5 Best Noise-Canceling Headphones of 2026, Tested by Our Experts

But great noise cancellation doesn’t matter very much if your headphones don’t sound good.

So every pair in this roundup comes recommended by our test team for both sound quality and noise-blocking performance. The picks are all wireless Bluetooth models, and many have appealing features like variable noise cancellation or a transparency mode that allows you to pipe in outside noises when you’re out walking, running, or simply pausing on the street for a quick conversation.

Consumer Reports buys every product we test from the same stores where consumers shop. So there are no freebies or cherry-picked samples for us. For a full breakdown of the more than 100 noise-canceling headphones we’ve reviewed, CR members can explore our headphone ratings. For more expert shopping advice, consult our headphone buying guide, too.