Best Noise-Canceling Headphones of 2024

These earbuds and headphones from brands including Apple, Bose, 1More, and Sony deliver on both noise cancellation and sound quality

By Allen St. John

Updated January 1, 2024

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Person looking out of a window in an airplane wearing headphones — CR has more than 100 models in our noise-canceling headphone ratings.

How well do today’s noise-canceling headphones work? Really well, according to our testers. Our lab has evaluated dozens of noise-canceling models, both earbuds and conventional over-the-ear and on-ear headphones. The tests reveal many high-end and less expensive models that can help mute background noise very effectively.

But great noise canceling doesn’t matter very much if your headphones or earbuds don’t sound good.

Best Noise-Canceling Headphones

Best Noise-Canceling Earbuds

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Best Cheap Noise-Canceling Headphones

Best Cheap Noise-Canceling Earbuds

Allen St. John

Allen St. John has been a senior product editor at CR since 2016, focusing on digital privacy, audio devices, printers, and home products. He was a senior editor at Condé Nast and a contributing editor at publications including Road & Track and The Village Voice. A New York Times bestselling author, he's also written for The New York Times Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, and Rolling Stone. He lives in Montclair, N.J., with his wife, their two children, and their dog, Rugby.