Best noise canceling headphones for airplanes

Your passport is ready, and you’ve packed your bags. You got through security and made it to the gate. Getting on the plane, you remember, no matter where you’re flying, airplane cabins are noisy. Ambient noise like engine hum and cabin chatter can be intrusive, and there might even be a crying child within earshot if you’re really unlucky. Flights can take a long time, so get comfortable with the best noise canceling technology. We’ve considered the factors that particularly impact folks when up in the air and whittled down the list to make your flight more pleasant—strap in for takeoff.

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The short answer

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The detailed answer

If you want to buy headphones that will work well on long flights, you’ll need over-ear active noise canceling (ANC) headphones to disrupt the noise. The following are our picks based upon ANC performance, sound quality, battery life, and connectivity.

The best noise canceling headphones for flying on an airplane are the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen.)

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen.) are among the best headphones for flying, thanks to their exceptional active noise canceling (ANC) capabilities and comfort features tailored for travel. You’ll notice that the large, comfortable ear pads do a great job sealing to your head, leading to excellent isolation, and the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen.) do a rock-solid job of dispelling outside noise. The headphones are impressively lightweight at 253g, minimizing head and neck strain during extended wear.

Furthermore, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen.) is a travel-friendly choice with its robust battery life, ensuring that it lasts for the duration of long flights without the need for frequent recharging. Including a compact carrying case with space for cables makes them easy to store and transport, adding to their convenience as a travel companion. If you’d like to listen to your media wired, the headphones can take a signal over USB-C digital, or 3.5mm TRS analog — which is important when you find yourself on an older aircraft.

The Sony WH-1000XM6 are no slouch either

With its excellent isolation and active noise canceling (ANC) technology and its comfortable fit, the Sony WH-1000XM6 is a great set of noise canceling headphones for air travel. But for flights, the headband of the WH-1000XM6 is supportive and well-padded, while the ear cups effectively seal around your ears without a lot of pressure, making it easy to wear for hours, even if you fall asleep. The ANC is strong, and every bit a top-tier engine noise destroyer.

Boasting 37 hours and 14 minutes of battery life on a single charge, the WH-1000XM6 will last most around-the-world trips. It may not be the most extended battery life we’ve tested, but considering what the battery is powering: DSEE Extreme, ANC, and Sony 360 Reality Audio, the figure is impressive. Using the Sony Headphones app, you can hone in on your EQ preferences, control preferences, noise canceling preferences, and codec choices.

A Bluetooth 5.3 connection with LDAC, AAC, LC3, or SBC codecs suits any accompanying device and ensures you won’t run into latency issues. Furthermore, Sony continues to support hardwired connections by including a detachable cable with a 3.5mm headphone jack. This allows you to plug into in-flight entertainment media consoles to watch TV or movies. This model does not support USB-C audio, however.

The Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless have a long battery life, great sound

Sennheiser has airplanes in mind with the MOMENTUM 4 Wireless. The first sign that Sennheiser has designed the headphones for flying is the airplane adapter included in the package for use with the detachable 2.5mm to 3.5mm cable. While the MOMENTUM 4 Wireless does not have class redefining ANC on tap, it still cancels out a lot of environmental noise. Our review found that the MOMENTUM 4 Wireless feels comfortable with glasses, and the leatherette and fabric combination works well for longer listening sessions.

With an awe-inspiring battery life of 56 hours and 21 minutes, the MOMENTUM 4 Wireless is ready for several trips without needing a top-up charge. The fact that the case has ample storage and some rigidity to protect your investment does not go unnoticed, even though the headset lacks hinges to fold down. For many, the MOMENTUM 4 Wireless’s excellent sound quality pushes the Sennheiser cans to the forefront. In addition, the AAC, SBC, and extensive aptX support (aptX, aptX HD, and aptX Adaptive) means you don’t need to be concerned about whether latency will crop up as an issue with videos.

Apple users want to use the AirPods Max

We know it’s not cheap, but the Apple AirPods Max is still an incredibly comfortable, stylish, and absurdly effective noise canceling headset. Apple has produced soft mesh ear cups that airily conform to the shape around your ears while isolating out high-pitched noise.

You’re unlikely to find yourself without audio, with just over 21 hours of battery life. In 2024, Apple refreshed the design to include a USB-C port and ditch Lightning, so you won’t have to worry about that any longer. If you mainly connect your Apple device, the H1 chip and AAC codec will ensure your connection remains stable. The AirPods Max is totally in its element for air travel.

If you have travel companions, consider the JBL Tour One M3

Though it’s a bit of an odd choice, the JBL Tour One M3 is a rock-solid set of headphones with a neat party trick. If you’re traveling with companions in your row, you can use the included SMART Tx accessory to broadcast audio over Auracast to enabled devices. This will allow you to share the audio from a single source, rather than have everyone locked in on their own screens. This is especially good for parents when the kids have to fight over who gets control of the tablet.

Even if you don’t have travel buddies, the JBL Tour One M3 is an excellent set of headphones regardless. Only beaten by the Apple AirPods Max in terms of raw attenuation power, the JBL cans have some serious noise canceling. Additionally, the battery life is absolutely insane at over 55 hours, plus the sound quality isn’t too bad either.

