Do noises keep you awake at night? With the best earmuffs for sleeping, you can comfortably block out the noise and sleep peacefully.
A good night’s sleep is essential to your well-being. Without adequate sleep, you are more likely to experience a wide range of ill effects.
Besides feeling a little groggy, you may start to forget things and increase your risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, and diabetes. A lack of sleep also ages your skin, leads to depression, and causes weight gain.
Unfortunately, earplugs and other solutions do not always work.
Earplugs can be uncomfortable. Playing music, using a white noise machine, or falling asleep with the TV on may lead to tossing and turning. Earmuffs provide a better solution.
Earmuffs are a great way to get a better rest, but which ones should you get? If you need help sleeping through the night, here is everything that you need to know about earmuffs for sleep and my top seven picks for the best products.
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Top 7 Noise-Cancelling Earmuffs on the Market
Some noise-canceling headphones are marketed as sleep aids, but are too uncomfortable to wear while you sleep. There are also earmuffs that are nothing more than a little bit of padding. If you want to avoid uncomfortable or ineffective options, try any of the following best earmuffs for sleep.
1. Hibermate Headband with Sound-Reducing Ear Muffs
The Hibermate is one of the products that truly qualifies as sound-reducing ear muffs for sleeping. It is an adjustable headband with muffs on the sides featuring interchangeable noise-blocking ear cushions:
- Designs for travel, work, or home use
- Fully adjustable headband fits any size head
- Flexible silicone ear cup material
- Two different sets of ear cushions
With this set, you choose between two sets of cushions and then wrap the headband around your head. It is light enough that you can roll onto your side at night and thick enough to help block out the sound.
While the Hibermate is my top choice for noise-canceling ear protection at night, some people may not like the ear pads. They are made from a flexible silicone material making them softer and more comfortable compared to headphones. However, they are not as soft as wearing a wrap around headband with ear inserts.
The design may not work for everyone, but it offers the best compromise between noise-canceling headphones and cushioned eye mask/earmuff combos.
The Hibermate is also suitable for a variety of uses. Besides wearing them at night, you can wear them while studying, meditating, or reading. You can also easily store them for travel or switch out the earmuff pads for the headphone pads.
| PROS | CONS |
| Effective at canceling unwanted noise | May not be comfortable for everyone |
| Versatile design for use in almost any situation |
2. NAP STAR Sleep Mask – Deluxe Transformer
With the NAP STAR Sleep Mask, you are getting a versatile wrap-around mask with multiple uses, including covering your ears at night. Here are the main details:
- Four different ways to wear the mask
- Includes thick cushioning to muffle sounds
- Made from 100% cotton
- Machine washable
The NAP STAR Sleep Mask includes multiple pieces of thick padding that can be arranged in different configurations. You can wear it with or without the eye mask.
The ear muffs are thick squares that connect to the sides using velcro, allowing them to be used as ear muffs or block pillows. The set also includes a chin strap to help keep everything in place.
The NAP STAR Sleep Mask is an interesting product that may help you get better rest. The thick padding offers minimal sound blocking, but it is more comfortable compared to noise-canceling headphones or earplugs. You also have the option of lying on your side, which is difficult when wearing thick headphones.
While the ear muff pads are comfortable, the eye mask creases over the eye sockets, which may cause some discomfort. Luckily, the mask is removable. You can sleep with just the velcro earpads wrapped around your head.
| PROS | CONS |
| The large velcro ear muffs are soft | The padding is not the most effective at blocking sound |
| Multiple ways to wear the NAP STAR sleep mask | The eye mask component is not very comfortable |
3. Wrap-a-Nap Travel Pillow, Sleep Mask and Earmuff in One
The Wrap-a-Nap is another option that combines a sleep mask with ear muffs. It can also be worn around the neck or used as a reading pillow. Other features include:
- Measures five by five inches when rolled up
- Soft plush fleece material
- Includes extended velcro fasteners
- Available in five different colors
The Wrap-a-Nap is a simple product. It is a wrap around the pillow that you can place around your eyes and ears to block light and sound. It also includes extended velcro fasteners, allowing you to convert it into a neck pillow.
