Gear

The Best Noise-Canceling Headphones

These over-ears and earbuds will add some serenity to your day.

Shaking off the world and sinking into a new album can feel like a train ride through the countryside … unless you're sharing that seat with two young toddlers. Or your neighbor's dog is constantly barking. Come to think of it, there are a lot of sounds that can ruin a good song in the work-from-home era, and that's why we have headphones that isolate and actively cancel out noise. Below are the best noise-canceling cans and buds you can buy, handpicked and tested by the Gear team here at WIRED.

Not seeing something you like? Be sure to check out our other guides, like the Best Wirefree Earbuds, Best Workout Earbuds, and Best Wireless Headphones.

Updated March 2021: We've added the Apple AirPods Max, Bowers & Wilkins PX7 Carbon, Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro, and Jabra Elite 85t.

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  • Apple Airpods Max
    Photograph: Apple

    The Absolute Best

    Apple AirPods Max

    If you use an iPhone and you are willing to pay $550, Apple's noise-canceling over-ears (8/10, WIRED Recommends) are the best choice. They are probably the best wireless headphones you'll have ever heard, but astonishing fidelity isn't the only reason to buy Cupertino's flagship headphones. Excellent pairing and connection with Apple devices, Bose-beating noise reduction, and some of the finest build quality you'll find this side of $1,000 make these a great pair for most people.

    The only thing not to like about the AirPods Max? The included soft case, which does very little to protect the headphones when they're not on your head.

    $549 at Apple
    $549 at Amazon
  • Photograph: Sony

    A Close Second

    Sony WH-1000XM4

    Sony's WH-1000X lineup has produced some of the best noise-canceling headphones for several years in a row, and the recently released WH-1000XM4 (9/10, WIRED Recommends) is no exception. The new model retains the sleek, businesslike looks and 30-hour battery life of previous versions, but this time you get better noise cancellation and audio upscaling, both of which contribute to a cleaner overall sound signature. The high-quality microphones don't make you sound like you're underwater in Zoom meetings, which is an essential upgrade in the post–Covid-19 world.

    $278 at Amazon
    $278 at Walmart
  • Photograph: Bose

    Best for the Office

    Bose Noise Canceling 700

    The ever popular Bose QC35 II (8/10 WIRED Recommends) remains a fantastic noise-canceling option, but Bose’s newest flagship headphones, the Noise Canceling 700, take our top spot for business users. They have excellent noise reduction that quiets clacky keyboards or chatty roommates better than ever, plus slightly better sound quality and battery life than the QC35 II.

    But the real reason to buy the 700s is for call quality. They use advanced signal processing and four microphones to limit the sound of the world around you on phone calls. The person you're calling would guess you’re in a library even though you’re actually in your rowdy living room.

    $329 at Amazon
    $329 at Walmart
  • Photograph: Bose 

    Best Earbuds

    Bose QuietComfort Earbuds

    Just like with its over-ears, Bose has packed its tiny QuietComfort earbuds with some of the best noise-canceling tech around. Despite a bulky-seeming design, they're actually very comfortable, thanks to built-in ear fins and soft ear tips. I also like that they have awesome mouth-facing microphones, so they work great on Zoom and phone calls.

    Specs-wise, they get six hours of battery life and can be quick-charged via USB-C, so you can get two hours of listening after plugging in for just 15 minutes. They also have an IPX4 rating, so you don't have to worry about them in the rain or during occasional workouts (though I'd recommend workout buds if you exercise frequently).

    $279 at Amazon
    $280 at Target
    $280 at Bose
  • Photograph: Apple

    Best for iOS

    Apple AirPods Pro

    I hate the middling sound and uncomfortable fit of the original AirPods, but Apple's AirPods Pro (8/10, WIRED Recommends) are wildly different. They feature comfy ear tips that improve the fit and therefore improve the sound. They have a better overall design and some of the best noise canceling you'll find in a pair of earbuds. It's absolutely worth the extra hundred bucks you'll spend over the standard non-Pro model.

    WIRED reviewers Adrienne So and Jess Grey swear by these. They're best used with an iPhone or another Apple device, but they'll work with Android phones too (but with fewer available features).

    $219 at Amazon
    $219 at Walmart
    $249 at Apple
  • Photograph: Samsung

    Also Great Earbuds

    Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro

    Samsung's flagship earbuds (9/10, WIRED Recommends) easily give the AirPods Pro a run for their money in terms of pairing speed and noise reduction, but they outright crush Apple's earpieces when it comes to sound quality. The Buds Pro have a dual-driver system inside each bud that provides cleaner, deeper bass and clearer highs. If you want to silence the outside world while also enjoying the best possible sound, these are the buds for you. And don't worry, a Samsung phone is not required.

