The best sleep headphones of 2024: Expert tested

Bose had an avid following when it launched its Sleepbuds, but discontinued the product after it "didn't reach the level of adoption" Bose hoped it would, according to a Bose spokesperson. That's when three ex-Bose engineers took the sleep earbuds under their wing and developed a brand and product of its own, under Ozlo. The Ozlo Sleepbuds are the best, most comfortable sleep earbuds I've tried to date.

While a new product isn't without its flaws -- the major one being that the app setup was annoyingly glitchy -- the product itself is impressively effective at what it does: getting you to bed. Once the Sleepbuds are in your ears they produce noise-masking (not noise-canceling) white noise that's dialed at the perfect volume to reduce external distractions and help you quickly fall asleep (and you don't even need to connect them with a phone or the app for this to work). My bedroom overlooks a bustling Brooklyn street that is always polluted with noise, like police sirens, screaming ambulances, neighbors singing and celebrating into the wee hours of the night, and pedestrians yelling at each other. These earbuds simplified my descent into sleep -- I put these earbuds in and couldn't hear a song or chatter outside my window. 

Also: I actually want to put these $300 sleep earbuds in my ears every night 

If you download the app, you can customize your sleep sounds with up to 10 to choose from, set up an alarm in the earbuds, and put a timer on the earbuds for them to shut down after you've gone to bed. Some features, like sleep tracking, will also be coming soon in an over-the-air app update. 

As far as comfort goes, you won't find a sleep earbud that's more comfortable to sleep in. This is thanks to the stabilizing ear wings that keep the buds in place without additional pressure buildup (that tends to cause soreness and sensitivity). I'm a side sleeper and found these the most comfortable to wear as I turned from one side of my head to the other. In my review, I write that they dissolved into my ears, becoming nearly invisible as I fell asleep, which is all that you really want out of a sleep earbud. 

Of course, $300 is still a pretty penny to pay for a decent night of uninterrupted sleep. But the Ozlo Sleepbuds are the best earbuds for a reason: they have a thoughtful design, are an effective sound-masking technology, and are a comfortable fit that makes me want to wear them every night. 

Ozlo Sleepbuds tech specs: Form factor: Earbuds | Connectivity: Bluetooth | Battery: 10 hours in the earbuds | Fit: In-ear 

A good pair of sleep earbuds should be nearly unnoticeable in your ears as you sleep. When I slept with them for a few nights, the new Soundcore A20 sleep earbuds got as close to invisible as a pair of earbuds can. As a side sleeper, I had no trouble wearing these while I slept because the flat end of the earbud doesn't put pressure into my ear or cause discomfort that keeps me up. 

More: These sleep earbuds are a dream for side sleepers. But there's a catch 

The A20 improves on the previous model, the A10, through longer battery life, a new find my earbuds feature, and Twin Seal ear tips for added noise masking. But while the updates make the earbuds easier to use, the earbuds still aren't without their flaws. These aren't the best for canceling environmental noise, like a snoring partner, a busy street your bedroom looks out upon, or a loud upstairs neighbor blasting their music. 

I'd recommend these less for people who want to dim down a loud bedroom setting and for others who already have a silent sleep environment and are looking for a comfortable earbud to use for listening to audiobooks, music, or other soundscapes to fall asleep. 

Soundcore Sleep A20 earbuds tech specs: Form factor: Earbuds | Connectivity: Bluetooth | Battery: 14 hours in the earbuds and 80 in the charging case | Fit: In-ear 

My bedroom looks over a busy Brooklyn street, and I can often hear the honks and skirrrrts of passing cars and cyclists while I try to fall and stay asleep. The street outside my window is also well-lit, so I normally wear a face mask to bed. This is all to say that I am in dire need of a sleeping device that not only blocks out sound but also bright light. The LC-Dolida does both pretty well. 

The sleep mask comes with eye cups that truly block out any light in your field of vision, which I love. And the flat headphones hover over your ears. They aren't notably immersive, but they dampen most sounds if you raise the volume high enough. I like to listen to brown noise playlists with these on to fall asleep, and I can confidently say I'm out in minutes when I have these on. Plus, the battery life is substantial. I can wear these for two nights straight without them dying on me -- for around $20 (Amazon says it costs $40, but is normally around the $20 range with wavering discounts), that's not bad at all. 

I have a small head, move around in my sleep, and can rarely keep a mask on for the entirety of a night, so I wasn't surprised when I woke up with the headphones off a few times. "If you sleep with a partner who snores, live next to a busy street, or have loud roommates, you will surely benefit from this headphone sleep mask. It's everything I want out of a sleep device: it's got a decent battery life, it's comfortable, and it immerses you in noise that dulls -- but doesn't fully eliminate -- distracting sounds around you," I wrote in my spotlight of the sleep mask. 

More: Trouble sleeping? I used this $19 wearable to fall asleep near instantly 

LC-Dolida Sleep Headphones and Mask tech specs: Form factor: Over-ear | Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.2 | Battery life: 8-10 hours | Fit: Adjustable velcro strap

If you want headphones made for sleeping, look no further than the Bedphones. These headphones were designed with side sleepers in mind, as the speakers are thin and covered in soft foam padding. They lay flat against your ears while you listen to soothing sounds.

The adjustable memory wire ear hooks allow these sleeping headphones to fit all ears. While wireless, a cable connects the two drivers, and you can wear the cable in front of or behind your neck and tighten the cable slider to ensure the headphones stay secure even on restless nights.

The 13-hour battery life and inline microphone with a single-button remote are also impressive features. 

Bedphones Wireless tech specs: Form factor: Over-ear | Connectivity: Bluetooth | Battery life: 13 hours | Fit: Adjustable ear hooks

This headband headphone design from Perytong is a more budget-friendly option for sleeping headphones. The headband is made of soft, machine-washable, breathable material and features detachable on-ear headphones that can comfortably fit back and side sleepers.

The headband holds a decent battery life that lasts 10 hours per full charge and comes in more than 15 color options. These sleeping headphones can also work well for listening to music while you run or for zoning out while you meditate. 

Perytong Sleep Headphones tech specs: Form factor: On-ear | Connectivity: Bluetooth | Battery life: 10 hours | Fit: Headband