Whether it’s a snoring partner, loud neighbors the night before a final or a long red-eye flight, earplugs are often an effective and affordable way to mask or block out unwanted noise during the day or night in order to achieve a healthier night’s sleep. Earplugs can simply be placed at the entrance to a person’s ear and come in a wide range of shapes, sizes, materials and primary functions.
Many popular earplugs are disposable and made out of foam, while others can be molded and customized to fit your ear and mask noise for many nights. Others are made with some of the most innovative audio technology available today. It’s always worth thinking about what you want your earplugs to help you accomplish and then narrow down your options from there.
[wpcd_coupons_loop count=7 cat=’1026′ temp=’tabledata’]
How We Picked
To create the most comprehensive list of earplugs to review, we searched the internet and social platforms to see what types and styles of earplugs people were talking about. From the top 10 lists, Instagram profiles and crowdsourcing, our group of earplugs started to develop.
We discovered that there were several styles of earplugs and that not all are created equal. Here are some common types of earplugs you’ll find in stores and online:
- Foam
- Wax
- Silicone
- Plastic
- Polyester (headband style)
We learned that people use earplugs for many different reasons. Some need them for sleeping, others to help them concentrate at the library or in a loud setting. Others are required to use them during work (think warehouse or factory employees or those who work on the tarmac of an airport). There are so many ways earplugs can help protect your hearing.
Our reviewer has used earplugs to sleep every night for over a decade. She’s personally tested many different earplugs in a range of styles, materials, and functionality. She’s established a solid foundation for what to look for in an earplug and the pros and cons of each style. With so many types to choose from, she’ll never sleep without earplugs again.
Need to block out light as well as sound? Check out our favorite sleep masks!
Sleepopolis Tips
Earplugs are a staple on nightstands across the globe. There are a lot of earplugs out there and it can be hard to know which ones are best suited for you. Here are some questions to ask yourself before picking up a pair. Answering these will help you narrow down your choices and end up with the perfect earplugs for you.
- What Noise Reduction Rating (NRR) do you need? The NRR is given to earplugs as a way to rate how much hearing protection it can provide from external noise. To help better understand the rating, an alarm clock is about 80 dB and a quiet room is about 40 dB. Many earplugs are less than 40 dB so people can avoid minor disruptive noises but still hear their alarm clock for work or school.
- What do you need these earplugs for? People will use earplugs for a variety of reasons. Some will need a pair to sleep at home every night, while some need them just for travel, for swimming in a pool or for work if necessary. Some earplugs are designed for sleepers, others for swimming or some for everyday wear.
- What materials are you comfortable with? People with foam allergies will want to look at silicone, wax or other materials for their earplugs. Moldable or customizable versions can provide additional comfort in more sensitive ears.
- What’s your price range? Through our reviews, we’ve looked at earplugs that cost less than a dollar a pair all the way up to around $250 a pair. There is most certainly a set of earplugs in everyone’s budget.
Earplugs can be a game-changer in many situations. They’re a simple but helpful tool to protect your hearing and, in some cases, keep fluid or moisture out of your ears. Whether you’re trying to block out your partner’s soft snoring or want to keep moisture out of your ears in a swimming pool, there is a pair of earplugs that will fit you, guaranteed. They’ll probably also be pretty affordable, too.
