8 Best Earbuds for Sleeping to Help You Drift Off in 2025
Can’t sleep without total darkness or white noise? This clever hybrid promises blackout bliss and dream-level comfort.
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You’ve just settled in for the night, found the cool spot on your pillow and started drifting off - when suddenly, your partner kicks off their best impression of a human chainsaw.
Sound familiar? If snoring (or any other nighttime noise) is wrecking your rest, sleeping with earbuds might be the solution to a good night’s sleep.
Dr Karun O’Keeffe, Senior Lecturer at the Sleep/Wake Research Centre at the School of Health Sciences, says “there is emerging research about the use of sound during sleep”. And chances are, a quick poll of your friends and family will reveal plenty who drift off to white noise, rain sounds or their favourite podcast.
Our top pick for bedtime listening? Sleep Dreams’ SleepSoftly Deluxe Sleep Headphones. Shopping writer Rosalyn Fannin put them to the test and called them “truly impressive,” adding “they made a world of difference” to her night’s sleep.
“It’s soft, comfy and plays anything you want so you don’t have to count sheep”.
So if nothing else is helping you sleep, we’ve rounded up the best earbuds and headphones for bedtime that reviewers say actually help them get a good night’s kip.
OUR TOP PICKS
Best headphone sleep masks
Sleep Dreams SleepSoftly Deluxe Bluetooth Sleep Headphones, $79.95 at Sleep Dreams
Sleep Dreams SleepSoftly Deluxe Bluetooth Sleep Headphones
What You Need To Know
If you need complete darkness to fall asleep, Sleep Dreams SleepSoftly Deluxe is the perfect option. Blocking out all the light around you, these headphones cater to exactly what you want to hear as you rest your weary head on your pillow.
You can choose to listen to four music tracks and 20 built-in sounds including white noise, rain, frogs, fans, birds, wind or keyboard tapping. It also connects to your device to listen to music on Spotify or YouTube. Plus, you can speak directly to Siri (only on Apple devices) to give music and volume commands or answer calls.
You’ll also stay comfortable thanks to its slim and flat 4mm speakers that won’t poke into you as well as its cooling fabric to avoid overheating.
Tried and Tested by news.com.au checkout Shopping Writer Rosalyn Fannin
I like to sleep in pitch black darkness listening to the hum of my air conditioner. But after my curtain rod broke and the power bills surging, I’ve had to forgo my sleep luxuries. To make up for some lost shut eye, I tried the Sleep Dreams SleepSoftly Deluxe Headphones, and it made a world of difference.
It feels ultra soft on my face and amazingly, it completely blocked out all the light. It’s easily adjustable and there’s a bit of fabric that goes over the nose so I could easily breathe but without letting any light in. Plus, it didn’t feel too cramped or overly warm. Amazing!
It’s fairly simple to set up when you have the instructions nearby, but changing the settings was a bit fiddly. You have to press certain buttons for a particular length of time, or double and triple tap others, which isn’t the simplest task to perform while dozing off.
Linking it via Bluetooth to play music or a podcast from my device was simple too, but I preferred its pre-programmed white noise and soothing music settings – the sound of rain was really calming.
As a side sleeper, it did take a little while to get comfortable. I appreciate the super slim speakers, but I definitely did notice them. If you’re not used to wearing this kind of sleeping mask, it may take a couple of nights to get used to.
But once you found your perfect settings and sleeping position, you are good to go for the whole night – and I mean the whole night. The battery life is huge. The rain trickling sound lasted all night and then some, which is truly impressive.
When it’s all said and done, I really can’t complain about the good night’s sleep I had wearing this sleeping headphone mask. It’s soft, comfy and plays anything you want so you don’t have to count sheep. It also sells at a fairly reasonable price and comes with a travel bag to help you drift off on your next road trip or flight. What more could you ask for?
LC-Dolida Sleep Headphones and Mask, from $39.99 (down from 42.99) at Amazon Australia
LC-Dolida Sleep Headphones and Mask
What You Need To Know
If you really struggle to fall asleep, this LC-Dolida two-in-one sleep mask is an effective solution. This mask combines Bluetooth headphones with the sensory isolation of a traditional eye mask, providing an all-in-one solution for both noise masking and light blocking.
