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The 10 Best Earplugs for Sleeping

noise cancelling best earplugs for sleeping

Our Recommendations

In a hurry? Here are the two best products at a glance.

Overview

We have researched 30 new and bestselling products. Below are the top ten best sleeping earplugs!

Best Earplugs for SleepingTips for Better Sleep

Reviews and Buying Guide: Best Earplugs For Sleeping

You can easily find yourself overwhelmed by the sheer number of sleeping earbuds available on the market. With literally hundreds of available models to choose from, how do you decide which one is right for you?

All winners listed below offer excellent quality, comfort, and noise cancellation. Let’s take a look.

Decibullz Custom Molded Earplugs

best earplugs for sleeping noise cancelling

Decibullz earplugs are custom molded for a perfect fit. They come in a convenient DIY kit and offer the best noise reduction for sleeping.

Quickly and easily mold them to the shape of your ears with warm water and then use them for years to come. Once customized they can always be re-molded whenever you desire in the future.

They're constructed of a durable yet soft thermoplastic, which gives them their molding property and does an excellent job of keeping out ambient background noise. Because of their custom shapes, they are among the very best earplugs we have seen.

The Decibullz come with three sets of triple flange tips to ensure you have the right size for your ear. Whether you are looking for earbuds for sleeping, for focused work, or for loud events and concerts, the Decibullz Custom Molded Earplugs will get the job done thanks to their excellent noise cancellation and great custom fit.

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Eargasm High Fidelity Earplugs

best earplugs for sleeping noise cancelling

The Eargasm High Fidelity Earplugs offer a great, snug fit married with excellent noise blocking properties. The unique triple flange design is guaranteed to fit any ear and keep them securely in place for maximum comfort and effectiveness.

Proprietary attenuation filters reduce noise evenly across all spectrums, but won't muffle voices or music - they will just drastically reduce the overall sound level. This technology works great and offers a silent sleep experience.

They're constructed of soft hypoallergenic silicone for extra comfort. They also come complete with an ergonomically designed aluminum carrying case that can be attached to your keyring so that you can always keep the earbuds handy on the go.

In short, the Eargasm High Fidelity Earplugs offer great, cheap sound reduction with a comfortable and technologically-advanced design.

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That Company Called If Earplugs

best earplugs for sleeping noise cancelling

The new earbuds from That Company Called If offer exceptional noise canceling properties in a small and very comfortable package. Manufactured with soft-touch silicone, they are comfy enough to sleep with every night and are also completely hypoallergenic. They will block out all ambient noise, allowing you to get an incredible night's sleep.

When you're done with them, simply pop them back into the included base that will help keep them clean and securely stored.

We also liked that the earbuds are well-designed, high-quality, and very affordable. That Company Called If's new product are excellent earbuds for sleeping that will have you happily rest in peaceful quiet thanks to their very good noise canceling properties.

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Alpine Sleep Soft Earplugs

best earplugs for sleeping noise cancelling

Alpine's Sleep Soft Earplugs are, as the name suggests, designed for quiet, noise-free sleep. They will stop ambient noise up to an incredible 31dB, yet are sophisticated enough to let in important sounds such as those from doorbells, phones, and alarm clocks.

Exceptionally comfortable and soft, they are perfect for side sleepers thanks to their very slim profile and can therefore easily be worn all night. Many customers found them comfortable, no matter what their preferred sleeping position was.

The Alpine kit comes complete with a solution for cleaning, and a plastic carry case to keep the earbuds securely stored. The Alpine Sleep Soft Earplugs help guarantee a great night's sleep with their comfortable design and excellent noise cancellation.

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Etymotic Research ER20 ETYPlug

best earplugs for sleeping noise cancelling

Etymotic Research developed the first insertable earplug in 1984, and their ER20 ETYPlug continues that tradition of innovation. Constructed of comfortable soft plastic, these earplugs are capable of much more.

With a hearing attenuation of up to 20dB, they are perfect for industrial workers or anyone who regularly experiences high degrees of noise. This advanced noise reduction also means that they provide pro-level silence when you are only trying to keep things quiet at night.

They are soft and comfortable, which makes them perfect for restful sleep, and they will fit snugly and securely in your ear. Designed to reduce noise levels without muffling, the ER20s bring exceptional sound reduction and comfort to the table.

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Euphonic Sleep Earplugs

best earplugs for sleeping noise cancelling

Euphonic's Sleep Earplugs feature a low-profile design that will make it look like you are not wearing any earbuds at all. Made of durable yet very soft silicone that won't trigger allergies, itch, or feel uncomfortable, they are a great solution for eliminating background noise.

These affordable earbuds will not muffle voices and music like some cheaper foam earplugs and they are durably constructed. Additionally, they feature a triple flange design to keep them securely and comfortably in place even when you turn and frequently move at night.

