Best noise-cancelling headphones for 2024: tried and tested in our labs

Our lab tests reveal that while the best noise-cancelling headphones block out noise around you, the worst are just an expensive gimmick and not worth your money.

Whether you're looking for in-ear, on-ear or over-ear headphones, many will come with some form of noise-cancelling feature. Along with sound quality, we test their noise-cancelling performance in our labs to accurately assess which models do what they claim.

Our tests also show that it's not always expensive models that perform the best, so it pays to read our reviews before buying.

Go straight to our noise-cancelling headphone reviews to see all the models we've tested.

Best noise-cancelling headphones for 2024

The table below reveals our expert pick of the very best headphones with built-in noise-cancelling.

We rigorously test the noise-cancelling performance of every headphone in our labs. Only logged-in members can see our full list of the best headphones in the tables below. Join Which? to get instant access to our Best Buys and expert reviews.

Headphone reviews by type

• In-ear headphones
• On-ear headphones
• Over-ear headphones
• Noise-cancelling headphones

Noise-cancelling headphones by price

• Noise-cancelling headphones under £100
• Noise-cancelling headphones under £200
• Noise-cancelling headphones under £300

Why you should trust our noise-cancelling headphone reviews

As with all our product reviews, we never accept free samples. Instead, we buy every set of noise-cancelling headphones and put them through our intensive and independent lab tests. We also test each set using our expert and impartial listening panel, who listen to a range of genres to accurately report on everything from the noise-cancelling performance, overall sound quality, comfort and more. For more details, read our how we test headphones guide.

What is active noise-cancelling?

Active noise cancelling (ANC) is designed to block out all background noise to prevent it from disturbing your listening. While many pairs block outside noise to some degree, ANC goes a step further. These headphones emit harmless signals that cancel out background noise.

They’re most desirable for commuters and frequent flyers and are typically most effective with low-frequency sounds like engines; the best pairs mean you’ll hardly be able to hear these unwanted sounds at all. This is good for your hearing, as it means you don’t need to turn up the volume to drown out the sounds. However, it can add £100 or more to the price.

Noise-cancelling technology is most common in over-ear headphones, but it is a feature with some on-ear and in-ear pairs. In fact, truly wireless in-ear headphones, such as the Sony WF-1000XM5, Apple AirPods Pro (2022) and even the cheaper Soundcore by Anker Space A40, are increasingly offering it.

Noise-cancelling modes

When looking for a great set of noise-cancelling headphones, consider whether you're interested in adjusting the noise-cancelling. Certain modes offered by some headphones allow you to tinker with the strength of noise-cancelling, making it adaptable to day-to-day situations you may encounter. 

Some of these modes include:

• Active noise cancelling (ANC): Full noise-cancelling, designed to keep all background sound out.
• Transparency mode/Aware mode: This allows you to hear some background noise so you can stay aware of your surroundings. Ideal for when crossing the road, for example. 
• Conversation mode: This mode lets in noise that's closer to you but continues to block out background noise further away. It's a more niche mode and one we've only seen with some models.
• Adaptive noise cancelling: Models like the Beats Studio Pro monitor surrounding noise and alter the strength of noise-cancelling to combat it. This works automatically, without the need of user input and normally takes advantage of internal microphones to assess noise levels.
• Custom noise cancelling: Models such as the Bose QuietComfort Headphones allow you to tune and customise noise-cancelling to your personal preference.

For more advice on all headphone styles, along with our top picks, see our guide to the best headphones for 2024.