Best Headphones for Sleep and Side Sleepers

Regular earbuds hurt when you lie on your side, and over-ear headphones are out of the question. Sleep headphones are designed flat and soft so they disappear against the pillow.

Why sleep headphones are different

The key is a low-profile, soft design. Sleep earbuds sit nearly flush with the ear so they don't press into your head when you roll onto your side. A headband design with flat speakers is another popular option.

What to look for

• A flush, low-profile fit that survives side sleeping
• Soft, breathable materials that won't irritate ears overnight
• Comfortable volume control for white noise or podcasts

Battery and features

For overnight use, battery life of 8 to 10 hours matters, since they'll be running all night. A sleep timer that fades the audio out after you fall asleep is genuinely useful and saves battery.

Skip anything with a protruding body or stiff cable. The whole point of sleep headphones is that you forget you're wearing them, and any pressure point defeats that purpose.