Headphonesare essential for every family holiday because the little ones will have more fun if they can watchYouTubeorplay games on their iPadsandAndroid tabletsinstead of getting bored on the road. The best kids’headphonesdiffer from adult options with a volume limiter to protect their hearing, and most have tangle-free wireless designs offering more freedom.
Puro Sound Labs BT2200s
Razer Kraken BT Kitty Edition
Onanoff Cosmos+
Belkin Soundform Nano
LilGadgets Untangled Pro
JBL Jr460NC
iClever TransNova
JLab JBuddies Folding Kids Headphones
5 things to know about ANC (Active Noise Cancellation)
Including how it works, the different types, and why we think ANC headphones are worth it.
We’ve reviewed countlessheadphonesthis year, including many kids' options, to see how they stack up. For this guide, we’ve selected the best children’sheadphonesfor every budget to help you find the best options for busy malls or long road trips.
Best headphones for kids: Our top picks
Superb sound for kids
The Puro Sound Labs BT2200s get it right in all areas with an attractive wireless design in blue, black, green, pink, and teal to appeal to most kids. There’s ample padding on the earcups and headband for a snug fit, and you can also use a 3.5mm AUX cable or daisy-chain two headphones together via a Micro-USB that doubles as a charging port.
Sound performance is an often-overlooked feature onheadphonesfor kids, but the Sound Labs BT2200s provide a punchy and lively sound, considering their 85dB volume limit. Battery life is around 20 hours, depending on the volume and connection type, and you can also make voice calls with the built-inmicrophone.
Puro’s Sound Labs BT2200s keep things simple, providing great sound for children in a durable and comfortable package without unnecessary extras likeANCor flashy lighting. We think they’re the best option for kids because they’re tough enough to handle daily use and have excellent sound quality for shows and games.
Style and performance
The Razer Kraken BT Kitty headphones are perfect for teenagers and older kids wanting to stand out in bright pink cat ears and vivid RGB lighting while they play their favorite games.
Teenagers and older kids willing to pay for quality can try the Razer Kraken BT Kitty Edition if they want high-endheadphonesthat stand out with a unique design. You can forget about subtlety with a bright pink design that would make Barbie proud, vividRGB lightingin any color on the earcup logos, and funky cat ears. Like most Razer products, it features top-notch construction with a lightweight 298-gram design, gel cushioning to absorb heat, and two internal beamformingmicsfor online lessons or gaming.
The 40mm drivers provide great sound with booming bass andTHX spatial audioto bring out the best in games and movies. Unfortunately,Bluetoothis the only connectivity option with no wireless 2.4Ghz or 3.5mm available. At least the battery life is impressive at around 50 hours but drops to around half at 20 to 25 hours, depending on the lighting.
The Razer Kraken BT Kitty Edition isthe best gaming headsetif you like attention and want to wow people with bright pink and dazzling colors. Its single connection option and high price might put off some buyers, but others will appreciate its solid construction and stellar performance for gaming and music.
Feature-packed bargain
The Onanoff Cosmos+ have everything you’re able to ask for in kids' headphones, with eye-catching designs, amazing padding, and ANC at a competitive price.
Onanoff’s Cosmos+headphonesoffer superb value at a great price because of their all-around performance. Comfort is amazing with ample cushioning on the adjustable headband and plush folding and rotating earcups, although they might be slightly big for younger kids. Not only do the Cosmos+ headphones come in exciting colors like DeepBlue and RosePink, but they also include images of cartoon pirates, princesses, and mad scientists to make them more appealing to kids.
Sound quality is great for the price, and the Cosmos+ headphones are packed with features like ANC and three listening limits, so parents can choose between 75, 85, and 94dB depending on their children’s ages. There’s also a detachable boom mic for clear conversations and a Study Mode to reduce the bass during online lectures. Battery life is fine at around 24 hours with the ANC on, so kids can watch their movies or shows on long plane or train rides without interruption.
The Onanoff Cosmos+headphonesmight be bulky for younger kids and don’t have an IPX rating for moisture and dust resistance. They still offer impressive value because of their comfortable design, advanced features, attractive color options, and practicality for a realistic price.
First buds for kids
The Belkin Soundform Nanos are perfect for older kids wanting to try earbuds for the first time because they come in fun colors and include a volume limiter and five sets of eartips for all ages.
Belkin’s Soundform Nanos offer awirelesssolution for older kids at a competitive price that undercuts many of its wireless rivals listed here. They may be affordable, but they can still withstand daily use by children with IPX5 water resistance and user-friendly touch-sensitive controls on the stem. Long journeys aren’t an issue because they can last up to five hours, with another 19 hours available from the charging case.
No kids’earbudsare complete without a volume limiter, and the 85dB limit is in line with most rivals without interfering with the sound quality of the 6mm drivers and twomicrophones. The stylish blue, pink, and white color options make these buds pop, and they come with five sizes of ear tips to accommodate kids of all ages.
The Belkin Soundform Nanos are inexpensive and make the ideal firstearbudsfor older kids who are responsible enough to take care of them. They’re also durable enough to withstand daily use and include all the eartips kids will need as they grow.
Cool colors for kids
A crowd pleaser with multiple color options and good sound quality, round out a solid set of wireless headphones that do the simple things well and don’t overcomplicate the design.
The LilGadgets Untangled Pro makes choosing a great pair ofheadphonesfor kids easy with its wide color selection. There are ten colors to choose from, like Purple, Green, or Pink, or you can try something more adventurous, like Green Camo or Rainbow Cat. All models have the same solid construction with a metal headband covered on both sides by soft, perforated padding to keep kids cool and comfortable.
