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When it comes to picking the right earplugs for sleep, there are two main considerations: comfort and effectiveness. If the earplugs cause you discomfort — especially on a sensitive area like the ears — you still probably won’t be able to sleep well. And if they don’t block out noise effectively … well, what’s the point?
To find the best earplugs for sleeping, I spoke to sleep experts and earplug users about their favorite earplugs to sleep in as well as what to consider when shopping. I also tested a few pairs myself to see how effective and comfortable they were to sleep in. Below, a mix of disposable and reusable earplugs, made from a range of different materials. Or if you’d rather mask the noise than block it out, take a look at our guides to the best sound machines (including ones for babies).
Update on October 22, 2024: Updated prices and checked stock for all products.
What we’re looking for
Material
What an earplug is made of will primarily dictate how it feels and fits in the ear. Several experts mentioned soft foam or silicone as the best options for comfort. These materials seem to be the most common, though there are others, like wax or earbud-like designs. Neurologist Dr. Chris Winter says foam earplugs are the best to “muffle out the higher pitched sounds and quiet the whole environment down.” Dr. Raj Dasgupta generally agrees, recommending soft foam earplugs because they’ll gently expand in the ear to fit comfortably in the ear canal and effectively block out noise. However, Dasgupta says some might find silicone more comfortable if they have sensitive ears.
Noise blocking
Naturally, how effectively an earplug blocks out noise is one of the most important criteria. Most earplugs come with a noise-reduction rating (NRR) or single-noise rating (SNR), which measure how effectively they reduce noise. In the United States, earplugs are generally rated with the NRR. The higher the NRR, the more effective the earplug. The highest NRR for earplugs is 33, so that’s what to look for if you are seeking maximum noise reduction. However, a 33 NRR may not be totally necessary for sleep — the measurement is primarily used to gauge ear protection from potentially damaging sounds, such as loud machinery or music. While you may need to block out sound to be able to sleep, odds are your ears aren’t in danger from noise levels at night. Most earplugs range from a 20 to 30 NRR, and something in that range should keep nighttime noise at bay. I’ve included each earplug’s NRR below, but keep in mind that other factors, like how well the earplug fits your ear, can affect how effective the earplugs end up being. If you buy earplugs from another country (particularly ones in the European Union or the United Kingdom), you may see they are rated with the SNR rather than (or in addition to) the NRR. The general principle is the same: A higher rating equals more protection.
Cost-effectiveness
Earplugs can be disposable or reusable. In general, foam and wax ones tend to be disposable, while silicone tends to be reusable. Reusable earplugs can have a higher upfront cost, but depending on how often you are using earplugs, can end up being more cost-effective. For disposable earplugs, I’ve listed the total price, as well as the price per set to help you gauge which earplugs will be most cost-effective for you.
Best overall earplugs for sleep
Material: Foam | Noise reduction rating: 33 | Price: $.30 per pair
If there’s one brand name I heard more than any other while searching for the best earplugs, it was Mack’s. I also saw Mack’s pop up repeatedly while reading through some subreddits discussing the best earplugs for sleep. The effective noise-blocking, comfortable feel, and cheap price of these earplugs, won them the top spot on this list.
Reporter Claire Bryan says she’s long relied on Mack’s earplugs for falling asleep in her apartment above Eastern Parkway, one of Brooklyn’s busiest thoroughfares. “I love that my bedroom windows look out onto a wide street with great trees, but the trade-off is constant car noise,” she told us, adding that these help reduce the sound so she can sleep. “After you pinch and place, they expand in your ears like a little pillow, and you can’t even feel them.”
I also heard about these earplugs from writer Lisa McCarty. McCarty has hyperacusis, a condition that causes extreme sound sensitivity, and says she tried just about everything on the market before finding Mack’s. McCarty uses these earplugs in a variety of situations and brings them with her on the go, but she says she also uses them for sleep about two to three times per week. “They reduce the sounds of everything from construction noise to background conversation, making the room go quiet. It’s almost a meditative state when I put them in, as it helps me focus on my breathing instead of the noise and stimulation outside,” McCarty said. She says they are soft and flexible enough to wear at night, and while she doesn’t usually sleep on her side, when she does, they don’t hinder her sleeping. McCarty says the only drawback is that “if you twist the soft foam too tight they can push against the inside of your ear,” — however, she says using a gentle touch easily prevents this.
Best silicone earplugs for sleep
Material: Silicone | Noise reduction rating: 14 | Single-noise rating: 24 | Price: $24.95 for one reusable pair
Like Mack’s, Loop is a brand that also came up a lot — several Strategist staffers I talked to use Loop earplugs regularly, and it’s one of the most commonly recommended brands online. I’d already been using its Experience 2 earplugs for about six months to protect my ears at concerts. With all the hype and my own already-positive experience with the brand, I was really curious to try the Loop Quiet earplugs, which filter out more noise than the Experience model and are recommended for sleep.
