRR of about 29. This physical reduction of noise in combination with the added sound masking is what makes the Sleepbuds II so effective.
The Bose Sleep app, which is required for you to use the Sleepbuds II set, contains a limited sound library of 14 noise-masking sounds, 15 naturescapes, and 10 tonal environments called Tranquilities that are reminiscent of the music beds from a meditation podcast. You can hear samples of all of these on the Bose website. Once you find your favorites, you can wirelessly upload and store up to 10 tracks on the earbuds, though you need the app to toggle between sounds. The sound files loop seamlessly and infinitely, so once your chosen track begins, you don’t need to worry about anything interrupting your audio. Additionally, our tester who has tinnitus was able to find a few tracks in their ringing’s frequency range that helped to make it less noticable. But because the sound options are limited, you have less flexibility to find masking options that best suit your ears.
Since the Sleepbuds II set blocks sound so well, you likely won’t be able to hear an external alarm. Fortunately, the earbuds offer their own alarm, which you can set via the app. Should you not want to miss an important call, the optional phone-call alert can notify you of incoming calls, but because the earbuds have no microphones, you cannot answer the phone via the Sleepbuds II; instead, you need to take the earbuds out of your ears and use your phone to speak to your caller.
The earbuds are tiny and sit flush in your ears, so you can sleep comfortably on your side. True wireless earbuds that are made for daytime use need to accommodate microphones and larger Bluetooth modules, which means they often protrude from the ear canal and can mash uncomfortably into your ear when you lie down. The Sleepbuds II come with three sizes of wings that have attached tips, which should ensure a secure fit for most folks—though we wish Bose included an option to mix and match the sizes of tips and wings.
The battery life of the Sleepbuds II is up to 10 hours, though transferring tracks and listening at high volume levels can cut that time a little. The buds take around six hours to charge fully, so you should be sure to put them back into their charging case as soon as you wake up. (Doing so will also help you to avoid losing them, as the buds really are small.) The case itself holds three full recharges, so you need to plug it in only a couple of times a week.
The Sleepbuds II set is water resistant, with an IPX4 rating, so if you happen to splash these earbuds with water, they’ll survive. Bose covers its gear with a one-year warranty and a 90-night satisfaction guarantee, should you encounter issues.
Flaws that may be dealbreakers: As we mentioned above, the Sleepbuds II set doesn’t have a microphone for calls or the ability to stream wirelessly from any audio source. You must upload your chosen tracks from the options in the Bose Sleep app. Although we appreciate the thoughtfulness in the design of the Sleepbuds II, you can’t use them for anything else, and frankly, paying $250 for earbuds that don’t play anything other than a few dozen soundscapes is pretty hard to justify. In fact, the only reason we recommend these sleep earbuds at all is that there literally isn’t anything else out there that does what the Sleepbuds do. Earplugs can reduce the sounds around you, but they also cause you to experience the occlusion effect, which amplifies every sound your body makes. And earplugs don’t completely cover very loud sounds such as snoring or a jackhammer. We recognize that there may be some folks who are desperate enough for some sleep that they’re willing to pay anything to find relief, and for them the Bose Sleepbuds II set is a workable option.
Another concern is that the isolation and masking of this pair are so good that folks who need to be alerted to an emergency may not hear it. To address this dilemma, Bose recommends that you set the audio tracks to turn off after a certain amount of time (which, if you have a snoring partner, isn’t a great option), that you sleep with one earbud in (which we don’t see as feasible), or, “if you sleep with a partner, consider relying on your partner to help you stay aware of your surroundings while wearing Sleepbuds.”
Lastly, we wish that the tips and wings were separate parts, as the size of a person’s ear canal and outer ear don’t always correlate, and the wrong-size wing can be uncomfortable or unstable.
If you just want a basic, affordable set of sleep headphones: Moita Sleep Headphones
If you want basic, affordable sleep headphones
This very inexpensive pair of headband-style sleep headphones is reasonably comfortable and can play any audio source streamed via Bluetooth, but it comes in only one size option and has no customer support or warranty.
Buy from Amazon*At the time of publishing, the price was $21.
