Getting quality sleep is key to your physical and mental health. Yet, many of us struggle with falling or staying asleep. That’s where sleep headphones come in. They’re designed to fit more comfortably than regular earbuds, block noise, and offer meditation content or your favorite music.
We tested four popular options. While comfort and fit can vary depending on ear size and sleep position (back or side), we found one standout pair that could help most people sleep better based on our experience.
The Soundcore by Anker Sleep A10 headphones are great for sleeping. They are very comfortable for all-night use, block outside noise like snoring, and offer many sound and white noise options to help you sleep. They also have sleep tracking and let you play your own audio via Bluetooth.
These Sleep A10 earbuds felt natural in my ears, unlike other options. They are slim, lightweight, and comfortable, even for side sleeping. They come with three ear tip sizes (small, medium, large) and three ear wing shapes to ensure a secure fit. This helps block out unwanted noise. The small earbuds fit snugly, and the wing-style stabilizers kept them in place. During my two-week test, I only lost one earbud once, finding it under a pillow the next morning. Warning: these earbuds can be addictive!
These were the most comfortable for all-night wear and, even without a noise-canceling feature, provided a reliable seal that blocked out external noise like NYC traffic and my husband’s snoring. The companion app, with its easy-to-use interface, offers a wide range of sound and white noise options to mask disruptions. You can also play your own music or audio in Sleep or Music modes—I loved listening to podcasts as I fell asleep.
To set them up, pair them with your smartphone through the Soundcore app (available on iOS and Android) via Bluetooth. Once connected, you can explore a variety of soothing sounds by selecting Music Mode. The sounds are categorized into Focus, Rest, Sleep, and Relax. I enjoyed the Deep Sleep option with wind chimes and birdsong, as well as simple white noise options like Snoring attenuation 1 and 2. There are also many water-themed sounds, though I avoid those lately to cut down on bathroom trips (but I did test Ocean sounds for comparison). Additionally, there are some unique options, like brushing a jacket or hugging sounds.
Choose your audio, press the plus sign, and download it straight to your earbuds. Features include Smart Volume Control, which reduces volume when it senses you’re asleep, and an in-ear alarm that woke me up in time to get my kids ready for school. The Smart Switch tracks your sleep if you log into your Anker account—a feature rare in standalone sleep headphones. Once you’re asleep, it switches to your selected sleep sound automatically.
A compact, white charging case with a sliding cover charges via USB-C. Anker claims the earbuds last about 10 hours on one charge. One night, I tried them without using the app and was impressed by how well they blocked noise, even without sound masking.
Most importantly, the Sleep A10 earbuds transformed my sleep. Snoring no longer drives me crazy, and I’ve been able to fall back asleep more easily and stay asleep longer—even on weekend mornings when a child or hungry cat wakes me up earlier than I’d prefer.