Sometimes, we all need some peace and quiet. If you use headphones daily for commuting or while in the office, you might want a pair that can effectively block out background noise. In the past, you needed large over-ear headphones to get good active noise cancelling (ANC), but now even small and portable in-ear or earbud headphones have impressive noise cancelling features. You can also achieve great isolation passively with some in-ear headphones that don’t have ANC because they physically block your ear canals.
We’ve tested over 335 earbuds and in-ears; below are our recommendations for the best in-ear noise cancelling headphones to buy. Check out our recommendations for the best in-ear headphones, the best wireless Bluetooth earbuds, or the best noise-cancelling headphones overall.
Best Noise Cancelling Earbuds

The Jabra Elite 85t Active Gen 2 True Wireless earbuds are the top noise-cancelling earbuds we have tested. Their excellent ANC effectively reduces noise across the entire frequency spectrum, from the low rumbles of a train engine to the high-pitched whirring of a nearby fan. Even sharp sounds like car horns are significantly reduced when walking down a busy street. With ANC on, they last for about eight hours continuously, and their carrying case holds an extra three charges. Additionally, the carrying case can be used as a Bluetooth LE transmitter, which can be useful for connecting to in-flight audio on plane trips.
These earbuds have a secure, sports-oriented design. Their coating helps them stay in your ears even during sweaty runs, and their IP68 rating means they can survive being dropped into puddles or enduring a long hike on a dusty road. Out of the box, their sound is well-balanced. The bass and mid-ranges are almost flat, which ensures accurate rendering of instruments and vocals with plenty of detail. The treble range is mostly flat, except for a narrow peak in the mid-treble that can make cymbals sound a bit piercing at times. However, the companion app is excellent and includes a graphic EQ and presets, allowing you to customize the sound to your preferences.
The Jabra support the SBC and AAC codecs, but they don’t support low latency codecs like aptX Adaptive (Low Latency). If that’s important to you, consider the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds Truly Wireless. The Bose’s ANC performs almost as well as the Jabra’s, and some people may find them more comfortable to wear. However, they don’t support multi-device pairing like the Jabra, they have a worse microphone, and their bass-heavy default sound won’t be to everyone’s tastes.
Best Upper Mid-Range Noise Cancelling Earbuds

Although not quite as good at blocking out noise as the newer Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 True Wireless, the Jabra Elite 10 True Wireless still provide excellent ANC performance at a slightly lower price point. The Elite 10 do an impressive job isolating you from real-world environmental noise, like chatty coworkers in an office. You’ll hear a little more engine rumble and fan whine than you will with the newer Elite 8 Gen 2 pair, but they’re still a great choice, and very low-pitched noise will often be masked by the audio you’re listening to anyway.
The Elite 10 headphones have a generally neutral sound profile that accurately represents basslines and vocals. They don’t produce unnaturally honky vocals or overly boomy kick drums. However, their treble accuracy is a downside. They have a big peak in the mid-treble, which can make high-pitched sounds like sibilants a little harsh. The good news is that you can customize the sound using their companion app. With their active noise cancellation (ANC) turned on, they last 7.5 hours on a single charge, and their carrying case provides an additional three charges. They also support Dolby Spatial Sound, which enhances the audio experience, and Dolby Atmos, a surround sound format. To use the Jabra’s Atmos support, you’ll need special Dolby Atmos files.
Best Mid-Range Noise Cancelling Earbuds

The Sony LinkBuds S Truly Wireless are the best earbuds with ANC in the mid-range we’ve tested. Their build quality is a step down from the Jabra Elite 10 True Wireless, but they have a similar noise isolation performance, easily cutting down sounds like plane engine rumbles and chatty coworkers. Their battery lasts for over seven hours with the ANC on, and you can top them up on the go, thanks to their case that stores 2.3 extra charges.
Sure, here is the revised text:These headphones support multi-device pairing, allowing you to stay connected to both your phone and computer simultaneously. Their small, lightweight design ensures a comfortable fit for extended periods. The overall frequency response is a bit more subdued compared to the Jabra headphones, with slightly less rumble and thump in the low end and a bit less clarity in the treble region. However, instruments and vocals are still present and detailed, albeit slightly recessed. The Sony headphones have a slightly underemphasized treble, which can make sibilants and cymbals sound dull and lispy. Nevertheless, you can adjust their sound using the graphic EQ and presets in their companion app.
Best Budget Noise Cancelling Earbuds

The best earbuds we’ve tested with ANC in the budget category are the Anker Soundcore Space A40 Truly Wireless. Despite their more affordable price tag, they offer an even better overall noise isolation performance than the Sony LinkBuds S Truly Wireless. Their adaptive ANC easily reduces bass-range noise like plane engine rumbles, making them a solid choice for travel. They also do an excellent job cutting out mid- to high-pitched sounds, like background chit-chat or a humming computer fan. These versatile buds come with features like multi-device pairing and LDAC codec support so that you can stream Hi-Res content.
They are well-built and have a warm default sound profile that you can customize via their companion app’s graphic EQ and presets. They also last for over eight hours continuously, which will get you through long days on the go, and their carrying case holds an extra four charges. However, if you need to make calls, their integrated mic does a poor job of capturing speech clearly, so your voice sounds distant and sharp, which isn’t very pleasant for the caller on the other end of the line.
Best Noise Cancelling Earbuds For iPhone

If you’re looking for premium buds at a lower price point, try the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) Truly Wireless. These buds are usually a little cheaper than the Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 True Wireless and have been on sale lately. Their ANC system isn’t quite as powerful as that of the Jabra at reducing ambient noise, but it still delivers excellent overall performance. As an Apple product, they offer some iOS-specific features that are worth checking out if you already own a MacBook or an iPhone. Spatial Audio is a virtual surround sound feature meant to create a more immersive audio experience, and their H2 chip allows for seamless pairing with other Apple devices. With their ANC on, their battery lasts about six hours of continuous use, and their carrying case supplies an extra four charges. They have a comfortable fit, but the buds can wiggle out over time, so you may have to readjust them every once in a while.
Thanks to their adaptive EQ, the AirPods have a warm sound profile that’s well-suited for genres like folk and jazz. However, their sound customization features are only available to iOS users. If you’re a cross-platform user, you may want to consider the Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 4. These similarly priced headphones have a companion app for both Android and iOS that includes an EQ and presets. Their ANC performance is comparable, but they’re less comfortable, and their touch controls are located directly outside your ear canal rather than on the stems like the AirPods, which makes them a bit harder to use.