Who it’s for: If you’re looking for a cheap option that streams audio from a Bluetooth device and is comfortable enough to lie on, the Moita Sleep Headphones set was the only pair of budget sleep headphones that made it through a full night of our testing. These headphones are a solid choice for someone who wants to find out whether headband-style sleep headphones will work for them without investing too much money. But you should be prepared to make some concessions for that under-$30 price.
Why we like it: The best thing about the Moita pair is that these headband-style sleep headphones perform the necessary functions for as little money as possible. In most of the budget sleep headphones we tested, the speaker drivers were hard disks covered with foam—think ’80s Walkman-style headphone foam. After we spent 30 minutes wearing most of them, our ears began to ache. The Moita set’s speakers have a slightly different design that uses a foam ring around a harder center, which distributes the weight better. As a result, it was the only budget option that was comfortable enough to wear all night.
Like all of the other inexpensive options, the Moita headband comes in only one size—which falls on the larger side and is stretchy. It isn’t headache-inducing to folks with bigger noggins, but it can be overwhelming on smaller heads. If you find that it’s too large, you may consider sewing the headband to fit more tightly; otherwise it’s likely to slip off at night. The drivers and Bluetooth module are removable, and the headband is hand-washable, so you will be able to clean it when needed.
Moita claims a battery life of 10 hours, and we actually eked out a little longer. Putting it at 60% volume, we managed 11.5 hours before the device started chanting “battery low.” It finally dropped off at just shy of 12 hours of playing music. However, louder volumes may impact listening time, and because the Moita set has call functions, taking phone calls will deplete the battery faster. Your experience may vary.
In our tests, listening to the Moita headphones was pleasant enough for bedtime, but the sound quality was just passable, with very little low bass. Movie explosions and hip-hop songs lacked some oomph, but nothing else about the sound was irritating, piercing, or coarse. You control play, pause, and track-skip with the Bluetooth module, and though we noticed a slight latency with video, it was minimal enough that we don’t expect it to bother most people. Like the AcousticSheep SleepPhones pair, the Moita set helped our tester with tinnitus to mask the ringing at night when paired with our tester’s preferred sounds.
Flaws that may be dealbreakers: This pair has a lot of potential drawbacks. As we mentioned, the headband is available in only one size, and although craftier people may be able to sew it to be smaller, it’s a pain to have to do so. The fabric is also rather wide, so folks who feel warm at night may find that the broad ring of fabric holds in too much heat. And as we noted with the SleepPhones, a headband design isn’t ideal for people who wear hair bonnets to bed, who use nighttime skin treatments that can harm fabric, or who wear certain CPAP masks or headgear at night.
Getting the electronics in and out of the Moita headband isn’t physically difficult, but it can be tricky to know how to put the pieces back after you wash the headband. You get no guidance as to which speaker driver is right and which is left, nor which direction the drivers should face when you put them back in. We recommend that you pay close attention the first time you remove everything and mark the drivers “L” and “R” with a Sharpie.
Unlike the SleepPhones and the Sleepbuds II, the Moita set has a microphone for taking calls, but it sounds pretty muffled. You shouldn’t take important calls with this pair.
The Bluetooth module, located front and center on the headband, has an exposed light that blinks all night long. It’s a blue, flashing light that one tester referred to as being like “Rudolph’s dang nose.” We found that placing a small piece of electrical tape over the light helped to block it out. (Yes, we actually recommend that you buy electrical tape as an accessory to sleep headphones. Not ideal, but it worked.)
Another caveat worth considering is that Moita seems to be a direct-to-Amazon retailer. The “company” lacks a website, any form of contact information, and a warranty. (A seemingly identical pair is sold under the brand name Blulu.) So if something goes wrong outside of the return period at the point of purchase (Amazon offers a 30-day return policy), you are out of luck. For $20 headphones, some folks may not mind, but this drawback is worth thinking about before you hit the buy button.
Because Moita also lacks the usual trappings of a larger headphone company, we can’t say for sure that the design you might buy from Moita tomorrow will be the same as the one we reviewed, or that the headphones will be in stock consistently. Sometimes the reason a budget set of headphones is so inexpensive is because it’s made with existing parts bought in bulk. When this happens, a successive batch could be made with parts sourced from different places to keep the price low. In other words, at this stage, buying the Moita headphones is taking a bit of a gamble, so we recommend saving the box and checking them out thoroughly before the return period expires.
