The best noise-cancelling headphones for flying: 8 picks you can...

8 best noise-cancelling headphones for flying to pick up during Prime Day

Overview

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 can be a nightmare. Not to mention the added anxiety of recent airplane crashes. If you're ready to add some peace to your flying experience, picking up a pair of noise-cancelling headphones can go a long way.

You definitely have options: plenty of headphones, from over-ear headphones to wireless earbuds, offer active noise cancellation. And in 2025, it's not too hard to find ANC headphones for under $100. That said, we do recommend spending a little more to enjoy maximum calm at 35,000 feet. With Prime Day just around the corner, it's an especially good time to invest in Mashable's favorite tried and tested headphones.

How much should I spend on noise-cancelling headphones?

If you want to find the best noise-cancelling headphones for flying, you should be prepared to pay $250 to $500. During Prime Day, you can expect some flexibility in that arena. Typically, we see markdowns of $50 to $100 for headphones that have been out for at least a few months, and more modest markdowns on newer headphones (if they receive any at all).

Why invest? Premium headphones offer better active noise cancellation, customizable settings, and transparency modes that allow you to hear those all-important gate announcements.

Many cheap headphones claim to offer "noise-cancelling" features, but a random pair of $50 over-ear headphones with passive noise cancellation will let a lot of sound through. They'll also struggle to connect and switch between devices easily, or simply feel uncomfortable.

At the end of the day, going for that good all-around pair is worth it, because on a flight, ANC on its own won't save the day — otherwise, we'd just direct you to our guide to the best noise-cancelling 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. And because this is a flying-focused roundup, we did give extra points to headphones with thoughtful design that makes storage easy.

If that $250-plus price range feels totally out of the question, we've included a couple of budget earbuds in the under-$100 category, but they come with tradeoffs. If you're okay with a mid-range pick, consider buying wireless earbuds with ANC instead of over-ear headphones.

If the cost of a pair of headphones is off-putting, you can always wait for a sale to start. We see headphones from Bose, Sony, and Apple get marked down year-round — if you don't want to keep your eyes peeled yourself, Mashable's deals coverage is a great place to find any noteworthy headphone deals. For the picks on our list, we recommend waiting to buy at the following prices:

Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones — At least $349, if not $329
Sony WH-1000XM5 — At least $329, if not $299
Apple AirPods Pro 2 — At least $189, if not $179 or lower ($199 is technically a sale price, but typically what these earbuds go for at Amazon)

Noise-cancelling headphones are at their most useful on airplanes. 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 prepare for either is by using the best ANC headphones to block out the chaos.

Because shopping for headphones shouldn't be as stressful as heading to the airport, we've done extensive testing to bring you the top options. Our top pick is the Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones, but read on to see other great picks for the best noise-cancelling headphones for airplanes in 2025 — all based on Mashable's hands-on testing.

Our Pick

bose quietcomfort ultra headphones on airplane tray table

The Good & The Bad

Hands down the most comfortable pair of headphones on the market
Top-notch active noise cancellation
Immersive spatial audio bumps up the listening experience from past generations
Decently portable for a pair of over-ear headphones
Stiffer earpadding remains comfortable while feeling durable for multiple years of use

Some connectivity issues, especially with stand-by mode
Expensive
Battery life could be better
High-pitched sounds can get through ANC

Our review

Read Mashable's full review of the Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones.

Who it's for

If you're looking for over-ear headphones that sound great and can easily give you all-day wear, the Bose QuietComfort Ultras wear as comfortably for a full day of work as they do for a cross-country flight. They're definitely an investment, but we think the Ultras are worth it (especially when they're on sale) thanks to their long-term wearability and strong noise cancellation.

Why we picked this

Lead Shopping Reporter Bethany Allard here. Personally, I've owned, used, and loved Bose QuietComfort headphones for years. (I previously tested the QC 35 IIs and the QC 45s, both standouts in the field of ANC headphones.) But Bose really stepped up the QuietComfort line with the Ultras. They're durable but still supremely comfortable. I've worn them with earrings all day and on a five-hour flight while wearing glasses, and not once did I experience any soreness or discomfort.

Shopping Reporter Samantha Mangino also tried out the headphones, and she had a similar experience, calling the Ultras "the most comfortable headphones I've ever worn." Beyond comfort, they offer good noise cancellation, which is key for flying. Mangino was less impressed than I was, noting that "while the noise cancellation is really good at blocking out low-pitched noises, it can't wholly block high-pitched sounds unless you turn up the sound to unhealthy volumes." When I wore them on a flight, they significantly reduced the hum of the airplane's engine and my fellow passengers, but I agree that they do best with lower pitches. They certainly block sound better than past QuietComfort models.

