Best work headphones

Whether you enter data into spreadsheets all day or write up reports, having some tunes or a podcast playing through your headphones helps pass the time. If you’re looking for the perfect pair to toil along with, here are some of our picks for the best headphones for work.

Editor’s note: this article was updated on May 4, 2023 to update choices, make a note about alternatives, and update notable mentions.

The Sony WH-1000XM5 is the best pair of work headphones for most people

The Sony WH-1000XM5 is the newest revision of Sony’s long successful flagship line of noise cancelling headphones. It’s a fully wireless headset with Bluetooth multipoint enabling you to use it with multiple devices. The noise cancelling is great, especially for office environments with noisier coworkers as well as long noisy commutes. The sound quality is somewhat bass heavy, but you can EQ it using the official app should you wish to do so (you won’t need to do much to get it sounding great). If you decide to EQ it, Sony’s 360 Reality Audio is also available through the same Sony Headphones Connect app.

The build quality is superb, with the price being immediately apparent in the solid construction and modern style. The microphone is also quite excellent (you can listen to it below) and also features a system to automatically mute your media while you’re talking. On ear controls work well, allowing you to play, pause, move forward and backward, and control the volume using the touch pad on the side of the ear cup.

Sony WH-1000XM5 microphone in office conditions:

If it’s a bit too expensive for you, the previous generation Sony WH-1000XM4 is still a solid choice and can often be found for cheaper.

What you should know about work headphones

When you’re shopping for a pair of work headphones, there are a number of factors to consider. Doing a little research and thinking a little about what your specific needs are can help you avoid a lot of frustration down the road.

Why are headset microphones important?

If you make lots of calls during your workday, your headphones need to have a good microphone. There’s a lot that goes into making a mic sound good, but most mics in headphones are close to your face. That might sound obvious, but it does mean that your voice will sound “boomier” and “bassier” than it should unless the mic setup in your headphones is configured to deal with this.

That usually means the headset must tone down some of the low end so you don’t sound wonky and people on the other end of a call can still hear you. If your ideal work headphones have a boom mic, make sure it sits in the proper position. That is, don’t put it too close to your mouth, counterintuitive as that seems—avoiding a position where you’re breathing directly on the microphone is key.

Why is headphone battery life so variable?

You might have noticed that our headphone reviews have a trend: over-ear headsets boast longer battery life than in-ears. If that matters to you for those long days grinding away, over-ears might be a better option.

That’s because the tiny housings of in-ear buds just cannot accommodate bigger batteries. Physics dictates that means they will hold less charge and deplete faster. That also gives earphones a limited lifespan. Still, if you need to minimize the tradeoff between size and battery life, neckbuds like the Beyerdynamic Blue BYRD (2nd generation) can strike a good balance here. Otherwise, over-ear cans will serve you better.

What are Bluetooth codecs?

Bluetooth codecs are what turn electronic signals in your device into wireless signals that can be sent over the air. Then they also convert that data back into sound in your headphones. That matters because it takes time and computing power to do all that. If it takes too long, latency might mean a mismatch between people’s lips and what they’re saying. Or your voice may not arrive in a timely fashion on the other end of call.

You can avoid all that with a wired connection, but really it likely won’t be too bad for someone seated in an office chair at a PC. If you are at work, audio quality during a call need only to be good enough to clearly transmit voices. And then when you switch back to listening to tunes, you likely won’t be watching music videos anyway to notice any lag. Still, if you want to use your work headphones for other tasks, choosing a pair with LDAC or aptX codec support is an important factor to consider. Apple users, however, can rest easy with AAC for everything.

Need good noise cancelling on a budget? Get the Bose QuietComfort 45

If you just want stellar noise cancelling, but don’t want to shell out buckets of cash, the Bose QuietComfort 45 makes for a great choice. The QC 45 boasts some excellent noise cancelling, thanks to a shared pedigree with its elder siblings the Bose QuietComfort 35 II and the Bose Noise Cancelling 700. The headset lives up to the “comfort” part of its name, too, so you can keep it on for hours while you’re in the zone and not worry about pinching and poking.

The Bose QuietComfort 45 doesn’t skimp on some handy features, either. For instance, the Bose Music app (iOS/Android) lets you EQ the sound as long as you have the latest firmware installed. You also get USB-C charging for quick battery top ups and a wired listening option. Our testing shows that these over-ears last for almost 25 hours, so you can listen all day long. The QC 45 doesn’t have touch controls, but it does have multi-function button controls. That makes it a bit better in colder temperatures, too.

