8 Headphones You Can Comfortably Wear to Sleep (2024)

The market for headphones actually designed for sleep (versus regular headphones you can just decide to sleep in) is markedly small. But this Philips x Kokoon set is specifically designed for sleep with ultra-thin wires and buds, plus a control panel that sits at the nape of your neck. There are built-in sensors that will fade out the noise (of which you can choose at your leisure on the Kokoon app) as you fall asleep. Better yet: Those sensors also make the whole set-up a sleep-tracking tech, so you can see how well it's working for you in the morning.

OK, right, these are just Apple AirPods. And you know what? In a pinch, they're not bad. I've spent more than a few shared hotel room nights falling asleep to a soothing Headspace playlist, and they get the job done. The outside noise is quiet, the inner noise is quiet, and on a soft enough pillow, they won't pinch your ear. They will absolutely fall out in the middle of the night, though.

For anyone who is super sensitive to earbuds and isn't trying to squish their ear over a pair through the night, this headband is a solid compromise. It has flat, padded speakers inside, which you can both move around to your liking and remove to wash the headband itself. Some reviewers say the headband runs small, and there are a few size options to choose from. It's a fair price for what you're getting.

These earbuds are specifically designed for sleep use, and use a noise-blocking design rather than active noise canceling (which some claim is better for a truly deep sleep). The sealed ear tips and tiny, grippy ear wings make the actual fit of them noise-blocking. Add your Bluetooth-connected app or pick something from the Soundcore app and you've got nowhere else to go but to sleep. They'll sense once you've fallen asleep, too, and pause for the night.

Bonamour's sleep buds are upping the ante when it comes to incorporating the latest in sleep science. These teeny tiny buds connect to the Bonamour app, which has a library of different types of binaural beats in the form of naturescapes, water sounds, color noises, and more. If you don't know about binaural beats, ask your internet friends to put you onto Andrew Huberman and just know the specific noises help your brain relax.

If you're trying to get something cheap and efficient, or maybe something to have on hand for traveling, this CozyPhones headphones are a similar construction of a headband with a thin speaker inside. These are made with a bit cheaper materials and not as good speaker quality, but they fit well and they also make for great outdoor walk or workout companions.

If you're trying to look like someone who has no less than three smartphones and hasn't stopped working in a week, it's a single earpiece for you. Really though, a mini earpiece is a great option if you're the type of zombie sleeper who goes into one position and doesn't move throughout the night. There's no active noise cancelling on these but the seal around the silicone bud will at least block out some noise. Keep it in your non-pillow ear and let some soothing noises rock you to sleep.

Is it insane to sleep with over-hear headphones? Don't know, don't care. If I'm falling asleep in a shared space (a plane, a train, the library) there's no better option. Earbuds really try with their active noise cancelling and their sealed silicone but there's nothing more silent than literally covering your ears. Obviously, this is not ideal for side sleeping. But for back sleeping, chair sleeping, and in times of desperation, these will not fail you.