The competition
Testing for this guide reminded us why we generally don’t test things from smaller, unknown brands available on Amazon. Opening each set of budget sleep headphones we purchased was a bizarre experience. Although the headbands matched the photos displayed on Amazon, the brand names printed on the headphones often didn’t match what was on the box or what was on the purchase listing. Headphones labeled “Enjoying” came in “Everplus” and “Musicozy” boxes. The headphones we ordered from “ToPoint” were actually by “Musicozy.” Moita didn’t even have any company information on the box, simply the generic term “Bluetooth Headband” emblazoned on the package. This might not seem relevant—except it means that you don’t know which company to contact if something goes wrong.
Interestingly, the majority of the under-$30 sleep headbands we tested contained nearly identical inner parts, so if you happen to like the design of one, you’ll probably get a similar experience from any other pair you order.
1More ComfoBuds Z: If we could make a few design tweaks to this pair of true wireless sleep earbuds, it could be a top contender. We loved how the diminutive earbuds nestle into the ear in a way that isn’t obtrusive for side- or stomach-sleepers. The isolating design blocks out a good bit of noise, and the streaming audio capabilities mean you aren’t tied to the sleep audio offerings included in the app. This pair sounds good, too. However, the earbuds are so small that, should one fall out, you could be searching for it for days. (Each bud is slightly larger than an Advil tablet.) If 1More added stabilizing wings akin to the Bose, the small size wouldn’t be as big of an issue. But the biggest downside is the short battery life. The built-in sounds can only play for a maximum of 3.5 hours, and streaming audio plays for a maximum of 2.5 hours. Unless you need earbuds only for naps, that battery life doesn’t cut it.
AcousticSheep SleepPhones Effortless: This pair performs nearly identically to the standard Wireless version but offers wireless charging capabilities. Unfortunately, the way you have to lay the SleepPhones Effortless on the charging pod is awkward, so it’s hard to know for certain that you’ve aligned it correctly, and the battery life is 10 hours versus the 12 hours of the newest Wireless edition. As a result, we don’t recommend paying the extra money for this feature.
EverPlus Sleep Headphones: This budget pair had a small headband that we thought might squeeze larger heads. The speakers were foam-covered pucks that were too hard and uncomfortable to lie on all night, and a bright light blinked annoyingly. The headphones lacked bass notes, too. Worth considering: No brand name appeared on the packaging, and the name “Enjoying” was embroidered on the label, so we aren’t sure that there is any customer service to contact should you have issues.
HoomBand: This headband-style set is similar in design to the SleepPhones and generally costs a little less. Overall, this is one of the better options we tested, but there are a few aspects to consider. The sound quality has slightly less detail compared to the SleepPhones but far better clarity than the Moita budget pick. Unlike the SleepPhones’s Bluetooth module that is flexible, has volume and track controls, and lays flat, the Bluetooth module on the HoomBand is a chunkier cuboid rectangle with only play/pause capabilities. HoomBand thoughtfully cushioned the module (and speakers) with a foam lining, but back-sleepers with firm pillows may still feel the lump. The headband’s foam is surprisingly breathable, but it holds in heat more than the headbands on our recommended headphones, which may factor into your decision-making if you tend to sleep hot. The HoomBand headband is stretchy and hand-washable, but the fabric is rather wide—about an inch wider than that of the SleepPhones. This broad design is comfortable but may not appeal to folks who wear sleep masks.
The HoomBand also offers you less choice in material and sizes; currently the headbands are available in only one color and two sizes, and HoomBand replacement/additional headbands are not yet available for sale. So if you want to have one headband in use while another is the wash, you’ll want to look at the SleepPhones instead. Although the foam adds structure and cushioning, getting it in and out of the headband is a little tricky.
Included with the headband purchase is access to HoomBand’s HoomPlay app, which currently offers around 50 pieces of sleep content ranging from bedtime stories to sound baths. For someone without an existing playlist, the app’s offerings (which HoomBand says is updated regularly) are a nice perk. The tracks range from 25 to 60 minutes and can be looped to play all night. That isn’t to say you are stuck with their content: Should you choose not to use the app, HoomBand headphones also stream other audio via Bluetooth.