    $200 at Amazon
    $200 at Walmart
  • Photograph: Bowers & Wilkins

    Cleanest Lines

    Bowers & Wilkins PX7 Carbon Edition

    For a small premium over Sony's models, the PX7 Carbon (8/10, WIRED Recommends) bring a bit more musical clarity and style. They've got similarly great noise reduction and lightweight head feel, but the PX7 are just a touch more upscale, which makes them a good option for those who like great performance but don't mind spending a bit more to stand out from the crowd. 

    $400 at Amazon
    $400 at Best Buy
  • Photograph: Mont Blanc 

    The Most Silent

    Montblanc MB 01

    The luxury brand Montblanc made its name with watches and pens, but its first-ever noise-canceling headphones, the MB 01 (8/10, WIRED Recommends) should be equally enticing to fat cats for one simple reason: They've got the best noise-canceling I've ever (not?) heard in a pair of headphones. We're talking eerie levels of silence. You'll be terrified by your own pets sneaking up on you.

    They cost a pretty penny, which is why they live in the lower half of this list, but they've got top-of-the-line sound quality and comfort, and 20 hours of battery life. The Sony or Bose models will make things nearly as quiet, but if you're after the most silent silence money can buy, you'll have to pony up the big bucks for the MB 01.

    $595 at Montblanc
  • Photograph: Jabra

    Most Rugged

    Jabra Elite 85h

    I’m not easy on headphones! I break headbands, snag cables, erode ear pads, and wear headsets out in the Oregonian rain while walking my dog. That’s why I like the Jabra Elite 85H. They have a water-resistant coating, replaceable ear pads ($20), and a robust, understated design that holds up to abuse.

    Their active noise-canceling abilities aren't the absolute best, but you’ll  notice that only in the loudest environments. And with 36 hours of battery life with ANC turned on, you rarely have to charge them.

    $201 at Amazon
    $250 at Target
    $250 at Walmart
  • Photograph: Jabra

    Best for Workouts

    Jabra Elite 85T

    I've been taking my pair of Jabra Elite 85ts (9/10, WIRED Recommends) out with me on cold runs all winter, and they have never let me down. The engineers behind these super-comfy buds laser-scanned thousands of ears in the design phase, helping them create a pair that virtually disappears in your ears.

    I also like that they don't have touch controls, with Jabra opting for push-buttons that are easier to operate with sweat-drenched fingers.

    $230 at Amazon
    $230 at Walmart
  • Photograph: EPOS Audio

    Best Value

    Sennheiser Adapt 660

    Want excellent sound, a comfortable fit, and high-quality noise canceling for less than you'd pay for Sony or Bose phones? Check out this collaboration between EPOS and Sennheiser. The Adapt 600 (8/10, WIRED Recommends) sound fantastic, and they are some of the lightest noise-canceling headphones I've ever worn. They also feature excellent microphones for great silence on calls and Zooms. I highly recommend value shoppers check them out—they're easily some of the highest-performing wireless cans you'll find for the money.

    $294 at Amazon
  • Photograph: Master & Dynamic

    Audiophile Pick

    Master & Dynamic MW65

    Noise-canceling headphones aren’t usually this pretty. New York’s Master & Dynamic knows that, which is why these are $100 more than models with similar specs from Sony and Bose. But if you’re already paying so much, why not get something with premium materials—and better sound (9/10, WIRED Recommends).

    The leather-swaddled MW65 paint higher-frequency instruments with a finer brush, allowing you to hear tiny details—like the shaky edges of your favorite singer’s voice—that might otherwise disappear in a fog of daily noises. You just have to pay for the privilege.

    $500 at Amazon
    $500 at Best Buy
  • Photograph: Taotronics

    Bargain Basement

    Taotronics Active Noise Cancelling Headphones

    Look, I'm not here to tell you that these noise-canceling headphones from Taotronics will win you any beauty contests. Or that they'll last forever; eventually, you will accidentally crunch the plastic headband. But they sound pretty good! And they cost $56. With a quoted 35 hours of battery life and a surprisingly comfortable fit (the benefit of lightweight plastic), they're really not so bad. Sure, they're a little bassy, but you'll have to spend nearly double the money to find something better.

    $53 at Amazon
Parker Hall is a product reviewer at WIRED, focusing on consumer technology. Previously, he was a senior staff writer at Digital Trends, where he focused on audiovisual and entertainment products. He is a graduate of the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, where he studied jazz percussion with Billy Hart. He remains... Read more
Writer and Reviewer
TopicsShoppingbuying guidesHeadphoneswireless headphonenoise-canceling