The Most Comfortable Headphones for 2025

Comfort is high on the list of priorities for many people when buying a set of headphones.  That shouldn't come as much of a surprise as we now spend more time consuming media from portable devices than ever before. When you get on a bustrainor planeyou will see countless people with headphones on for their journey.  We are talking about people wearing headphones for long listening sessionsusually in various situations.

Similarlymany offices worldwide are full of people consuming musicpodcastsand ebooks at their desks. We can spend a lot of time listeningand the last thing you want is pain or discomfortwhich cheap or poor-quality headphones can cause. 

With so many people asking us what the most comfortable headphones arewe have finally assembled this list of the best models to make your listening experience more fun. Belowyou will find the list of our recommendations and some handy tips and tricks that will help you reduce/eliminate pain and discomfort.

1. Bose QuietComfort

The original Bose QC35 is one of the most comfortable headphones everand we thought they had been replaced by the 700 series listed below. But in somewhat of a twistBose decided to release a new QC45 model that took an already great design and refined it.

In terms of featuresyou get more substantial noise cancellationwhich reduces fatigue on long flights. You also get USB-C for charging and upgraded wireless connectivity.

On the headI loved wearing these headphones for long periods because they get all the basics right. The earcups are large and freeso they make no contact with the earsand the pads are incredibly soft yet breathable.

They are lightweight and have a neutralinoffensive tuningwhich reduces listening fatigue.

Despite being based on an older modelBose took the line forward with this new designand they are my number one pick when recommending comfortable headphones to people.

2. Bose Quietcomfort Ultra

The ultra are new Bose flagship noise-cancelling headphones and are a step above the Quietcomfort i listed above. So this one is interesting as they are both very very comfortable headphones and the Ultra is the more premium model with better features and materials but this list is all about what are the MOST comfortable headphones and due to the lighter weight of the original I have to give them a nod if thats your utmost priority.

Now as a headphone I love these thingsthey give all the benifits of the QC but the premium materials like the metal headband just elevates the experiencethey feel and look a lot higher end.

Sound is great with all the hallmarks of the famous Bose hous sounda natural presentation with a dry characteristicgood bass performance and a slight tone of warmth accross it. Its very versatile and works with any genre of music and has some of the strongest noise cancelling on the market today making them perfect for commuting.

3. Sony WH1000-XM6

Sony's flagship ANC headphone is not only comfortable but the most complete feature packed headphone I have tested so far. Its noise cancelling performance isnt just good its class leading and I rank it as the absolute best headphone for people seaking ANC above everything else.

The feature set also comes with high res audio playback and fantastic tuning that can be tuned in to your own flavor using the Sony headphone app. In that app you also get a host of other features such as the ability to tune the headphones to your space and adjust ANC modes and transparency. This gives you a lot more flexibility in how you use your headphones thus making them more enjoyable to use.

They are very lightweight and have open airy earpads covered in a material that still allows the ears to breath enough that sweaty ears is not often a problem. The headband has the same memory foam padding but what made them so easy to use was they weight distribution feeling so well place on the head and a non aggressive adaptable clamping force.

Oh and one last thingSony listened to users and made them fold again so they are now easier to travel with than the outgoing XM5. Ok one extra final thingthese are a headphone I personally use and travel withthe biggest reason for doing so is the noise cancelling performance and the other being comforttake from that what you will.

4. Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4

Sennheiser’s most comfortable headphones.

Sennheiser has many great headphones; for the most partthey are some of the most comfortable when you look specifically at their consumer range instead of the professional level studio equipment.

Despite being full-size over-ear headphonesthe combination of light clamping pressure and breathable pads makes them stand head and shoulders above many other designs. 

Sennheiserof courseis one of the biggest manufacturers of luxury headphonesso you get the bragging rights of owning a set.

Despite being one of the company’s cheaper modelsthese headphones still feel like incredibly luxurious headphones once you hold them.

They are fully wirelesshave integrated touch controlsand have a fantastic 30 hours of battery life from a single charge.

5. Audio-Technica ATH-M20X

The Audio Technica is our pick for the most comfortable headphone of 2025 in the budget category.

Audio Technica always impresses us becausedespite being a big-name headphone brandthey don’t overprice their products the way other manufacturers tend to. This is because they have their roots in music productionsupplying music studios and musicians worldwide. 

