While some people have no problem falling asleep as soon as their head hits the pillow, not everyone is blessed with this gift. Some of us need ambient noise to sleep like a log, whether it’s to drown out loud roommates or listen to a something that’ll silence those racing thoughts.
You could whack on a calming playlist on Spotify while using your favourite pair of headphones or earbuds, but this solution isn’t without its flaws. Chunky headphones make things difficult for side-sleepers and no one wants to spend their morning looking for that one wireless earbud that fell out overnight. And perhaps, your bedmate doesn’t find as much comfort in a white noise machine as you do.
Thankfully, we live in the futuristic year of 2023, so there are earbuds, headphones and headbands that have been specifically designed and optimised to help you relax at night, so you can fall into a deep sleep.
We’ve rounded up a collection of the best headphones and earbuds for sleeping.
How to choose the best sleep headphones for you
The most important thing to consider when choosing some sleep headphones is which style will work best for you. The most popular type of headphones for sleeping alternates between the wireless earbuds and the headband.
The headband is a great pick if you love to block out everything while sleeping. Not only will you have a much more comfortable way to sleep, but you’ll be less likely to be woken up by the light of day. It’s also an ideal option if you’re a restless sleeper, who’s worried your earbuds are destined to fall out as you toss and turn.
On the other hand, sleeping earbuds offer better quality audio while sleeping, especially if you like your rain noise to sound crisp. Most earbuds that are designed for sleeping tend to be designed in a way that’ll decrease the chances of them falling out (usually with little hooks).
Regardless of which one you choose, your sleep headphones need to be comfortable for you. From there, you can evaluate what kind of other features you need such as noise cancellation, built-in sleep tracking or sound masking. These traits will either allow you to block out background noise as you try to catch some zzz or help you eliminate distractions to promote better sleep in the future.
The best headphones for sleeping in Australia
Bose Sleepbuds II
Bose is responsible for one of our favourite pairs of noise-cancelling earbuds, so it probably isn’t a huge surprise that its take on sleep earbuds is worth a look.
These earbuds are designed to passively block out any external noise, so you won’t have to worry about being woken up by your snoring partner or the early morning garbage truck. The design of these earbuds with their hooked ear tips are meant to help them stay securely in your ears while you sleep, so you can avoid the morning ritual of digging around your bed for them.
The Sleepbuds II also use noise-masking technology that will play sounds at a certain, consistent frequency, to ensure any unwanted external noises go unheard. The Sleepbuds have access to Bose’s Sound Library, which has over 50 specially curated sounds available, so you can curate your nightly playlist for maximum relaxation.
It’s worth noting that the Bose Sleepbuds II only have the ability to play audio from the Sound Library, so you can’t use them as normal headphones. No Spotify meditation playlists for you, we’re afraid.
The Sleepbuds II also have a battery life of up to 10 hours of playtime, so you should easily make it through a full night’s sleep before it runs out of juice. Unless you feel like having a big sleep in, of course.
Where to buy: Bose ($285.95) | Dick Smith ($329) | Kogan ($329)
Acoustic Sheep Headband Headphones for sleep
Do you think sleeping with earbuds is more trouble than it’s worth and want something a bit more secure? Why not try wrapping your headphones around your head while your sleep?
Acoustic Sheep’s SleepPhones combine comfort with functionality by placing a set of headphones inside a soft fleece headband. All you need to do is wrap this headband around your head, plug it into your phone or laptop and then throw on your favourite white noise playlist. No more worrying about losing earbuds or trying to roll over while wearing over-the-ear headphones.
The headphone cable is also 48-inches long, so you can keep your phone on your bedside without worrying that you’ll accidentally pull it off while tossing and turning in your sleep. The SleepPhones uses a 3.5mm headphone jack, so make sure you’ve got an adapter on hand if you’re looking to plug it into your iPhone.
Where to buy: Amazon ($59.95)
If you want to avoid wires totally, there’s also a wireless Bluetooth version of the SleepPhones available – although it’s a tad more expensive at$149.95.
MUSICOZY Sleep Headband Headphones
The MUSICOZY Sleep Headband works similarly to the SleepPhones. The headband features a pair of Bluetooth headphones that you can connect to your smartphone. These headphones have a battery life of up to 10 hours of playtime, so they’ll easily last you the night.
If you’re someone who needs absolutely zero distractions to get a good night’s sleep, the MUSICOZY has the added bonus of being a face mask. This covering can block up to 99% of light and uses a 3D contoured design to reduce pressure around your eyes. MUSICOZY’s only drawback is that you get what you’ve paid for when it comes to audio quality – but it’s still a decent option if you’re looking for an affordable solution to your sleeping problems.
Where to buy: Amazon ($22.99)| eBay ($35) | Kogan ($69.99)
QuietOn 3 Sleep Earbuds
Similar to the Bose Sleepybuds, the QuietOn 3 can’t be used as standard earbuds. These in-ear headphones also don’t have the ability to play any audio, so if you’re someone who needs some form of white noise to fall asleep, you’re best looking elsewhere.
Instead, these have been optimised to act as hi-tech earplugs by cancelling out any sound before it can reach you and ruin your sleep.
These earbuds use active noise cancellation, which means they’ll cancel out almost any external noise that would usually wake you (ANC is best for drowning out any constant, low-frequency sounds).
The QuietOn 3 sleep earbuds have an impressive battery life of up to 28 hours on a full charge and come with multiple soft foam ear tips that can be changed out for a more secure fit.
For some, dropping $389 on a pair of earbuds that don’t play music might be asking a bit much. But considering we sleep a third of our life doing it, can you really put a price tag on a great night’s sleep?
Where to buy: Amazon ($389) | eBay ($322.99)