The 6 best noise-canceling headphones for flying in 2023

Overview

bose quietcomfort 45 noise-canceling headphones next to their case and a retractable pen

Best overall

Anker Soundcore Life Q20

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$59.99 Amazon

black sony headphones on orange background

Best sound quality

Sony WH-1000XM5

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$398 Amazon

green airpods max against a wooden background

Best for Apple loyalists

Apple AirPods Max

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$549 Amazon

black bose 700 headphones viewed from above

Best overall ANC

Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700

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$379 Amazon

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UPDATE: Aug. 18, 2023, 5:00 a.m. EDT This review has been updated to reflect Mashable's latest hands-on testing. We also added a pair of budget noise-canceling headphones for travel.

Flying was never the most stress-free way to travel, but thanks to never-ending airline delays, unruly passengers, and the incredible shrinking airline seat, it's become a nightmare. At the same time, more people are prioritizing vacations as a way to unwind and disconnect from the stresses of day-to-day life. Of course, starting your dream vacation with a noisy hours-long flight isn't exactly conducive to rest and relaxation.

Once you factor in the record number of people traveling by plane, it's clear that you'll need some form of relief from the noise, crowds, and stress.

Enter: noise-canceling headphones. Even if you're not a frequent flyer, the best noise-canceling headphones for flying can block out the sounds of a roaring engine, crying babies, or crying adults (flight delays are stressful). In fact, we believe the best wireless headphones can make or break your travel experience.

The good news is that plenty of headphones, from over-ear headphones to wireless earbuds, offer active noise cancellation. And in 2023, some of the best ANC headphones cost under $100, meaning you don't have to pay a lot to get in on that sweet, sweet ANC.

Even so, if you want to find the best noise-canceling headphones for airplanes, you should be prepared to pay $200 to $500. Premium headphones offer improved active noise cancellation and transparency modes that allow you to hear those all-important gate announcements.

Let's not forget that ANC on its own won't save the day — otherwise, we'd just direct you to our review of the best noise-canceling headphones. For long flights, comfort is also key. It won't matter if your headphones block sound if you only want to wear them for two out of five hours of your flight. A few extra features — like balanced sound and voice assistance — can't hurt either.

With all that in mind, we've rounded up the best headphones for flying based on our extensive hands-on (ears on?) testing.

Because shopping for headphones shouldn't be as stressful as heading to the airport, we've answered every question you need to know before making a purchase. Read on for essential info as well as the very best noise-canceling headphones for flying in 2023.

Does paying more really get me more noise cancellation?

Generally, yes. Many cheap headphones claim to offer "noise-canceling" features, but a $50 pair of over-ear headphones will never compare to Sony noise-canceling headphones. Typically, the more you pay and the better known and regarded the brand is, the better the noise cancellation. Brands like Bose and Sony offer multiple levels of noise cancellation so you can choose to be completely blocked off from the world or opt to allow some environmental noises to come in while flying.

Paying more can also get you some nice features to supplement your ANC, like voice assistant support, expansive battery life, advanced codec support for better-sounding music, or better call quality. If you're a frequent flyer, the cost is almost certainly worth it.

What are the best noise-canceling headphones for flying?

Noise-canceling headphones are at their most useful on airplanes. While flying, it's difficult to find a moment's peace when so much is going on around you. Frequent flyers may prefer to rest or work, and the best way to do this is by using the best noise cancellation methods to block out the chaos.

With that in mind, some headphones' ANC works best on blocking out people talking more than ambient engine sounds, and vice versa, and people will have different preference levels for how much ANC they actually like. In addition, for long-haul flights, you may also be interested in the best noise-canceling headphones for sleeping

With all that in mind, we've included the best ANC headphones for every traveler. So, read on to find the best noise-canceling headphones for airplanes in 2023 — all based on Mashable's in-depth and hands-on headphones reviews.

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Our Pick

Bose QuietComfort 45

Best overall

$329 Amazon

Who it's for:

The Bose QuietComfort line has been a mainstay on planes for years, often the top choice of people who travel for work. The QuietComfort 45s are no exception, and they're an extremely comfortable pair of headphones backed by Bose's excellent noise cancellation.

