The 10 Best Headphones for Kids

Every parent knows that whether you’re going on a long road trip or trying to keep your kids in their seats in a waiting room, it’s never easy to keep kids occupied when they have to stay in one place. Not every setting is appropriate for an IPad or phone on full volume, however, which is why having sound-canceling equipment on hand is helpful, and the best headphones for kids are essential accessories for peaceful and happy kids.

The children’s electronic market is large, and many products use big boasts to cover up shoddy construction, so finding the best headphones for kids can be tricky. We’ve put together a list of the ten best headphones for kids on the market today to help you find the best headphones for your kids.

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Frequently Asked Question

1. What Characteristics Make the Headphones Better for Kids?

Durability

The best kids’ headphones provide high-quality sound and a durable build that even the excentric child won’t be able to break easily. These headphones are designed to be comfortable and easy to secure on the head.

They Keep Sound Out, and They Keep Sound In

A good pair of closed-back headphones will muffle any outside sound (“earmuffs”). Great headphones also help you protect your child’s hearing, by blocking out extraneous sounds so you can keep volume levels lower.  Depending on your budget, and frequency of travel, it may be a good idea to look into noise isolation or noise-cancelling headphones—which can be more costly—but reduce the need to boost the volume to drown out loud ambient noise from airplane or traffic.

But, it’s also good if the headphones can keep sound in, not just out. No one wants to hear a round of “Baby Shark” echoing through the waiting room. The best headphones for kids will keep your children’s television and music where it belongs—in their ears, not yours.

Volume Limiting

The best young children’s headphones will offer a volume limiter, creating a lower max volume, to ensure safe listening by protecting your little ones from hearing loss in their little ears. Many headphones will go up very loud before reaching maximum volume, and this is something to be aware of.

Luckily if the headphones you choose don’t have a built-in volume limiter, iPhones and other devices usually have the option to limit volume.

Portability

Foldable headphones are a great option if you need to pack things away.

Choking Hazard

Earbuds, especially wireless ones, are best to stay away from for toddlers and younger children as they may present a choking hazard.

Comfortability

Comfortable ear pads are another thing to look for when purchasing kids’ headphones.

Built-in Splitter

One accessory that is worth looking into if you have more than one little one is a splitter, so siblings can each plug the audio cables of their earmuffs into a device to enjoy the same entertainment simultaneously. If you do purchase a standalone headphone splitter, be mindful that it is a choking hazard for toddlers.

These factors are all key to consider when deciding the type of listening experience you want to provide for your junior audiophile.

2. What Ages Are the Headphones on this List Appropriate for?

The ten headphones on this list are suitable for ages toddler and up, and most are adjustable so they will grow with your child.

3. Do the Headphones on this List Require Power?

Most of the headphones on this list connect to a phone, tablet, or computer with a jack and don’t require any additional power.

4. What Styles Do the Best Kids’ Headphones Come In?

Most of these headphones are traditional headpiece headphones connected, and some come in multiple colors. Others include thinner models and Bluetooth earpieces.

How We Reviewed These Headphones

The following list of the best headphones for kids was reviewed based on affordability, durability, ease of putting on and taking off the headphones, adjustability as the child grows, sound quality, sound muffling ability, ease of attaching to a device, and appearance. We also considered price as a factor so you can choose the best combination of features and performance within your budget.

Overall Price Range

The following list of the best headphones for kids range in price between $7 and $50, with the exception of the Bose QuietComfort model that currently retails for $600. Given that price, it is definitely better for older children. The more expensive models are more durable and have more features.

What We Reviewed

Sennheiser HD 201 Lightweight Over Ear Headphones

Features

If you want a durable pair of headphones at a reasonable price, these classic black headphones are ideal for their easy use and their high-quality sound, making them perfect for a kid who gets a lot of use out of their tablet.

They don’t have the powerful bass of a high-level pair of adult headphones, but they’re ideal for carrying the sounds of a kids’ show.

Lightweight and padded, they can give hours of use without getting uncomfortable, and the sound is easy to adjust with the sound features on the device or phone.

Pros

  • Sturdy plastic build holds up to wear and tear
  • High sound quality is easy to adjust
  • Comfortably padded for hours of use

Cons

  • Bass quality isn’t up to high-end models

Price $$

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iFrogz Little Rockers Costume Headphones

Features

Clearly designed for children, this pair is one of the best choices of headphones for kids. This low-cost line is popular thanks to the colorful designs that let your kids pretend to be a lion, a princess, or all kinds of other choices.

Durable with a soft exterior coating on the headphones, they have their volume limited to 85 decibels to protect your child’s hearing.

The unique venting design allows noise from the exterior to penetrate the headphones while keeping the noise of the show in, so your child can hear you if you need to get their attention.

Pros

  • Colorful costume designs kids will love
  • Volume-limited to protect children’s sensitive ears
  • Venting makes it easy to get their attention
  • Durable and comfortable to wear

Cons

  • Not ideal for older kids due to low volume

Price $

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Bose QuietComfort 15 Acoustic Noise Canceling Headphones

Features

Bose is a world-class name in the headphone market, and their most popular models are comfortable and durable enough to be suitable for both kids and adults.

