Short answer: the best earbuds for sleeping are the Soundcore Sleep A30: tiny buds that sit flush in your ear for side sleeping, with active noise cancelling and snore masking, and Tom’s Guide’s top pick. If comfort matters more than blocking noise, the Ozlo Sleepbuds 2 ($279) are the most comfortable sleep earbuds you can buy, according to SoundGuys, and last 14 hours. On a budget, the Soundcore Sleep A20 ($149.99) or a sleep mask with built-in headphones will do the job.
Check the Soundcore Sleep A30 on Amazon →
How we put this together: this guide is based on manufacturers’ specifications and published reviews (linked below). It is not based on hands-on testing by iTech Level. Prices are list prices at the time of writing and change often. See how we choose products.
Best earbuds for sleeping compared
| Sleep earbuds | Best for | Noise blocking | Battery per night | List price | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soundcore Sleep A30 | Best overall, snoring partners | Active noise cancelling + snore masking | About 9 hr with ANC (Tom’s Guide) | $229.99 (often about $180) | Check price |
| Ozlo Sleepbuds 2 | Most comfortable, sleep tracking | Noise masking (no ANC) | Up to 14 hr | $279 | Check price |
| Soundcore Sleep A20 | Budget side sleepers | Passive seal + masking sounds | 10 hr streaming, 14 hr with built-in sounds | $149.99 | Check price |
| MUSICOZY Sleep Headphones | Cheapest, blocks light too | Passive (padded mask) | About 14 hr | Budget | Check price |
| Bose QuietComfort Headphones | Back sleepers and flights | Active noise cancelling | Up to 24 hr | About $230 (Tom’s Guide) | Check price |
What makes good sleep earbuds
- A flush, tiny fit: side sleepers need buds that don’t stick out of the ear, or the pillow pushes them in. Dedicated sleep earbuds are much smaller than normal earbuds.
- Noise cancelling vs noise masking: active noise cancelling (ANC) is best against low, constant sounds like traffic, fans and snoring. Noise masking plays soothing sound over disturbances instead. Ozlo deliberately skips ANC; Soundcore’s A30 combines both.
- Battery that lasts a full night: look for at least 8 hours per charge with your settings on.
- Sleep features: built-in sleep sounds that keep playing without your phone, in-ear alarms that won’t wake a partner, and sleep tracking.
The best earbuds for sleeping in 2026
1. Soundcore Sleep A30: best earbuds for sleeping
The Sleep A30 are small enough to sit flush in your ear whether you lie on your side, back or front, and they combine active noise cancelling with adaptive snore masking, which adds soothing sound when they detect snoring. Tom’s Guide names them the best sleep headphones overall, calling them “an incredibly thoughtful pair of sleep-focused buds”, and says they could be the answer for light sleepers or anyone with a snoring partner. The box includes four silicone tips, three memory foam tips and three sizes of stabilising wings.
Good to know: battery is the main weakness: Tom’s Guide got about nine hours per charge with ANC on, with about 45 more from the case. They list at $229.99 (SoundGuys) and often sell for about $180. They’re for sleep only, not everyday listening.
Check the Soundcore Sleep A30 on Amazon →
2. Ozlo Sleepbuds 2: most comfortable, with sleep tracking
Ozlo was founded by former Bose engineers, and the Sleepbuds 2 (July 2026) are among the smallest earbuds made for sleep. SoundGuys calls them “the most comfortable sleep earbuds you can buy, with battery life that lasts a full night”. Ozlo rates them at up to 14 hours per charge, up from 10 on the originals. They detect when you’ve fallen asleep and switch from your podcast or music to noise masking, track your sleep, and the case measures room noise, light and temperature. There’s also an in-ear alarm and an airplane mode.
Good to know: there’s no active noise cancelling, which Ozlo leaves out on purpose, and no wireless charging, at $279. If snoring or traffic is the problem, the Sleep A30’s ANC does more for less. Tom’s Guide found them comfortable in all sleep positions.
Check the Ozlo Sleepbuds 2 on Amazon →
3. Soundcore Sleep A20: best budget sleep earbuds
The Sleep A20 cost $149.99 and, according to SoundGuys, are comfortable and stay in place for side sleepers, with several ear tip and wing sizes. Battery life is excellent: Soundcore claims 14 hours playing the built-in sleep sounds or 10 hours streaming over Bluetooth, with up to 80 more hours from the case.