Though they are definitely popular among business travelers, we think everyone will appreciate these headphones. Really, we can't overstate how comfortable these headphones are. During our testing, we wore the QC 45s for eight-plus hours, some days with glasses, and never once did we experience unpleasant squeezing or feel the weight of these headphones. Mashable Lead Shopping Reporter Haley Henschel said that prior to having the Bose QC 45s, most name-brand models made her head ache after just minutes of wear, but she can wear the Bose headphones all day without an issue.

If you're an audiophile above all else, you may find that these headphones sound good but not stellar. Sony's are known for having more of an audiophile fan base, and Apple AirPods Max have impressive 3D audio. If highly adjustable ANC is your jam, the Bose 700s will probably be the pair you prefer.

Why we picked this:

The best blend of comfort, audio quality, and noise cancellation come together in the Bose QC 45s, the best noise-canceling headphones for flights.

Though you can't fine-tune the ANC as you can with the Bose 700s, the active noise cancellation on these headphones still does a more than adequate job for your flight, managing to block out higher-frequency sounds that most ANC-enabled headphones typically struggle with. A single press of the button on the left ear cup allows you to easily switch between quiet and aware modes when the flight attendant comes around to take your drink order.

Up to 24 hours of battery life is not stellar but not bad either — you can always plug them in for 15 minutes to get back 3 hours of charge for when you're on the move or taking a short flight. As for the Bluetooth connection, it can be a bit spotty when switching among devices (especially if two are connected at the same time), but the Bose app definitely helps smooth out the process — plus, we're willing to bet you won't be switching between too many devices on a flight.

Buying Options

$329 from Amazon

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Anker Soundcore Life Q20

Budget pick

$59.99 Amazon

Who's it for:

While having active noise cancellation at the ready while traveling might sound great, spending hundreds of dollars for it might sound decidedly less so. If you're not looking for the most top-quality ANC out there, the Anker Soundcore Life Q20s are one of the best entry-level picks that don't break the bank.

Why we picked this:

Though basically a fifth of the price of our top picks for over-ear headphones with ANC, the Life Q20s wear comfortably and their sound comes through strong and well-balanced. Their design isn't anything to brag about, but the ear cups do fold in and up, so storing them isn't a huge pain. Just make sure to grab your own case if you don't want them floating freely in your bag.

The middling ANC means that it can block out some background noise, but especially high or low-frequency sounds are likely to break through. The battery life, however, is anything but middling, offering 40 hours of playtime, more than enough for long flights (and inevitable delays at the gate). Overall, these headphones epitomize the word decent — but that's not a knock against them at all.

Buying Options

$59.99 from Amazon

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Sony WH-1000XM5

Best sound quality

$398 Amazon

Who it's for:

Sony's latest and greatest over-ear noise-canceling headphones are the WH-1000XM5. Though they're not an essential upgrade for those who already own the ultra-popular WH-1000XM4s, the improved noise cancellation and fuller sound make these the stronger pick for airplane travel in 2023.

While the ANC is solid, it's not a standout among other high-end noise-canceling headphones. However, they still pack impressive noise cancellation and stellar audio quality for music. Considering noise cancellation is most effective in tandem with music, these headphones should appeal to music lovers and audiophiles. In her review of the Sony WH-1000XM headphones, Mashable's Assistant Reviews Editor Miller Kern said the XM5s were "probably the best-sounding headphones I’ve ever tried," making them a great pick for folks who take pride in their Spotify playlists.

Why we picked this:

Besides sounding amazing, they offer exceptional travel functionality with the "quick attention" mode, activated simply by covering your right ear cup, allowing you to hear gate change announcements and flight attendants without completely stopping your music. Voice assistant support, crisp call quality, and a great battery life of up to 30 hours complete the package.

