What to look for in headphones: seven questions before you buy

Over the ear, on the ear or in the ear?

The fit decides how much of the world you still hear and how long they stay comfortable. The five kinds side by side:

• Over-ear: the cushions close around your ears. Comfortable for long sessions, but they take room in a bag and can get warm.
• On-ear: smaller and easier to carry, but they press on your ears.
• In-ear: earbuds with silicone tips seal the ear canal and so keep much of the noise out.
• Open-ear: your ear canal stays free, so you hear traffic and announcements.
• Bone conduction: the sound travels through your cheekbone, and your ear stays free here too.

Wireless or wired?

Nearly every model is wireless over Bluetooth now. One that also takes a cable still plays when its battery is flat.

If you switch between a phone and a laptop often, look for multipoint in the specifications: it stays connected to two devices at once.

Do you need noise cancelling?

Active noise cancelling picks up the noise around you with microphones and plays an opposite signal against it. It works best on a low, steady drone such as an engine on a plane or a bus, so it suits travel and work. A transparency mode does the reverse and lets you hear your surroundings.

How well each model does it, and which do it best, is on the noise cancelling page.

Do they fit well?

A poor fit costs sound, earbuds most of all: only a good seal gives you the full bass. So pick the right tip size. Many makers include several sizes in the box, and a light model stays comfortable for longer.

Try them on in a shop if you can, move around while you do, and bring your own music. Earbuds usually cannot be tried on.

How long does the battery last?

According to SoundGuys, most wireless headphones play at least 20 hours on a charge and true wireless earbuds 4 to 8 hours, with more charges from the case.

The battery in true wireless earbuds can rarely be replaced. Check whether cushions and cables are sold separately too, which makes headphones last longer. If you exercise in them, look for an IP rating against sweat.

How loud is safe?

According to the WHO, you can safely listen at 80 dB for up to 40 hours a week, and at 90 dB for only 4 hours a week. The WHO advises keeping the volume at no more than 60% of the maximum.

A good fit and noise cancelling help with that, the WHO says, since you then need not turn the volume up in noisy places.

How much do you want to spend?

Cheap models often lack noise cancelling, multipoint and a long battery life. The middle of the range brings more comfort and better build, and the dearest models have the best sound and the best noise cancelling. An older model is often cheaper and not necessarily worse. Prices of 1 November 2026, the best ranked models on sale now:

The cheapest on sale now:

The budget pages list the best models under each amount, and our ranking puts every model in order.