Best headphones for kids: Comfort, safety, and durability win every time (2024)

Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.Learn more about how we select deals.

Best headphones for kids 2024:

Best for younger kids

KidRox Tiger-Ear kids headphones

$34.99 at Amazon

Best budget headphones

Maxell childrens headphones

$12.50 at Amazon

Best sound quality

Puro Sound Labs BT2200s Plus headphones

$99 at Amazon

Best for older kids

Puro Sound Labs PuroQuiet Plus headphones

$139 at Amazon

Best for comfort and security

CozyPhones kids headphones

$14.97 at Amazon

Best for kids who want wireless

Puro Sound Labs JuniorJams Plus wireless headphones

$79 at Amazon

These days, raising kids means being inundated with technology. Everywhere you turn, there’s a little one with a device of some kind in their hand. Like it or not, technology is just as much a part of our kids’ daily lives as it is our own. And more often than not, parents have given their wee one a set of headphones to listen to their favorite show or game. While headphones for babies and kids certainly have their place — listening to music, a show, or even just to block out background noise — they aren’t without their drawbacks.

You might think that the main benefit to buying headphones for your children is that you don't have to hear what they're listening to, but there's actually a more important reason. Your child's ears are super sensitive while they're developing and it's possible to damage them by hearing sounds over 85 decibels. Adult headphones just aren't the best idea for them to use, as they can crank the volume way past a safe listening level. That is, at least not unless you can convince them to lower the volume, which is pretty unlikely.

Best for younger kids: KidRox Tiger-Ear kids headphones

Opens in a new window

Credit: KidRox

KidRox Tiger-Ear kids headphones

$26.99 at Amazon
$34.99 Save $8.00

Who it's for:

Cute and cheerful, these wired headphones provide little kids with a safe listening experience. Toddlers and young kids will appreciate the look of these fun and colorful headphones, and parents will appreciate how affordable and durable they are.

Why we picked this:

All kids love cute things, and the Kidrox Tiger-Ear kids headphones are very cute indeed. The ear cups are softly cushioned and have a tiger face on their exterior so they look super playful and charming. Your child will enjoy wearing them, feeling like they get to show off their tiger-loving self in a set of cans designed specifically for small heads. In terms of features, they have a built-in volume restrictor of 85 decibels — the absolute maximum noise level recommended by authorities for children. The only downside is that the connective cable is a little short, so your kiddo will need to be close to their music-playing device.

Battery life: n/a | Colors: Black, turquoise, orange | Volume limitations: 85 decibels

Best budget headphones: Maxell children's headphones

Opens in a new window

Credit: Maxell

Maxell children's headphones

at Amazon

Who it's for:

These on-ear headphones are ideal for parents who need affordable and kid-safe wired headphones. Don't sweat it if your kid loses or breaks these, as they're easy on your wallet.

Why we picked this:

The Maxell children's headphones certainly won't win any prizes for looks or style. However, they're super lightweight, which young kids will appreciate. Despite their lightweight design, they also sound pretty good thanks to a 30mm driver, and they contain a volume limiter so things can't get too loud for your child. Granted, the limiter is set to 90 dB, which is less than ideal, as it’s just above the recommended maximum sound level for kids, but it's a promising start for very inexpensive headphones. If you want to keep costs down or your child is likely to break them easily so you want something easily replaceable,these are one of the best options to pursue.

Battery life: n/a | Colors: Black | Volume limitations: 90 decibels

Best sound quality: Puro Sound Labs BT2200s Plus

Opens in a new window

Credit: Puro Sound Labs

Puro Sound Labs BT2200s Plus

at Amazon

Who it's for:

Older kids who are ready for a more sophisticated set of headphones will love these cans from Puro Sound Labs. A step above most cheap headphones, they offer great sound while still protecting ear drums. Not only do these on-ear wireless headphones have smart features to keep kids' ears safe, but they also come in a range of fun colors, too.

Why we picked this:

The Puro Sound Labs BT2200s Plus headphones look like something an adult might wear, so you can be pretty confident that your older child will love them, too. Not only do they look good, but they sound great too, providing some of the best audio quality out of any set of headphones for kids. There's an 85 dB limiter tied into them, so your kids won't have to risk their hearing being damaged while they listen. With a 20-hour battery life and USB-C charging, they're easy to power up and will last for days. Ambient noise isolation makes up for their lack of active noise cancellation, too.

Battery life: 20 hours | Colors: Black, blue, green, white, purple, pink | Volume limitations: 85 decibels

Best for older kids: Puro Sound Labs PuroQuiet Plus

Opens in a new window

Credit: Puro Sound Labs

Puro Sound Labs PuroQuiet Plus

at Amazon

Who it's for:

Older kids who are ready for headphones with adult-quality sound and active noise cancellation. The looks scream cool but the sound levels stay low — a winner for parents and pre-teens alike. Because they combine ANC with an extra-long battery life, they're equally suited for travel, listening to music, and remote schooling.

Why we picked this:

If your kid is desperate to look cool, but you want to keep them and their hearing safe, then look to the Puro Sound Labs PuroQuiet headphones. These on-ear wireless headphones look almost as fashionable as adult headphones, but they include useful technology to keep your child's hearing safe. They have a limited volume of 85 dB, which can be further reduced by up to 22 dB courtesy of the active noise cancellation that's built into these headphones. A steady battery life of 22 hours means you won't have to recharge them often, but you can always switch them over to the wired mode if need be.

