NEW YORK, July 5, 2025
Sleep earbuds vs. the world: Can tech silence the night?
Ditch the foam plugs for a high-tech sleep solution.
- Sleep earbuds offer a potentially more comfortable alternative to traditional earplugs.
- Hygiene is key to preventing ear infections when wearing earbuds nightly.
- Noise levels should be monitored to prevent noise-induced hearing loss.
If you are struggling to sleep due to a noisy environment, **sleep earbuds** offer a convenient alternative, providing noise reduction and a comfortable fit for nightly use.
Can’t sleep? You’re not alone. According to the CDC, over a third of adults in the United States don’t get enough sleep. While foam earplugs have long been a go-to for blocking out noise, reusable earplugs and sleep earbuds are emerging as attractive alternatives.
I spent a month and a half testing various earplugs and earbuds, priced from $50 to $349, to determine the best options and whether investing in sleep-specific earbuds is worthwhile.
A quick note: The Ozlo Sleepbuds have increased in price to $349. While I can’t recommend them at that price, keep an eye out during Amazon Prime Day. If they drop back to their original $299, they might be worth it. The Anker Soundcore Sleep A30 earbuds are coming in August with active noise cancellation for $229.
Sleep earbuds vs. regular earbuds: What’s the real difference?
I used to sleep with AirPods, but after testing earbuds designed for sleep, I see the light. Everyday earbuds just don’t compare.
Regular earbuds aren’t made for side-sleeping; they stick out and press against your ear. Plus, most only offer six to seven hours of battery life. That means you might wake up when they power off mid-sleep.
Sleep earbuds offer better battery life and are designed for comfort. The ones I tested lacked microphones and had less sensitive touch controls. While they don’t have active noise cancellation, the passive noise cancellation works wonders.
Daily use: Is it safe to wear sleep earbuds every night?
Sleep earbuds aren’t the only way to tackle nighttime noise.
I consulted Dr. Ashley Kita, an otolaryngologist and assistant professor in the Department of Head and Neck Surgery at UCLA, about the risks of nightly earbud use. She didn’t advise against it, but suggested addressing a snoring partner first.
“If you’re doing all of this to avoid a partner who is snoring, sometimes gently encouraging that person to investigate why they’re snoring is kind of an important consideration,” Kita said. “Because we find that obstructive sleep apnea is really underdiagnosed, and snoring, for some people, is the only sign of it.”
If external noise is the issue, keep three things in mind: hygiene, safe noise levels, and comfort.
Proper hygiene
I realized I was wearing earbuds for longer stretches than usual. I asked Dr. Kita about infection risks.
“Many individuals wear hearing aids for longer hours during the day than they sleep at night,” she said. She noted that hearing aid users don’t often get ear infections, although long wear times may increase the risk.
Kita’s main concern was wax buildup blocking the ear canal’s natural cleaning process. However, wax can usually exit later in the day. She added that infection risk increases if wax traps bacteria.
Kita recommends cleaning earbuds with isopropyl alcohol and a cotton pad after each use. Ozlo recommends weekly cleaning. Infection risk depends on the person, so be proactive if you’re prone to ear infections.
Noise levels
Noise-induced hearing loss is the second most common type of hearing loss. Dr. Kita referenced the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) chart for safe decibel exposure.
Ozlo cites OSHA and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health’s recommendations, which top out at 90 and 85 decibels for eight hours, respectively. Ozlo caps its white noise at 75 dB. I’ve reached out to Soundcore for their earbuds’ limits and will update when I hear back. Kita advises using the lowest possible volume.
“While I don’t necessarily love the idea of extra noise when you’re not even conscious to appreciate it, if it’s the thing that’s keeping you asleep or letting you sleep, it just comes in this category of risks and benefits,” Kita said. “Just make sure that it’s quiet enough, then it really isn’t that much different than using a white noise machine on your nightstand.”
Comfort
Comfort is key for sleep and ear health.
“Everyone’s ear canal is shaped differently,” Kita said. “And so something that might be really comfortable for your ears might really cause my ears to ache.”
Earbud-induced earaches can harm your ear health. If any recommendations below don’t feel right, even with adjustments, consider returning them.
Top picks: The best earbuds for sleeping
Here are three top sleep earbud options. The most expensive isn’t always the best. I’ve highlighted each earbud’s strengths to help you choose.
UPDATE: Jul. 5, 2025, 6:00 a.m. EDT As of April 2024, the Ozlo Sleepbuds increased in price from $299 to $349 on Ozlo’s website and Amazon in the United States due to tariffs. I no longer recommend them at full price, but do recommend grabbing them if you catch them on sale for at least their original price.
Testing updates
I’m currently testing the Soundcore Sleep A30 earbuds, which will be released in August. I also updated my recommendation for the Ozlo Sleepbuds due to their April price increase. I recommend them only on sale.
