If you want to get the best sound out of a pair of wireless headphones, then you'll be looking for the best over-ear headphones. There are plenty of options out there as well, so it can often feel daunting if you want some new headphones — which is why we've constructed this list.
My favorite pair of over-ear headphones are the Sony WH-1000XM5, which feature excellent noise canceling, great sound quality, and a comfortable fit. There are loads of other options as well, and we've made this list as easy to read as possible so that you can find which ones are going to suit your needs.
So let's get going with the list of the best over-ear headphones that money can buy, and which should be making your shortlist.
The Quick List
Price ★★★★☆
Sound ★★★★★
Battery ★★★★☆
The Sony WH-1000XM5 have top active noise cancelation, strong call quality, intuitive controls and enhanced connectivity. The elite sound, user experience, and hefty 30-hour battery life will not disappoint.
Price ★★★★★
Sound ★★★★☆
Battery ★★★★★
The first model in an all-new range aimed at introducing the maker's signature sound, strong noise-canceling tech and class-leading battery life at a mid-level price point. These cans deliver high levels of sound and comfort at a great price.
Price ★★★☆☆
Sound ★★★★★
Battery ★★★★☆
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones represent a big step forward with best-ever ANC, Immersive Audio and improved battery life. The all-new lightweight design is comfortable enough to be worn for hours, too.
Price ★★★★☆
Sound ★★★★★
Battery ★★★★★
Although the revamped design of Sennheiser's fourth-generation Momentum Wireless headphones don't stand out quite like their classic-looking predecessor, the 60-hour battery life is a real crowd-pleaser and make these the one to beat.
Price ★★★☆☆
Sound ★★★★★
Battery ★★★★☆
The evolved version of B&W's entry-level over-ears are beautifully constructed, come with effective ANC and a robust control app. Extended functionality may be short compared to price rivals, but if you care about sound these are the very best under $400.
Price ★★☆☆☆
Sound ★★★★★
Battery ★★★★★
A confident addition to the luxury market, sound quality is top-notch via Bluetooth 5.2 with aptX Adaptive and aptX HD support, plus there's wired connectivity. Finish and styling are second to none with a soft leather headband and earpads for high comfort levels and they come in four color options.
Price ★★☆☆☆
Sound ★★★★★
Battery ★★★★☆
Focal's first wireless headphones are an audio triumph, with some incredible sound quality on tap. They're spacious, clear, and rich, and thanks to their massive earpads you'll be able to listen to their heavenly sound for long periods of time.
Price ★★★☆☆
Sound ★★★★☆
Battery ★★★☆☆
There's little better for iOS interoperability than Apple's expensive AirPods Max over-ear headphones. They connect effortlessly with your Apple devices, and then sound great when all connected up.
Price ★★★★★
Sound ★★★☆☆
Battery ★★★★☆
If you don't want to spend loads of money, then the Soundcore Space One are a great option. They're comfy, sound good, and their noise canceling is better than anything else under $100.
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The best over-ear headphones you can buy right now
Best over-ear headphones overall
✅ Excellent noise canceling. The Sony WH-1000XM5 block out loads of noise for a more tolerable commute.
✅ Great sound quality. With a warm sound signature, the WH-1000XM5 are going to please most listeners.
✅ A comfy fit. With plush earcups and a soft headband, they'll stay comfortable for long periods of time.
❌ They can get sweaty. If you wear them for long periods of time, they can get hot and sticky.
❌ The case is large. Fitting their large case in your bag can be tricky, as the headphones only fold flat.
Sony's WH-1000XM5 are some of the best headphones you can buy period, not just the best over-ear headphones. They're everything to pretty much everyone, suiting a great variety of different wants and needs — and they just so happen to do it at a price that undercuts some of the more luxury competition, and bring some environmentally conscious credentials to the table.
We love the sound first and foremost, of course. They're classically warm, as you might expect from a pair of Sony cans, but there's plenty of depth and detail to make sure you can everything that your chosen tunes have to offer. There are changeable EQ settings in the Sony app as well, so you can change the sound to your liking and really dial it in depending on what you're listening. The pickiest amongst you might find them a bit over-bassy, but most people are going to be very happy with the WH-1000XM5's sonic performance.