The closed-back design means they block out a lot of noisebut with generous padding to the top and bottomthese are all-day comfort headphones that are perfect for working in an office environment.

The sound quality is unmatched under $100. It’s a balancedneutral-sounding earphone with solid bass and a natural midrange. A reference focused sound tuning.

Due to being designed for use in the music industrycareful thought has been put into minimizing discomfort as they will be worn during long practice and studio sessions. I own these personally and can attest to just how low-fatiguing they are in use.

Despite being the budget-friendly option on our listthey strike an outstanding balance between sound qualitybuild qualitycomfortand price.

6. Sennheiser HD660 S2

Open-back headphones are incredibly comfortable because they allow your skin to breathe.

The Sennheiser HD660S2 is highly regarded amongst audiophiles and continues to receive praise for its price and performance. 

In terms of pure sound to priceI would go as far as to say they are unbeatable. They consistently appear in lists of the best audiophile headphones and always hold up well compared to headphonesmany times the cost.

Comfortablythey are impeccable with big cushioned velour padsthick headband bumpersand an open-back driver that lets your ears breathe.

It ishoweversignificantly more expensive than the original 660and the main difference is in the sound with the HD660S2which has been upgraded significantly.

7. Jabra EVolve2 85

Let's talk about Wireless headsets for a second. During 2020 I like many others found myself working from home. Thus started an obsession to find the highest qualitybest sounding and most comfortable wireless headset that I could easily use all day for music and calls without getting fatigued. I went through a lotI settled on 1the 2025 Jabra Evolve2 85Hwhat a revelation.

It’s a classy headphone with modern styling and clean linesbut what we liked most about them was the comfort—another full-size over-ear headphone with great pads and thick pads. 

Build quality is excellentand these are made for dual-purpose use. If you look at the way the microphone integrates into the headphonesyou notice that when not in useyou can flip it up out of sight and use them as a standard set of headphones without anyone being any the wiser. For meit makes them an exceptional do-everything headphoneone that I can use for workplayand travel. 

The large open earcups and softluscious pads breathe well and sit easily on the head with no pressure spots to cause irritation. They were worth the inclusion of the price alone becauseto remain competitive with Sony and Bosethey drastically reduced the price this yearwhich you can check out in the link below.

8. JlAB Studio Pro

One of the stand-out headphones on our list of best cheap headphones for 2025 was the JLabs Studio Pro.

I couldn’t believe how light and airy these headphones wereand they were by far the most comfortable on the test. It had a strong performance with regard to the sound and delivered punchyenergetic tunesall at a price point of under $50 on RRP.

It comes in a few different color optionsso if you don’t like the rather bold tropical colorway aboveyou can settle for a gray-black or blue headphone.

This one is a very good value for the moneyand it doesn’t compromise on build quality. It’s durable and made of strong materials. It is definitely a headphone to check out if you suffer from neck pain due to its lightness.

9. Apple Airpods Max

I still have difficulty calling these headphones Airpods because they are a full-size set of noise-canceling cans. Howeverdenying them their place as one of the most comfortable headphones this year is challenging.

Comfort is derived from some intelligent design choices that make them one of the airiest and least restrictive headphones on the market. A mesh canopy suspends the headbandwhich makes them very comfortable to wear for long intervalsand the earpads are a breathable fabric and memory foam that conforms to the shape of your head.

On the insideyou have seamless integration with other products in the Apple ecosystemsuch as iPhonesiPadsand Macs. The sound is smooth and precisewhilst the ANC tech does a great job blocking out the majority of ambient noise.

The only thing we didn't like about them was the price. We know Apple tax is a thingbut unless you have your heart set on thesethe Bose 700 is a better choice for comfortwhile the Sony XM4 is a better all-around headphone for the money.

10. Soundcore Life Q30

Soundcore is the king of valuebecoming synonymous with having lots of features and yet not pricing their headphones to the stratosphere. The Q30 is my pick for comfort because it’s extremely lightweight and has huge earcup openings with lots of padding. They are seriously comfortable all daycomfortableand I never picked up a hotspot from the headband.