You don’t get any other Bluetooth codecs than AAC and SBC from the Bose QC 45, though. So if you’re on Android, you won’t have access to any reliable high-quality options. Still, if you’re popping on a playlist or audiobook in the background, and then focusing on work, you probably won’t notice anything wrong. And the excellent noise cancelling of these cans will help you focus for hours. Here’s how their mic sounds in an office:

Bose QuietComfort 45 microphone in office conditions

The best work earphones for iPhone users is the Apple AirPods Pro

If you already have an iPhone or Mac, then the best work earphones for you is the Apple AirPods Pro. Apple’s portable noise cancelling earbuds integrate well with the Apple ecosystem, plus the buds’ and case’s compact size means the AirPods Pro won’t get in the way. The mics do a reliable job of reproducing voices, so you can use these earphones to chat away during conference calls.

These buds have a design that stays in your ears, so if you move around a lot at work, that’s a reassuring feature. And if you tend to break a sweat while you work, the buds’ IPX4 rating is also handy. You can also take advantage of the Apple H1 chip and get automatic device switching, as long as each device is also from Apple (and under the same iCloud account). That way, you can answer a call on your iPhone and go right back to listening to podcasts on your Mac seamlessly. Speaking of which, compared to other AirPods, the Pro has a relatively neutral frequency response, so your content will sound good whether it’s spoken word or pop tunes.

Here’s how the mic sounds:

Apple AirPods Pro microphone demo (Office):

The best pair of wired work headphones is the Logitech G Pro X

If you want something that uses a reliable old wire to connect to a phone or computer, then the Logitech G Pro X is a good option. This is technically a gaming headset, but don’t let that dissuade you from buying it: gaming headsets make for great conference call headsets. You get comfortable ear pads and a nice sound profile from the G Pro X. You can also use the company’s Blue Vo!ce software to take advantage of plenty of useful features.

This is designed to be worn for long hours while you use a PC, so it’s well-suited to seated tasks at your desk, too. The boom mic makes sense both for chat rooms and conference calls, and the replaceable velour ear pads are great for people with glasses. You even get different cord options, including straight and coiled, to suit mobile and stationary tasks. As for that mic, here is how it tends to sound when in an office:

Logitech G Pro X microphone demo (Office):

The best work headphones value is the Jabra Elite 45h

You don’t have to spend lots of cash just to get a good set of work headphones, and the Jabra Elite 45h definitely proves that. For anywhere from $70 to $90 USD you get excellent battery life, a great microphone, plus a warranty that protects against rain and dust.

You can also keep the headphones on during the commute home, so there’s no need to bring a second pair if you just want to enjoy some tunes. Since it is an on-ear design, you may find that how well it sits on your ears has a big impact on how it sounds. It does have a great sounding microphone, and though this headset may not be perfect for everything, it makes for a good choice at a great price. Plus it’s compact, so toting it around won’t be too much of hassle.

Here’s a sample recording of their mic:

Jabra Elite 45h microphone demo (Office):

The AfterShokz OpenComm lets you stay aware of your surroundings

If you work the kind of job that requires you to be aware of your surroundings, the AfterShokz OpenComm fits the bill well. This bone conduction headset leaves your ears free to hear your surroundings because it uses the bones in your skull to transmit sound to your ears via vibrations. You don’t get any isolation and you might experience auditory masking, but for scenarios in which you need your ears free, opting for bone conduction could still be a good idea.

The headset also has a multifunction button, which is useful for when your hands are full and a call comes in or you need to ask your voice assistant something. You get around 16 hours of battery life from the OpenComm, so it should last you through a day at work, too.

The Anker Soundcore Life Q35 makes multitasking easier

Multitasking might never be a breeze for many folks, but the Anker Soundcore Life Q35 can make it easier. This pair of headphones has a decent microphone for conference calls, plus Bluetooth multipoint. Though you can only use one sound source at a time, switching between them is pretty easy. That way, you can finish a work call on your phone and then tap play on your PC again without much hassle. And because the mic is pretty decent, hopping into a call means people will hear what you say clearly the first time.

Furthermore, Anker Soundcore’s headphones have NFC pairing, so it is super easy to place them next to an Android device and get them synced up. On top of all that, you get the LDAC Bluetooth codec for better media playback. Battery life is pretty stellar, clocking in around 52 hours on a single charge. Fast charging also means you can pick up the Life Q35 to use after just a short stint tied to a power cord.

What about the Anker Soundcore Q45?

