The 7 best budget noise-canceling headphones for work, travel and beyond

Having the right headphones can make the difference between a restful flight or one full of noise. Our editors have searched out the best noise-cancelling headphones, so you can listen to your favorite music, podcasts or audiobooks without all the background noise.

Many of these headphones allow you to switch back and forth between noise cancellation and aware modes. That way, you can still pay attention to your surroundings when you’re out and about.

Whether you’re looking for a top brand or a budget option, this list includes different types of headphones with a range of impressive features. Keep reading to browse our expert selections.

Read more: Get the best earplugs for a sound sleep every night

The best noise-cancelling headphones

Our top pick overall

Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700

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$279 at Bose

Best in-ear model

Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II

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$279 at Bose

Best luxury Bluetooth headphones

Apple Airpods Max

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$539 at Walmart

Best budget noise-cancelling headphones

Sony WHCH720N Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones

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$99 at Amazon

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Our top pick overall

Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700

You save $100 (26.39%)

$279$379

$279 at Bose

Specifications

• Type: Over-ear headphones

• Battery life: Up to 20 hours

Pros & Cons

• Adjustable noise reduction

• Long battery life

• Built-in voice control

• May not work with all communication apps

• Some reported connectivity issues

You can’t get any better than Bose when it comes to sound. The 700 series is one of the best noise-canceling headsets on the market — thanks to their adjustable noise cancellation that allows you to control how much or how little of the outside world you want to hear. 

These Bluetooth headphones come with simple touch control that allows you to easily pause your music or manage volume with a simple tap. It also has built-in voice control that works with Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri. With its long-lasting battery, you can listen to music or chat for up to 20 hours.

From the leather cushions on the earcups to the lightweight, sleek design, this headset is all about comfort and making sure you get the best audio experience.

Best in-ear model

Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II

You save $20 (6.69%)

$279$299

$279 at Bose

Specifications

• Type: In-ear headphones 

• Battery life: Up to 6 hours

Pros & Cons

• CustomTune technology

• Customizable settings

• Connect up to six devices

• Only three sizes for in-ear fit

• Only six hours of battery life

If you prefer in-ear headphones, then the QuietComfort II from Bose is a great choice. These affordable noise-canceling earbuds come with Bose’s innovative noise reduction tech that allows you to choose between complete silence or aware mode for when you’re on the go and still need to listen to enough sound to be aware of your surroundings.

When you connect these budget Bluetooth headphones to the Bose app you can further customize your listening experience with the adjustable EQ settings. It also has simple touch controls to help you navigate. Plus, you can connect up to six devices and get six hours of battery life on one charge. The case comes with three extra charges.

While most earbuds can be tricky to fit, QuietComfort comes with cushions and stability bands in three sizes. They also use CustomTune tech that auto-adjusts to your ear for optimal sound levels.

Best luxury Bluetooth headphones

Apple Airpods Max

$539

$539 at Walmart

$549.99 at Best Buy

Specifications

• Type: Over-ear headphones

• Battery life: Up to 20 hours

Pros & Cons

• 20 hours battery life

• Spatial audio

• Easily sync with all Apple devices

• No on or off button

• Some reported issues switching to MacBook

If you’re looking for top-of-the-line headphones, look no further than the Apple Airpods Max. It’s one of the most expensive sets on our list but you definitely get what you pay for. Airpods are extreme noise-canceling headphones. They use active noise-cancelling technology with high-fidelity sound and personalized spatial audio that tracks your head movement and surrounds you with sound.

The headphones easily connect to all Apple devices and seamlessly switch from one to the other. You can also share the audio stream from one Apple device between two different pairs of headphones. 

The headset has Apple’s signature design. The headband is made from breathable knit mesh that reduces on-head pressure. The digital crown makes it easy to change settings. And the pillow-like cushions completely cover the ear to create an acoustic seal. There are also five fun color options.

Best budget noise-cancelling headphones

Sony WHCH720N Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones

You save $50.99 (34%)

$99$149.99

$99 at Amazon

(Available in black and white)

$149.99 at Best Buy

Specifications

• Type: Over-ear headphones

• Battery life: Up to 35 hours

Pros & Cons

• Affordable

• Adaptive sound control

• Lightweight

• Some users report frequent disconnects

• Not the best sound quality compared to higher-end headphones

These Sony over-ear headphones are a great option for those looking to spend a bit less without compromising quality. They come with dual noise sensor technology, plus  20-level settings that let you decide the level of outside noise you want to hear. It also has adaptive sound control which senses where you are and adjusts the ambient sound setting for the best listening experience. 

