Can’t sleep? These high quality ear plugs could change your life (2025)

Designed specifically for sleeping, the Loop Quiet 2 Ear Plugs are comfortable to wear, reusable and pack up to 24 dB (SNR) of noise reduction.

In her review of these ear plugs, our health and fitness ecommerce editor said 'They're so effective that I don't wear them to sleep during weeknights for fear I'll miss my alarm, but at weekends when Friday night drinks have rendered my partner a thunderous snorer, they're a lifesaver.'

She added that 'I would still hear the fire alarm go off, but sudden sounds (anyone else live in an area seemingly solely populated by engine-revving knuckleheads?) are blurred out and droning snoring is reduced to a mild hum that becomes unnoticeable'.

Read more: Loop ear plugs review

Side sleepers in particular need to do their research before they invest in a pair of ear plugs, because unfortunately not all of them are designed to be comfortable for this sleeping position.

After testing these for a few nights Hattie concluded 'they are really very comfortable, don't interfere if you're a side sleeper and easily offer the best noise reduction of the lot'.

I'm an Australian living in the UK, which means I consider myself a bit of an expert on surviving long haul flights. While there's no way to completely nix jet lag in my experience, getting a few hours of shut eye on the flight can help you feel more energised when you land.

While these aren't technically ear plus, they are even more helpful at getting some shut eye on flights as they have the ability to play soothing tunes to help you nod off and double as an eye mask. Handy!

As long as you insert these correctly and switch them out often (hygiene, people!), foam ear plugs can be just as effective as those with a hefty price-tag, according to Dr. Mehdizadeh.

To ensure they block out noise, roll them in-between your fingers, insert them, and let them expand and take the shape of your ear.

FYI, noise-cancelling headphones can serve as ear plugs, too. These sweat-proof buds won't slide out of your ears on warm nights.

And if you want to mix things up and play some soothing tracks to help you fall asleep, the headphones's 22-hour battery life can handle it.

Classic ear plugs like these are high on Dr. Mehdizadeh's list because they get the job done with little fuss. These are made of silicon, which he says is way safer than the rough plastic alternative that can scratch the ear canal.

If you choose these, Dr. Mehdizadeh says to be sure you clean them periodically with disinfectant to reduce your chance of ear infections that can sometimes be brought on by plugs.

'It's all about the seal,' Dr. Mehdizadeh says.

As long as you properly cover the entrance of the ear (and don't shove in too far!), 'you can actually drop the outside volume by about 25 to 30 decibels,' and set yourself up for a good night's sleep with these moldable wax plugs, he assures.

Qualifying as certified hearing protection, the Loop Experience 2 Ear Plugs have been designed to protect your ears at loud live events. Think gigs, football games, and anywhere else you're expecting things to get noisy.

Hattie tested these at a gig for an Indie rock band and said although the set involved plenty of loud instrumentals, 'with the Experience Plus ear plugs in everything sounded smooth, bright and basically as it should, just without that pinching feeling loud sounds can sometimes cause.'

She emphasised that she 'could still very much hear the music, with no notes altered — which figures, given they lower all the frequencies at the same rate — but there was a touch less intensity to the bass notes. The singing (both from the band and crowd around me, unfortunately) remained clear, as did the guitar tracks, but everything was just a touch softer and quieter, with fewer peaks.'

All of the ear plugs on this list should stay secure all night long, as they won't help you sleep all night if they fall out after a couple of hours.

If you find your ear plugs are always falling out, we would recommend looking at Loop earplugs specifically as they come with multiple sizes of ear tips so you can find your perfect fit.

Most of the ear plugs on this list offer passive noise reduction, which means they work by physically blocking sound from entering the noise canal.

You can also find some that offer active noise cancellation, but these would be more expensive. Others, such as the Bose Sleepbuds, use noise masking technology in conjunction with a noise-blocking design to cover the sound of nighttime disturbances.

Going off how popular the question 'do ear plugs block snoring?' is on Google, we're guessing that there's quite a few people reading this guide who sleep next to a snorer every night.

Being kept awake by raucous snoring is as frustrating as it is exhausting, so if this is currently your reality you have our utmost sympathy.

The good news is however, that there are ear plugs that can help you get (and stay) asleep no matter how loud the snoring gets. Our top recommendation for blocking out snoring are the Bose Sleepbuds II. They work to physically block out excess noise while adding snooze-friendly sounds that can help to cover unwanted noise.

While both varieties of ear plugs are effective at blocking out sound, they have different strengths. We love foam ear plugs for how comfortable and lightweight they are, but some users find they don't stay in their ears that well.

Silicone ear plugs can be heavier and therefore slightly less comfortable, but they're better to reuse and are more durable than foam.