Save your money with the JLab JBuds Lux ANC

If you’re looking to save the most money possible, the JLab JBuds Lux ANC are a solid buy. Often on sale and under $100, even at full price, these noise cancelers offer low mass, respectable ANC, and decent sound quality. They can also be used wired with a USB-C cable.

Travelers might note the “worse” battery life of 44 hours and 22 minutes posted by these headphones against some of the top picks, but that’s not really a concern. Just remember that you’ll need the JLab app on your phone to make the most of these headphones; otherwise you’ll be stuck without advanced features or an EQ for the whole flight.

What about the Apple AirPods Pro (3rd Gen)?

Each pair of headphones on this list takes up more space than a set of true wireless earbuds, like the Apple AirPods Pro (3rd Gen). In terms of packing light, the Apple AirPods Pro (3rd Gen) fits in virtually any pocket. The latest Apple buds possess some excellent noise canceling capabilities, too. For iPhone users, the H2 chip integration means you can reliably enjoy whatever media you’ve got on your device.

The main reason we didn’t put these earbuds on our list is that battery life is only 8ish hours. It’s fine enough for short flights, but you’ll need a recharge if you’re on an intercontinental sojourn. Also, the Bluetooth-only connection prevents you from plugging into any media console the airline provides. However, these are no means a bad pick, just a product that can’t handle any flight.

Notable mentions

• Anker Soundcore Space Q45 ($149 at Amazon): Striking up a nice balance between price and feature set, these cans include a surprisingly good app with an equalizer, as well as good ANC. That you get LDAC and AAC codecs mean it pairs with any operating system, while the 3.5mm cable means you can use it with the airplane media player.
• Edifier W820NB Plus ($69.99 at Amazon): The Edifier W820NB Plus has a comfortable fit, decent sound, and plenty of features to offer the casual listener on a budget, the lack of foldable design is a big downside for commuters and air travelers.
• Marshall Monitor III ANC ($349.99 at Amazon): While the Marshall Monitor III ANC don’t have the best noise canceling on the market, it is still very respectable. These headphones also have a unique design and a great travel case.
• Sony ULT WEAR ($199.99 at Amazon): Sony’s mid-range pick does a good job of canceling noise and providing a consumer-friendly sound.
• Sony WH-CH720N ($799 at Amazon): While a bit old, these headphones do a solid job of keeping the noise of a flight at bay. Find these on sale.

What you should know about noise canceling headphones for flying on an airplane

Airplanes are loud, but with the advent of ANC, the din of the cabin need not bother you as much. Technically, you can use noise canceling headphones on a plane and probably have a better experience than non-noise-canceling headphones. With that said, if you’re shelling out the dough, we have a few tips to make your purchase more wisely.

Some simple features to keep in mind when looking for noise canceling headphones for flying, besides the noise canceling feature, include getting closed-back headphones. All ANC headphones have closed-backs, but this is a reminder to leave the open-back headphones at home. Using open-back headphones will annoy your seatmates because they will hear virtually everything you’re listening to. Not to mention, all cabin noise will still reach your ears.

We recommend going for over-ear headphones rather than on-ear headphones. They may take up less room, but on-ear headphones typically aren’t comfortable over long periods. In addition, from an engineering perspective, it’s simply more challenging to create an isolating seal when the ear cup pushes against your ear rather than hugging around it as with over-ear headphones. That’s also why on-ear headphones feel less comfortable, as a general rule. They’re fine for short periods but cause discomfort on a long flight. Save yourself a literal headache, and choose closed-back over-ear headphones.

Which accessories will make your noise canceling headphones better for flying?

Everyone has their preferences and rituals with flying, but you may want a couple of items to improve the experience. For your headphones, you probably want a case. Some of our selections already come with a case. Typically, you should look for something that occupies minimal real estate in your bag but offers some protection from crushing. Internal pockets in a case can help keep your accessories together, like the charging cable.

You might’ve noticed that some airplanes use an unusual two-pronged connector for the built-in media players. To save you the hassle of purchasing the crummy earphones airlines offer, get an airplane adapter. It’s small and pretty cheap. You can stow it in your headphones case when not in use.

Check with your airline about capacity limits, but a battery power bank can improve most travelers’ experiences. Some cabins have USB ports for convenient charging, but it’s common to discover the one at your seat doesn’t work. Since many folks fly with power-hungry devices, keeping a battery pack on hand can help if your headphones’ battery drains before you land.

How we test the best noise canceling headphones for flying on airplanes

We subject all our headphones to the same set of tests, from standardized battery life tests to measuring frequency responses and noise canceling efficacy with our Bruel & Kjaer 5128. In addition to using our objective measurements to support our findings, we review each set of headphones hands-on to see how well they perform their intended uses. Some products are better on paper than in reality, so we test and try everything we review.

How we choose the best noise canceling headphones for flying on airplanes

We’ve selected the best noise canceling headphones for flying on airplanes by consulting our staff’s extensive knowledge and comparing all of our objective tests. The Best list here is not representative of a single individual’s opinions. Instead, it is the culmination of our shared expertise as an organization, as informed by objective measurements and reviews. For this list, we consider individual travelers’ variable and unique needs with necessary features. For example, we look for good noise canceling, comfort, and connectivity.

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