It’s thoughtfully designed with 3D eye cups that don’t put pressure on the eyelids, making it ideal for those with eyelash extensions or anyone who cringes at the thought of not being able to open their eyes. It also has flat speakers that sit against the ear, making it better suited to side sleepers than bulky earbuds.
The Bluetooth unit doesn’t feature noise cancelling, but does offer a level of noise masking if you raise the volume high enough. Plus, it has a battery life of around eight to ten hours, so it won’t die during the night.
Hugely popular, the sleep mask currently has more than 13,000 five-star ratings on Amazon, with one customer commenting “I do a lot of shift work so I was looking forward to using this eye mask.
“It’s been so good, I put on a podcast or just sleep sounds and the mask blocks out all the light in the room and any sounds in the house. It’s comfortable, easy to adjust and clean. Definitely a great buy, it’s worth it and is really affordable for the quality”.
BEST HEADBAND HEADPHONES FOR SLEEPING
MUSICOZY Sleep Headband, $29.99 at Amazon Australia
MUSICOZY Sleep Headband
What You Need To Know
If just the thought of wearing earbuds through the night has your ears feeling sore, this nifty product could be worth a try.
Able to be worn as either a headband or an eye mask, the MUSICOZY sleep headband is made of a soft, breathable material and features on-ear headphones that reviewers say are comfortable enough for side sleepers.
While they lack active noise cancellation, they deliver decent sound for the price and have a battery life of up to ten hours, so they won’t disconnect in the middle of the night. They also have a control module on the front so you can easily adjust the volume without taking them off.
One five star reviewer on Amazon said “I bought this because my husband snores like a demon and it was cheaper than a divorce.
“The speakers are thin enough (and padded with a thin rubber coating) that they don’t annoy me when I sleep on my side. The sound is on par with my $300 earbuds and crystal clear, and when I’ve used them for calls I’ve been told it sounds as clear as if I was holding the phone”.
BEST EARBUDS FOR SLEEPING WITH MUSIC
Apple AirPods Pro, 2nd Gen, $348 (down from $399) at Amazon Australia
Apple AirPods Pro, 2nd Gen
What You Need To Know
While Apple’s 2nd Gen AirPods Pro weren’t designed with sleep in mind, some people absolutely swear by them.
Arriving with four ear tip sizes and a curved design that keeps them in your ears, these buds offer a comfortable experience for back sleepers, though side sleepers may find them a little bulky.
Delivering great audio quality and minimal noise leakage, they’re a top choice for listening to your favourite Apple Music or Spotify playlist as you’re counting sheep. They also provide excellent noise cancellation, helping you to block out those noisy neighbours.
On the downside, the buds only provide around six hours of battery life on a single charge, so they may not last all night.
BEST BOSE SLEEP EARBUDS
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds, $382.46 (down from $449.95) at Amazon Australia
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds
What You Need To Know
While Bose’s dedicated Sleepbuds II would have been our top pick for this category, they have sadly been discontinued. If you want the great audio quality and noise-cancelling Bose is known for, however, you can turn to the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds.
They are currently the best noise-cancelling earbuds on the market, making them a top choice for those who want to drown out background noise. They arrive with a mix of ear tips and stability band sizes, giving you nine potential fit combinations to best suit your ears, with a fit test available in the Bose Music app.
They’re comfortable and portable, and come equipped with around six hours of battery life, which will allow you to fall asleep, even if they don’t last the whole way through the night.
Additionally, the sound quality is excellent – they feature spatial audio and come with an IPX4 water-resistance rating, making them ideal for everyday use, as well as dozing off in noisy spots.
The active noise cancellation is adjustable, allowing you to control how much noise blocking you want in different situations. If, for instance, you don’t feel comfortable sleeping with noise cancellation all the way up, you can put them in Aware Mode to let some ambient noise through, making them safer to sleep in.
BEST WIRELESS EARBUDS FOR SLEEPING ON YOUR SIDE
1MORE Comfobuds Mini Wireless Earbuds, $105.99 at Amazon Australia
1MORE Comfobuds Mini Wireless Earbuds
What You Need To Know
As one of the smallest pairs of noise cancelling earbuds on the market, the 1MORE Comfobuds are about as comfortable as it gets when it comes to sleeping with something poking out your ears. They’re also easy to set up and allow you to listen to both your own music and 30 different “soothing sounds”.