Sound-wise, Mangino nailed it when she described it as "rich" and able to let the little details shine. Bose's first pass at spatial audio is just fine, but we think the standard audio is good enough that it makes up for the subpar enhanced settings. However, the on-ear controls of these headphones could definitely use some work. They didn't reliably turn the headphones on, and we had to resort to alternating short and long presses for them to power up and connect to our devices. Their multipoint connection can also be spotty with two devices connected, but this is likely to be less noticeable on a flight.

The lack of passive playback with a wired connection was noticeable, however. Though these have a decent battery life that should be enough to get you through long flights, it's odd (and unusual for headphones in this price bracket) to be missing this feature. However, unlike most premium headphones, the earcups fold in for portability, a nice travel bonus.

Details

Black Bose headphones next to a laptop on a green background

The Good & The Bad

Offer premium comfort and ANC for less than over-ear headphones
Significantly reduced noise on airplanes
Comfortable to wear for long periods of time, with minimal adjustments needed
Impressive sound quality with spatial audio features

Multipoint pairing can be touch and go
Case makes it difficult to remove earbuds with ease

Our review

Read Mashable's full review of the Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds.

Who it's for

If you're not an over-ear headphone fan (or like to lean against the window to nap mid-flight), then we have to recommend the supremely comfortable Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds. Like their headphone counterpart, aka our top pick for flyers, these buds offer impressive noise cancellation but with a much lower profile. They're also $130 less expensive.

Why we picked this

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds snagged a Mashable Choice award shortly after their release for their stellar noise cancellation, comfortable fit, and impressive Immersive Audio tech. Per usual for the brand, Bose's ANC drowns out a ton of background noise, making these buds a perfect fit for flights. In his review of the QC Ultra buds, Mashable Tech Editor Timothy Beck Werth mentioned that Bose's noise cancellation is so good that he often wears these buds even when he's not playing music.

"When I want to take a nap on a plane or focus on my work, I pop in these earbuds and let the noise-cancelling cocoon wash over me," Werth says. "Do they offer 100 percent sound dilution? No, but all but the loudest and closest sounds should disappear. On airplanes, they significantly reduced noise, making it much easier to take a nap. I have to warn my partner when I'm putting on these earbuds, otherwise she'll think I'm giving her the silent treatment."

Mangino was similarly impressed by these earbuds, writing, "the noise cancellation is the best I've ever experienced," in our roundup of the best noise-cancelling earbuds. They also stay put in her ears, even on long walks.

In terms of cons, the battery life is (understandably) not as great as our over-ear headphones picks. So, always charge the case before you travel. We also found that the design of the case makes it a bit difficult to remove the buds and experienced some finicky Bluetooth connections, but these are minor qualms — the pros of the QC Ultra buds absolutely outweigh the cons.

Details

anker life q20 headphones next to a passport

The Good & The Bad

Inexpensive
Good battery life
Pretty good sound quality for the price
Support passive playback

ANC is only average
They feel light, but cheap
Sound quality is just okay, though reasonable for the price point

Who it's for

While having active noise cancellation at the ready while traveling might sound great, spending hundreds of dollars sounds decidedly less so. (Airline tickets are expensive enough, thank you.) If you're not looking for the most elite ANC, sound, or build quality, the Anker Soundcore Life Q20s don't break the bank. And while they may not have more premium features, we found they wore comfortably and got the job done.

Why we picked this

The Life Q20s are a fraction of the price of the other headphones on our list, but their merits go far beyond their budget status. The cushioned ear pads make them easy to wear comfortably for the length of a long flight. The active noise cancellation is strong enough to block out ambient airplane sounds, and the battery life is also impressive. It took us several days of use to run it down listening at about 50 percent volume — and that was with noise-cancelling engaged.

Plus, unlike higher-end headphones in this guide (namely, the Bose QC Ultras), these headphones support passive playback via a 3.5 millimeter aux cable. In other words, if you do happen to run out of battery on your flight, you're not completely out of luck. As for the actual listening experience, these headphones provide a surprisingly well-balanced sound, but if you don't like how they sound out of the box, you are unfortunately out of luck.

Part of the reason they clock in at such a good price (and even more so when they're on sale) is because these headphones are an older model, so they're not compatible with the Soundcore app and its equalizer features. Overall, these headphones epitomize the word decent — but that's not a knock against them at all.

