The Best Headphones For Kids Of All Ages To Keep Little Ears Safe

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

Pros:

• Comfortable fit
• Long battery life
• Durable

Cons:

• May be too big for kids 7 and younger
• Limited color options

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. 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.

Forbes Vetted deputy editor Rose Gordon Sala says her older kids rely on these headphones, using them for everything from school to plane rides to listening to music and movies on their iPads. They much prefer the over-ear, comfortable and adjustable fit of these earcups to their previous set of Puro Sound Labs BT2200s. “They love these,” she says. “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.” Sala confirms that her kids have squished these into overloaded backpacks and yet, they’ve held up without issue.

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

Pros:

• One-touch Bluetooth pairing
• Built-in audio splitter

Cons:

• Some users have connectivity issues after long use
• May feel too tight to sensitive kids

Puro Sound Labs BT2200s Plus volume-limiting Bluetooth headphones for kids have 20 hours of battery time, volume limiting to 85 decibels, 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. All of these features add up to a pretty spectacular total package, giving them a higher price, but one that might be worth splurging on.

These Puros can 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 feel high-quality, but Sala says her family ran into some quality issues with the three pairs 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.

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

Pros:

• No battery to recharge
• Smaller fit for younger kids
• Padded earcups and headband

Cons:

• No noise limiter

The name of the game with the Powmee M2 kids headphones is value—getting a lot for a reasonable price. They retail for less than $15 and can often be found on sale in various color options. The smaller size and lightweight nature of the headphones mean they’re suitable for kids ages 3 and up. While the wired 3.5mm jack might be a negative to some, the tethered connection means that these headphones never need to be recharged and are ready to be used day after day. They fold up so they can be packed away more easily, and folding the padded earcups inward provides a place to wrap the cord to keep it tidy. Despite the low price, the Powmee M2 headphones have a low return rate and a 4.5-star rating on Amazon with more than 10,000 reviews.

Battery life: 45 hours | Wireless: Yes | Noise canceling: No | Case: No | Earcup style: On ear | Volume limiter: Yes (85 decibels)

Pros:

• Extra-long battery life and fast quick-charge
• Can be used wired or wirelessly
• Audio sharing feature

Cons:

• May not appeal to older kids

The Skullcandy Grom wireless kid's headphones work great for school and learning-related tasks because they're so versatile. They can be used wired or wirelessly to adapt to different types of school devices such as tablets or Chromebooks over the years. (They're great for non-school tasks, too.) 

Used wirelessly, the Grom headphones feature an impressive 45 hours of battery life. They can also be quick-charged in ten minutes to get four hours of power. This article's coauthor, Tyler Hayes, has had his kids try the headphones, and both his 11-year-old and 13-year-old said they were comfortable once they got the headband adjusted right. These headphones are geared for kids ages 6 and up, but they even fit his head, too. As a parent, he really likes the simplified on-board volume and media controls that make it easy for his kids to use these immediately. There is an 85 decibel volume limiter, but it can be overridden for loud situations like on an airplane, if need be.

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

Pros:

• Supported across all gaming consoles and computers
• Comfortable padding
• Audio sharing feature

Cons:

• Not wireless
• No volume limiter

The Razer Blackshark V2 X headphones are a great gaming option to give kids a premium experience without breaking the bank. They have the specific gaming features that many older kids want, but one of the ways these headphones keep their price down is by forgoing the wireless option. These still work great with a Nintendo Switch, Xbox, PlayStation or even gaming on an iPad. Hayes' 13-year-old son is a big fan of the ultra thick padding around the ears and across the headband. There’s a dedicated mute button as well as a volume knob for ease-of-use. The microphone quality also gets high marks from his son, who relies on its use while playing Fortnite.

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

Pros:

• Breathable ear pads and headband
• Sharing capabilities; two kids can listen simultaneously
• Can be used with or without the wire

Cons:

• Slightly louder than other kid models
• Not the most durable

LilGadgets Untangled Pro Wireless Kids Headphones are designed for kids age 4 and older with comfort in mind. The ear pads and adjustable headband have a breathable mesh material, and the ear pieces flex to accommodate different fit preferences. We love that these include a “Shareport,” so two kids can listen to one device at once from their own headphones without specialized cables. The Untangled Pro comes with a 4-foot nylon braided audio cable with inline microphone for wired use as needed.

We should point out that the volume of these headphones is limited to 93 decibels, which is 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.

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

Pros:

• Adjustable volume limiter
• Comfortable fit

Cons:

• On the expensive side

In addition to a host of features that make Buddyphones Cosmos+ headphones a great choice for kids of all ages, this pair is our top pick for toddlers due to a "Toddler Mode" setting that limits volume output to 75 decibels, the lowest of any of the headphones on this list. Parents can also adjust that switch to 85 decibels in "Kids Mode" for older children, as well as up to 94 decibels for louder environments.

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. According to the brand, 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 lion or pirate.

Battery life: 50 hours | Wireless: Yes | Noise canceling: No | Case: Yes | Earcup style: On ear | Volume limiter: No

Pros:

• Long battery life
• Quick charging available for short-term use
• Adjustable earcups

Cons:

• No volume limiter

Teens appreciate the sleek design and elevated specs of Beats Solo 4 wireless Bluetooth headphones. With a battery life up to 50 hours, they can enjoy extended use between charging sessions. When the battery does get low, the “Fast Fuel” option let you get five hours of playback time after only 10 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. Beats Solo 4 headphones are available in multiple colors.

Note to parents: Beats Solo 4 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, consider another pair. You can also look to limit volume in the iPhone's Settings app.

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

Pros:

• Long battery life
• 30-foot Bluetooth range
• Built-in audio splitter

Cons:

• Pricey compared to other options

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 PuroQuiet-Plus 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, with 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 have 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.

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

Pros:

• Budget-friendly
• Durable
• Comfortable fit

Cons:

• Ear protection only

There are many instances when wearing ear protection is a must for children, from concerts to travel. Vanderfields Kids Ear Protection earmuffs, designed for 3-year-olds and up, provide 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 of the memory foam padding on the headband and ears. Keep in mind that these are earmuffs, not headphones, so you can’t play music or otherwise listen to anything on 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.