The Anker Soundcore Q45 is a perfectly competent headset that you could pick up for the office—we just didn’t pick it for our recommendations because at the time of publish it’s $50 more than the older Q35, and offers slightly better ANC below 1kHz. If you do want to spring for the newer model, it can be had for $150 USD currently, but you’ll largely be getting design changes with the new headset and relatively few substantive ones. That’s not to say it isn’t worth the money, but we tend to favor bang-for-buck when it comes to comparing very similar headphones.

The Bose QuietComfort 35 II Gaming Headset bridges two worlds

If you use your souped-up PC for gaming and your job, then the Bose QuietComfort 35 II Gaming Headset will bridge both of those worlds. Picture a Bose QuietComfort 35 II with a boom mic tacked on, and that’s how it’ll mostly function. However, you must use this headset in wired mode for the mic to actually function (which makes sense because Bluetooth latency isn’t great for gaming).

Once the workday is over and you need to get away from your desk, though, you can detach the cable and these headphones will go right back to being a pair of noise cancelling cans. If that sounds like the perfect niche for you, and you need excellent noise cancelling to drown out the din of daily life, this makes for a solid choice. Plus, you get all the features of the standard QuietComfort 35 II including the button controls and consumer-friendly frequency response.

The Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro makes for good in-ears on Android

If you want an in-ear noise cancelling option for Android, then the Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro makes for a good set of work earphones. These buds boast the ability to switch between Samsung Galaxy devices automatically, too. So if you’re immersed in the Samsung ecosystem, you’ll enjoy a pretty seamless workday to boot. These buds boast really good ANC to block out distractions, which is handy for busy days when you need to focus.

The earbuds merit an IPX7 rating, so getting stressed and sweaty won’t harm them. Plus, the Galaxy Wearable app (Android) has an EQ to customize the way your music sounds and enable automatic voice detection, another boon to frantic days. Furthermore, compatible Samsung Galaxy devices, including smartphones and tablets, will allow these buds to switch automatically between sources, much like the AirPods Pro.

These earbuds also have a very good microphone for in-ears. Your conference calls will convey your voice clearly, which is handy for not repeating yourself in a stressful meeting. And you get around 4 hours, 48 minutes of battery life with ANC turned on according to our tests, which isn’t enough to make it through a whole workday, but they can with the added capacity of the charging case.

The Shure AONIC 50 is a premium pick

If you anticipate using your work headphones daily for lengthy calls and during long bus rides, then the Shure AONIC 50 makes for a solid option. This set of over-ears is pretty pricey, but you get removable ear pads that you can swap out as needed and clean thoroughly to keep your ears healthy. They boast a robust and reliable build, so you can count on the AONIC 50 standing up to years of use as well.

You also get noise cancelling to block out distractions and focus. And if you ensure you’ve got the latest firmware installed, the mic will sound quite nice too. Tack on to that plenty of Bluetooth codec options, good frequency response, and a wired listening option, and these headphones make for an audiophile’s dream work headset. If you want a similar design for a bit less, the Shure AONIC 40 may be more your style.

The best work headphones: Notable mentions

• Beats Studio Buds: Small, lightweight, and colorful, these earbuds make for a fun choice to pep up your workday. Though they don’t noise cancel that well, their mic works pretty good for conference calls.
• Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II: If you want the noise cancelling Bose is known for in a smaller format, these expensive IPX4-rated earbuds are it.
• Microsoft Surface Headphones 2: The other big tech company’s cans boast a good mic plus mic mute button and robust Bluetooth multipoint support, making them great for busy workdays.
• JLab Go Work: If you don’t want to spend much and still get Bluetooth multipoint support plus lots of battery life, JLab’s basic work headset will get you through the day at work. At this price, you can even dedicate it to just that purpose alone.
• Plantronics Voyager 6200 UC: If you want to wander during your conference calls with your camera off, but are worried you’ll be blabbering with your mic on mute, this set of neckbuds will prevent that from happening thanks to the dynamic mute alert feature.
• Sennheiser PXC 550-II: Though it uses microUSB, fast charging means the PXC 550-II can be ready to go quickly. A good quality mic also helps make it a solid option, but it’s a bit pricey if you don’t wait for a sale.
• V-MODA BoomPro X: Loud environments often mean microphones take in extraneous noise, but the cardioid pickup pattern of this detachable boom mic helps keep that at bay. This doesn’t sound the best, but if you make mainly phone calls all day, they might be just what you need. Plus, you can attach it to any headset with a 3.5mm input and get to talking.

Frequently asked questions about the best work headphones