Between the blare of sirens outside your window, constant typing in a crowded office, or endless chatter of commuters, the world can be a noisy place — a pair of noise-canceling headphones allows a peaceful escape.
Whether you’re looking for help with productivity or focus, or want to feel like the star of a music video as you strut through bustling streets to your favorite soundtrack, a solid pair of headphones or wireless earbuds can transform your daily routine.
There are a variety of noise-canceling headphones and earbuds on the market, so we tried to help narrow the field. Over two weeks and 400 hours, we tested 13 noise-canceling headphones in various environments, from the gym to the office and everywhere in between to find nine winners worthy of your next listening session.
No charging plug (have to connect the cable to your computer)
Expensive, but worth the investment
If you need to drown out the noise of living in a large, lively city, then these are a sound investment. A note for setup: They come with a cord but no plug box, so you’ll have to utilize one you already own or plug them into your computer. Once connected via Bluetooth, the Bose app can be used to control the volume, Bluetooth source, modes, and EQ levels, allowing you to adjust the sound quality to your liking, such as boosting or reducing the bass or adjusting the treble up or down.
Although over-the-head headphones can feel bulky, this lightweight pair felt secure while working out without impacting speed or ability. Thanks to the soft cushioning on the top and earpieces, our tester was able to wear these for several hours — commuting to work, sitting at a desk, and walking around — sans discomfort or pressure.
As for sound, they demonstrated tremendous quality, boosting the melodies of songs and the soft voices of podcast hosts, while successfully canceling out external noise. Plus, their immersive audio feature makes music feel tangible around your head, according to our tester, similar to how speakers take up every corner of a room. Though expensive, the quality, comfort, and performance make the headphones a stellar investment for those seeking a premium audio experience.
Carry case: Yes | Charger: USB C port, included | Colors: 5 | Battery life: 24 hours on Quiet or Aware Mode, 18 hours with Immersive Audio | Charge time: 3 hours | Weight: 0.56 pounds | Adjustable headband: Yes | Modes: Quiet, Aware, Immersion | Sweat and water resistant: n/a
“I was blown away the first time I tried the immersive audio feature — I was sure my music was playing aloud in the office due to the surround-sound quality. Plus, the battery lasts for a while if you only wear them a few times weekly.”—Madison Yauger, PEOPLE shopping editor
Earbuds have many benefits: They’re compact, lightweight, and fit into carry-on luggage, work bags, or purses for on-the-go use. While some cause irritation with extended wear, these stand out for their comfort. Apple’s quick and seamless setup process means that after answering a few questions and completing the optional Fit Test, you’re ready to enjoy the impressive noise-canceling features.
In addition to excellent sound quality, the microphone makes your voice crisp for phone calls and meetings, too. The earbuds automatically adjust the volume to match the environment and pause the music if you begin a conversation (this feature can also be disabled for manual control). While the noise-canceling capabilities are top-notch, you can easily switch to transparency mode to hear your surroundings. The AirPods Pro are a significant upgrade from past iterations of AirPods, with enhanced features and performance.
Carry case: Yes, wireless charging case | Charger: USB-C Cable | Colors: 1, engravings available | Battery life: 6 hours with Active Noise Cancelation, 30 hours with charging case | Weight: 1.79 ounces with case | Eartip sizes: XS, S, M, L | Modes: Active Noise Cancelation and Adaptive Transparency | Sweat and water resistant: Yes
User-friendly app and setup
Lightweight, comfortable, and adjustable
Clear and powerful sound quality
If you’re looking for effective noise cancelation and comfortable wear at a reasonable price, look no further than the Soundcore Anker Life Q20 Hybrid Active Noise Canceling Headphones. Even at a lower price, they effectively canceled out background noise, including outside traffic and loud noises that typically distract our tester. If it weren’t for the headphones needing a recharge, our tester felt they could have kept them on forever. They’re lightweight yet adjustable and secure — a good option for working out.
Carry case: Travel pouch | Charger: Cable included | Colors: Black | Battery life: 40 hours | Charge time: 2 hours | Weight: 0.58 pounds | Adjustable headband: Yes | Modes: Hybrid ANC, Bass Up technology | Sweat and water resistant: No
Sound quality lacks the fullness of higher-quality options
Noise cancelation still allows some noise
Unable to pair with multiple devices simultaneously
Some issues with audio playback when removing one or both earbuds
These earbuds shine as a budget-friendly option, offering convenience, comfort, and impressive features such as customizable button controls, so you can personalize your experience with simple touches. Designed with multiple eartip sizes, the earbuds ensure a secure fit and are less likely to fall out during active use.
Though they appeared slightly bulky, we found them to be fairly lightweight. The earbuds deliver decent audio performance, especially at higher volumes, and give users the ability to tailor the equalizer settings through a dedicated app for optimal bass and treble. They don’t entirely block out external noise, but they’re a reliable pair that won’t break the bank.
