Kid-friendly consumer tech is all the rage these days, so it’s no surprise that there’s an entire market of headphones designed exclusively for young ones. But when we think “kid-friendly,” sometimes we imagine products that are built to be a bit more throwaway than their adult counterparts. That’s not the case with the products on our list of the best headphones for kids, though.
We want our child-tailored headphones to include parental-controlled volume limiters, to ensure our children aren’t harming their eardrums. Pretty much every entry on our list checks this vital box, but we also wanted to point you and yours toward products that offer exceptional noise-canceling, built-in mics for phone and video calls, and long-lasting batteries for schooldays or a long flight.
Noise-canceling for kiddos
Puro Sound PuroQuiet Plus
- Comfortable
- Solid Bluetooth performance
- Good sound quality
- Long-lasting battery
- Pricier than most kids headphones
We were big fans of Puro Sound’s original PuroQuiet headphones, so were excited to take the new-and-improved PuroQuiet Plus for a spin. In fact, Digital Trends' own Copy Editor Suzanne Sutherland let her young children have at the headsets, and the results have been pretty good.
First and foremost, though, we can’t forget to mention that these are active noise-canceling (ANC) headphones that do a good job of blocking outside noise and distractions to help kids concentrate. That’s a major deal for junior-sized cans, allowing kids to flick a switch to tune out distracting background sounds. There’s an 85-decibel volume cutoff, too, and Puro Sound claims that as kids approach the cap, the PuroQuiet Plus use internal volume limiting to gradually dial down on those decibels to keep their ears safe and, um, sound.
Sutherland reports that the PuroQuiet Plus have been great for her son, who's had no issues connecting them to his phone, iPad, and Chromebook for schoolwork. "The Bluetooth range is pretty insane," she says. Her son's headphones were connecting to her phone on another floor and on the other side of a brick building. The family was also able to boast about the PuroQuiet Plus' battery life, which the company claims should last up to 35 hours with ANC disabled.
As with their predecessors, the PuroQuiet Plus have well-balanced sound for all types of music, and they're comfortable for lengthy listening sessions. The PuroQuiet Plus have big, easy-to-use controls on the earcups and they come in six bright colors.
The best kids headphones for music
Pogs The Gecko
- 32mm neodymium drivers
- Sound Clarity Tuning technology
- Super-durable design
- Music-sharing cable included
- A bit big for smaller kids
The Bluetooth-powered Gecko headphones are made for growing kids who are getting more into music, starting to form an ear for audio quality, and are generally pickier when it comes to their headphones. The 32mm Neodymium drivers are small enough to be comfortable for kids' ears, but large enough to provide some powerful sound. There's also SafeSound to keep that volume down under 85 decibels. The Sound Clarity Tuning software can also help songs sound their best without having to worry too much about settings. There's also a music-sharing feature with the PogLink cable that can connect multiple headphones together for listening to music with friends.
We're also big fans of the design: The Gecko gets its name from earcups that are designed to stay on even during active times, and the adjustable headband can keep up with rapidly growing tweens, too — although they may be a bit big for smaller kids. Plus, the design is made with drops, twists, and accidental sit-downs in mind, so it should be able to withstand a lot.
The best kids headphones for school
BuddyPhones School+
- Adaptable fit with volume limiting
- Hypoallergenic cushioning
- Mic and accessories included
- Great for virtual classrooms
- Best used for virtual classes, not in-person school
Designed for younger students from the ground up, the School+ boast volume-limiting circuitry that places a limit on how loud the headphones get, following the under-85 decibels rule. The headphones themselves offer a snug and adaptable fit, but not to a constricting degree. The hypoallergenic cushioning is a nice addition, too, especially for longer classroom sessions where the ears, neck, and head can start to sweat.
Whether they're using them at home for remote learning, in the classroom, or for other shared learning experiences, the included BuddyJack system makes it easy to connect more than one pair of headphones together (up to four at once). There's even a handy in-line mic for speaking and taking calls. Add in the travel bag, decorative stickers, and extra audio cable, and it becomes clear why the BuddyPhones School+ are among the best sets of headphones for at-home learning.
The best earbuds for kids
LilGadgets BestBuds
- Tangle-free, durable design
- Passive noise isolation
- Three earbud fits included
- Volume limiting is extra-low on these earbuds
Not every young listener wants a clunky set of headphones. For those wishing for something more in line with the Apple AirPods or similar earbuds, there are the LilGadgets BestBuds. What we love right off the bat is that these are volume-limited wired buds. Keep in mind, these guys max out at 73 decibels, which is a few decibels shy of the World Health Organization's recommended 85-decibel limit, making these a bit on the quiet side. However, the built-in passive noise isolation should help to balance outside noise against source volume. While not wireless like the much-lauded AirPods, the LilGadgets BestBuds cable is tangle-free and comes with a mini-splitter for connecting another set of buds for shared listening.
BestBuds come with a set of three earbud tips to fit most ear sizes along with a sturdy travel case for hitting the road or taking to the skies. With a comfy fit, easy controls (plus an in-line mic), and three color options (blue, black, and pink), the LilGadgets BestBuds are the perfect starter earbuds.