Another way the HoomBand falls slightly short of the SleepPhones is battery life. The SleepPhones offer 12 hours, the HoomBand 10 hours. Also keep in mind that HoomBand recommends no more than three feet between your playback device and the headphones to avoid signal drop, which may or may not be a factor based on your bedroom’s outlet setup. If you need more space, the SleepPhones will stay connected up to 15 to 30 feet from most devices.
Kokoon Nightbuds: This pair of sleep earbuds is packed with features, including sleep tracking, built-in white noise and meditations, and automatic music fade-out when the sensors detect you’re asleep. This pair also streams music via Bluetooth and has a sealed-earbud design to help block external noises. The silicone tips have stability wings attached to hold the earbuds securely in place as you move at night. The downside is comfort. This pair isn’t ideal for back-sleepers, as the Bluetooth and volume-control module rests behind your head and connects to the earbuds via a wavy cable. You can lie on it, but it may affect streaming connectivity, and people with sensitive noggins (or who wear their hair back or in caps) might find the module (which is the size of a curved Pepperidge Farm Milano cookie) annoying. The cable also is problematic, as the Nightbuds ship with a clear warning to not stretch the cable—which could easily happen if you snag it in your sleep. For side- and tummy-sleepers, the part of the cable that attaches to the earbuds smashes into the ear all night, and can become irritating. If you are someone who can get accustomed to that feeling, the Kokoon pair works very well, but we think folks who need headphones to fall asleep shouldn’t have any added obstacles to doing so.
Kokoon Relax Second Edition: We appreciated the variety of sound and meditations in the included app. However, the overall experience of this over-ear pair was lacking. Despite its use of flat, very padded earcups, the Kokoon over-ear design isn’t made for side- or stomach-sleepers. Kokoon recommends buying a “very deep pillow” to accommodate these headphones, which we weren’t particularly jazzed about paying for in addition to the $350 headphone price. The earcups are lined with metal electrode nubbins that are meant to track your brain activity and monitor your sleep quality. After an hour of use, these nubbins left indentations on our testers’ ears and caused them to ache. They also didn’t work—as we sat taking notes, the app registered us as being in a deep sleep. Kokoon says it is aware of the issue and that it will fix the problem in the app soon, but we were disappointed to find that the main feature setting this pair apart didn’t even function properly. If the overall design were more comfortable, we might have waited for a fix and retested the Relax Second Edition, but even if the tracking worked, we wouldn’t want to wear these headphones all night long.
Musicozy Sleep Headphones: Though the packaging said “Musicozy,” the headband was labeled “Enjoying.” The internal parts were also similar to those of the EverPlus headphones, with uncomfortable drivers, a lack of bass, and a blinking light. The headband was on the snug side for us; folks with larger heads may not like the fit.
ToPoint Sleep Headphones: This pair, though sold by ToPoint, contained headphones and packaging that said “Musicozy.” And as with the other budget options we saw, which all seemed to be made with similar electronic parts, the speakers were uncomfortable to lie on for long periods, the headband had the annoying blinking light, and the low bass was lacking. This pair also beeped very loudly when the battery was low. The headband was one of the smaller models we tested; it would fit smaller noggins better than larger ones.
Vogek Sleep Headphones: We were encouraged by the fact that the labels on the headphones, the box, and the listing all matched. Vogek also has a website, which indicates a company that possibly could have the resources to respond to customer concerns. However, the headphones aren’t listed on the Vogek site, and we were unable to confirm any warranty beyond the usual 30-day Amazon return window. The headband size fell in the middle among the budget options we tested. Unfortunately this pair still had the same hard speakers and blinking light that plagued the rest of the budget competition.
About your guide
Lauren Dragan
Lauren Dragan is a senior staff writer and has tested over 1,000 headphones for Wirecutter. She has a BA from Ithaca College in music performance and audio production. She’s been featured in Good Morning America, NBC Nightly News, The New York Times, and more. Additionally, she’s a voice actor whose work includes projects for Disney and Mattel.