Then there's the feature set, topped off by the marvelous noise canceling. It still ranks amongst the best in the business, conquering almost every competitor that comes near it. Battery life is solid at 30 hours with ANC on, and the touch controls are as solid as touch controls can be.
You might be turned off by their slightly subdued design, but otherwise, you'll find yourself with an excellent pair of over-ear headphones.
- Read our full Sony WH-1000XM5 review
Best value over-ear headphones
✅ Great price. Coming in well under $200, the Accentum won't break the bank.
✅ Solid noise canceling. You won't find a pair of headphones that blocks more noise for the price of the Accentum.
✅ Comfortable fit. Thanks to their large earcups, the Accentum are very comfortable.
❌ There's no case. If you want to take them out and about you'll need to find an alternative way of protecting them.
❌ There's no wear detection. If you take them off, they'll keep playing. You have to press the pause button to stop the audio.
Sennheiser Accentum are a mid-priced ANC pair of headphones with plenty of flagship features. Probably the most outstanding thing about the Accentum noise-canceling headphones, though, is the 50-hour battery life and quick charge that's achieves up to 5 hours of listening time from a 10-minute top-up.
These low-cost Sennheisers are based around the Momentum 4 Wireless, and although they have slightly smaller drivers, they master the company's signature sound. There are plenty of rich bass notes on hand to give whatever you're listening to the right level of energy without over-emphasizing low frequencies. Everything feels nicely proportioned and there's plenty of mid-range clarity.
ANC is very effective at reducing background sounds to a pool of silence, and Transparency mode was effective during my testing, too. When it comes to taking voice calls, the Accentum has two built-in microphones and a dedicated wind-reduction mode. Multipoint seamlessly switches from one Bluetooth device to another, and there's an adjustable side-tone to help keep conversations feeling natural.
- Read our full Sennheiser Accentum review
Best noise-canceling over-ear headphones
✅ The best noise canceling, bar none. The QuietComfort Ultra headphones block more than anything else around.
✅ They're incredibly comfortable. With some super plush foam and very light weight, they're very comfortable on the head.
✅ Brilliant sound quality. With a pleasing, rich tone, they're a great audio experience.
❌ They're expensive. The QuietComfort Headphones are a great deal more expensive than the competition.
❌ Battery life isn't amazing. You only get 24 hours of battery life, and that plummets when you use the Immersive audio feature.
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones are the best noise-canceling headphones overall. As the replacement for the Bose 700, the company has raised the bar yet again for active noise-canceling headphones, effectively silencing outside world around you. The new model throws in Immersive Audio tech and plenty of extras including Bluetooth 5.3 with multipoint connectivity, aptX Adaptive support, and touch volume control. This all comes in an all-new modern and lightweight design that's comfortable enough to be worn for hours.
There are multiple levels of noise cancelation to balance the level of quiet with Aware mode (transparency) to suit your surroundings. Battery life has been extended to give up to 24 hours, while changes made to the controls and design make usability more practical and seamless. While the Bose 700 are a great alternative option to consider and can often be found discounted in our best headphone deals, the QC Ultra raise Bose's game and are as close to perfect as you’re going to get in the noise-canceling headphones category.
Want to save some money on your next pair of Bose headphones? Be sure to check out our Bose discount codes for the latest deals.
- Read our full Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones
Best over-ear headphones for battery life
✅ Monumental battery life. The battery will last you for 60 hours with the ANC turned on.
✅ Comfortable fit. With massive earcups and comfortable foam, the Momentum 4 wireless feel great on the head.
✅ Excellent sound. There's the signature Sennheiser sound in the Momentum 4 wireless and they sound great.
❌ App can be troublesome. Expect some connection issues with the mobile phone app.
❌ They look a bit boring. If you're looking for a pair of headphones that look like they cost $299, then the Momentum 4 aren't the headphones for you.