The tech is packed in with 50 hours of claimed battery life (I got 39 in realitywhich is still fantastic)it supports high-res codecshas good ANC performance for the priceand supports multipoint Bluetooth connectionsmaking switching between devices easy.

Now there are a lot of sub $100 headphones to choose frombut what I like most is that Soundcore is a subdivision of Anker. So this isn’t a fly-by-night operation; it’s a very big company providing real warranty support and with a reputation for punching well above its weight when it comes to its headphones. By this pointhaving reviewed so many of their headphones (never sponsored)I just know that the majority of what they put out exceeds expectations. HonestlyI think it’s a brand we need to support because they're the ones that in many wayskeep other companies honest.

11. Apple Airpods Pro 3

Late in 2025Apple released the much-awaited Airpods Pro 3and on the surfaceit might not look like much has changedbut in realitya whole lot has. The second gen were always at the top of our list for comfortable earbuds; it was a form factor Apple nailed a long time agobut the subtle redesign was the upgrade we didn’t know we needed. The comfort is still therethey are easy to insert and they dissapear in usebut now they just feel so much more locked in place than they did before. Like you don’t get that feeling they will fall out when in the gym.

The noise cancellation is jaw-dropping for an earbud. Apple seems to have performed voodoo-level implementation with the new designand it’s getting spookily close to full-size headphone levels of noise reduction. Sound has been tweaked with much better bass response. Battery life is extended by 2 hoursthere is an in-built heart rate sensor for some reason I can’t explainand they even tweaked and improved the find my range and accuracy.

The caveat hereof courseis that to benefit the most from the full functionality of the earbudsyou will need to use them with an iPhone. If you just want comfort and full strength ANC performance without the ability to adaptthen you can use them with an Android devicebut in all honestyyou would be missing out on too many features to make it worth it. If you are an iPhone userit’s a no-brainerthese are imho the best earbuds on the market today.

12. Beats Studio Pro

The Beats Studio Pro headphones are an excellent choice for users who prioritize comfort without sacrificing sound quality. Designed with long listening sessions in mindthey feature softplush ear cushions made from high-quality memory foam that gently conform to the shape of your ears. This not only creates a snugsecure fit but also minimizes pressuremaking them comfortable to wear for hours at a time. The headband is well-balanced and adjustablereducing tension on the top of the head and ensuring a natural fit for different users.

This means you can enjoy your musicmoviesor calls in peaceeven in noisy environmentswithout needing to turn up the volume excessively. The headphones also feature Transparency Modewhich lets you stay aware of your surroundings when needed. With up to 40 hours of battery lifeyou can enjoy extended comfort and performance without frequent charging.

Gone are the days of Beats bashing. Finallyafter a few years of Apple’s stewardship of the brand and the introduction of Apple chipsthe headphones are starting to be respected againsound and features are thereand their compatibility with Apple devices gives buyers a different option to Apple-branded sound hardware.

Comfortable Headphones - 2025 Buyers Guide and FAQ

Choosing Comfortable Headphones

The design's physical properties and ergonomics are crucial in choosing headphones.  Having amazing-sounding headphones is excellentbut how they fit into your head shape is extremely important. It significantly affects how often and long you want to use them. There are so many headphones on the market today that this can be daunting. For many people purchasing a new set of headphones is a reasonably large purchaseso you must get the most from it.

The biggest problem we had is the move from retail to online. Few stores have physical sets of headphones that you can try on and examine yourself in person. When shopping onlineyou don’t have the advantage of trying multiple sets of headphonessearching for the one that fits you best.

For this reasonwe suggest you purchase from companies with good return policies if you find the headphones you bought uncomfortably and don’t think you will get along with them long-term.

Lightweight headphones are usually the most comfortable!

Generally speakinglighter headphones are more comfortable than heavy ones.  A more lightweight headphone will cause less strain on your muscles in supporting their weight. Even something as insignificant as a few grams can make a difference in fatigue to the neck muscles and support posts of the head. 

It's not often thought aboutbut if you look at it logicallyyou add a ballast that shifts weight distribution on top of your neck. While you might not notice any difference over an hour or so over longer listening periodsthis cumulative effect adds up. It can cause sorenessheadachesand even permanent postural imbalances.

In terms of earphonesweight plays a different factor in discomfort.  They tug on the earbuds making them more apparent to your subconscious of them being in your ears.  A heavy set of earbuds has more potential to shift in the canal and fall out.