The earplugs’ design is pretty similar to earbuds — they have a silicone ear tip that sticks into the opening of the ear canal and a loop-shaped external piece that you can hold on to as you put them in and take them off. They come with four sizes of ear tips (extra small, small, medium, or large), which you can switch out to get a better fit. Mine arrived with the medium-size tips already on, which ended up being the best size for my ears. They also come with a small carrying case.
What stood out to me most as I tested my Loop earplugs was how effectively they blocked out sound — I took a nap with them in while my partner watched TV in the next room, and despite only a wall between us, I could barely hear the TV. The next thing I noticed was how comfortable the earplugs were — or perhaps, it would be more accurate to say I noticed how little I noticed them. They sit snugly, without feeling pressurized or tight, and the small loop rests imperceptibly in the concha of my ear — that little flat part next to the opening to the ear canal. I also like this design a lot for sleep because the external loop part of the earplug is flat, so I didn’t feel any pressure or discomfort while lying on my side. That loop is also made from a soft, flexible silicone material, which can slightly flex as it is pressed against my ear and prevents it from feeling overly stiff or hard — a key difference between these and the Loop Experience 2 I use at concerts, which have a hard plastic external loop.
Best (less expensive) silicone earplugs for sleep
Material: Silicone | Noise reduction rating: 15 | Price: $20 for one reusable pair
These reusable silicone earplugs get their name from their shape, which is designed to fit comfortably in the curve of the ear. Like the Loops above, they fit like earbuds, with silicone ear tips that sit in the ear canal and the external “curve” shaped piece resting in the curve of the ear. The Curvd earplugs come with four different silicone ear-tip sizes, so you can choose the size that is most comfortable and best-fitting in your ears. I sized down to the smallest option after trying the medium and found those fit my ears better and blocked out more noise.
Prior to testing the Loop Quiet, the Curvd were my top choice for silicone earplugs — they are extremely similar. One of the key differences is obviously the shape of the Curvd outer piece, which is more wing-shaped than circular; it’s also noticeably larger. After testing them both side by side, I also noticed the silicone of the Curvd is slightly firmer and less flexible. When I tested both while lying on my side, the Loop felt slightly less noticeable, as it was able to flex with my ear more than the Curvd. All that being said, the Curvds are quite comfortable to sleep in, and they block out sound very effectively. They are also slightly cheaper than the Loops.
Best moldable silicone earplugs for sleep
Material: Silicone | Noise reduction rating: 22 | Price: $2 per pair
If you’d rather not stick an earplug into your ear, these moldable silicone earplugs might do the trick. Rather than being inserted into the ear canal, these earplugs act like a cap to the ear canal, molding into the concha (the flat-ish part of your ear where your ear canal begins). To use them, all you have to do is warm up the silicone by rolling it around in your hands and then press and flatten it in your ear. At first, I found this process a little weird — it feels a little like sticking Play-Doh in your ears. But once I got the silicone molded and flattened the way I wanted it, I was really impressed with both how comfortable the earplugs felt and how much noise they blocked out. I found this design was especially beneficial for sleeping on my side, as I didn’t have to worry about the ends of the earplug poking into my pillow and putting pressure on my ear. The pieces of silicone are pretty large, but you can break them into smaller pieces if needed.
These earplugs come in a pack of eight and are reusable, according to the Eargasm customer service representative I spoke to. But they will eventually have to be replaced after extended use, as they might get dirty. However, I think you should be able to get decent mileage out of these, which might justify the slightly higher cost per pair, compared to some of the other earplugs on this list (minus the infinitely reusable ones).
Best wax earplugs for sleep
Material: Wax | Noise reduction rating: 23 | Price: $1.23 per pair
These wax earplugs come recommended by two of our experts, both of whom like the moldable nature of wax earplugs — similar to the Eargasm Squishies’ moldable silicone. “They do an outstanding job of conforming to the ear to block out sound,” says Bill Fish, president at Sleep Doctor. “But they are also quite comfortable, as they come with a soft cotton cover around the wax.” Fish admits that these cost a bit more than foam earplugs, but he says “many users swear by [their] ability to block out ambient noises.” And per earplug, they are cheaper than our other moldable pick. Rose Annis, the director of sales strategy and marketing at Atlas Obscura, is another fan of what she calls these “old-timey” wax earplugs. “The wax becomes pliable as it responds to your body heat, making them fit comfortably no matter how misshaped your ears might be,” she told us. Like the Squishies, these wax earplugs also fit into the outer ear, not directly into the ear canal.
