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 our young ones. But when we think “kid-friendly,” sometimes we imagine products that are built to be a bit more throwaway than the adult counterparts. That’s not the case with 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-cancelling, built-in mics for phone and video calls, as well as long-lasting batteries for schooldays or a long flight.
Puro Sound Labs PuroQuiets
The best overall kids headphones
- Exceptional active noise-cancelling
- Built-in volume limiter
- Shared listening
- Wired or wireless playback
- A little expensive
Kids deserve the best when it comes to headphones, which is why we’d like to direct your attention to the top-notch Puro Sound Labs PuroQuiets, an excellent set of active noise-cancelling (ANC) headphones designed specifically for children. Delivering noise isolation levels of up to 78%, and a 22 decibel reduction of background noise, the beauty behind Puro Sound’s digital sound processing is that your child will experience phenomenal sound quality at the lowest and highest volumes, which is limited to 85 decibels for this model — the recommended maximum volume level to protect kids' ears.
With ANC engaged, the PuroQuiets should last up to 23 hours on a single charge, although you may be able to get even better performance with ANC disabled. We’re also glad that Puro Sound thought to include a 3.5mm auxiliary port. This makes the PuroQuiets easy to use with airplane infotainment systems and other headphone jack hardware.
At $140, these are definitely on the more expensive end of child-friendly headphones, but if your kid is constantly listening to music, playing games, or engaged in hybrid learning applications, the PuroQuiets are a true godsend.
Pogs The Gecko
The best music headphones for kids
- 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.
BuddyPhones School+
The best headphones for 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.
LilGadgets BestBuds
The best earbuds for kids
- 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.
JLab JBuddies Pro
The best for volume controls
- 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.
LilGadgets Untangled Pro
The best headphones for sharing
- 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.
CozyPhones Kids Headphones
The most comfortable headphones for kids
- 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.
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.
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