Although the revamped design of Sennheiser's fourth-generation Momentum Wireless headphones don't stand out quite like their classic-looking predecessor, the 60-hour battery life is a real crowd-pleaser and makes them the one to beat. Add in the easy-going Sennheiser sound and effective noise canceling, and the Momentum 4 are one the most practical wireless headphones we've seen, perfectly built for a life on the road rather than tethered to a power socket needing regular battery top ups.
During my testing, Sennheiser's smooth house sound handled a wide range of music content, from pounding beats to more mellow tunes with aplomb. They have Bluetooth 5.2 and aptX Adaptive support, and there's a supplied 3.5mm cable for audiophile wired connections. ANC performance was effective, and auto wind noise reduction is very impressive when standing on a windy train platform during daily work commutes.
- Read our full Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless review
Best premium over-ear headphones
✅ Incredible build. With metal and leather all over the place, the Px7 s2e are a sight to behold.
✅ Brilliant sound. Thanks to Bowers & Wilkins sound engineers, the headphones sound amazing with a rich, clear signature.
✅ Premium feel. Thanks to their build, sound and comfort, the Px7 s2e are a stunningly premium pair of headphones.
❌ They're very expensive. They cost around $400, making for a costly headset.
❌ The noise canceling isn't quite up to par. There are other options for the same price that block more noise.
Just like the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2, the new S2e are an 'evolved' version of the company's entry-level headphones. They are priced at $399, which is exactly the same as the Sony WH-1000XM5 — see how they compare in my Sony WH-1000XM5 vs. Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e face-off.
They feel just as good as their predecessor and look identical. They are beautifully constructed and look much better than most price rivals in terms of build and finish. For example, several noise canceling headphone price rivals look plasticky by comparison, but the textured finish of the Px7 S2e looks stylish and doesn't show up finger marks in the way that some rivals do. On the other hand though, much like the S2 the new S2e version doesn't have much in the way of extended functionality.
As an evolved version, the S2e takes inspiration and learnings from the company's Px8 flagship headphones together with a re-tuned acoustic performance and 24-bit digital signal processing (DSP). In short, they're designed to deliver the best wireless sound this sort of money can buy, and they do. In my review, I particularly liked the bass kick they brought to my music, which had a bit more energy than many of their price rivals. The rest of the frequency range felt nicely judged, and noise canceling was effective but not the strongest model around at the price.
Overall, these are a great buy for anyone truly serious about sound quality, and less bothered about noise canceling or the latest features.
- Read our full Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2e review
Best luxury over-ear headphones
✅ Luxury build and feel. Made out of some of the most sumptuous materials, the Px8 feel like the Rolls Royce of headphones.
✅ Stunning sound. Easily some of the best-sounding wireless headphones that you can buy.
✅ Solid battery life. Their staying power matches that of the Sony option at the top of the list.
❌ Very expensive. They cost $700 for one of the most expensive options on the list.
❌ Noise canceling not quite as good as the competition. There are better options if you want to block noise.
The Px8 are Bowers & Wilkins' most advanced noise-canceling headphones to date, and a confident addition to the luxury headphone market. Wireless audio is via Bluetooth 5.2 with SBC, AAC, aptX HD and aptX Adaptive codec support when connected to compatible playback devices, and cables are suppled for wired headphone jack connections too.
The bespoke 40mm Carbon Cone drive units present even more sound details across all parts of the frequency range than the the company high-ranking Px7 S2, and have sumptuous soft leather to further aid comfort. Bass performance is more agile on the Px8, thanks to the new driver material. But it's the mid frequencies where these flagship headphones excel, delivering an abundance of natural detail and midrange clarity to make every voice syllable sound convincingly realistic. Despite the sound quality gains though, the higher price compared to its fellow Px7 S2 and near rivals, means they rank slight lower in terms of overall value. But for practical luxury style and high comfort levels on longer listening these are hard to beat.
- Read our full Bowers & Wilkins Px8 review
Best audiophile over-ear headphones
✅ The best sound quality around. If you value great sound, the stunning audio of the Bathys will wow you.
