10 best headphones for sleeping peacefully

These ultra-thin, adjustable headphones sit within a soft fleeced headband for optimal comfort when sleeping. Lightweight and cushioned, this newer contour version from CozyPhones has a cool mesh lining so you won’t get a hot ear or a hot head in the night. The durable, kink-free cable fits most phones with an earphone jack and will survive any tossing and turning in the night.

Why we love: These headphones are washable so you don’t need to worry about the fabric getting dirty.

These headphones will act as a cosy bubble cupping your ears, helping to eliminate distractions and noise for the outside world. They’re designed to be comfortable and come with a free app on your phone that gives techniques, tracks, and concepts all developed with sleep professionals to optimise the chances of falling asleep. Many of these are based on CBT techniques, ideal for insomnia sufferers.

Why we love: These headphones have adaptive audio that responds as you fall asleep – super smart!

The Damipow L29 Sleep Earbuds weigh only 2.7g on one side that adapts to your ears without exerting any pressure when you sleep on the side. In addition, the 3 pairs of different earplugs ensure the right fit. The unique earplugs make sure the wireless earbuds stay on your ears all night without falling. Ergonomically designed to insulate your ears from outside noises it will auto-stop sounds via Sleep Detection and even doubles as an in-ear alarm, great if you don’t want to disturb your partner as an early riser.

Why we love: These buds are all about improving your sleep quality and habits, and will monitor your heart rate during the night too.

This headband is great for bedtime story lovers as these headphones come with free access to over 20 hours' worth of hypnotic stories, created by sleep experts. Don’t worry, it’s compatible with other music and audiobook apps too, but we think this is a lovely extra! The elastic and breathable band is super comfortable with the adjustable headphones hidden beneath the thermoformed foam. It shouldn’t budge during the night and with the meditations, soundscapes, and more, you’re guaranteed a restful night’s sleep.

Why we love: Not only do the free stories tick the boxes for us, they’re available offline too so you can truly disconnect even with your phone nearby.

Made from silicone, these headphones will block out snoring, background noise, and traffic to name a few and the soft gummy earplugs will sit comfortably in your ears. You can easily adjust the volume, skip, play or pause in bed using the controls on the cable without using your phone - no one likes seeing that glare in the middle of the night! You can even use it for hands-free calls, great for using on the go too, or for taking a call mid-power nap.

Why we love: The neckband means you won’t lose your earbuds in the bed!

Keep unwanted nighttime noise from interrupting your slumber with these sleep buds that’ll create a calm and relaxing atmosphere for you to sleep in. They won’t play music or audiobooks if that’s what you’re looking for. Instead, they deliver relaxing and noise-masking sounds that you can access via the simple Bose Sleep app. There are 40 specially curated sounds available, and this tech has been clinically proven to help testers fall asleep faster.

Why we love: The storage case doubles as a charging port, so you’ll never be short on battery life.

Designed to be durable and ergonomically fitted to your ear, they’ll seal out external sounds so you can enjoy your calming music, podcast, or audiobook in peace. While they’re designed mainly for side sleepers, reviewers have found them to be comfortable in all positions and reported that they stay in place, despite tossing and turning. They come with a sturdy zipper case for carrying on the go making them a great travel companion for helping to provide a quiet sleeping environment.

Why we love: These are great value – not only are they low in price, you get 2 so you have a back-up ready for taking out and about.

Available in a choice of colours including black, grey, blue, and pink, these headphones provide a double whammy with light and sound reduction. Worn as a sleep mask over the eyes, the mask is lightweight, breathable, and skin-friendly, with the thin speakers positioned softly over the ears. It’ll effectively block out light around the nose area with its ergonomic nose bridge design, and the headphones can be removed for washing the mask or letting it work as a sleep mask on its own.

Why we love: As a sleep mask and headphones in one, you’re guaranteed a good night's sleep, especially in the summer when the morning light creeps through the blinds.

The QuietOn Sleep Earbuds were selected as the best sleep product at the Japan Sleep Expo 2019 and we can see why! With active noise cancellation, these nifty earbuds will target noise to reduce it, including different snoring frequencies. These earbuds are basically a huge level up from earplugs - they don’t play music or sound but will provide you with your very own portion of soothing Nordic Quietude. As a result, they are super easy to set up and have a prolonged battery life that beats the competition.

Why we love: These aren’t your traditional headphones, but if you’re looking to cut out the noise, they'll do all the work to keep you in a tranquil state of peace and quiet.

Let your headphones compliment your favourite PJs with a choice of designs including black, grey, blue, wine, and even leopard print. This headband is designed similarly to the LC-Dolida Sleep Mask, but instead of a sleep mask, you have a super soft, breathable, and waterproof headband that fits comfortably around your forehead. Fast-drying, hypoallergenic, and moisture-wicking, it'll be a great option if you often suffer from night sweats and are worried about wearing something electrical as a result. To wash, simply take out the inside headset and clean with dish soap or detergent by hand.