They also have 360 Reality audio, which makes listening to podcasts or music all the more immersive. Plus, with a digital sound enhancement engine, your music will sound as close to the original recording as you can get. 

These budget wireless headphones are the lightest in Sony’s lineup and have more space and comfort for your ears. You can connect to up to two Bluetooth devices at a time and they have a 35-hour battery life. Choose between the two color options for the pair that best suits you.

Best for battery life

Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless Adaptive Noise-Canceling Over-The-Ear Headphones

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$379.99$379.99

$379.99 at Best Buy

Specifications

• Type: Over-ear headphones

• Battery life: Up to 60 hours

Pros & Cons

• Adaptive noise cancellation

• 60-hour battery life

• Suppress wind noise

• Some reported connectivity issues

• Reports of headphones shutting off fully charged

The Momentum 4 headphones come with the longest battery life on our list — a whopping 60 hours. Plus, you get Sennheiser’s signature sound quality with brilliant sound and musicality. You can also personalize your experience with the built-in EQ, presets, sound modes and sound personalization feature through the app.

They have adaptive noise cancellation, which will automatically adjust for you. They also are great at suppressing wind noise. Or you can use transparency mode to keep aware of your surroundings. The four mics also make sure your voice is crystal clear on calls. 

The design is lightweight and foldable, making them easy to take on the go. Not to mention, they have smart pause, which will pause your music when you take the headphones off. While they aren’t the cheapest on our list, they’re definitely worth the investment.

Best under $100

​​JBL TUNE 710BT Wireless Over-Ear Headphones

You save $30 (37.52%)

$49.95$79.95

$49.95 at Dell

Specifications

• Type: Over-ear headphones

• Battery life: Up to 50 hours

Pros & Cons

• Pure bass sound

• Low price point

• Multi-point connection

• Doesn’t completely cancel noise  

• Volume doesn’t go as loud

If you’re on the lookout for cheap wireless headphones with a long Battery life, then check out this headset by JBL. They are the lowest-priced option on our list, but come with a grand 50 hours of Battery life per charge. Plus they have JBL’s signature pure bass sound. While they only have one microphone, the headphones do have multi-point connections so you can watch a video on your tablet, then take a call on your phone. 

The headphones use active noise cancellation, though not as thorough as other options on our list. There’s also no app needed, with buttons on the side that will allow you to use voice assistants. As an added plus, they’re lightweight, foldable and come with a detachable wire if you get low on charge but still want to use them.

While you won’t get all the fancy features, these noise-canceling small headphones are a great option if all you want is decent sound for a smaller price.

Best for music lovers

Bowers & Wilkins Px8 Noise-Canceling Wireless Over-Ear Headphones

$699

$699 at B&H

Specifications

• Over the ear headphones

• Battery life: Up to 30 hours

Pros & Cons

• App for personalization

• 30 hours battery life

• Smart headphone

• High price point

• Some complaints about headband comfort

If you are looking for the peak of luxury in your headphones, look no further than these Bowers & Wilkins headphones. They use four mics for active noise cancellation. However, you can easily switch to Transparency mode if you need to pay attention to your surroundings. They also have hands-free calling.

With 30 hours of battery life, you can listen to music or watch movies for longer. Plus you can get up to seven hours of Battery life on a 15-minute charge. The headphones are also smart and will pause your music when it senses you’ve taken them off. You can use the app to further personalize your listening experience.

These luxury headphones come in two colors and are made of premium materials. The earcups are made of carbon, while the headband is made from Nappa leather. The arm structure is made from aluminum.

Which noise-canceling headphones get our vote? 

All of the options on our list are great for different reasons. Whether you want high-end or cheap noise-canceling headphones, this list has it. However, if we have to choose, these would be our top two choices.

•  Sony WHCH720N Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones: These headphones have a low price compared to all the features they come with. Plus, Sony has always been a trusted audio brand. We especially like their 360 reality audio.

• Sennheiser Momentum 4: A more expensive option, but you really can’t get any better sound than with Sennheiser headphones. They are sleek and comfortable, plus come with two different color options.

Prices updated on 01/04/2024. We are not responsible for any changes to the prices mentioned above.