✅ A comfortable fit. Thanks to their lovely leather earpads, the Bathys are incredibly comfortable.
✅ Built in DAC mode. If you want the best sound possible, switch to DAC mode and plug a cable into the USB-C port.
❌ They're expensive. They'll set you back around $700 a pair.
❌ Noise canceling could be better. While they block a decent amount of noise, you'd expect more for the price.
The Focal Bathys offer ingenious versatility: they're a superb, high-performance headphone that's perfectly suited to critical audiophile listening at home, while also practical and conveniently wireless to enable owners to enjoy them on the go. The price may initially seem high, but when you weigh up flagship features like Focal’s dynamic drivers, integrated DAC with full hi-res audio support, and top-tier audio performance, $799 feels like something of a bargain.
The combination of Focal’s M-dome speaker drivers and support for Hi-Res Audio ensures the Bathys sound spectacular. Recordings were deeply layered during our listening sessions, giving instruments plenty of room to breathe, and the onboard DAC is awesome for uncompressed 24-bit sound when connected to lossless sources such as Apple Music and Tidal. Fidelity is increased and there’s a greater degree of tightness in the delivery.
- Read our full Focal Bathys review
Best over-ear headphones for iOS users
✅ You're an iOS user. They work seamlessly with iPhones, Macs, and iPads and connect effortlessly.
✅ Brilliant noise cancelation. Apple's noise-canceling model is still very, very good.
✅ Great sound. The sound signature is more neutral than the competition for a pleasing listening experience.
❌ Expensive. While not the most expensive on the list, they still cost around $549.
❌ Rubbish carrying case. The case in the box only covers the earcups, leaving the mesh headband open to the elements.
Although the AirPods Max have been around since 2020 and have mostly stuck with their exceedingly high price (although they can regularly be found discounted online), they've maintained their ranking among the best headphones and continue to be popular. Their distinctive look with aluminium and mesh fabric may divide opinion among buyers, but they're plush and comfortable and sound quality and ANC effectiveness are still among some of the best noise-canceling headphones around.
They may lack support for Apple Adaptive Audio, Apple's newest suite of features, but they do have Adaptive EQ. This tailors the sound output according to how the AirPods Max sit on your head: frequencies are tweaked to account for the fit of the earcups and the size of your ears.
While we found something to appreciate about the AirPods Max’s sound output across all our favorite musical genres during our testing, our favorite aspect came from Apple's spatial audio listening feature, which was a real game changer. Ultimately, the AirPods Max are the most expensive pair of Apple headphones, but the combination of cushy comfort, pristine audio quality, and killer features like spatial audio make them a great over-ear option ideal for iOS users.
Want to bag a discount on your next pair of Apple headphones? Be sure to check out our Apple discount codes for the latest deals.
- Read our full Apple AirPods Max review
Best under $99
✅ Great price. For under $100 you're getting a comfortable, great sounding pair of headphones.
✅ Solid ANC. For the price, you won't find that blocks more noise.
✅ They're stylish. Soundcore has made sure that the headphones stand out amongst the crowd.
❌ There's no case. There's no protective option in the box, so you'll have to find an alternative.
❌ Call quality could be better. There's a lot of wind noise and the microphones aren't amazing at picking up your voice.
The Soundcore Space One boast a variety of premium features, including adaptive active noise cancellation, Bluetooth 5.3 with LDAC codec support, customizable sound, multipoint technology, and some of the strongest quick charging out there. Lengthy playtimes, personalized listening modes, and safe volume settings add to the lengthy list of features.
Our reviewer found that the Space One had deep bass, but felt that Anker had tweaked the sound profile to balance mids and highs, and that listening with ANC on upticks the low end. Complementing the Space One’s dynamic sound quality is adaptive ANC that can be personalized and used in different ways. There is Adaptive Noise Cancelling for adjusting performance to your surrounding noise levels or Customize Noise Cancelling for setting noise neutralization to 1 of 5 levels. These are a great budget option available in jet black, latte cream and sky blue colorways and a possible best value contender at the $99 price.