Though they look great, the biggest drawback is that these headphones don't fold up, and the carrying case is quite tall, though slim. Still, if sound quality is more important than portability, they're not that much bulkier than other headphones on this list (and they are more travel-friendly than the AirPods Max).

Read Mashable's full review of the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones.

Buying Options

$398 from Amazon

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Apple AirPods Max

Best for Apple loyalists

$549 Amazon

Who it's for:

These headphones are expensive as all hell, but for those deep in the Apple ecosystem who want a pair of over-the-ear headphones, they could very well be worth the price. Plus, the noise canceling is pretty great. You can often find these headphones on sale, but anyone who's not already a diehard Apple fan will probably want to skip these.

Why we picked this:

The AirPods Max aren't just a pretty pair of headphones. With the help of eight microphones, these headphones provide excellent active noise cancellation. Switching into transparency mode happens with the push of a button, so there's no messing with finicky touch controls to hear what's going on around you. In addition to ANC, they have fantastic sound quality, and support for spatial audio will make cinephiles happy.

Their battery life, however, is a bit lacking compared to similarly priced headphones, thanks to the fact that they have no power button. They will go into a low-power mode, but you can never completely turn them off. However, this does allow for easy switching in between devices, and for the "Find My" feature to always work. Plus, 20 hours of battery isn't bad, as that should last for even the most long-haul flights. In a pinch, five minutes of a charge can get you an hour and a half of battery life.

The carrying case is unfortunately, as former Mashable Tech Reporter Brenda Stoylar wrote in her review, "possibly the dumbest thing Apple has ever designed," so these headphones are probably best for people who don't mind wearing them around their neck for the entirety of their trip.

Read Mashable's full review of the Apple AirPods Max.

Buying Options

$549 from Amazon

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Details

Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700

Best overall ANC

$379 Amazon

Who it's for:

The Bose 700s are truly top-of-the-line headphones for active noise cancellation, which makes them one of the best noice-canceling headphones for flying in 2023. Frequent flyers don't want to be reminded that they're surrounded by a bunch of stressed out strangers, and these premium over-ear headphones will get the job done.

Why we picked this:

They offer 11 levels of ANC so you can finely tune your experience, blocking out as much or as little as you want. You can create up to three different presets between 0 and 10, so you won't have to filter through all eleven options every time you want to change the settings. This level of customization is not common among headphones, really setting the Bose 700s apart from its competitors. Alongside that, they sound great, with bass strong and mids suitably crisp, delivering the audio quality you'd expect from Bose.

Mashable tech reporter Alex Perry notes in his review the comfort of the rubber padding on the headband and the foam earcups, even when worn for long periods of time. He also said these headphones are great at blocking out background sounds while on calls, which makes them especially ideal for frequent travelers who often find themselves on the phone while waiting in noisy airport terminals. To top it all off, they fold flat, and come with a zip-up case for safe transport. The major downside of these headphones is the battery life, which like the AirPod Max, only goes up to 20 hours.

Because of their best-in-class ANC and superior comfort, these are the best-noise canceling headphones for sleeping on planes. If you have the budget, you won't regret bringing these headphones on your next flight.

Read Mashable's full review of the Bose Noise Canceling 700 headphones.

Buying Options

$379 from Amazon

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Apple AirPods Pro

Best earbuds for travel

$199 Amazon

Who it's for:

If you prefer something more lowkey than a bulky pair of over-the-ear wireless headphones, then consider the best noise-canceling earbuds for travel instead. Though this usually means noise canceling takes a big hit, that's not the case with the second-gen Apple AirPods Pro. Mashable Tech Reporter Stan Schroeder deemed these, "the first pair of earbuds I'd actually consider taking on an airplane," due to the quality of their ANC.

Why we picked this:

The ANC ante has been upped with the latest Pros, which offer even more sound-blocking power than the already great first-generation model. The design remains the same, so you can easily stow the charging case in your bag or pocket. Adaptive transparency mode allows you to hear outside noise once more with a press of the stem, while still dampening unwanted noise. To add to the aural experience, these buds do have spatial audio, though that feature is infamous for working great with some songs and not working at all with others.