Best disposable sleep earplugs for small ears
Material: Foam | Noise reduction rating: 31 | Price: $.30 per pair of earplugs
If you struggle to find earplugs to fit your smaller ears, these Slim Fit disposable earplugs from Mack’s came highly recommended by Jeff Kahn, the founder and CEO of the RISE app. Kahn has been using these for over 10 years and swears by them for sleep. He says they are comfortable for sleeping — even on his side — and that the “slow release, low-pressure, and tapered foam means they get a good seal and don’t exert that familiar pressure feel from inside the ear.” Kahn also appreciates how long the earplugs last, saying he’s had the same bottle for four years and the unused earplugs haven’t hardened at all. Overall, these are pretty similar to our top pick, just with a slimmer profile for small ears. They do have a slightly lower NRR than the other Mack’s, but 31 is still a very high NRR.
Best reusable sleep earplugs for small ears
Material: Silicone | Single number rating: 25 | Price: $17.50 for one reusable pair
When former Strategist senior writer Lauren Levy (née Schwartzberg) tested a bunch of earplugs for sleeping, experts she spoke to told her that some foam earplugs might be too big for average (or smaller than average) ear canals. That’s one reason why she named these Swedish-designed silicone earplugs from Happy Ears as her favorites, because “the tiny, round tip comes in three sizes and gently disappears into the ear” — a benefit for side-sleepers, she notes, because “it won’t push against the pillow. Levy added that the earplugs are “formed from an FDA-approved clear thermo-plastic that reduces all noise by 25 decibels on average, enough to turn normal conversation into a muted whisper.” The price shown is for one pair, which Happy Ears says is reusable. However, if you aren’t sure the small size is right for you, you can order their Discovery Pack for $34.50, which allows you to try all three sizes to find the right fit.
Best Bluetooth sleep earbuds
Material: Earbuds with silicone ear tips | Noise reduction rating: N/A | Price: $150 for one reusable pair
I was really interested in trying out these Bluetooth sleep earbuds because I love listening to a podcast when I’m taking a nap or even just laying down in bed to rest — I think it gives me something to distract my mind from delving into overthinking. But most earbuds are at least a little uncomfortable to sleep in. Testing these out, I was pretty impressed with how unobtrusive they feel to sleep in. They look like fairly normal earbuds, but they have an overall flatter design, as well as a silicone wingtip that acts like a cushion between the harder pieces of the earbud and the ear itself. The earbuds also come with three different wingtip sizes you can try, as well as four sizes of sealed ear tips for noise blocking and three sizes of “breathable” ear tips that allow for more airflow, but don’t noise block. This level of customization makes these already comfortable earbuds even more versatile.
I first tested the earbuds out by listening to a podcast. The sound quality wasn’t quite as good as my AirPods (which I usually use), but these sleep earbuds felt far better on my ears, especially when laying on my side, since they don’t stick out of my ears as much as the AirPods do. The next time I tested them out, I downloaded the Soundcore app to play around with, which offers a lot of features. You can switch between Bluetooth mode (which allows you to play whatever you want from your phone) and Sleep mode (which allows you to play white noise or a variety of nature/ASMR-esque sounds through the app). And you can do a fair amount of customization in the app, such as setting a timer on the sounds (so you aren’t playing music/audio after you’ve already fallen asleep) or creating your own custom sounds. There are also some sleep-tracking features in the app. I don’t think I would sleep with these every single night, but I will definitely continue to use them for listening to music or podcasts while taking a nap or other similar situations.
Best sleep earplugs for travel
Material: Silicone | Noise reduction rating: 20 | Price: $20 for one reusable pair
If you’re looking for earplugs specifically designed to help you sleep on a flight, two of the experts we spoke to recommend these Earplanes’ silicone earplugs as a red-eye essential that can serve as a sleep aid at home, too. As the name suggests, they’re designed specifically for use on airplanes and have four rings meant to mitigate changes in air pressure (that also help to muffle in-flight noise). Dr. Michael Breus, the self-proclaimed Sleep Doctor (who is also a clinical psychologist and fellow of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine), told us that they were designed by the House Ear Institute, a leading ear surgery and research center in California, and were tested by U.S. Navy pilots before being introduced to the general public. The price shown is for one pair, but the earplugs are reusable, according to the brand. However, it is worth noting that the brand doesn’t say they are endlessly reusable. In their Amazon listing, they recommend using the earplugs five times, while on their website, they recommend replacing them after two weeks. That’s because the earplugs have a filter that slows the shift of air pressure entering your ear and after multiple uses, the filter can become clogged.
Other sleep gear we’ve written about
Our experts
• Rose Annis, the director of sales strategy and marketing at Atlas Obscura
• Dr. Michael Breus, clinical psychologist and fellow of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine
• Claire Bryan, reporter
• Dr. Raj Dasgupta, pulmonary, critical care, and sleep specialist
• Bill Fish, president at Sleep Doctor
• Jeff Kahn, founder and CEO of RISE app
• Lauren Levy, former Strategist writer
• Lisa McCarty, writer and women’s health advocate
• Dr. Chris Winter, neurologist and author of The Sleep Solution
Additional reporting by Lauren Levy, Louis Cheslaw, and Karen Iorio Adelson.
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