The best noise-canceling headphones for kids of 2023

What to Look for in Noise Canceling Headphones for Kids

The most important factor when choosing a helmet for a child is to ensure that it will not affect the child’s hearing. There are several ways to do this.

Most headphones designed for kids (and all of the sets we picked for this guide) have a built-in volume limiter. This means that the headphones cannot exceed a set decibel level. In most cases, this limit is 85 dB, generally considered the limit for safe listening.

Next, you need to consider whether you’re looking for active noise cancellation (ANC) or just passive noise isolation. Passive isolation comes from the seal that the ear pads form around your child’s ears and will somewhat shield them from loud outside noises. Conversely, ANC does not protect hearing but is more effective at reducing surrounding noise.

Of course, while important, these factors will not matter to children. They will be much more interested in how the headphones look than how they sound or how safe they are. Most of the headphones we review here come in different colorways to make any kid happy.

Finally, there’s the question of whether you’re looking for wireless or wired headphones. Generally, wireless headphones are more convenient and you don’t have to worry about a cable snagging or breaking. On the other hand, wired headphones may be easier to damage, but they’re also more affordable and easier to use.

Best Overall Noise Canceling Headphones for Kids: JBL JR 460NC

If you’re looking for a set of noise-canceling headphones for kids, you’ll be hard pressed to find a better option than the JBL JR 460NC. These wireless headphones offer an affordable price, active noise cancellation, and some handy features that make them a great choice.

These aren’t ultra-rugged, but they’ll handle abuse better than many headphones aimed at kids. It’s also one of the few examples of children’s headphones that comes with a hard carrying case included.

Battery life is impressive, with up to 20 hours of playback with ANC on. If you turn ANC off, you can get even more, with up to 30 hours of playtime. As with the rest of the headphones we’re reviewing here, these include a volume limiter, which is, in this case, set to a safe 85dB.

The JBL JR 460NC headphones are only available in a grey, white and orange color scheme. That said, if you’re willing to opt for reduced battery life and passive isolation instead of ANC, you can pick up the JBL JR 300BT headphones, which come in blue, pink, and teal color varieties. .

If you’re buying headphones for a younger or smaller child, you might want to consider the JLab Audio JBuddies Studio. These are reduced in size compared to adult headphones and even some children’s headphones, making them a better fit for those who need a smaller size.

These headphones use an over-ear design, which should help them stay in place better than over-ear headphones. The headband is adjustable for a better fit, and the JLab Audio JBuddies studio also features a pinch-free hinge design to prevent children from getting hurt when adjusting the cups.

Since these are smaller, they don’t have as much space for a larger battery. That said, they still offer up to 13 hours of battery life. You don’t get active noise cancellation with these, although the ear cup design offers decent noise isolation.

The JLab Audio JBuddies studio comes in purple and blue color varieties.

If you’re looking for more advanced noise cancellation and headphones that should last for years, the PuroQuiets from Puro Sound Labs are a great option. These are small enough to suit fairly young children, but are neutral enough that your child won’t outgrow them too quickly.

These offer the most effective noise cancellation of any headphones we review, with DSP-enhanced ANC lowering background sound by up to 22dB. Combine that with the ear pads’ passive isolation and automatic 85dB volume limiting, and kids’ ears should stay safe.

The PuroQuiets also offer the longest battery life of any cordless model we review here. With ANC on, you can expect up to 23 hours of playtime. Disable noise cancellation and battery life jumps to 35 hours.

The PuroQuiets Puro Sound Labs are available in a few colors, with dark blue, hot pink, and red varieties.

Best Kids Noise Canceling Headphones for Online Learning: ONANDOFF BuddyPhones Cosmos+

The ONANDOFF BuddyPhones Cosmos+ headphones have a few special aspects. First, there’s the bold designs and multiple color options, then there’s the included boom microphone, which comes in handy for kids signed up for e-learning.

These headphones are aimed at a wide range of ages, as you can tell by the multiple volume limits. There’s a 75dB limit for toddlers, an 85dB mode for kids, and a 94dB travel mode for louder environments like vehicles.

These are primarily wireless headphones, and they include ANC. That said, they can also work in wired mode. This is handy for wired listening, but it appears to be primarily intended for using the headset in a virtual classroom scenario, giving the headset additional utility.

ONANDOFF BuddyPhones Cosmos+ is available in six color varieties: Snow White, Cool Blue, Deep Blue, Gray Matter, Pink Rose, and Sunshine Yellow.

Best Noise Canceling Headphones for Kids: LilGadgets Connect+

If your kids have a destructive streak, or are growing rapidly, and you’d rather not invest in a more expensive headset, the LilGadgets Connect+ are a great option. They are very affordable, are available in different colors and are ideal for young children.

These are the only wired headphones online here, but they use a detachable cable that protects them from snags. The headphones do not have active noise cancellation, but they do have passive noise isolation from the relatively large ear pads.

It should be noted that the volume limit in LilGadgets Connect+ is slightly higher than normal at 93 dB. That means they’ll work just as well in noisy environments as they do in quiet rooms, but you may also need to keep a closer eye and make sure no one is listening too loudly.

You’ll find the LilGadgets Connect+ in six colors: green, black, blue, pink, purple, red, and blue/purple.

Frequently Asked Questions