Best sleep headphones 2025: plug in, switch on and nod off

The best sleep headphones could be what you need to fall asleep faster and improve your sleep quality, without seeking medical help.

Many people focus on exercise and diet as ways of maintaining their health, but getting the right amount of quality sleep is just as important for great sleep hygiene. When you're asleep, your body's not just resting but healing and repairing itself, so it's imperative that you're getting the best night's sleep so you can function properly and perform your best the next day.

Rather than reach for the sedatives, the best sleep headphones could be the answer to these problems. While you could get a similar effect from the best noise-cancelling headphones, the below picks are specifically designed to be worn in bed to help you sleep; that said, some of them also feature active noise cancellation and some have advanced tracking features – see the best sleep trackers if you want to keep on top of your sleep stats.

We've found the best sleep headphones on the market right now (the Philips x Kokoon Sleep Headphones is our current favourite), all of which can help you get to sleep quicker and wake up feeling properly rested and recharged. We've also included buying advice down the bottom of this guide, too.

T3's Top 3

WRITTEN BY

WRITTEN BY

Bethan Girdler-Maslen

Beth is Home Editor for T3, covering style, living and wellness. As a sleep expert, Beth has tested many sleep accessories, including duvets, pillows and sleep headphones.

Best sleep headphones 2025 ranking

The best sleep headphones overall

If you struggle to fall asleep, the Philips x Kokoon Sleep Headphones could help. Originally just marketed as Kokoon earbuds, the brand has since teamed up with Philips on these new sleep headphones, and they're definitely more impressive than its predecessor.

The Philips x Kokoon Sleep Headphones fit comfortably in the ears, and come with plenty of tip options so you can fit them to your ear size. While they are cordless, they wrap around your head and have a base unit that sits at the back of the head, which isn't necessarily uncomfortable, but back sleepers might not love it. Side sleepers will though.

The accompanying app has lots of sleep sounds to choose from, although it's not as user-friendly as it could be. The battery life also claims to be very long but it could definitely be improved. In general, though, the Philips x Kokoon Sleep Headphones are comfortable, relaxing and the best sleep headphones we've tried so far.

See our full Philips x Kokoon sleep headphones review for more.

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The best budget sleep headphones

CozyPhones are, for lack of a better word, cosy. These on-ear sleep headbands are made of plush fabric and a cool mesh lining that makes them extremely comfortable, perfect to sleep in. However, the CozyPhones Sleep Headphone's biggest sleeping point might just be its price. It's certainly a bargain, and just the ticket if you're looking for a budget solution to your slumber blues.

Of course, at that price range, you're bound to get a few drawbacks, and this one's got its fair share. Its 3.5mm cable is a bit short. It's been known to shift around, especially if you move a lot when you sleep. And, the sound quality isn't anything to write home about. Still, if you're looking to save some money while also getting your full eight hours' sleep, you can't go wrong with this.

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The best luxury sleep headphones

The Ozlo SleepBuds are made by Bose engineers, so in terms of good sound quality, these are the sleep headphones you'll want to look into. They're comfortable for all types of sleepers, due to the silicone tips, and they come with multiple tips to cater to all ear sizes.

We've given them the 'luxury' title in this guide, because they're quite expensive at £299 / $299 compared to other sleep headphones. As the first product from the brand, they're still a work-in-progress, as Ozlo plan to introduce sleep tracking and are still developing its app.

But the Ozlo SleepBuds perform admirably and have a good collection of sleep sounds to lull you to sleep. The battery life is also long-lasting which gives it top marks. See our Ozlo SleepBuds review for more details.

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The best noise-cancelling sleep headphones

Strictly speaking the QuietOn 3 sleep earbuds don't belong here because they're not headphones; instead they're fancy high-end earplugs with active noise cancellation that don't play audio. Which shouldn't be a problem if all you want is some peace so that you can get to sleep at night or merely shut out unwanted noise at any other time. In fact, if that's what you're after, these will do an outstanding job (as you'll find in our five-star QuietOn 3 sleep earbuds review).

QuietOn released its first noise-cancelling buds back in 2015 and these are the 2022 iteration. They'll fit perfectly in your ear (with a choice of four foam tips to ensure the best seal), and while they don't block out all noise, they do a great job of muting low and mid frequency noises of the kind that would usually keep you awake at night: neighbours walking around, televisions turned on and snoring partners. The fact that they don't play audio will be a red line for many, but if you value peace and quiet at any price they're probably worth the investment.

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The best noise-reducing sleep headphones

The Loop Dream earplugs aren't technically sleep headphones, but they are engineered to help you sleep better. If you get easily distracted or roused by external noise, then the Loop Dream is what you'll want to try.

These stylish, memory foam earplugs are comfortable and ideal for all sleeping positions, especially side sleepers. For those who want to block out noise but still want to be able to hear their alarm or anything important, the Loop Dream reduce noise by 27 dB [SNR].