These earplugs are one-size fits all, guaranteed to fit in any ear. The low profile makes sleeping on your side a breeze, as they will not venture far outside the ear canal.

The Euphonic Sleep Earplugs are great sleeping earplugs thanks to their comfortable fit and top noise reduction capabilities. They are affordable, comfortable, and high-quality – easily making this list of winners.

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Hearheed Noise Reduction Earplugs

best earplugs for sleeping noise cancelling

When you are in the market for excellent noise canceling earplugs, you could certainly do worse than the brand new Hearheed Noise Reduction set. Designed to reduce noise attenuation by up to 28dB, they are not only great for sleeping, but they will protect your ears in other noisy environments.

They meet advanced H28L standards for hearing protection, so you know they are high quality and can even be used for professional events.

The silicone earplugs are hypoallergenic, completely nontoxic, and are exceptionally comfortable to wear. We found their fit to be excellent for both women and men with different sized ears.

The kit comes complete with an aluminum carry case plus a keyring so they will never get misplaced. Hearheed's Noise Reduction Earplugs are the perfect choice for sleep, travel, and loud events, due to their excellent noise attenuation and very comfortable, guaranteed to fit size.

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Adept Sound Noise Reduction Earplugs

best earplugs for sleeping noise cancelling

The Adept Sound Noise Reduction Earplugs will block or muffle any ambient sounds you may encounter at night, making them the perfect sleeping companions.

They are quite pliable and flexible, conforming to your ear canal, so you are guaranteed a perfect and comfortable fit (and therefore high-end noise reduction).

The earplugs are made from high-quality soft silicone that is not only pleasant to wear but is completely safe to use. In fact, you can easily keep them in for long periods without a hint of discomfort, and their low profile is ideal for side sleepers.

When you are looking for the perfect pair of earplugs for sleeping, the Adept Sound Noise Reduction Earplugs fit the bill thanks to exceptional comfort and sound attenuation.

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Pro Vibes High Fidelity Earplugs

best earplugs for sleeping noise cancelling

The Pro Vibes High Fidelity Earplugs conveniently come as a set of two pairs, one for high noise attenuation and another for low to medium noise levels. This makes them very versatile for sleep, travel, and everyday use.

The loud noise pair reduces sound up to a very high 28dB, while the low to medium pair will reduce noise up to 20dB. Either way, you are guaranteed an excellent night's sleep as they are comfortable to wear and have a very low profile which makes them great for sleeping on your side.

The high-grade silicone earplugs will stay securely in place thanks to the well-designed triple flanges, and will reduce background noise levels without muffling.

We recommend considering the Pro Vibes High Fidelity Earplugs when you are looking for sleeping earplugs that fit comfortably and expertly reduce sound levels. They are an all-around excellent product.

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NU High Fidelity Earplugs

best earplugs for sleeping noise cancelling

The NU High Fidelity Earplugs offer premium noise reduction and are perfect for sensitive ears. They are designed primarily for sleeping thanks to the soft and comfortable silicone materials that won't irritate your ears or provoke allergic reactions.

They come in one size that is guaranteed to fit your ear canal. The set also includes silicone extensions for a customizable fit.

An aluminum carry case with keyring ensures that they will always be there when you need them, and the earplugs also come with a 100% money back guarantee if you do not like how they feel or function.

NU's High Fidelity Earplugs make sleeping a dream thanks to their soft silicone material that will fit easily, snugly and comfortably.

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Tips for Better Sleep

A high-quality set of earplugs for sleeping is half the battle and will help you get much better rest. If your goal is optimal sleep there are a few additional things you can do to get perfect shuteye every time!

Our team researched expert tips from trustworthy, scientific sources such as the Mayo Clinic, the National Sleep Foundation, and Harvard University. Here are the top tips for noticeably better sleep and rest. Sweet dreams!

1. Stick to a Consistent Sleep Schedule
Your body likes consistent habits which help it to reinforce a reliable sleep-wake-cycle. So if your goal is better sleep, we recommend going to bed and getting up at the same time each day.

Ideally, try to time your bedtime and wake-up alarm with the day’s natural light cycle. It is much easier to fall asleep when it gets dark and rise energized when the sun comes up.

2. Eating and Drinking Affects Your Sleep
If you are trying to set a hot-dog-eating world record right before going to bed, you might have a hard time traveling to dream-land. All right, that is of course an extreme example, but you get the point. It is smart to stop eating and drinking at least two hours before you plan to sleep to give your body some time to digest and relax.

We also recommend skipping alcohol which can reduce sleep quality. While staying hydrated is important, drinking too much water before bed can lead to sleep-interrupting trips to the bathroom.

