Best Headphones For Kids 2023

Sep 26, 2023

The best headphones for kids need to fit comfortably, so they’ll acquiesce to wearing them, but a children’s pair must also deliver quality sound at a safe decibel level. A number of organizations, including the World Health Organization, point out the impact that exposure to loud sounds can have on hearing and hearing loss. Still, headphones are considered a must-have back-to-school item for many children, akin to a Chromebook. So as we’re searching for the best headphones for kids, it’s especially important to look for those with volume limits whether the pair is for school, airplane rides or movie streaming at home.

The best headphones for kids fit comfortably and include volume limiters to keep their young ears ... [+] safe.

While there’s some debate about what the max volume should be limited to in order to protect hearing, the typical current industry standard is 85 decibels max in terms of safe output in headphones for kid. Some research puts that number lower, especially if listened to for longer periods of time at higher volumes. Healthy Hearing advises: “If you don’t want your child to run the risk of hearing loss, 70 dBA would be more reasonable... that’s typically about 50 percent volume on your device.”

Either way, it’s an important rule of thumb for parents to monitor their child’s headphone volume levels. “Most headphones specifically marketed for kids have volume limiters built in to prevent excessive sound levels,” says Michael Rothschild, clinical professor of otolaryngology and pediatrics at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai. “Be careful to check this function by listening yourself. Not all limiters are created equal, and some cheaper models don’t deliver the safety that they claim.”

With those guidelines in mind, here are the best headphones for kids that suit a variety of purposes.

Amazon

Battery life: 35 hours | Wireless: Yes | Noise canceling: No | Case: For purchase | Earcup style: Over ear | Volume limiter: Yes (85/95 decibels)

These JBuddies Pro Wireless Over-Ear kids headphones are supremely comfortable, durable and come with all the necessary features at an easier-to-stomach price tag. Our parenting editor’s older kids (7 and 9) have relied on a pair of these headphones for over a year, using them for everything from school to plane rides to listening to music and movies on their iPads. Her kids much preferred the over-ear, comfortable and adjustable fit of these earcups to their previous set of Puro Sound Labs BT2200s. “They love these,” says Rose Gordon Sala, baby and kids gear editor at Forbes Vetted. “I never have to fight with them to put them on, and they never complain about their ears hurting as they’ve done with other pairs.”

These JBuddies are designed for older kids, starting around age 8 and up, so they might be too big on younger kids. They include a shareport, easy controls, a cable and aux port for plugging in, built-in mic and yes, the all-important 85 decibel volume limiter. There is a switch on one of the earcups that allows a parent or wearer to increase the volume output to 95 decibels, which isn’t ideal for those concerned about hearing loss, but the switch is a bit hard to reach. They’re adjustable and fold in half, too. Colors are limited to just two options. Sala confirms that her kids have squished these into overloaded backpacks and yet, they’ve held up without issue.

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Amazon

Battery life: 20 hours | Wireless: Yes | Noise canceling: No | Case: Yes | Earcup style: On ear | Volume limiter: Yes (85 decibels)

Puro Sound Labs BT2200 volume limited bluetooth headphones for kids earned the top spot on many similar lists and an Amazon rating of 4.5 out of 5 with a total of about 1,400 reviews. Standout features include 20 hours of battery time, volume limiting to 85 dB, one-touch Bluetooth pairing and daisy chain sharing (the built-in audio splitter enables two headphones to connect to the same device). A built-in microphone and optional cable is included, too. Not every kid finds on-ear headphones comfortable as we pointed out, but Rothschild prefers this style for children. These Puros feel a bit snug to some and might be better for younger or smaller children. You might consider purchasing Puro’s over-the-ear cup add-ons if your children complain.

These headphones do feel high-quality, but Sala says her family ran into some quality issues with the three pairs of Puro BT2200s they owned over the years, including connectivity and sound. It’s worth noting that Puro Sound Labs is a small, family-owned business that was started with the one of the family’s daughters, Niki Russell, who has noise-induced hearing loss.

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Amazon

Battery life: 24 hours | Wireless: Yes | Noise canceling: No | Case: No | Earcup style: On ear | Volume limiter: Yes (85 decibels)

JBuddies Studio Wireless headphones boast many great features for a fraction of the cost of most competitors on the market. The 24-hour battery life gives kids plenty of time to enjoy studying or listening to music or videos, and the ear cushions and padded headband are generally deemed extra comfortable for young wearers, according to reviewers. The built-in microphone, controls and volume regulators are easy for kids to use, and keep little ones from amping up the volume past 85 decibels. In fact, some reviewers felt the headphones were too quiet. These JLab headphones for kids are designed for those ages 6 and up, so a little smaller than our top pick. They also feature the on ear style vs. over ear, which some might prefer.