Carry case: Yes, wireless charging case | Charger: Unlisted | Colors: 2 | Battery life: 9 hours single charge, 36 hours with case | Weight: 0.11 pounds | Eartip sizes: Unlisted | Modes: 22 EQ settings | Sweat and water resistant: Partially
If you’re investing in a quality pair of headphones, they should excel in comfort, sound quality, ease of use, and style: Enter the Dyson OnTrac Headphones. With impressive sound quality for listening to music and podcasts and noise cancelation that effectively drowned out a crying baby on a long flight, they truly deliver. Plus, the accompanying app tracks your exposure to in-ear and external noise, complete with a visual graph showing how much damaging sound you’ve avoided.
Their innovative design places the battery in the headband rather than the ear cups, evenly distributing weight and eliminating pressure on your ears and jaw for extended comfort. And if you’re going to wear your headphones as an accessory, you can personalize them with interchangeable cups and pads in different colors.
Carry case: Yes | Charger: UBS-C | Colors: 4 | Battery life: 55 hours | Weight: 0.99 pounds | Adjustable headband: Yes | Modes: Transparency, Isolation, Normal | Sweat and water resistant: Yes
These headphones deliver a premium listening experience, combining crisp, immersive sound quality with exceptional noise-canceling capabilities that can block out just about anything — from lawnmowers and washing machines to the sound of someone knocking on the door. You can’t adjust the level of how much noise it blocks out, but you can easily switch to transparency mode with the touch of a button if you want to pay attention to your surroundings.
These may not be ideal for intense physical activities, as they tend to shift during movement. Despite their slightly heavier build, the AirPods Max remain comfortable for extended wear, and their chic, minimalist design makes them as much a fashion statement as they are a high-performance audio device.
Carry case: Yes, smart case (low power mode) | Charger: USB-C Cable | Colors: 5 | Battery life: 20 hours with ANC enabled | Weight: 13.6 oz | Adjustable headband: Yes | Modes: Noise cancelation and Transparency | Sweat and water resistant: No
Exceptional sound quality
Adjustable levels and eartip sizes
User-friendly customization app
These earbuds offer a personalized listening experience with impressive features to fit your needs. The user-friendly app allows you to adjust noise cancelation, and treble and bass settings — tailoring the sound to your preference. Multiple earpiece sizes ensure a secure and comfortable fit, and the immersive sound quality creates a vibrant, live-concert-like atmosphere, making these earbuds a top choice for music lovers who value rich audio experiences.
There were, however, a few technical hiccups, such as muffled call quality and occasional disconnections, which could make them unreliable for work or frequent calls. Both the earbuds and case are bulkier than competitors, and there was a noticeable suction-cup-like feeling that’s less than ideal for all-day wear. That said, the superior sound and noise-canceling capabilities make them a solid choice.
Carry case: Yes, charging case | Charger: UBS-C | Colors: 5 | Battery life: 6 hours, 4 hours with Immersive Audio | Charge time: 2 hours | Weight: 0.3 pounds | Eartip Sizes: 9 sizes | Modes: Quiet Mode, Aware Mode, Immersion, plus 7 custom modes | Sweat and water resistant: Yes
These headphones have impressive sound quality and robust bass, which you can easily adjust through touch controls or the user-friendly app. Plus, their automatic audio settings intelligently adapt based on your location. You can seamlessly switch to noise-canceling mode when you want to block out office distractions, then switch to transparency mode when you commute home and want to be aware of traffic. And now that wired headphones are officially resurfacing as “vintage,” you can connect the included audio cable for the ultimate nostalgic cool-girl look.
These headphones aren’t ideal for vigorous workouts but provide comfort and stability during low-impact activities like Pilates and weight lifting. The cushioned ear pads and adjustable headband provide comfort, but wearers of glasses may find them slightly snug. The noise cancelation isn’t the strongest, but it works, especially with personalization options for audio settings. The design is also slightly bulky, but the battery life more than makes up for that.
Carry case: Yes | Charger: Cable included | Colors: 3 | Battery life: 30 hours | Charge time: 3.5 hours | Weight: 0.56 pounds | Adjustable headband: Yes | Modes: Unlisted | Sweat and water resistant: No
These are a good option for everyday activities like commuting, running errands, or hiking and running. The “Speak to Chat” feature automatically pauses your media when you talk, allowing conversations without removing the earbuds. Plus, “Adaptive Sound Control” adjusts ambient sound based on your surroundings, creating the right balance of noise and clarity wherever you go.
Comfort is key with these earbuds, thanks to the foam eartips which ensure a snug fit for hours of wear without discomfort. And while the sound is crisp and balanced, with customizable bass, the Bluetooth can be a bit finicky, leading to occasional signal loss if you stray too far from your device.
Carry case: Yes, wireless charging case | Charger: USB-C cable | Colors: 3 | Battery life: 8 hours, 24 hours with case | Charge time: | 5 hours (case) | Weight: 0.4 ounces | Eartip sizes: 4 | Modes: 4 | Sweat and water resistant: Yes | Special Features: Auto Play, High-Resolution Audio, Speak to Chat, Intuitive Touch Controls
Beribes Bluetooth Headphones Over Ear: These headphones offer decent sound quality at a budget-friendly price but fall short in practicality. They were difficult to fold and put excessive pressure on the ears. They also lack strong noise-canceling features.