Plus, the easy pairing AirPods are known for being even more efficient thanks to the upgraded H2 chip found in these earbuds.

Read Mashable's full review of the Apple AirPod Pros.

Buying Options

$199 from Amazon

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Topics Earbuds

How we tested

Five out of six of these headphones have been hands-on tested by Mashable staff, including past and current tech reporters, senior tech editors, and our deputy reviews editor.

The remaining headphones, the Anker Soundcore Life Q20, were selected after extensive research into specs and customer reviews. In addition to premium headphones from Sony, Bose, and Apple, we also wanted to include some of the best budget noise-canceling headphones for airplanes. We selected these headphones based on our research and the reliability of Anker.

The other headphones featured here, such as the Bose QuietComfort 45 and the Apple AirPods Max headphones, were hands-on tested by Mashable.

All of these headphones were chosen with the following criteria in mind:

Comfort: As we mentioned above, the quiet of active noise cancellation becomes much less enjoyable if the headphones delivering it squeeze your head for the entirety of your flight. Any headphones that weren't favored for long-term wear didn't make our list.
Battery life: If your headphones' battery is going to die 30 minutes into your flight, they're not going to cut it for even the shortest of trips. Our picks were typically in a higher price range that have better battery life and quick charge options for the times when you forget to juice up your headphones the night before you leave.
Active noise cancellation quality: There are lower cost options for ANC, but not all active noise cancellation is delivered the same. That's why we focused on picks that either offered multiple levels of ANC, or delivered a strong level of ANC on its own, that didn't require music to make a noticeable difference.
Portability: Over-the-ear headphones are going to deliver the best noise cancellation possible, but they are bulky. To keep these picks travel-friendly, we looked for headphones that fold up or that come with sleek carrying cases.
Durability: Taking your headphones with you through TSA lines just opens them up to more wear and tear, so we went for higher-cost picks that are likely to survive the journey. Plus, we made sure to choose headphones that will last you for years, so the upfront investment is worth it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Noise-canceling headphones work by reducing unwanted ambient sounds using active noise control. A microphone captures the ambient sounds around you in real-time; meanwhile, an amplifier generates sound waves out of phase with those unwanted sounds. That way, the music you're listening to shines through the chaos. With ANC engaged, crying babies, people talking, or general airplane noise will fade away like magic.

Generally, noise cancellation works best with constant droning sounds like a plane engine rather than sharp sounds like voices, but the best noise-canceling headphones still do a good job of blocking these out to some degree.

Some headphones offer passive noise cancellation (also known as noise isolation) rather than active noise cancellation (ANC). Instead of using microphones to filter out undesired sounds, these headphones rely on soundproofing by physically blocking outside sounds. It's less effective than using a pair of headphones that use active noise cancellation, but it does mean there's less of a strain on battery life.

Some people also prefer passive noise cancellation, as active noise cancellation has been known to make people feel pressure in their ears. However, when searching for the best headphones for travel, this is less of an issue and something that frequent flyers will learn to live with.

It depends on why you have flight anxiety. If you hate the idea of being “stuck” on a plane, it might not work as well as if it's the noises that cause you anxiety. However, by being able to zone out and listen to your favorite music or podcasts, you can forget that you're on an airplane as you won't notice you're flying in the same way as if you hear all the surrounding noises.

Similarly, if you hate flying because of ambient noise like children crying or loud talking, noise-canceling headphones can help hide this away from your ears, meaning you can relax better. With a combination of meditative sounds and music, the best noise-canceling headphones can whisk you away from irritants. Effectively, you can cocoon yourself away from the reminders that you're traveling.

Finally, the best noise-canceling headphones for sleeping can help you fall and stay asleep, giving you some respite from the stress of airplane travel.

Bethany Allard

Bethany Allard is a shopping reporter at Mashable covering beauty tech, dating, and sex and relationships. She graduated from New York University with a B.A. in Journalism and English Literature. You can follow her on Twitter @betallard and reach her by email at [email protected].