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Belkin

Battery life: 30 hours | Wireless: Yes | Noise canceling: No | Case: Yes | Earcup style: On ear | Volume limiter: Yes (85 decibels)

Belkin’s SoundForm Mini headphones are our top pick for online learning and in-classroom use due to this pair’s exceptionally long battery life and built-in microphone for communicating with teachers and peers. We also like the fact that these headphones have a safety volume cap of 85 decibels, are equipped with an aux port and include a cable, so kids have the option to connect the headphones directly to their device as needed. The adjustable headband and ear cushion caps designed to fit smaller ears make these headphones comfortable for kids to wear for longer periods of time during the school day. Reviewers praise these kids headphones as durable and comfortable. They’re also tested to withstand minor spills.

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Amazon

Battery life: 12 hours | Wireless: Yes | Noise canceling: No | Case: Yes | Earcup style: On ear | Volume limiter: Yes (93 decibels)

LilGadgets Untangled Pro Wireless Kids Headphones are designed for kids age 4 and older with comfort in mind. The ear pads and adjustable headband feature a breathable mesh material, and the ear pieces flex to accommodate different preferences for how the headphones fit. I love that these include a “SharePort,” so two kids can listen to one device at once from their own headphones without having to worry about specialized cables. The Untangled Pros come with a 4-foot nylon braided audio cable with inline microphone for wired use as needed. I do want to point out that the volume of these headphones is limited to 93 decibels, which is slightly louder than other headphones on this list, so you may want to monitor the volume to maintain safe listening. Also, Sala says her kids broke two pairs of LilGadgets wired kids headphones in short order, so durability may be an issue for some with these.

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Amazon

Battery life: 24 hours | Wireless: Yes | Noise canceling: Yes | Case: Yes | Earcup style: On ear | Volume limiter: Yes (75/85/95 decibels)

In addition to a host of great features that make BuddyPhones Cosmos+ headphones a great choice for kids of all ages, this pair ranks as the most ideal choice for toddlers due to a Toddler Mode setting that limits volume output to 75 decibels, the lowest of any of the others on this list. Parents can also adjust that switch to 85 decibels in a so-called Kids Mode for older children, as well as up to 94 decibels. The soft ear cushions are comfortable for young kids and active noise canceling minimizes further external volume and noise. The adjustable boom microphone and StudyMode switch come in handy for older kids. StudyMode “isolates voices and enhances the clarity, making them ideal for online classes.” These kid headphones come in an array of colorful hues that feature cute cartoon characters like a unicorn.

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Amazon

Battery life: 40 hours | Wireless: Yes | Noise canceling: No | Case: Yes | Earcup style: On ear | Volume limiter: No

Teens will revel in the sleek design and elevated specs of Beats Solo3 wireless Bluetooth headphones. With a battery life up to 40 hours, they’ll enjoy extended use between charging sessions. When the battery does get low, a Fast Fuel charging feature enables three hours of playback time after only five minutes of charging. In addition to delivering excellent sound, these headphones are equipped to take calls and activate Siri via on-ear controls. The controls are a bit more advanced when compared to more kid-oriented headphones, too. There’s playback (two presses to skip forward, three to skip backward), as well as pause. The cushioned earcups are adjustable, and the headphones are foldable. Available in black, rose gold and red hues, Beats Solo3 headphones give off teen vibes.

Note to parents: Beats Solo3 headphones do not have a built-in volume limiter. They soar over 100 decibels. If you don’t think your teen is mature enough to follow safe hearing guidelines, you may want to consider another pair.

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Amazon

Battery life: 35 hours | Wireless: Yes, with wired option | Noise canceling: Yes | Case: Yes | Earcup style: On ear | Volume limiter: Yes (85 decibels)

A number of the kids headphones on our list include passive noise cancellation or noise isolation by physically blocking some of the external noise simply by covering the ear. However, active noise-canceling (ANC) is a more sophisticated technology that relies on microphones and speakers to detect and neutralize external sound by creating and playing back another sound wave that results in a quieter, easier sound for the wearer. These PuroQuiets headphones for kids include that active noise-canceling feature, so parents can simply flick a switch and bring the background noise sound down about 22 decibels. They also boast 78% noise isolation. This makes these headphones an ideal pair for travel. The volume limiter ensures output is limited to a maximum of 85 decibels. In addition to these safety features, PuroQuiets boast one-touch Bluetooth pairing with most devices, a built-in microphone, a 30-foot range, a long battery life and daisy chain sharing via a built-in audio splitter.