They're not as smart as the other options on this list, but they do a great job. See our Loop Dream review for more.

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The best headband sleep headphones

The SleepPhones Effortless have the advantage of being ideal for both side and back sleepers. That's thanks to their thin but comfy headband that means you won't notice you're wearing them, no matter how much you're tossing and turning. SleepPhones may cost a bit more than other similar alternatives but they're aided by the fact they're made from hypoallergenic material and the SleepPhones Effortless use Bluetooth connectivity for cable-free convenience. There's an induction charging base too that's a little awkward at first but, ultimately, quite practical.

You won't have to worry about getting tangled in a 3.5mm cable while you sleep and you can simply place the headband back on its base for charging in the morning. A 10 hour battery life and up to 10 meter range proves useful too. The only real downside here is that you'll need to pair it up with your own choice of meditation or sleep app rather than use a dedicated solution. Head to our SleepPhones Effortless review to find out more.

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The best eye mask sleep headphones

Some people need complete darkness when they sleep, and the Manta SOUND Sleep Mask delivers that perfectly. This eye mask has C-shaped cups for the eyes that completely blackout any light so you can sleep without any disruptions.

While they might not look like headphones, the Manta SOUND Sleep Mask have Bluetooth speakers that you can slide around, and that are thin enough not to disrupt your sleep. They don't have built-in sleep sounds yet, but if you already have a playlist of those, you're golden.

The battery life of the Manta SOUND Sleep Mask is also impressive, as it offers up to 20 hours of playtime. It might look a little creepy but it's great for relaxation.

See our Manta SOUND Sleep Mask review for more details.

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The best wired sleep headphones

If the SleepPhones Effortless sounds most appealing to you, but you're still working with a limited budget, then perhaps the SleepPhones Classic is a much better option. It's essentially the same sleep headband made of the same breathable, hypoallergenic, moisture-wicking fabric for comfort, only in wired form.

While you're not getting Bluetooth connectivity and wireless charging, you're also paying much less. You need not worry about about the 3.5mm audio cable either, as this has a flexible cord that's four feet long – enough to let you stay connected to your phone without needing it to be that close to you. Of course, there's not much here in terms of features unlike Effortless, but that's hardly a deal-breaker. As long as you don't mind going with the wired option.

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How to choose the best sleep headphones

Comfort

Being comfortable in bed is key to falling asleep. So, when choosing the best headphones for sleep, find one that doesn't get in the way of your comfort. Better yet, find the kind of headphones that suits the way you sleep. If you're a side-sleeper, you might prefer a headband that's not only thin enough, but also has plush padding around the speakers so your ears won't suffer. If your body temperature tends to rise during sleep, a pair of earbuds might be a better option to help you stay cool. And if you move around a lot, perhaps you should skip the wired options altogether.

Connectivity

Much like regular headphones, the best headphones for sleeping come in wired and wireless options. Wireless ones are, perhaps, the most ideal, as you won't have to worry about getting tangled in cables whilst you're off to slumberland. However, if you tend to stay in the same position when sleeping, the 3.5mm audio route might just give you better audio quality.

Battery life

If you do pick a wireless pair of headphones, make sure to check its battery's longevity as well as charging time. You only technically need 8 hours of battery life to get a full night's sleep, and many headphones for sleep offer up to 10 hours and take about two to three hours to charge. If you prefer not to charge your headphones every single day, you might want to look for something with up to 20 hours of battery life.

Features

Most sleep headphones today aren't as feature-rich as regular headphones. However, there are a few bells and whistles that might prove instrumental to getting you that good night's rest you've been missing. That includes active noise cancellation, relaxation sounds that you can play through an app, and an included eye mask. If you have sensitive skin, choose a mask that is hypoallergenic or moisture-wicking.

How we test the best sleep headphones

We test the best sleep headphones by calling them in and having a nice sleep... yes really! We look at the design, battery life, travel accessories, and comfort level, so all different types of sleepers can wear them and feel comfort.

We'll also look at price, and if they come with an accompanying app, we fully test those too, to see how user-friendly they are, how they work, if they show any stats, and the sleep sounds they come with.

Finally, we judge if or how well the best sleep headphones have improved our sleep. It can be tricky to do that, but we mostly focused on how quickly we fall asleep and if we wake up through the night.

For more details, read how we test at T3.

Reviewer panel

Bethan Girdler-Maslen

As T3's Home Editor, Beth has tested many sleep accessories, including the best sleep headphones. She's tested models from Philips, Kokoon and Ozlo.

Joanna Ebsworth

Joanna is a freelance journalist, specialising in fitness, health, lifestyle and beauty. She's tested many sleep headphones, including models from Loop and Manta

Louise Blain

Louise is a journalist and broadcaster. She's tested sleep headphones from Kokoon and QuietOn to see how they improve her sleep.

Jennifer Allen

Jennifer is a tech writer, who specialises in fitness wearables. She's tested sleep and fitness trackers and headphones, including models from SleepPhones.