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Best Earplugs of 2025

We evaluated them by looking at how well they fit different people and how comfortable they were during sleep

By Michael Frank

Updated January 8, 2025

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Clockwise from top: Happy Ears, Alpine SleepSoft and Lysian Soft Foam Earplugs — We tried seven earplugs of various shapes, including a few simple foam models and some shaped more like earbuds.

If noise is keeping you up at night, you’re not alone, and it’s something you need to fix. Studies have linked lousy sleep—which can be caused by a number of factors, including noise pollution—to poor overall health. Along with white noise machines and sleep masks, a relatively low-cost solution could be earplugs. There are scads of designs, including the ubiquitous soft foam variety, moldable ones, and a premolded style that’s more like earphone earbuds.

In this article

Best Earplugs
How Poor Sleep Affects Health
How We Evaluated Earplugs

How to Use Earplugs Correctly

Audiologists from Cleveland Clinic explain how to use earplugs the right way and keep ears healthy.

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We investigate, research, and test so you can choose with confidence.

Michael Frank

Michael Frank is a freelance writer who contributes to Consumer Reports on the intersection of cars and tech. His bias: lightweight cars with great steering over lumbering, loud muscle cars any day. You can follow him on X (@mfwords) and Instagram (@mfwords).