7 Best Sleep Headphones That Help You Fall Asleep and Stay Asleep

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One of the worst feelings is being both exhausted and unable to fall asleep. We've all been there, and counting sheep just doesn't cut it. However, listening to music before bed may be a better option, according to the National Sleep Foundation. It has a direct effect on your parasympathetic nervous system and has the power to slow your heart rate and breathing, lower your blood pressure, and even trigger your muscles to relax.

Daniel Noyed, a certified sleep science coach and editor at the Sleep Foundation said that a good pair of sleep headphones can "improve sleep quality and minimize disruptions during the night." Whether you sleep next to a snorer, have an apartment with thin walls, or hate the sound of traffic coming from outside your window, we've tested a dozen sleep headphones to separate the best from the rest.

The Best Sleep Headphones

• Best Overall: SleepPhones Wireless Sleep Headphones

• Best Budget Bluetooth: Joseche Wireless Sleep Mask Sleep Headphones

• Best at Blocking Background Noise: soundcore Sleep A10 Bluetooth Earbuds

• Best Earbuds-Style: Kokoon Nightbuds Sleep Headphones

• Most Comfortable Headband: Perytong Sleep Headphones Wireless

• Best Wired Pair: CozyPhones Contour Series Sleep Headphones

• Best Audio Library: HoomBand Sleep Headphones

What to Consider

Before picking your first pair of sleep headphones to gift or use yourself, there are several important factors to consider.

Comfort

Yes, comfort is subjective but if your sleep headphones are uncomfortable, chances are you won't wear them. We made sure to include multiple styles of sleep headphones ranging from wireless earbuds to headbands that come in different sizes to cater to various head sizes and shapes.

Sleep Style

Pay attention to whether or not the headphones are wireless or have a cord. We strongly recommend wireless headsets for people who tend to toss and turn, since wired pairs can get tangled or become dislodged from your ear.

Battery Life

Make sure that the sleep headphones you select deliver a battery life of 8 hours or longer.

How We Chose

I've been testing sleep headphones for 4 years now. Before calling in 12 total pairs for testing, I compared 40 pairs of sleep headphones to find models that are easy to use, offer a comfortable but breathable fit, and deliver enough battery life to make it through 8 hours of sleep. To help narrow down which models I tested, I read several customer reviews on Amazon and ones directly from manufacturers' websites and scoured editorial reviews from sites like CNET, Wirecutter, and Sound Guys.

After carefully vetting our picks — which include both wired and wireless headphones — I spent a week testing them both in and out of bed. During the testing process, I determined the following:

• Do the headphones have convenient controls?

• Do they deliver decent audio quality?

• Are they comfortable to wear?

• Do they hold up over time?

• Are they washable?

• Do they block external noise?

• Do they stay on overnight?

I also made note of their battery life and tested them to see how easy they were to pair to my Android and Apple smartphones and tablets.

Whether you want to cue up some classical music, an audiobook, rain sounds, or ASMR videos on YouTube for a better night's rest, here are the 13 best sleep headphones that provide comfort and sound clarity. Hopefully, they can help you or a loved one finally get that much-needed sleep you deserve.

Wireless Sleep Headphones

The AcousticSheep SleepPhones are a wireless pair of sleep headphones nestled in a super soft headband. I spent several nights wearing them to bed and fell in love with them for their easy setup, onboard controls, good fit, and lack of wires. Plus, they're the most comfortable sleep headphones you can buy today.

They come in three sizes, two fabric options, and five different colors. After measuring my noggin, I settled on a medium "breeze" model that came in black. For those who want something a little cozier, there's a fleece option that is a bit more plush.

These sleep headphones don't even come close to offering the same sound quality as regular headphones in their price range. But they are highly comfortable to sleepers of all types — side, back, stomach, you name it. They offer a snug fit that doesn't feel too tight. Plus, I could use them for 4 consecutive nights before they needed to be recharged.

More: Can't Sleep With Something on Your Head? Consider a White Noise Machine Instead

Wireless Sleep Mask Sleep Headphones

This pair of sleep headphones allows users to drift off to sleep in complete darkness while listening to their favorite soothing sounds. It pairs with a smartphone or tablet over Bluetooth, meaning you won't have to fuss with any annoying cords that'll get in the way.

The headset uses a Velcro strap for ensuring that you get a tight fit, without letting any light enter. Its rechargeable battery offers 9 hours of juice — plus, there's even a microphone built-in for taking phone calls.

I appreciate that the eye mask is made of a breathable material that won't get too hot, and the fabric is machine-washable. It also has easy-to-access controls for adjusting volume and pausing audio.