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Amazon

Battery life: N/A | Wireless: N/A | Noise canceling: No | Case: No | Earcup style: Over ear | Volume limiter: N/A

There are many instances when wearing ear protection are a must for children, from concerts to travel. Vanderfields Kids Ear Protection earmuffs, designed for kids ages 3 and older, offer passive noise canceling and sound reduction, meaning they physically reduce external sounds by covering the child’s ears. The headphones have a signal-to-noise (SNR) ratio of 26 decibels and a noise reduction rating (NRR) of 20 decibels. They’re durable, adjustable and foldable. Reviewers generally praise the fit and comfort due to memory foam padding on the headband and ear padding. Keep in mind that these are earmuffs, not headphones, so you can’t play music or otherwise listen to anything from them. In some extra noisy situations, you may want to layer in additional protection, the manufacturer warns. Take a look at Healthy Hearing for a helpful breakdown of some decibel levels of common sounds from sirens to fireworks shows.

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The Forbes Vetted team has written dozens of stories for kids, relying on the expertise of our parenting and kids writers and editors. We've covered various topics from tech to clothing, including the best shoes for kids and the best desks for kids. Contributor and author of this article, Beth Shea, is a parenting writer with over 20 years of experience and has published stories on topics including kids luggage, balancing bikes and kids electric toothbrushes.

For this story specifically, Shea performed vast amounts of research, read various studies and the guidelines set forth regarding safe listening via the usage of headphones by organizations including WHO and ASHA. She also investigated the risks of hearing damage that headphones impose, and spoke with Dr. Michael Rothschild about the best headphones for kids.

Senior baby and kids gear editor, Rose Sala, also reviewed this story and spoke to her kids’ experience with the JLab JBuddies Pro’s—a personal favorite in her family—among other pairs.

Finally, we update this article regularly to ensure we provide the most accurate information possible. This story was last edited in July 2023.

We curated this list based on a great deal of criteria including: safe decibel limits, safety features, comfort (ear padding and headband adjustability to best fit kids), and which headphones were the most highly rated and popular among parents and children.

We have also used a number of these headphones in our homes, and if we didn’t have firsthand testing experience with a pair, we asked other parents for their opinions or read deep into the reviews, searching out repeat complaints or praise.

The best type of headphones for kids are a pair they’ll feel comfortable wearing. The headphones you select should also be convenient enough for a child to use independently and to operate safely so they don’t damage their hearing. A volume limiter of 85 decibels or less is ideal.

In terms of the earcup style, Rothschild prefers on the ear headphones for young children that sit on the outside of the ear but don’t cover it completely. The in-ear models can pose a hazard, especially to youngest children both in terms of a choking hazard and getting lost in the ear canal. Over-ear models can make it harder for kids to hear outside noise, he notes, which may include a car if wearing outside or even a parent calling for dinner. Some children find these models more comfortable, however, as Sala’s children did.

Over the years, there have been concerns about the possible connection between cancer and other health issues due to exposure to the electromagnetic fields (EMFs) emitted from wireless devices. Rothschild weighs in, “It really doesn’t seem that there is a significant cancer risk from the non-ionizing radiation associated with Bluetooth technology. Of course, that’s the sort of thing that it might take decades to pick up on if there was some sort of small effect, but Bluetooth is significantly less energy than the radiation emitted by a standard cell phone. So, I don’t see a problem with that right now.”

Another option is simply to limit your child’s time with things like headphones and cell phones to limit their overall exposure.

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association thinks so. It suggests that parents: “Consider investing in noise-canceling headphones. This helps prevent the urge—and need—for kids to crank the volume.”

Rothschild says noise-canceling headphones are OK as long as they’re used in an appropriate setting. “They block out sound, which could be a safety risk if they were being used out in public and the user didn’t hear a car, siren or someone calling to them,” he says. “It’s probably fine for use in a noisy environment where you wouldn’t be walking around anyway, like a train or a plane.”

Yes, headphones can damage kids’ hearing if they’re not used properly at safe volume levels and for safe durations of time. “Prolonged exposure to loud sound can be dangerous, especially for young children,” says Rothschild. “Noise trauma can cause temporary or even permanent hearing loss. The general rule of thumb is that if you can hear someone else’s music when they are wearing headphones, the sound is too loud and should be turned down. But with high quality over-the-ear headphones, even extremely loud volumes may be undetectable by anyone else.” This is why volume-limiting headphones are a must for children.