The pillow is made from a soft fleece material and filled with light, down alternative filling. You can choose from five colors, including black, blue, gray, green, and red.
With the Wrap-a-Nap, the first thing that you will notice is the comfort. The soft material and filling provide the perfect cushion for your head.
For sleeping at home, some people find it a little too thick. While it is soft, the extra cushioning may make it difficult to enjoy sleeping on your side.
In the end, thanks to the compact size, it is best suited as a travel pillow that doubles as an eye mask with moderate sound muffling.
| PROS | CONS |
| Easy to store for travel | May offer too much padding for some side-sleepers |
| The soft material is comfortable enough for sleeping | |
| Blocks more noise compared to thinner headwraps |
4. Handmade Cotton Sleep Mask Blackout
If you do not want thick cushioning wrapped around your head at night, this next option may be a little more comfortable for you. It is another headwrap, but features denser fabric, making it less bulky. Here are the product details:
- Made from organic cotton fabric
- Features a nose wing design
- Available in gray or purple
- 100% handmade
This blackout sleep mask wraps around your entire head, blocking your eyes and ears. It also features a cutout near the nose, called a nose wing, making it breathable. The material is thick and dense, offering mild sound muffling and complete darkness.
The one drawback to this product is the noise-canceling ability of the fabric. This sleep mask helps muffle sounds, but does not completely mask them.
The sound of construction or your partner snoring may still penetrate the dense cotton material. However, you do get mild sound protection, along with completely shutting out all light.
This mask is made by hand and carefully stitched. It is one of the most durable options and folds into a small, compact square. While it is comfortable enough to sleep on your side, it is also convenient enough to pack for your next airplane trip.
| PROS | CONS |
| Comfortable design for side sleepers | Only muffles sounds |
| Blocks out all light | |
| Easy to store for travel |
5. CAHU CH Sleep Headphones and Eye Mask
With the CAHU CH Sleep Headphones, you get a wrap-around headband to cover your ears with built-in headphone speakers. The main features include:
- Multiple ways to use the product
- Includes flat headphones
- Available in two colors – gray or black
The CAHU CH Sleep Headphones are one of the most comfortable options. They are designed for use in almost any setting, including travel, sporting events, sleeping, or sitting at home reading.
The product consists of a soft headband and a set of headphones. The earpieces slide into inserts on the interior of the headband.
This is another versatile product. You can use it anywhere that you need help falling asleep. Unfortunately, the headband is not effective at blocking sound. To reduce noise, you need to listen to music or white noise using the provided headphones.
The headphones make it easy to fall asleep to audio files or music from your phone or tablet. While many headphones are uncomfortable to sleep on, these are completely flat, allowing you to sleep on your side.
You can also pull the headband down around your eyes, allowing you to use it as an eye mask as well. During the day, use it as a sports headband and enjoy your favorite songs while working out.
| PROS | CONS |
| Versatile design and soft material | The material itself does not block sound |
6. Noise Cancelling Ear Muffs by Decibel Defense
The previous options all wrap around your head and provide moderate cushioning, but do not fully cancel outside noise. The Professional Safety Ear Muffs by Decibel Defense block 37 decibels and provide the following:
- Available in five different colors
- Padded earphone cells
- Folds into a compact shape for travel
These earmuffs are intended to block the sound of lawnmowers, power tools, and blenders, which means you should have no problem blocking unwanted noises at night.
These safety ear muffs are like your standard headphones. They feature two ear pads connected with a bracket that fits over the top of your head, but they do not have earphone speakers. They are simply intended for noise protection.
The manufacturer claims that the ear pads can reduce the noise levels by 37 decibels. A quiet suburban setting typically produces about 50 decibels of ambient sound while a DC-9 aircraft produces 97 decibels during landing. With these headphones, you would likely sleep through the sound of an aircraft taking off.