Clamping Pressure can have a dramatic effect on long-term discomfort.

This applies only to over-ear headphones but is a significant factor in your headphones' comfort.  Clamping pressure is the force with which the headband pushes against your head.  You want enough clamping force to make a seal and reduce external noisebut you don't want so much that it becomes fatiguing over time.  DJ headphones such as Sennheiser's HD-25 are notoriously hard clampers by designmaking them perfect for use in a club or studio but not for casualrelaxed listening.

Jason Lim of Washinton State has conducted studies into the optimum design for headphone headbands to find the optimum level of performance. This paper showed that companies have to walk a fine line in balancing a sturdy and robust headphone design against a user’s comfort within a set parameter of costs.

There will be trade-offs you have to make in this area in terms of durability and comfort.

EarpadsEar-Tips & Headband - The Points of Contact

These are the contact points of the headphones and one area that can make all the difference.  Earpads should be comfortable in padding and breathable enough to prevent the build-up of "hot spots."

Eartips are crucial to forming a seal in the ear canaland luckily most earphones come with plenty of options for you to achieve an optimum fit.  Should you not get to grips with any of the included ear tipsthen you can start tip rollinga process of trying different aftermarket tipsto find the perfect set for you.  We recommend these Comply and Spinfit models. Both make excellent tips with unique design features that can improve comfort.

The headband is the point that joins the two earcupsand in the case of most headphonesit sits directly in contact with the top of the head.  Some companies increase comfort by adding extra padding; some use an elastically suspended leather bridge.  Some companies do a great jobbut others can cause real pain if your head is in the wrong shape.

Sonically Comfortable Headphones - Tuning and Tone

What is sonic comfort? Honestlyit’s a term I just made upbut I think it fits the bill for what I am about to discuss. 

Without getting too in-depth on the properties of sound and the effects of different frequencies on your long-term listening pleasureI think it’s pretty essential. 

Some frequencieswhen listened to over long periodsbecome fatiguing.  One of the most common ways a headphone becomes "Sonically Uncomfortable" is if it displays sibilance.  To manyexcessively pushed treble is like nails on a chalkboard and can only be tolerated in short bursts. 

Excessive and loose bass can also significantly affect how long you can listenasover timeit feels like your head is being jackhammered.

So thenwhen choosing a set of headphones based on comfortwe want to have a relatively inoffensivewith a smooth presentation and sound.  Thankfully more and more headphones have thisand all the headphones listed below have very pleasant sound signatures. 

What is better for comfort? In-Ear Headphones (Earbuds/Earphones) versus over-ear headphones

Take your pick on how you want to use your headphones.  Address functionality first and then decide on comfortas there are many great options in each category.  Over-ear and in-ear headphones can be incredibly comfortableand some are better suited to certain situations than others.

I use full-size over-ear headphones at the office or when travelingand then I use earphones or earbuds when working out or riding a motorcycle.  It's up to you to decide how they will be used first and then consider whether a particular set will be comfortable using them in such scenarios.

A couple of notes about this list of the most comfortable headphones.

• This list is in no particular order as so many factors are user-dependent. It’s hard to recommend an all-encompassing solution.

• All price points have been consideredbut we have attempted to throw an option for every budget.

• We are open to recommendations. If you think a particular set of headphones is incredibly comfortablecomment below. Other readers may thank you.

Research & Scientific Studies On Headphone Comfort

• Headphones or Speakers? An Exploratory Study of Their Effects on Spontaneous Body Movement to Rhythmic Music - Agata ZelechowskaVictor E. Gonzalez-SanchezBruno LaengAlexander Refsum Jensenius

• Comparing speakers versus headphones in listening to news from a computer – individual differences and psychophysiological responses - Kari KallinenNiklas Ravaja

• An earphone fit deviation analysis algorithm - Yan YanYonghong Liu & Haining Wang

• Headphone Development Research - Teemu Kinnunen

• The Effects of Ear Dimensions and Product Attributes on the Wearing Comfort of Wireless Earphones - Haseung Song, Gee Won ShinYeree YoonSangwoo Bahn

Updates:

• This list of the most comfortable headphones has been updated and is current as of Q1 2025