3. Create a Nightly Ritual
A great way to fall asleep faster and more consistently is to have a relaxing ritual that you do each and every night. This programs your mind to get ready for bed and helps to establish healthy bedtime habits.

Some great examples are meditation, soothing music, reading a book, and a warm bath. There are lots of options, so pick the one that makes you feel sleepy, comfortable, and relaxed. Either way, you will be surprised by how much a soothing transition activity between awake and asleep helps your sleep quality and overall wellness. Give it a try!

4. Get More Comfortable
If your pillow and mattress are not comfortable you will not be able to get good sleep; it’s that simple. Since we spend about one-third of our life sleeping a high-quality mattress is a very important and smart investment.

Mattresses should generally be replaced every ten years for optimal support and health benefits. If your mattress is about to turn from a comfortable friend to a nightmare, we recommend checking out our new, free buying guides to the top affordable mattresses for better sleep on a budget as well as the best memory foam mattresses for high-end, optimized sleep.

Also, consider upgrading your pillow to supportive memory foam or modern latex.

5. Check Your Room
For most people (including us) there is lots to improve here! Make sure your room has an optimal sleep temperature of around 60 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit.

Yes, we know that sounds cool, but studies show that this temperature range allows for the best quality of sleep. Next, make sure your room is dark enough. Most of us live in the city, and there is plenty of light pollution that can creep into your room.

Your body needs a very dark environment for ideal sleep so make sure to close those curtains or even better, wear a sleeping mask. When you are trying to wake up refreshed the opposite rule comes into play: Your body wakes up best if it notices the sun rising. Makes sense, doesn’t it?

The easiest way to achieve this is investing in a high-quality wake-up light. We highly recommend this as it makes an incredible difference in how energized and awake you feel each and every morning. After trying these lights, our entire team switched to using them privately.

The consensus was that the Philips HF3520 Wake-Up Light offers the best balance of price and features. It's among the easiest ways to wake up better each day and develop healthy sleep habits.

6. Power Down
Remember how we just talked about how light directly affects your sleep quality? Using your TV, smartphone, and tablet has a similar effect. In fact, screen emits a particularly cool (i.e. blue) light which makes your brain wake up and reduces your sleep quality.

When we see blue light before bed it disrupts our Melatonin production and in turn makes it hard to fall asleep and stay asleep. The solution? Either turn off your devices two hours before bedtime or use an app to reduce blue light. For PC and Mac, we recommend the free software called Flux https://justgetflux.com.

There are also several blue light sleep apps in the iOS and Android app stores for your smartphone and tablet.

Sleep well!

 Finding the Best Earplugs for Deep Sleep

Does the light tapping of raccoon’s feet on your porch jolt you awake at random hours of the night? If so, you’re definitely not alone. What may help you get sounder sleep is a pair of ear plugs that blocks the ear passage and prevents soundwaves from beating away at your ear drums.

4 Types of Earplugs

Ear plugs come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and they can be used in a wide range of different applications. Although they all serve the same purpose, there are four major types of ear plugs designed specifically for sleep.

Disposable Earplugs

As the name suggests, disposable earplugs are designed for one-time use. Since they’re dirt cheap, these are great for first-time users who are unsure of how much earplugs can improve their sleep.

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Reusable Earplugs

Reusable earplugs are made of a flexible material that molds to the shape of your ear canal. Maintaining reusable earplugs doesn’t require special skills, and they can be used for months at a time.

Pros:

Cons:

DIY- Mold Earplugs

Though technically a type of reusable earplugs, they’re not premade to fit a certain ear canal size. Instead, these kits come with unmolded thermoplastic blobs that adhere to the shape and size of your ear canal. By molding the plug in your ear and blanching it in warm water, you can have a pair of custom-made plugs for the most comfortable fit. These definitely beat mass-produced plugs in every way.

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Cons:

Moldable Earplugs

Moldable earplugs are made of a non-stick wax that takes the shape of your ear to create a soundproof barrier . They don’t enter the canal so you don’t need to worry about them getting stuck.

Pros:

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Earplug Basics - Explained in Under 2 Minutes

Before you scour the interwebs for the best earplugs, it’s crucial that we know the basics. Here, we’ll briefly go over why earplugs may be the best solution for better sleep, what they’re made of, what risks they pose, and which type of earplug is ideal for you.

Why Use Earplugs?

Earplugs are not a magical solution that’ll automatically improve sleep quality overnight. If your ears can pick up the faintest of sounds at night, then there’s a possibility that earplugs can help block out those noises and trigger your brain to enter into sleep-mode with fewer disturbances.