More: The Best Meditation Apps to Help You Keep Calm

Sleep A10 Bluetooth Earbuds

If you’re an anxious person with an overactive brain or a nagging voice in your head that just won’t stop, the Anker Soundcore Sleep A10 earbuds could help quiet the noise. These tiny earbuds have Bluetooth, meaning you can use any app as a music source to play anything from rustling leaves, to the sound of the ocean, or rain sounds to help you drift off to sleep.

The earbuds are quite comfortable, but occasionally, I would wake up with one of them loose in my sheets. Fortunately, Anker includes various tips and wings of different sizes to ensure they stay in place securely. Even though you may think the default size fits, I recommend trying multiple tips to ensure the proper fit.

I also tested the similar QuietOn 3.1 sleep earbuds, which use active noise-canceling and microphones to mute potentially disrupting sounds. I found that the Anker buds masked sounds just as well and they are much cheaper. Whether there were cars outside my bedroom window, the sound of sirens, or the clicking sound of my dog’s nails against my hardwood floors — the Anker drowned them all out.

My biggest complaint with the Soundcore Sleep A10 earbuds is their battery life. When I used Bluetooth the longest they’d stay on was just over 6 hours. If you want to stretch battery life further, there’s an auto-sleep mode that turns on pre-loaded sounds (which use less battery). Sometimes with the setting enabled, I would notice the transition which would wake me up.

Nightbuds Sleep Headphones

The NightBuds are an intelligently designed pair of in-ear headphones that pack a heart rate sensor to help you track the length and quality of your sleep (it gives you a rating between 0 and 100). Their neckband-style design with a wavy wire connecting the two earbuds may pose a problem for back sleepers, since the centered control module rests behind your head. Given the NightBuds’ cable and their numerous-sized ear tips, you’re sure to find a tight seal so that they’ll stay in your ears throughout the night.

During my tests, I found that the earbuds did a better-than-average job at blocking out external noises. I’m a side sleeper, and found them to be quite comfortable: I practically forgot they were in my ears. It’s worth mentioning that I regularly use in-ear headphones, so I didn’t have to get adjusted to them.

Unlike the Bose Sleepbuds II, the NightBuds use Bluetooth so you can stream anything. The app packs several guided relaxation exercises, natural soundscapes, podcasts, white noise, and other calming music and sounds. As for sleep data, I found that the NightBuds didn’t provide helpful or detailed enough sleep tracking data. I think you’re better off relying on a dedicated tracker such as the Oura Ring.

Given their steep price point, we think most buyers are better off shopping for a different pair of sleep headphones, but if you're a side sleeper in search of in-ear sleep headphones that effectively block background noise, they might just be the perfect thing to help you slip into a deep slumber.

Sleep Headphones Wireless

The Perytong headband is a fully washable, super-soft pair of headphones that'll help lull you to sleep. The headphones are lightweight, and they offer a stretchy fit with an inner mesh lining to keep you cool.

This pair features a built-in rechargeable battery that lasts up to 10 hours, a microphone in case you want to take a call when you wear them outdoors, and a wireless Bluetooth connection so you don't have to fuss with cables.

The headphones feature a control panel at their front for skipping tracks or adjusting volume. That way, you won't get blinded by your smartphone's display at night!

Contour Series Sleep Headphones

If you don't want to splurge on wireless sleep headphones, consider this wired pair instead. CozyPhones are a comfortable and affordable option, and because they're wired, you don't have to worry about charging them.

I tested the CozyPhone Contour series, which has a mesh lining over the standard pair's all-fleece design. The breathable fabric helps keep things cool, but the CozyPhones only come in one size, so they may not fit everyone.

During my testing period, I found that the headphones’ 52-inch cord was plenty long enough to keep my smartphone on a nightstand, but if you toss and turn a lot, you’ll probably want to keep the attached device with you in the bed. This way, your phone won’t fall off the nightstand when you inevitably roll over and tug on the cord.

The CozyPhones have a braided cable that never seems to get tangled, which is a nice touch. Its sound quality is clear, and at maximum volume, the headphones are loud enough to drown out snoring.

Sleep Headphones

The HoomBand is another headband-style pair of sleep headphones, but what separates it from other options is its complimentary app, which packs hundreds of hypnotic stories, guided meditations, relaxing nature sounds, and white noise that’ll gently lull you to sleep.

The HoomBand is made of an elastic lightweight fabric that’s super soft and comfortable. However, I wouldn’t recommend this option for people who run hot. I'm not a hot sleeper and felt pretty toasty while wearing it and ended up taking them off in the middle of the night.

Another minor annoyance, despite the fact that the HoomBand's inner earpads can be adjusted and moved around to allow them to properly line up with your ears, there just isn’t a lot of slack on the inner cords, making the whole process rather difficult.

On the plus side, the HoomBand comes in two sizes to accommodate various head sizes. Overall, the HoomBand delivers decent audio quality, has a lengthy 10-hour battery, and packed plenty of content to help lull me to sleep.

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