8 best earplugs for sleeping in 2025, tried and tested
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Whether you're a light sleeper living in a noisy house-share, or you're sleeping next to a snoring partner, using a pair of the best earplugs for sleeping will make drifting off into a deep slumber a far easier task.
A crucial pillar of health and wellness, adults should ideally be getting between seven and nine hours of sleep per night â but according to a 2022 UK survey, 71% of us on average fail to do this.
So, how can we set about making sure we're getting enough good quality sleep each night?
Treating yourself to a new duvet could be key for increasing your comfort levels, while investing in a hi-tech mattress or memory foam pillow is worthwhile if you're often awoken during the night by aches and pains. But if your real issue is a lack of good old-fashioned peace and quiet, some trusty sleep earplugs might be all that's required.
Ready to sleep soundly? We've got you covered with absolutely everything you need to know about finding the best earplugs for sleeping. And â of course â we've also pulled together an edit of our absolute favourite options; from budget-friendly best-selling disposable sets, to swanky silicone pairs that you'll wear again and again.
SKIP TO: Our full reviews | How do I choose the right earplugs for sleeping? | What is a Single Number Rating (SNR) level? | Are earplugs safe to use every night? | What are the best earplugs for side sleepers? | How do I choose the right size earplugs? | Can you sleep with Loop earplugs?
Meet the expert:
- Nicole Vignola â Neuroscientist & Author.
How we tested the best earplugs for sleeping:
We tested as many earplugs for sleeping in this edit as we could (and are working our way through the others), considering comfort, price, whether they stayed in place all night and whether they actually blocked out noise. For those we haven't tested, we've spoken to experts and trawled customer reviews to ensure you're only viewing the best of the bunch.
What are the best earplugs for sleeping?
Typically, the best earplugs for sleeping are made from one of three materials:
- Soft foam earplugs work by expanding in the ear canal to effectively mould to the shape of your ear and seal it off. Theyâre generally seen as the most effective type of earplug if youâre looking for a high reduction rating. However, theyâre typically not reusable or washable, making them disposable earplugs which should be replaced every night. Foam is incredibly porous, and can be a breeding ground for bacteria.
- Silicone earplugs are generally the most expensive and comfortable earplugs â and a far more sustainable option which can be used for noise blocking again and again. Great at filtering out and reducing background noise, silicone sleep buds are a wise choice if youâve got noisy neighbours, or housemates who watch the TV too loudly â but they arenât necessarily going to give you the gift of complete silence. At least youâll still be able to hear your alarm clock sound in the morning.
- Wax earplugs arrive as a small ball that you warm up in your hands like putty, and then mould into the perfect fit for your ear canal. So, they make the perfect bespoke solution for anyone with small ears or larger ear openings. Like silicone earplugs, they filter out most background noises and offer hearing protection â however, most are designed to be discarded after each use.
Ahead, our top picks of the best disposable and reusable earplugs for sleeping:
- Material: Silicone.
- SNR: 24dB.
- Reusable? Yes â just get new tips every 3-6 months.
Whether you're trying to focus in a busy office, feeling overstimulated on a packed rush hour train, or being kept awake at night by your next door neighbours, Loop Quiet 2 earplugs are guaranteed to help muffle out any unwanted background noise.
Boasting an ultra comfy and customisable design, they're made from a flexible soft-touch silicone material, and come with ear tips in four different sizes â so you can be certain that you've got the perfect fit. And â according to the thousands of positive reviews â they stay put all night, and truly take the edge off living in a busy house-share, or sharing a bed with someone who snores. However, if you're after complete silence, it might be worth purchasing a pair of earplugs with a slightly higher SNR.
Super versatile, we love that all Loop earplugs come with a handy carry case to make them easy to transport. And thanks to their aesthetic design, and chic range of colours, they're certainly stylish enough to wear out and about.
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- Material: Silicone.
- SNR: 27dB.
- Are they reusable? Yes â they can be worn for up to 7 nights.