Delivering both ‘strong’ and ‘mild’ levels of active noise cancellation, these buds are capable of cancelling noise up to 40 decibels of noise and come with ‘wind noise resistance’ in case you also want to wear them on your morning run.
Like the Apple AirPods Pro 2nd Gen, the Comfobuds Mini earbuds only has a short battery life of up to six hours with ANC off and just five with it on.
BEST EARBUDS FOR SLEEPING WITHOUT MUSIC
Loop Quiet 2 Earplugs, $34.95 at Loop
Loop Quiet 2 Earplugs
What You Need To Know
If you’re sensitive to the slightest bit of light or sound, traditional earbuds that play music or even white noise probably aren’t going to do you any favours. Instead, you’ll want to try a good pair of earplugs.
These Quiet Earplugs from Loop are a top pick, with over 5000 5-star ratings on the Loop site. The buds offer up to 24 decibels of noise reduction and come with four interchangeable ear tip sizes to help you find the proper fit.
Because they don’t have any speakers, the earplugs are also small and flexible enough to sit right in your ears, making them a great choice for side sleepers.
One five-star reviewer said they’re “so perfect for sleeping or long drives! They’re so comfy I sometimes forget I even have them in”.
Another raved “they really do help me get a good night’s sleep, even with my window open to a city”.
Mack’s Ultra Soft Foam Earplugs, 50-Pack, $34.50 at Amazon Australia
Mack’s Ultra Soft Foam Earplugs, 50-Pack
What You Need To Know
Mack’s Safesound Ultra Earplugs are designed with advanced tapered foam, ensuring an exceptional level of comfort, and their noise reduction rating of 32 decibels is impressive, especially given the cheaper price point.
They’re perfect for various situations and settings to block out noise to get a great night’s sleep.
Each pack contains 50 pairs, making it easy to safeguard your ears, plus if you misplace a pair it won’t be the end of the world.
They’re also a winner with customers too, boasting more than 36,000 5-star ratings on Amazon, plus more than 5,000 5-star testimonials.
“We were at the point of sleeping in different rooms as hubby snores loudly and I couldn’t sleep. Now I sleep really well. Highly recommend these,” said one shopper.
Another added that they “Ensure a good sleep when in a noisy environment. Works better and easier to insert compared to other brands.”
How we choose our products
Our team of experienced writers spend hours researching the products includes in our articles. We find out what factors make a good product by talking to experts, reviewing test results and analysing thousands of customer reviews.
When looking for the best sleep earplugs, sleep earbuds and sleep headphones, we considered their size and fit, the quality of sound produced, how comfortable they are, if you can connect them to your device, how much sound they block out and their price.
We also spent time reviewing sleep headphones where possible to ensure you’re getting the best product.
What to consider when buying earphones for sleeping
Fit: Look for models that are rated for comfort by reviewers, or that offered multiple ear tip options to help you get a better fit.
Sound: There is a range of earbud options for different types of sleepers, including noise-cancelling options and standard no-noise earplug options. Consider what noise level you normally fall asleep to – do you need complete silence or prefer a little bit of background noise?
Comfort: Some sleeping headphones and earbuds are better suited for side, back and stomach sleepers. Look as the speaker positioning and as well as their size – the bigger the bud or speaker, the more likely it may poke into you if you sleep on your side.
Eye masks: Speaking of comfort, some sleeping earbuds and headphones are a combination eye mask that feature flat speakers for those that aren’t comfortable with buds poking out their ears. They also help block out light in the space to make it even easier to fall asleep.
Bluetooth connection: If you’re more keen on listening to music or a podcast to drift off, look for a pair that connects to your device via Bluetooth. Otherwise you will have to settle for the pre-programmed white noise settings, or simply go without sound.
Budget: Prices vary significantly between different sleep earbuds, earplugs, headphones and headbands. We ensured we included a variety that fall into different price categories, from luxurious best-in-class noise-cancelling buds to budget buys.
Special features: Some earbuds and headphones come with extra features like dust and water resistance, great audio for those who want earbuds they can use both day and night, or the ability to be washed and reused for non-music options.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHAT IS THE BEST OF HEADPHONES FOR SLEEPING?