The best for volume controls
JLab JBuddies Pro
- Comfortable fit
- Two switchable volume caps
- Solid price
- Shared listening
- No ANC
We certainly don’t want our young ones damaging their eardrums, which is why it’s important to limit the listening volume of their headphones. This is why products like the JLab JBuddies Pro are so important. Not only do these Bluetooth headphones look and sound great, but there’s a built-in volume switch that lets parents pick the max volume that kids can listen to.
The recommended decibel cap is 85 decibels, but the switch can also be toggled to 95 decibels for louder listening environments. You’ll also be able to expect up to 35 listening hours, although this figure will fluctuate based on how loud the headphones are set and whether or not ANC is turned on. We’re also big fans of the 3.5mm Share Port, which allows your little one to connect the JBuddies Pro to another set of wired headphones for shared listening with a sibling or friend.
Best kids headphones for sharing
LilGadgets Untangled Pro
- Durable materials
- Passive noise isolation
- SharePort connection
- Decibel capping is too high to be entirely safe
LilGadgets scores another laurel in our roundup, this time for best sharing capabilities. The Untangled Pro are a rock-solid set of Bluetooth 4.0 headphones made of durable polycarbonate and reinforced stainless steel extenders. If your kids are a bit rough with their electronics, the Untangled Pro are worth it for their endurance alone. For active listeners, the headphones will last up to 12 hours during playback and 180 hours on standby without a charge. Passive noise isolation comes standard with the Untangled, as does volume limiting, with the headphones capped at 93 decibels.
The big feature of the Untangled Pro is the built-in SharePort, which negates a splitter, meaning a friend or sibling can connect a second set of headphones directly to the Untangled, allowing for easy daisy-chaining on a single audio source. The LilGadgets Untangled Pro are available in 10 colors, and the proceeds of each sale go toward a series of antibullying initiatives.
The most comfortable headphones for kids
CozyPhones Kids Headphones
- Headband design with durable materials
- Removable fabric for washing
- Multiple animal designs
- Sound quality isn't as good as headphones can provide
Headphones aren't the best fit for every kid. Active kids may find they always fall off, while others may not like that weight around their ears. There's an alternative, though: these fleece headbands that include built-in, thin speakers for sound in a comfortable package.
The fabric wraps are totally removable from the headphones inside, allowing you to machine-wash the headband between uses, and the included cord is 52 inches long, which provides plenty of slack for connecting to devices in both the front and back of the car. You get a choice of styles, like a fox, panda, purple froggy, and monster, all of which can be easily crammed into a school backpack without worrying too much about damaging components. Do keep in mind the extra length if your youngster tends to get tangled in cords.
Best headphones for older kids
EarFun K2 Kids Bluetooth Headphones
- Great price
- Comfortable and long-lasting
- Two built-in volume limiters
- Cheap build
- No noise-canceling
If you’re looking for a great pair of kids headphones that won’t break the bank, the EarFun Kids Bluetooth Headphones should be at the top of your list. Available in Blue, Pink, and Dark Black, these headphones' minimalist design will appeal more to older kids. They're comfortable headphones that can be worn for long car rides and they have an integrated microphone for gaming or talking with friends. They're also great for school, as your child can connect wirelessly to a host device via Bluetooth, or by using the provided auxiliary cable.
Performance-wise, the EarFun Kids sound great, and have two built-in volume limits: 85db for Study Mode and 94DB when they’re in Travel Mode. As far as battery goes, EarFun claims you should get up to 40 hours on a full charge, which checks out for a headset at this price, sans any noise-canceling tech.
Lightweight and foldable, the K2s are perfect for stuffing in a backpack, and they're hard to beat at the price.
Most adorable kids headphones
Onandoff BuddyPhones PlayEars+
- Fun and adorable look
- Three listening modes
- Bluetooth or wired listening
- A bit pricey
These are the most adorable headphones that have ever been made, bar none. If you’re looking to wow your child, grandchild, niece, or nephew, and they’re the right age for the Onanoff BuddyPhones PlayEars+, this $50 headset is a no brainer. Like many kids headphones at this price, you won’t find features like ANC or transparency listening, but that’s par for the course.
What you will find is three listening modes (75, 85, and 95db volume cutoffs), up to 24 hours of battery life, a built-in microphone, and the ability to connect using Bluetooth or cable. Not to mention the option of connecting one PlayEars+ headset to another, using the provided BuddyLink cable. Onanoff even managed to sneak in a travel bag and a cute sheet of stickers.
Animal-wise, you’ll also have the choice of a cat (pink), a dog (gray), a fox (brown), or a polar bear (white). The PlayEars+ may not be taking home any audiophile headphones of the year awards, but if you need something that most kids are going to love, look no further.
Looking for more headphone options? Check out our roundups of the best headphones overall, the best noise-canceling headphones, and the best earbuds. If you're shopping on a budget, our best cheap headphones guide may be a better fit.
