Top Noise-Cancelling Headphones for Flights & Focus (2026)
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen) is the best noise-cancelling headphone for most people, with the first-gen Ultra for value and the 1More SonoFlow Pro for a tight budget.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases · prices update daily, may change · affiliate links
Our top picks
🎧
#1 · Best overall
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen)
★★★★★4.2(3,108)
Frequent flyers and commuters who want the strongest noise blocking available
Tom's Guide calls the 2nd Gen Bose QuietComfort Ultra the best noise-cancelling headphones you can buy, and the best ANC it has tested. The reviewer says they make loud buses and flights far easier to bear and let them focus in libraries and cafes.
Pros
Best noise cancelling either outlet tested
Supremely comfortable for long trips
Better battery and more EQ bands than the first gen
Very good transparency mode
Cons
Touch controls are fiddly, per Tom's Guide
Pricey, and the price went up from the first gen
Rich, bassy sound needs some tuning in the app
Feels a little cheap for the money
Skip it if: You care more about sound quality than silence, or want to save about $100
🎧
#2 · Best value top-tier ANC
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (1st Gen)
★★★★★4.2(10,186)
Anyone who wants flagship noise cancelling without paying flagship prices
TechRadar names these its number one pick. In its tests they tied the 2nd Gen for the top noise-cancelling score and marginally beat the Sony WH-1000XM6, especially on chaotic high-pitched noise such as a busy cafe.
Pros
Noise cancelling on par with the newest Bose and Sony
Light, comfortable and folds small
Punchy, energetic sound with big bass and clear treble
Much cheaper than the newer models
Cons
Only 24 hours of battery
Less neutral sound than the Sony WH-1000XM6
Limited hi-res audio support
Skip it if: You hate charging often (30 hours or more is safer) or want the Sony's refined sound
🎧
#3 · Best for calls & smart features
Sony WH-1000XM6
★★★★★4.2(3,952)
People who take lots of calls or want the best sound among the top ANC models
TechRadar scored the Sony WH-1000XM6 28 out of 30 for noise cancelling, just behind the two Bose Ultras, and rates it the best of the standard wireless headphones for call quality thanks to extra microphones.
Pros
Best call quality in TechRadar's tests
More refined and detailed sound than the Bose
Handy smart features such as the hand-over-ear transparency trick
30-hour battery
Cons
Tom's Guide says its noise cancelling now trails the Bose and the Sonos Ace Ultra
Costs about as much as the Bose
Skip it if: Pure noise blocking is your top priority
🎧
#4 · Best under $250
Bose QuietComfort Headphones
★★★★★4.5(4,542)
Travelers who want near-flagship noise cancelling at a mid-range price
TechRadar scored these only a couple of points below far pricier models, including Bose's own Ultras, the Sony XM6 and the Sonos Ace, and even rated them above the AirPods Max in its weighted real-world tests.
Pros
Excellent noise cancelling for the price
Light and very comfortable
Easy to use
Often heavily discounted
Cons
Below-average battery life
Mids sound thin until you boost them in the EQ
Plain design
Too expensive at full list price
Skip it if: You need 30 hours or more of battery or a premium look
🎧
#5 · Best under $200
Soundcore Space One Pro
★★★★★4.4(162)
Budget shoppers who still want proper noise cancelling and good sound
Tom's Guide names it the best-value noise-cancelling headphones overall. Its tester says the ANC is the star for the price and blocks low rumbles on buses and trains as well as voices.
Pros
Strong ANC for the money
Long battery life
Lively, detailed sound
Soft, comfortable ear cups
Cons
Some low-frequency sound effects sound a little muted
Headband is a little thin
Hard case is sold separately
Skip it if: You want a carry case included or flagship-level noise blocking
🎧
#6 · Best under $100
1More SonoFlow Pro HQ51
★★★★★4.2(486)
Students and commuters who want solid ANC under $100
TechRadar's pick for the best budget-friendly noise-cancelling headphones. In its tests the ANC matched the Sony XM4 and Cambridge Audio P100 SE, both more than twice the price, and it holds up well against high-pitched noise and voices.