Raycon The Everyday Wireless Bluetooth Over Ear Headphones: These fell short of expectations, particularly in noise cancelation. They allowed external sounds like traffic and construction to be easily heard. Plus, they sat too loose on our heads and took up too much room in our work bags.
Sennheiser Accentum Plus Wireless Headphones: While these delivered impressive noise cancelation and sound quality, their user experience had some drawbacks. The setup instructions were vague and the app was difficult to navigate. Despite being lightweight, they weren’t comfortable for long-term wear.
Skullcandy Hesh ANC Over-Ear Noise Canceling Wireless Headphones: These are effective for noise cancelation, have good sound quality, and are set at a reasonable price. However, without comfort, they aren’t practical. They were bulky, uncomfortable with earrings, difficult to work out in, and slid a lot during movement.
People / Madison Yauger
The advantage of noise-canceling headphones is that they allow you to enjoy your audio without cranking up the volume, effectively blocking out external noise. This helps you maintain safe listening levels, reducing the risk of long-term hearing damage, as compared to normal headphones whose noise competes against background sounds. For instance, our tester for the best overall Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones can listen to the volume at 50 percent and still hear audio clearly.
While noise-canceling headphones are not harmful, you should still be mindful of the volume. “The simplest way to reduce the risk of hearing damage is by lowering the volume. The 60/60 rule can help you remember to listen at no more than 60 percent volume for no longer than 60 minutes – then give your ears a break for 5 to 10 minutes,” audiologist Dr. Ross Cushing, AuD tells PEOPLE.
Additionally, audiologist Dr. Jenn Schumacher, AuD notes that noise-canceling headphones can alleviate mental fatigue by making environments feel quieter and more relaxed.
Fit is crucial not only for comfort purposes but also for optimal noise isolation. According to Dr. Cushing, poorly fitted in-ear headphones can lead to the constant need to increase the volume. Over-ear headphones, by contrast, typically offer better passive noise isolation, meaning fit becomes less critical in blocking out ambient noise.
It’s up to you whether you want earbuds that are barely noticeable or headphones that make a fashion statement, like the Dyson OnTrac™ Headphones. Some are also available in multiple colors, like the Apple Airpods Max.
If you plan to keep the headphones close by, you’ll want a pair that can fit in any kind of bag. While a work or weekender bag allows more room for headphones, earbuds, such as the Apple AirPods Pro may be the best option if you want something small and compact to throw in a fanny pack or backpack.
Though some noise-canceling headphones can be costly, a quality pair doesn’t need to be a big investment. Certain brands and premium features will affect the final price, but if you’re looking for a pair that doesn’t break the bank, some options are more budget-friendly like Soundcore’s Anker Life Q20 Hybrid Headphones and Life P3i Hybrid Earbuds.
People / Cai Cramer
Over two weeks, we evaluated 13 headphones across a handful of categories and used our tester insights to bring you our top picks in noise-cancelation effectiveness, and beyond. We silenced over 125 distractions throughout 400 hours of testing.
After testing, we scored each headphone on a scale of one to five in each category, and winners were selected based on an average of scores. All the headphones and earbuds featured in this article were top performers in their respective categories.
How does noise-canceling technology work?
According to Dr. Schumacher, there are two types of noise-canceling technology: passive and active. Passive noise canceling uses the physical design of headphones, such as ear padding or tight-fitting earbuds, to block external sound by creating a seal around the ears. Active noise cancelation (ANC), however, is more advanced, using microphones to detect ambient sounds and generating inverse sound waves that cancel out the noise before it reaches the listener.
Are headphones or earbuds better for noise-cancelation?
When deciding between headphones or earbuds, consider how you plan to use them. Dr. Cushing suggests over-ear models for frequent travelers, as they provide superior comfort and noise cancelation on long flights. For commuters, compact in-ear options are more portable and practical. Athletes or fitness enthusiasts may prefer lightweight, sweat-resistant models that stay secure during physical activity.
Jordana Comiter is a contributing shopping writer for PEOPLE, who has also written for publications like Women’s Health, PS, and Business Insider. She has music playing more often than she doesn’t and uses her headphones’ noise-canceling feature 99 percent of the time (including while writing this story). For this article, she reviewed the results from tests conducted in the PEOPLE Tested labs, drew on her own experience, and consulted two audiologists for their insight and advice.
We created the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval to help you find the very best products for your life. We use our unique methodology to test products in three labs across the country and with our network of home testers to determine their effectiveness, durability, ease of use, and so much more. Based on the results, we rate and recommend products so you can find the right one for your needs.
But we don’t stop there: We also regularly re-review the categories in which we’ve awarded the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval — because the best product of today might not be the best of tomorrow. And by the way, companies can never buy our recommendation: Their products must earn it, fair and square.
In short, PEOPLE Tested provides recommendations you can trust — every day, every purchase.
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