Best for comfort and security: CozyPhones Kids Headphones

Opens in a new window

Credit: CozyPhones

CozyPhones Kids Headphones

$12.99 at Amazon
$14.97 Save $1.98

Who it's for:

Can't keep headphones on your kid? Try these — just keep the volume low.

Mashable Deals

Want more hand-picked deals in your inbox?

By signing up you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Thanks for signing up!

Why we picked this:

If your child hates wearing conventional headphones, no matter how cute the ear cups may look, then CozyPhones Kids Headphones headbands are the perfect solution. They work like a regular headband but contain ultra-thin speakers for listening to music. Soft and stretchy, they're easy for your child to wear and just as easy for them to store safely afterward. The headbands are even washable, for when life's little accidents happen. The only real downside with these is that the volume limiter is set to a maximum of 90 dB, which is a little high for our liking. Other than that, they provide a good solution to a common issue.

Battery life: n/a | Colors: Orange fox, Green frog, Green monster, Black panda, Yellow lion, Purple frog, Pink kitty | Volume limitations: 90 decibels

Best for kids who want wireless: Puro Sound Labs JuniorJams Plus

Opens in a new window

Credit: Puro Sound Labs

Puro Sound Labs JuniorJams Plus

at Amazon

Who it's for:

Kids who have already developed an ear for music will love these big kid headphones. If your little listener doesn’t want to be tied down by a cord while enjoying music, stories, or games, these Bluetooth headphones for kids are just the ticket. As a bonus, you don't have to listen to them play the same songs over and over and over...

Why we picked this:

The new Puro Sound Labs JuniorJams Plus give kids a wireless range of up to 30 feet. While they might limit harmful volumes over 85dB, these headphones still emit crystal-clear sounds thanks to advanced sound-optimizing technology that isolates 87% of ambient noise. Parents won’t have to worry about frequent recharging because the lithium-ion battery has a working life of 22 hours. Plush vegan leather covers the ear cups and headband in softness for comfortable all-day wear. The plastic frame is flexible yet still lightweight.

Battery life: 22 hours | Colors: Black, blue, pink, green, teal, purple | Volume limitations: 85 decibels

TopicsGadgets

Frequently Asked Questions

The decision on whether or not to get wired or wireless headphones for your kid is largely dependent on how much money you want to spend and whether or not you want to worry about needing to recharge headphones on a regular basis. Many of the wireless headphones listed here have decent battery life, but they are typically more expensive than a wired solution.

Many people (kids included) prefer wired headphones for their reliable connection and superior sound quality. One thing to keep in mind, particularly for young children, is that wired headphones can be a strangling risk, so always supervise them while they're using wired headphones. This is also an important consideration if there are younger siblings in the house who might get their hands on an older sibling’s wired headphones.

Generally, many auditory health organizations recommend that the ideal noise level for a child is about 70 decibels, and that volumes should never exceed 85 decibels. (Anything above 85 decibels is deemed dangerous, and could result in hearing loss or damage.) Most adult headphones peak at about 115 decibels, which is why it's important to use a dedicated solution for your child. The limit is a limit too, not a guide, so always aim to play music a little quieter if you can.

According to the WHO and CDC, headphones can absolutely damage children’s hearing, which is why it’s so important for parents to know and manage their child's exposure to loud sounds. It’s also why headphones designed specifically for kids are recommended for little listeners, in order to help avoid any permanent damage to their hearing. Remember hearing damage is permanent and once it is gone it is gone.

When it comes to setting audio level limits for your kid(s) many parents might be pleased to learn that there are actually apps that allow you to set a volume limit for a device. This way you can feel confident knowing that your child isn't listening to audio at an excessive volume. Most experts agree that keeping the device at or below 50 percent of the maximum volume is a good place to start when it comes to safe listening. In addition, ensure your child is taking listening breaks to help protect their hearing.

Kids should absolutely be using noise-cancelling headphones if possible. They can help to preserve your child’s hearing by blocking out louder background noise, which means they can listen to their audio at a lower level. In addition, noise-cancelling headphones can also be helpful when it comes to blocking out external noise when your child needs to focus on things such as homework. This is especially beneficial for children who have trouble with auditory processing or attention span issues — and when used in a classroom setting, noise-cancelling headphones can help kids stay on task and improve their focus.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, you can even use noise-cancelling headphones to help protect kids’ ears from loud noises — such as at a concert or other loud event. Because the headphones reduce the amount of noise that reaches the eardrums, they can help to prevent hearing damage.

When most people think about earphones as it relates to headphones, they think about earbuds. In-ear buds are great for adults, but they're not recommended for children. That's because their developing ears are more sensitive to noise damage. This is because their nerve fibers are still growing. Also, since they have smaller external auditory canals, their eardrum is always closer to the sound source. You don't want that to be exacerbated by earbuds — their little ears are too delicate to risk their safety.

As with screen time in general, it's worth laying out some sensible guidelines, in order to give both eyes and ears a break and make time for other types of activities. That said, there's no hard limit: Some experts say that children can use headphones up to 40 hours a week, which is probably way more than most kids will get to.