Available at a far lower price than the premium options listed here, the Untangled Pro don’t offer ANC, but have decent sound and voice quality for voice chats and media with a 94dB volume limiter on its 40mm drivers. Battery life is decent at around 12 hours, and you can connect multipleheadsetsvia a 3.5mm cable.
One of the best things about the Untangled Pros is their simplicity, and they get the basics right by offering a simple and effective audio solution at a great price. Their unrivaled color options mean you’ll find one to suit every child, and their immense comfort makes them a pleasure to wear for hours.
Bass and Boom
The JBL Jr460NC packs a punch with booming sound despite its 85dB limiter and includes ANC and 30 hours of battery life. Great for the junior audiophiles.
JBLis synonymous with great sound at low prices, and the Jr460NCs continue the tradition with the perfect amount of bass and clarity for kids to have an immersive experience without getting overwhelmed. Voice quality is excellent from the built-inmicrophone, and the ANC reduces the chances of over-stimulation from unwanted background noises. Battery life is acceptable at around 30 hours with the ANC off and 20 with it on, and it charges back to full in just two hours with aUSB-Ccable.
While the headphones come in different color options, the design is fairly subtle. However, the build offers decent practicality in the form of a foldable design and chunky, user-friendly buttons despite its plastic construction. The 85dB volume limiter is another standard feature across most kids’headphones, and so is the share point ability to daisy-chain them together.
JBL’s Jr460NCs sit in the premium pricing echelon but justify their cost with the best sound in the segment and a practical and user-friendly design. Their averagebatterylife isn’t much of an issue, but the bland design might not be appealing to kids when there are so many exciting alternatives to choose from.
Long trip lifesaver
The iClever TransNova headphones have a lengthy 45-hour battery life for long journeys and a fun customization system for kids.
Batterylife is critical when traveling on long trips with your kids, and just a few more hours can make a world of difference when there are nocharging portsnearby. The iClever TransNova headphones have a whopping 45 hours of playtime, which should suffice for the longest plane journeys, although it drops significantly with theLEDlighting turned on. The lighting shines out of the earcups and combines with the three included detachable plates to create a fun custom look kids will appreciate.
Theseheadphonesinclude 40mm drivers and three volume limits at 74, 85, and 94dB, making them suitable for older or younger kids. The stereo speakers offer a full listening experience, and the built-in microphone is fine for calls and gaming. There’s no ANC, but the TransNovas makes up for it with practical features like a foldable design, USB-C fast charging, and a handy travel bag.
It’s hard to believe the iClever TransNova’s affordable price tag, considering its convenience and practicality. The long battery life is a lifesaver for parents, and its lighting and custom plates make it fun for kids. You won’t get top-tier audio performance, but it isn’t an issue considering the price and does little to detract from the overall value.
Affordable practicality
JLab’s stylish two-tone JBuddies have a folding design and 24 hours of battery life for a reasonable price accessible to everyone.
The best headphonesfor children don’t have to be costly, and budget-friendly options like the JLab JBuddies get the job done at a price anyone can afford. They come with modern two-tone styling in Graphite with Blue or Purple trim and a foldable design for easy storage. Kids will appreciate the user-friendly tactile buttons andwirelessconnectivity and can also connect to the JLab JBuddies through a 3.5mm cable or share point.
At this price point, you may’t expect perfection, and while the sound quality is acceptable, the muffled microphone could be better for the price and make the JBuddies better for kids who won’t use the chat function. Its 85dB volume limiter and 24 hours of battery life are also about standard and get the job done to provide a safe all-day listening experience.
It’s hard to complain about the JBuddies' mediocre microphone and average battery life, considering their low cost. Not many rivals can match their quality and comfort at their price, and they’re worth a look for the superb value they offer.
The bottom line: Which are the best headphones for kids?
The Puro Sound Labs BT2200s are the best bet because of their fantastic build quality and sound performance at a reasonable price. The Razer Kraken BT Kitty Edition have a stylish cat-themed design, RGB lighting, and excellent gaming performance, making them the best premium choice. The Onanoff Cosmas+ offer the best value because of their extensive color range, ANC, and Study Mode.
How did we choose the best headphones for kids?
Our team has tested countless headphones all year, including thebest PC gaming headsets,Airpods alternatives, andbone-conductionmodels, to see what they offer. For this list, they found the best eight headphones for kids, using sound quality, construction, and value as the three main criteria to rank them.
The sound quality on headphones for children doesn’t need to be high-end, but it should still have enough punch and clarity to sound good for shows and movies. All the options listed provide a great listening experience for the price and have a volume limiter for younger kids.
When we look at construction, every pair of kids' headphones must be well-padded and comfortable for hours of use while being durable enough to handle getting accidentally dropped or thrown. The models on this list feel solid enough for daily use and have decent adjustability options to find the perfect fit no matter how old or young the child is.
Value is always a critical factor when buying anything and can be the difference between getting it or not. We selected the best headphones for children from every price point, and they can justify their cost with quality sound and other handy features.
Are wired or wireless headphones better for kids?
Wireless headphones are better for younger children who can move around freely without getting tangled. Older kids can try wireless options if they’re responsible enough to take care of them.
Should kids wear earbuds or headphones?
It depends on their age. Younger kids are better off with volume-limiting headphones that are more durable and harder to misplace, while older kids might prefer the convenience of compact wireless earbuds.
At what age can kids use headphones?
There’s no specific age, but three years and older is usually the minimum recommended, with low volume to protect kids developing hearing.