- Read our full Anker Soundcore Space One review
Best over-ear headphones specs compared
Also tested...
At Tom's Guide we test a lot of over-ear headphones, but not everything can make it into our buying guides. Whether that's down to better performance or stronger features from rival models in a particular category and price, some miss ranking in this list by the slightest of margins. With that in mind, these models are strong contenders and great alternative considerations.
How to choose the best over-ear headphones for you
Things to consider before you buy
1. Design: When shopping for headphones, you’ve already narrowed things down massively by deciding on a pair of over-ear cans specifically. But there can still be much variation in the design of individual pairs, so you should still look out for factors like the headband shape or the amount of earcup padding to judge how comfortable they might be. Don’t be afraid to pass on headphones you don’t like the aesthetics of, too.
2. Sound quality: This is clearly important. You can read more about how we test this below, but you should consider whether you’d prefer a balanced sound or once that favors a particular part of the frequency spectrum — electronic fans might prefer heavy bass, for example. That said, several over-ear headphones have mobile apps that let you tweak the EQ to your liking.
ANC technology can compress sound and reduce dynamics, which may affect audio performance when turned on. In some cases, you’ll notice a background hiss when listening to music. However, the best noise-cancelling earbuds limit these disruptions to deliver full, crisp sound.
3. Battery life: Think about how much battery life you’ll need as well. Over-ear headphones can deliver anywhere between about 20 and 60 hours of playback so you should never need to recharge too often, though naturally longer is usually better. Keep in mind that ANC will reduce battery life when it’s turned on, as it needs to permanently power the onboard microphones.
4. Pricing considerations: Obviously, price is a big consideration when looking for the best over-ear headphones. Although there are always exceptions, big-name brands will typically command a bit extra, but generally speaking, the less you spend on a pair of headphones the greater the chance that sound and features will be compromised. Going for a budget option isn't always the best choice, as any money you save on your purchase won't do you much good if you're constantly needing to recharge your audio gear, or the sound quality is poor.
As the saying goes: timing is everything; and right now many of our favorite models are being discounted by online retailers, meaning you can bag a bargain for even less. Bookmark our best headphone deals page to keep track on the latest discounts. Additionally, check out our guides to the best Anker discount codes, Bose coupon codes, and Apple promo codes.
How we test the best over-ear headphones
We thoroughly test every pair of headphones based on a variety of factors, and employ a consistent testing approach so any comparisons with other pairs are trustworthy and fair. Over-ear designs also do a good job of reducing the external noise of your surroundings, and our extensive tests show that this kind of passive noise isolation is very effective at minimising disruptive background noise even before you've switched in any active noise cancellation (ANC) tech your chosen model may have.
In this case, every pair of over-ear headphones has been used over the course of a week for 2 hours at a time. This allows the tester to both gauge the sound quality across a mix of genres and volumes, and to see how comfortable the headphones are when worn for extended periods. We’ll listen to hip-hop, rock, jazz, classical, pop and more to see how each pair performs, and will do the same with movies, podcasts and games, where applicable. Find out how we test and try out demo tracks for yourself in our guide to getting the best headphone sound for you.
We also test the effectiveness of features like noise-cancelling in real-life situations, and will make sure manufacturer claims about battery life and Bluetooth range are accurate. Build quality, the ease of setup and any control schemes — including those involving an app — will also be judged.
We rate over-ear headphones with a 5-point system (1 = worst, 5 = best). Products that excel in one or more particular fields that's rated 4 stars or above may also receive an Editor’s Choice award.
Find out how we test for more information on our reviewing procedures.
Contributions from: Alex Bracetti, Simon Lucas, Kate Kozuch
More from Tom's Guide
- Check out our pick of the best headphones that prioritize sound above all else
- 5 wireless earbuds with the best battery life
- 3 headphones that are better value that the AirPods Max
Look out for savings on Soundcore products with our Soundcore promo codes.