Good to know: they have no active noise cancelling, and SoundGuys found the sound quality mediocre. They block noise with a passive seal and masking sounds, which is fine for a quiet bedroom but not for loud snoring.
Check the Soundcore Sleep A20 on Amazon →
4. MUSICOZY Sleep Headphones: cheapest option, blocks light too
If you don’t want anything in your ears, a sleep mask with thin headphones built in is a cheap alternative. Tom’s Guide picks the MUSICOZY as its best budget sleep headphones, at “a tenth of the cost” of the other picks: the padded eye cups block light, the thick material dulls some noise, and the battery lasts about 14 hours.
Good to know: there’s no noise cancelling, and the sound is best for white noise, ambient sounds and quiet meditations rather than music.
Check the MUSICOZY Sleep Headphones on Amazon →
5. Bose QuietComfort Headphones: best for back sleepers and flights
Over-ear headphones only work if you sleep on your back, but for back sleepers and travellers they’re very comfortable. Tom’s Guide’s reviewer describes wearing the Bose QuietComfort Headphones “like a gentle head hug”, praises their reliable noise cancelling and warm, smooth sound, and got about 26 hours of battery with ANC on, enough for three nights.
Good to know: they’re no good for side sleeping. For more over-ear options, see our best noise-cancelling headphones.
Check the Bose QuietComfort Headphones on Amazon →
Can you sleep with regular earbuds?
You can, especially on your back, but most regular earbuds stick out far enough to press into your ear when you lie on your side, and their batteries may not last the night with noise cancelling on. If you want one pair for day and night, choose the smallest earbuds you can find. Our best earbuds for small ears guide lists the most compact options, and our best noise-cancelling earbuds ranks the strongest ANC.
Sleeping with earbuds safely
- Keep the volume low. Sleep sounds work at quiet levels, and hours of loud audio can harm your hearing.
- Think about alarms. Noise-blocking earbuds can make it harder to hear a phone alarm or a smoke alarm. Use the in-ear alarm features, and don’t rely on earbuds if you need to hear a baby monitor or an emergency alarm.
- Keep them clean. Wipe the tips regularly and let your ears breathe; stop if you get soreness or irritation.
Our verdict
The Soundcore Sleep A30 are the best earbuds for sleeping for most people, especially if a snoring partner or traffic keeps you up, thanks to their noise cancelling and snore masking. Choose the Ozlo Sleepbuds 2 for the most comfortable fit, the longest battery and sleep tracking, the Soundcore Sleep A20 on a budget, a MUSICOZY sleep mask for the lowest price, and the Bose QuietComfort Headphones if you sleep on your back or on planes.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best earbuds for sleeping?
The Soundcore Sleep A30 for most people. They sit flush in the ear for side sleeping and combine active noise cancelling with snore masking, and Tom’s Guide picks them as the best sleep headphones overall. The Ozlo Sleepbuds 2 are the most comfortable, according to SoundGuys, but have no ANC.
What are the best sleep earbuds for side sleepers?
The Ozlo Sleepbuds 2 and Soundcore Sleep A30, which are small enough to sit flush in the ear. The cheaper Soundcore Sleep A20 also works well for side sleepers, according to SoundGuys. Avoid regular earbuds that stick out of the ear.
Do sleep earbuds block snoring?
Earbuds with active noise cancelling help most with snoring. The Soundcore Sleep A30 add snore masking, which plays soothing sound when they detect snoring. Earbuds without ANC, such as the Ozlo Sleepbuds 2, rely on their seal and masking sounds instead.
Is it safe to sleep with earbuds in?
Generally yes, if you keep the volume low, keep the tips clean and stop if your ears get sore. Noise-blocking earbuds can make alarms harder to hear, so use in-ear alarms and don’t rely on them if you need to hear a smoke alarm or baby monitor.
How long do sleep earbuds last on a charge?
Enough for a night: Ozlo rates the Sleepbuds 2 at up to 14 hours, Tom’s Guide got about nine hours from the Soundcore Sleep A30 with ANC on, and the Sleep A20 last 10 to 14 hours. Their cases hold several more nights of charge.