There are a few varieties of sleeping headphones and earbuds on the market, with some more suitable for one sleeper over the other depending on sleeping position and comfort levels.
Here is what you need to know about the different types of sleep headphones to help you make your decision.
- Sleep mask headphones: These headphones combine the classic sleep mask that blocks out light with built-in speakers to play soothing and relaxing audio. On the downside, they can make your face feel overly warm during the night and stomach sleepers may find they can slip down easily.
- Headband style sleep headphones: Headband sleep headphones stretch around your head with the embedded speakers sitting at your ears. They are designed to fit securely and not budge throughout the night, and are typically cheaper than sleep mask headphones. However, they can be warm to wear, easily get over stretched and offer lower sound quality.
- Sleeping earphones or earbuds: A good pair of sleeping earbuds or earphones are small, wireless and sit at a low profile. They are ideal for stomach and back sleepers, but can cause ear discomfort thanks to the pressure build-up inside the canal. They may also hurt if you sleep on your side and they usually have a lower battery life.
Over ear headphones are not recommended for sleeping as they are bulky and large, which can be uncomfortable and stop you from finding the right sleeping position. They can also create continuous air pressure within the ear canal and do not offer any ventilation to the ear, which can lead to skin irritation and overheating.
Similarly, you should also avoid wearing wired headphones and earbuds to bed as they are a significant safety hazard. The cord can easily wrap around your neck in your sleep, which is a strangulation risk.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF USING EARBUDS FOR SLEEPING?
Dr O’Keeffe has said that earbuds for sleep “haven’t been well evaluated, and there is little scientific research investigating their benefits”.
However, some people may find that sleeping with headphones helps them to drown out noisy sleep environments or quiet their mind by focusing on just one thing.
Those using earplugs rather than earbuds may also find they can fall asleep, stay asleep, and even sleep more deeply.
IS IT OK TO SLEEP WITH EARBUDS IN?
It is important to keep in mind that there are risks associated with wearing headphones through the night. According to the Hearing Health Foundation, “sounds above 70 decibels will damage hearing over time”, so you should aim for this volume or lower if you intend on regularly wearing earbuds overnight.
Other safety factors include not sleeping with corded earphones as they can wrap around your throat, and not using noise cancelling features as it could make you unable to hear fire alarms or emergency phone calls. You should also ensure your earbuds fit without any pressure, pain or fullness to avoid damaging your ear canal.
CAN YOU WEAR NOISE CANCELLING HEADPHONES OR EARBUDS TO BED?
Generally speaking, earbuds aren’t made to completely block out noise for safety reasons. If you are looking to block out as much sound as possible, you can also opt for earbuds with noise cancellation, though you should ensure that you can hear some background noise in the case of an emergency.
However, using earbuds to listen to lower volume music, podcasts or white noise could be enough to drown out a snoring partner or noisy neighbour without being completely noise cancelling.
If you don’t want to add additional noise, you can instead opt for a pair of earplugs and check the product information to see the level of noise reduction they offer.
WHICH EARBUDS ARE MOST COMFORTABLE TO SLEEP IN?
Finding the right earbuds for a comfortable night’s sleep comes down to your personal preferences and sleeping habits. For instance, side sleepers might find traditional earbuds to be uncomfortable to sleep in, regardless of the brand or model.
If you can relate, you might find options like the Sleep Dreams SleepSoftly Deluxe Bluetooth Sleep Headphones, LC-Dolida Sleep Headphones and Mask or the MUSICOZY Sleep Headband more comfortable to wear, as they integrate slim speakers within a headband or eye mask, making them less bulky on your ears.
If you can live without music and noise cancellation, you can also try regular old earplugs. Free from speakers or batteries, earplugs fit snugly within the ear canal, so you can lay on your side more comfortably.
More best sleep coverage:
- Best Mattress Toppers To Get the Best Night’s Sleep
- Best Pillows for All Kinds of Sleepers
- Best Mattresses for Couples That Can Save You From a ‘Sleep Divorce’
- Best Top-Rated Mattresses in Australia
- Best Bed Sheets to Sleep in
More Coverage
More best audio coverage:
- Best Wireless Earbuds and Earphones
- Best Cheap Earbuds to Wear
- Best Earbuds for Exercise, Running and Wearing to the Gym
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