If your ear canals are even slightly larger or smaller than average, picking mouldable plugs instead of foam ones is definitely your best bet. Not only are they super comfy to wear, but they're also far less likely to keep falling out during the night.
Re-wearable for up to a week due to them being made with silicone rather than wax, they're also a considerably more sustainable and cost-effective option than your typical disposable earplugs. Just clean them with soapy water between uses if needed.
While they don't offer total noise cancellation, they've still got mostly positive reviews â with customers raving about how surprisingly soft and comfortable they are to wear, and how well they block out the sound of traffic and noisy neighbours. Just beware that they can quite easily get tangled up in your hair, so it might be worth tying back long locks.
- Material: Foam.
- SNR: 38dB.
- Are they reusable? Yes â they can be worn for 2-3 nights.
If complete silence is essential for you to get a peaceful nightâs sleep, these are definitely the earplugs that weâd pick. Unlike a typical pack of disposable foam earplugs, these ones can be worn for up to three days before they'll need replacing â so one tub should see you through at least four months. Going away for a night or two? Each tub also comes with a compact keychain travel case that's great for easily and hygienically transporting one pair of plugs.
Most importantly, reviewers seem really impressed with the comfort and noise reduction â but you just have to make sure that you've put them in properly, or they'll keep falling out throughout the night. Simply roll each earplug into a thin cylinder, insert it into the ear canal while also pulling the ear upwards to make sure it's straight, then hold it in place for thirty seconds until it expands to fit the space.
- Material: Foam.
- SNR: 27dB.
- Reusable? Yes â they can be worn for up to 100 nights.
If youâre a ride-or-die side-sleeper, then finding a pair of plugs that donât leave you with an awful earache can be tricky. Luckily, these ones are ultra soft and have been designed to sit nice and snug in your ear canal â without causing any pain or pressure. Plus, they'll stay in place all night.
With this handy combo pack, you'll be able to try out these earplugs in both of the different sizes â and while they don't block out all noise, most reviewers seem positively surprised by just how much noise they filter out. So, expect a significant reduction in the sound of your partner's loud snoring.
After more side-sleeper content? Shop the best mattress for side sleepers and the best pillow for side sleepers.
- Material: Silicone.
- SNR: 22dB.
- Reusable? Yes â they can be worn for up to five nights.
Although these earplugs have a relatively low SNR rating, they deserve to be featured in this edit purely because of just how comfortable they are to wear. This is partly because they're not intended to be pushed that far into your ear canal â yet somehow, they still seem to stay in place all night.
Made from a hypoallergenic silicone putty that's considerably less dense than wax, they donât promise to block out all sound â but they do definitely quieten and muffle any particularly loud noise. And they're also completely waterproof â making them a great pick for anyone who's in their swimming era.
- Material: Silicone.
- SNR: 24dB.
- Reusable? Yes â they can be worn for up to 100 nights.
These earplugs properly screw into your ears, and donât come out unless you tug on the removal tab â so if you're prone to moving around a lot at night, they could be a great choice. Lightweight and super soft, they're also comfy enough to wear all night.
Boasting proper noise-filtering qualities, theyâve been designed to block out lower-pitched noises â like snoring and traffic noise â but not higher-pitched ones, like alarms or your partner speaking to you.
The only real downside of this pair of earplugs is the price â but it's worth noting that they're washable, and have been designed to be durable enough to see you through 100 nights of sleep.
- Material: Mineral waxes and natural cotton.
- SNR: 27dB.
- Reusable? No.
With their surprisingly high SNR rating, and really affordable price, there's a lot to love about these best-selling earplugs. And while they technically aren't reusable, many reviewers say they were able to get a good few more nights out of each pair before they looked a little too grubby to wear.
Made from a natural hypoallergenic wax, they're moulded by melting to fit the unique shape of your individual ear canal â and they stop melting once they reach your bodyâs temperature, and then form a hardened seal. Plus, the natural wax is hypoallergenic, and even has a lovely moisturising effect on the ears.
