Best Noise Cancelling Earbuds for Travel

Travel noise is relentless. Airplane cabins drone at 80 to 85 decibels, trains rattle and hum, and airport terminals echo with announcements. The right noise cancelling earbuds turn that chaos into silence.

ANC Technology Explained

Active Noise Cancellation uses tiny microphones to sample ambient sound, then generates an inverted sound wave that cancels it out. This works best on consistent low-frequency noise like engines and air conditioning. Higher-pitched sounds like voices are harder to cancel completely.

Our Travel Picks

Best ANC: Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds

Bose pioneered consumer noise cancellation and the QC Ultra Earbuds prove they still lead. Their ANC is the strongest we measured, reducing airplane cabin noise by up to 38 decibels. The CustomTune ear scan optimizes sound and ANC to your ear shape.

Best Battery for Long Flights: Sony WF-1000XM6

With 8 hours of ANC battery and another 16 in the case, the XM6 handles transoceanic flights without anxiety. The quick-charge feature gives 60 minutes of playback from just 3 minutes of charging.

Most Comfortable for Sleep: Bose Sleepbuds III

Not traditional earbuds: the Sleepbuds III are designed specifically for sleeping. They play masking sounds that block travel noise without music playback. If you need to sleep on planes, these are unmatched.

Travel Tips

Always carry your earbuds in their case to keep them charged. Download music or podcasts before flying since ANC drains battery faster than normal mode. Bring a wired backup adapter in case battery dies mid-flight.

Our Recommendation

For pure ANC performance, the Bose QC Ultra Earbuds are the best travel earbuds money can buy. Pair them with the Sony XM6 if you want a backup for ultra-long trips.