Materials

There are four materials commonly used to make earplugs. The first is a soft foam which contracts in the palm of your hand and expands as it’s pushed into the ear canal. Silicone is another widely used material for its hypoallergenic and non-sticking properties. Natural or synthetic wax is used mainly in moldable earplugs for easy use and removal. Thermoplastic is used in DIY earplug kits since, when introduced to heat, will harden and keep its form.

Possible Risks

Even though earplugs are considered safe to use during sleep, you might not want to use them on a nightly basis. Using earplugs can push wax deeper into the ear, requiring medical care to remove. They can also promote wax buildup which, if left untreated, can cause painful ear infections. It’s possible to prevent harmful side effects from occurring; all you need to do is read the instructions on the box.

Best Type of Earplugs

The “ideal” type of earplug depends on two factors: how often you’ll use them and how healthy your budget is. Although earplugs are relatively inexpensive, disposable types are far cheaper than reusable and wax earplugs. Generally speaking, the pricier the plug, the longer it’ll last. Living in a noisier neighborhood next to rowdy college students may necessitate purchasing reusable or even DIY plugs. As for moldable earplugs, they’re best-suited for those that can sleep through normal nighttime noises but have difficulty dealing with loud, sudden sounds.

How to Get the Best Use out of Your Earplugs

Even though earplugs made for sleep can help dramatically soften noises around you, they’re not 100% foolproof. To get the best use out of earplugs, as well as improve sleep quality, here are a few things we’d recommend doing.

Switch between Different Types of Earplugs

No matter how comfortable earplugs are, there may come a time where putting them in your ears causes discomfort. If this happens, you should either switch your earplugs with a different brand or switch to a different type. Wax earplugs, though not as effective as other types, are the most comfortable in the ear. 

Wash Your Earplugs Regularly

Regardless of what type of earplugs you use, you should always keep them cleaned by rinsing and lightly scrubbing them under running water. The warmer the water, the cleaner the plugs will be. Avoid using scalding hot water since it can permanently deform the plugs, rendering them incapable of blocking your ear canals completely. You might even be able to get a couple of extra nights of use out of disposable earplugs by washing them.

Always Dry the Earplugs

Of course, maintaining hygienic earplugs isn’t just about keeping them clean but also giving them time to dry. A moist earplug is the perfect breeding ground for bacteria, and pushing millions of germs into your ear is definitely not going to do you any favors.

Other Bedroom Accessories that can Help Improve Sleep Quality

Earplugs are not a magical solution that instantly fixes all sleeping disorders. Ambient noises may only be a fraction of the problem, which is why we’d recommend several different accessories and appliances that promote better sleep and help you wake up more revitalized than ever before.

White Noise Machine

Even though earplugs work well at softening most noises, they’re not made to block every soundwave from penetrating your ear. This is why a white noise machine – a machine that plays white noise, nature sounds, animal calls, or the pitter-patter of raindrops – is such a handy device to have. The best white noise machines do not exceed the 50-decibel threshold that can disrupt sleep. With your earplugs in and white noise playing gently in the background, you can control your breathing which helps promote sounder sleep.

Face Masks

Noises might not even be the main source of sleep trouble. If you live in a city that wakes up at night, then lights are more likely the culprit of low-quality sleep. Eye masks are made to block ambient light, allowing your brain and body to power down more quickly.

Wake-up Lights

If you have a busy schedule ahead of you, you may need to set an alarm to rise early in the morning. Loud alarm clocks can get you up, but their sudden loud noises can make you feel more disgruntled than relaxed, even after a full 7 to 8 hours of sleep. Wake-up lights are a much more ear-friendly to pull gently you out of your dreams.

Air Purifiers

As you can imagine, polluted indoor air can make it hard to fall asleep. Every time you crack a window or open a door, you’re allowing millions of airborne pollutants to fly in and settle everywhere in your home. An air purifier solves this problem by suctioning in copious amounts of air, filtering it, and recirculating it back into your room. The result is higher-quality, more breathable air that saves our lungs from pollution-related illnesses. The best air purifiers use True HEPA Filters for maximum filtration (99.97% effectiveness of particles as small as 0.3 microns).

Humidifiers/Dehumidifiers

One common problem in many households is the relative humidity level in bedrooms. Too much or too little humidity can make breathing a chore while also either drying your sinuses or creating a hospitable environment for germs and mold. A humidifier or dehumidifier will help you control the relative humidity in a room by introducing or removing airborne moisture particles. By limiting the humidity to between 30 and 50 percent, your senses will not be harmed by excessive dryness, and the air will feel fresher and more pleasant.

Diffusers

Aromatherapy is an excellent way to relax before bedtime. You can introduce a healthy, fresh fragrance into your bedroom by getting a diffuser. A few droplets of your favorite essential oil can help mask disturbing odors without leaving an overbearing aroma of flowers or herbs. Although diffusers use expel water vapor, they have minimal effects of overall humidity levels.

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