In terms of how effective they are at filtering out sound, the reviews are rather mixed â but their reasonable price definitely makes them worthy of trying.
- Material: Silicone.
- SNR: Not specified.
- Are they reusable? Yes.
With their squishy silicone tips that sit snugly in the ridge of your ear, impressive ten hours of charge, and innovative biometric sensing, these brilliant earbuds are most definitely equipped to help you get a truly good night's sleep.
Made with easy streaming in mind, the Ozlo SleepbudsÂŽ let you doze off listening to your favourite ASMR video, meditation podcast, or audiobook â and then will automatically switch to built-in noise-masking sounds of rain or white noise when they detect that you've fallen asleep. This helps save serious amount of battery â and also ensures you don't wake up wondering where exactly it was that you actually got to in your book or video.
The Ozlo Sleep app makes setting up and controlling your buds an absolute breeze â and we also love that you can even set a gentle in-ear alarm to wake you up in the morning. Safe to say, we reckon they're worth the hefty price-tagâŚ
Your sleep earbud FAQs, answered:
How do I choose the right earplugs for sleeping?
Comfort is key â so think about which type of earplugs you'd be happy to wear all night. Foam plugs are cheap and cheerful, but aren't best suited to side sleepers â whereas wax ones are soft and mouldable, but ideally need to be replaced every day. Alternatively, silicone earplugs can be used again and again, but aren't typically able to block out quite as much sound, and can sometimes cause earache after prolonged use.
What is a Single Number Rating (SNR)?
It can be a little bit confusing to get your head around, but in simple terms, the higher the SNR, the more protection your earplugs will provide you with against noise.
Most pairs of earplugs will have an SNR of anywhere between 15 and 40 â with a higher rating generally meaning theyâre more effective. So, for example, a pair of earplugs with an SNR of 25 will reduce the amount of noise the wearer is exposed to by 25 decibels â whereas a pair with a rating of 20 would block out a little less.
Are earplugs safe to use every night?
Generally speaking, yes â it's pretty safe to wear earplugs while sleeping, as long as you use them correctly, and also keep them clean if youâre using them more than once. Unsurprisingly, wearing dirty earplugs can cause ear infections â as can allowing bacteria to build-up on your AirPods, or alternative in-ear headphones.
But as with everything, there are a few other potential side effects worth knowing about. Regular use can cause more wax to be pushed back into your ear canal, which can lead to a build-up or blockage developing. If left untreated, complications like hearing loss and tinnitus can occur â so, if things are starting to sound a little muffled, be sure to pay a visit to a GP or audiologist, where youâll likely just be prescribed some ear drops to soften and clear the wax.
What are the best earplugs for side sleepers?
In order to avoid having excess pressure placed on your ears, the best earplugs for side sleepers tend to be ones made from light and comfortable materials like mouldable wax or soft silicone. And in terms of design, youâll likely want to pick plugs that donât protrude outside the ears â as these types are more likely to leave you with pain and discomfort.
How do I choose the right size earplugs?
Earplugs should sit snugly in your ear canal â creating a tight seal that blocks out sound. If theyâre too big, theyâll likely stick out uncomfortably, and feel rather tight â whereas earplugs that are too small will feel rather loose, fall out when you move, and also fail to block out much noise.
A great way to test the sizing is simply moving your jaw from side to side â they shouldnât move or fall out if theyâre the correct size and fit. Helpfully, reusable silicone pairs typically come with spare tips in different sizes â while soft wax earplugs can be moulded to help you get the right fit.
Can you sleep with Loop earplugs?
You can technically snooze with any pair of Loop Earplugs â but the Loop Quiet range has been designed particularly with sleeping in mind. âThe Loop Quiet 2 earplugs block out environmental noises that keep your brain stimulated â and therefore make you unable to fall asleep,â explains neuroscientist, Nicole Vignola. "Using Loop Earplugs to block out excess noise exposure will help improve your sleep, protect your mental health, and even prevent brain function deterioration."
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