While these are the most effective option for reducing noise levels in your home or during travel, they are not the most comfortable option. The thicker design makes it impossible to sleep on your side. However, if you need to block noise while traveling on a plane or riding in a car, these are your best option.
| PROS | CONS |
| Blocks the most noise, very effective | Difficult to sleep on your side |
| Affordable price |
7. Golden Scute Noise Reduction Ear Muffs
The Golden Scute Noise Reduction Safety Ear Muffs are lightweight and made from durable, eco-friendly materials. Such as the previous option, these headphones are made for use in shooting ranges, sports events, and travel. They also include these features:
- Lightweight design
- Fully adjustable steel wire
- Blocks up to 34 decibels of sound
The Golden Scute headphones are compact, yet thick. They offer almost the same level of sound protection as the previous ear muffs, providing another great choice for travel.
The ear cups are incredibly durable and self-aligning for a comfortable fit. The insides feature wide foam ear cup cushions and internal acoustic foam pads. The extra padding increases the noise-canceling ability and comfort.
Again, these headphones are not recommended for side sleepers. The thick ear pads are too bulky for you to remain comfortable when you roll over, but they are perfect for canceling out noise in any other situation. However, if you sleep on your back, the size of the headphones may not matter.
| PROS | CONS |
| Comfortable for use in a chair or lying on your back | Not suitable for side sleeping |
| Effective at blocking out loud noises |
Different Types of Earmuffs for Sleeping
Before exploring the different features of the best earmuffs, you should understand the different styles. These products come in a variety of designs.
There are options that wrap around your head, along with more traditional noise-canceling headphones. The primary styles to choose from include:
- Wrap around headbands
- Headbands with muffs and eye mask
- Noise-canceling ear muffs
The headband designs, such as the wrap-around ear muffs discussed, are the most comfortable when sleeping on your side.
You can also get a set that combines the ear muffs and sleep mask in the headband, to block out light and sound. While the headbands are the most comfortable option, they are not quite as effective compared to the noise-canceling earmuffs.
Top Features for Choosing Earmuffs for Your Bedtime Routine
Earmuffs are not complex products, but there are a few areas that you should focus on when comparing options. Here are the main factors for choosing the right earmuffs:
- Portability
- Noise-canceling ability
- Comfort
- Value
First, consider where you plan to use them and how much noise you are dealing with. If you need to block out noise when sleeping at home, I suggest you go with one of the headbands, especially if you are a side sleeper. The noise canceling ear muffs may get uncomfortable if you roll over.
The headbands with attached eye masks are useful for sleeping on a plane flight or train ride. They also help if you work at night and sleep during the day, as they block out all light.
However, when you need to block out the sound of people talking, the noise-canceling headphones are preferred. They are made specifically for canceling noise. Unfortunately, they are intended for use in situations other than sleeping.
For example, you typically wear noise-canceling headphones during travel, mowing the yard, using power tools, or to get some peace and quiet while you study. They are bulky and may not be comfortable when rolling to your side or laying on a pillow.
Despite these drawbacks, noise-canceling ear muffs are still well suited for sleep on a plane or as a passenger during a long car ride.
The last consideration when finding the right pair is the value. Most of the options discussed are pretty cheap and within the same price range. The only option that costs more is the top recommendation – the Hibermate Headband with Sound-Reducing Ear Muffs.
The Hibermate set is the most versatile option. It offers the noise-canceling ability of the headphones with the comfort of the headbands.
More on Sleeping With Earmuffs
Sleep is an important part of your life. In fact, the average person spends close to a third of their life slumbering.
One of the oldest solutions for blocking out noise at night is to stick earplugs in your ears. The plugs are often made of foam, but they can still be incredibly uncomfortable. They can also fall out as you toss around at night.
Another option is to drown out other noises by creating your own. White noise machines or classical music may help some individuals get better rest.
Unfortunately, these options do not work for everyone. Even if the noise machine or music helps you fall asleep, it may keep you from getting quality sleep.
Earmuffs and noise-canceling headphones are easier to use and more effective compared to the alternatives. Earmuffs and headphones do not fall off. They also block noise more effectively and are available in a variety of styles to suit your taste.
While you may think of earmuffs as cold-weather attire, some are designed specifically for sleeping. These products are soft, comfortable, and effective at canceling out the noise.
Just remember to consider where you plan to wear the ear muffs, as some of these options are better suited for travel while others provide the comfort needed for home use.