Pros
ANC far better than its price suggests
Huge battery life
Full, satisfying sound
Light and comfortable, with a case included
Cons
The app is a bit messy
Buttons feel cheap
Build feels slightly flimsy
Soundstage is more compressed than on pricier pairs
Skip it if: You want a premium build or the widest, most spacious sound
🎧
#7 · Best battery life
Marshall Monitor III A.N.C.
★★★★★1(1)
Long-haul travelers and anyone who never wants to think about charging
Tom's Guide's pick for the best battery life it has seen: 70 hours with noise cancelling on and 100 hours with it off, and its testing got close to those numbers.
Pros
Class-leading battery life
Excellent sound quality
Very light and comfortable
Solid noise cancelling and a great hard case
Cons
ANC is not quite at Bose level
Some creaks and rattles in the build
The built-in Spatial Audio is ineffective
Skip it if: You want the strongest possible noise blocking
🎧
#8 · Best sound
Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S3
★★★★★4.2(949)
Music lovers who want good noise cancelling but put sound first
Tom's Guide gives these its best-sound award, saying the audio beats even the AirPods Max, with impactful but balanced bass, great mids and clear highs. Its reviewer found them more comfortable than the Bose QuietComfort Ultra over long sessions.
Pros
Superb, well-balanced sound
Very comfortable with generous padding
Handsome, slimline design
Very good transparency mode
Cons
Noise cancelling is slightly weaker than the Bose and Sony
Some features were not available at launch
Expensive
Skip it if: Blocking out airplane or train noise is your main goal
How to choose
Decide what matters most. If you want the most silence, buy a Bose QuietComfort Ultra. If you want the best sound, look at the B&W PX7 S3 or the Sony.
Check the battery. Both outlets say around 30 hours is the norm for flagships. The Marshall and 1More last far longer, while the Bose Ultra first gen and Bose QuietComfort manage 24 hours.
Look for sales. TechRadar says the Bose QuietComfort Ultra often drops to about $300 and the Bose QuietComfort to about $200, so avoid paying full list price.
Protect your hearing. TechRadar's audiologist says ANC lets you listen at a lower volume. Keep it to about 60 percent volume for no more than 60 minutes at a time.
FAQ
Which noise-cancelling headphones are best overall?
Tom's Guide picks the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) and TechRadar scored them joint best for noise cancelling in its tests.
What is the best cheap pair?
TechRadar's best under $100 is the 1More SonoFlow Pro HQ51. Tom's Guide's best under $100 is the JLab JBuds Lux ANC, a $79 list-price pair with up to 40 hours of ANC battery.
Are the Sonos Ace Ultra worth considering?
Tom's Guide names the Sonos Ace Ultra its best alternative. Its ANC is a big upgrade, solidly above Sony and only slightly behind Bose, but at $449 it mainly makes sense if you own Sonos speakers.
Do noise-cancelling headphones replace hearing protection?
No. TechRadar's audiologist says ANC headphones are not hearing protection and are no substitute at concerts, shooting ranges or around power tools.
Picks come from Tom's Guide (updated Sep 28, 2026; every pair tested by its audio team) and TechRadar (updated Sep 21, 2026; Matt Bolton compared 17 pairs head to head with hair dryer, microwave, road traffic and busy cafe tests). The Bose QuietComfort Ultra, Sony WH-1000XM6 and Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S3 appear in both. Assumptions: Prices change often, so we quote list prices from the sources and tell you to check the current price. The two outlets differ a little: Tom's Guide ranks the Bose 2nd Gen first and puts the Sony below it, while TechRadar scored both Bose Ultra generations as joint best at blocking noise. The Marshall Monitor III is covered by Tom's Guide alone.