Details

sennheiser momentum 4 copper headphones

The Good & The Bad

Significantly better battery life than other headphones on this list
Excellent sound quality
Nice design options
Comes with airplane jack adapter for in-flight entertainment

ANC is not quite as good as Sony and Bose options
Overly sensitive touch controls
Some colorways cost extra

Who it's for

The Sennheiser Momentum 4 headphones have incredibly balanced sound quality, but what really made them stand out to us was their battery life, which lasts for 60 hours with ANC on. They're a great pair of headphones for anyone taking a longer trip who wants one less device to worry about charging.

Why we picked this

A lot of over-ear headphones, including many premium options, have battery lives that max out at around 30 hours. While it's not impossible to find impressive battery life — the Soundcore Life Q20 headphones and the Dyson OnTrac headphones have 40 and 55 hours of battery life, respectively — but each of those headphones comes with a drawback.

The Life Q20 headphones are budget-friendly, so you lose the top-of-the-line ANC and premium sound, while the Dyson OnTrac headphones are bulky and don't feel well-suited to travel. The Momentum 4 headphones, on the other hand, sound crystal clear out of the box. In our testing, they made the bass on Magdalena Bay's "Killshot" stand out in a way we'd never heard before, without losing the complexity of the rest of the song. Plus, at $379.95, they're cheaper than the flagship Sony and Bose headphones. You can also catch them for about $280 on sale.

They also feel more thoughtfully designed for travel, with ear cups that have a slightly flatter profile than you'll find on the Sony XM5s, and an included airplane audio adapter in the case (we wish all premium headphones offered this). The ANC doesn't quite match up to Sony's — it's just ever so slightly worse — but on a plane, we doubt you'll notice a drastic difference, especially if you're listening to audio.

We've only found one other drawback so far — the overly sensitive touch controls on the right ear cup, which we often accidentally bumped, especially when taking off the headphones to put them around our neck. We ended up turning off the controls altogether by mistake, which isn't ideal.

Details

silver sony wh-1000xm6 headphones on desk

The Good & The Bad

Fantastic sound quality and ANC
Good battery life
Lightweight
Foldable earcups make them easier to pack in a carry-on
Can be used passively (without powering the headphones on)

Not the absolute best ANC in the game
Expensive
No improvement on battery life from previous generation

Our review

Read Mashable's full review of the Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones.

Who it's for

For frequent travelers who held off on getting the XM5s, the XM6s bring an important travel-friendly upgrade in the form of foldable ear cups, all the while retaining the XM5's updated design, along with improved sound quality and ANC. If you already own XM5s, these headphones might not be worth the upgrade just yet.

Why we picked this

Sony's flagship headphones have been a popular option since at least the days of the WH-1000XM4s, thanks to their excellent sound profile and top tier active noise cancellation.

The WH-1000XM5s lost some points in the portability area when Sony nixed the folding ear cups design, giving them a larger case (and more real estate in your carry-on). With the XM6s, Sony's gone back to folding ear cups, which results in both a thinner and more compact carrying case. The snap-lock closure on the case also makes it incredibly quick to store.

As for how the headphones hold up out of the case, Sony didn't necessarily reinvent the wheel, but they made small improvements that result in an all-over better product, especially for folks who don't already own over-ear headphones or are upgrading from older models. The sound signature is warm and full without any tinkering on the equalizer — noticeably more so than on the XM5 headphones. With the equalizer, they're some of the best sounding headphones on the market, providing clarity and balance on songs from Adele's "Hello" to the Eagles' "Hotel California."

Their 30-hour battery life remains the same as its previous gen — while it would've been nice to see some increase, we're not complaining. The ANC significantly dampens sound (though Bose does a slightly better job than Sony in this department). The design is comfortable, with plenty of padding in the headband and earcups. The subtle change of a circular power button also makes operating the on-ear controls even easier than on the XM5s.

Details

airpods pro usb-c

The Good & The Bad

Comfy fit
Pairs well with Apple products
Spatial audio
Some of the best ANC earbuds out there
Will barely take up space in your bag

Battery life is heavily dependent on charging case
On the pricey side for earbuds

Our review

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

Who it's for

If you prefer something more low-key than a bulky pair of over-the-ear wireless headphones, opt for a pair of earbuds for travel instead. Though this usually means noise cancellation takes a big hit, that's not the case with the second-gen Apple AirPods Pro. Mashable Senior Editor 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 essentially the same, so you can easily stow the charging case in your bag or pocket. Plus, with their most recent upgrade, the USB-C charging port likely means you have to lug around one less cable. 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.

Beyond sounding great, the easy pairing AirPods are known for being even more efficient thanks to the upgraded H2 chip found in these earbuds. The especially great thing about AirPods is that though they're expensive, they do go on sale regularly throughout the year — we recommend waiting until they're down to at least $199 before you pick a pair up.