These popular headphones are known for their superior sound-canceling ability, able to muffle any surrounding sounds to mere whispers and letting your child watch their show in peace. Designed exclusively for use with Apple products, these headphones have a powerful bass and comes with a three-button remote and microphone for syncing it up with a phone.

Pros

  • Powerful bass and sound quality
  • Excellent noise-canceling ability
  • Comfortable and durable enough for kids to wear safely
  • Compatible with Apple iPhones

Cons

  • Extremely expensive
  • Focused on the bass to the exclusion of other sounds
  • Needs an additional accessory to work with non-Apple products such as Android smartphones

Price $

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FSL Protec Kids’ Headphones With Adjustable Volume Limiting

Features

If you’re worried about protecting your child’s hearing while they enjoy their show, the FSL Protec gets high marks for their convenient parent-controlled volume management system.

A child-proof dial lets you adjust the volume to three different levels, starting with a safe 84db level for younger kids, 94 for older kids, and an unlimited setting if you want to use these comfortable headphones.

The easy adjustment on both the volume and the headband size makes this pair of low-cost headphones convenient for all ages.

Pros

  • Convenient childproof volume control system
  • Low-cost and reliable headphones
  • Comfortable for both kids and adults

Cons

  • Not as durable as other low-cost models

Price $

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Sennheiser HD 202 II Professional Headphones

Features

A higher-end version of the Sennheiser 201 model, this pair of headphones boasts sound quality good enough to serve professional audio experts while being comfortable and durable enough for kids.

They feature turbine diaphragms that boast a deep bass with none of the distortion common with kids’ headphones.

They come with a ten-foot cord on the headphones ideal for moving around, but they can be tricky to manage and are among the most resistant to damage on the list.

Pros

  • Strong, clear bass equivalent to professional models
  • Ten-foot cord makes them flexible and easy to transport
  • Durable enough to withstand roughhousing

Cons

  • One of the more expensive models
  • Cord can be cumbersome

Price $$

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Kidrox Wired Kids’ Headphones

Features

This low-cost option for kids’ headphones comes in eye-catching pink and purple and is made from soft and bendable EVA foam free of BPAs that stretches and twists as your child plays.

Suitable for kids three years and up, it is a lightweight and comfortable design that kids can wear for hours on a long car ride. It works with all Apple devices, including iPhones, and can be hooked up to other devices with accessories.

The sound quality is suitable for watching TV while being limited to keep children from damaging their hearing.

Pros

  • Soft and stretchy feel resists tearing and breakage
  • Comes with a one-year warranty
  • Comfortable for long sessions
  • Volume-controlled to keep kids safe

Cons

  • Sound quality isn’t up to the top models

Price $

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HARX700 Precision Sound Full Size Headphones

Features

A professional-quality pair of headphones that bridges the gap between the high-end models and kid-friendly models, this durable headset is bulkier than the other entries on the list and is made from durable plastic that resists breakage.

The sound quality is among the best on the list, with clear high and middle tones and powerful bass. There’s no sound distortion, and it’s a more comfortable fit than most due to its thickly padded ear cups that drown out background noise.

Pros

  • Offers professional-quality sound
  • Durable construction won’t break under pressure
  • Excellent at drowning out background noise

Cons

  • Bulkier and heavier than most models
  • One of the more expensive models

 

Price $$

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LilGadgets Untangled PRO Kids Premium Wireless Bluetooth Headphones

Features

One of the hardest parts of keeping headphones for kids safe is making sure nothing gets tangled in the cord, so these wireless Bluetooth headphones take all the stress away.

If your phone or iPad is equipped with Bluetooth, it’ll connect automatically to these convenient blue headphones, and your kids will enjoy seamless sound quality over short distances, such as in the car or in a single room. The battery life is up to twelve hours, and the company donates a portion of every sale to anti-bullying charities.

Pros

  • Wireless headphones are convenient and cord-free
  • Connects automatically to Bluetooth
  • Provides twelve hours of power before needing to be charged
  • Company donates to anti-bullying charities

Cons

  • More easy to lose than corded headphones
  • Sound quality is not the strongest

Price $$

 

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Panasonic RP-HT21 Lightweight Headphones With XBS

Features

This mid-priced headphone set is ideal for both kids and adults, and the lightweight open-air design makes it comfortable for listening to music or TV on long drives or waits.

They come with 30mm neodymium drivers that deliver powerful bass and a natural, gentle treble. They’re built to fit comfortably, with a wide headband and cushioned earcups, and the 4.5 foot connector cable is designed to thread through clothes for added security.

Pros

  • Excellent, near-professional quality sound
  • Lightweight, soft, and cushioned feel
  • Cable threads through clothes for added security

Cons

  • One of the more expensive models
  • Plastic isn’t as thick and durable as other models

Price $$

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Bluetooth Beanie Hat

Features

For something completely different, try this unique fusion of a hat and headphones, perfect for keeping your child warm and occupied in the winter. No heavier than standard hats, it uses Bluetooth technology to connect with a device and beam the sounds into your child’s ear—and it’s compatible with cell phones for making calls.

It has a six-hour charge for active use before needing to be recharged, the sound quality is top-notch for wireless products, and the hat is washable for easy cleaning.

Pros

  • Doubles as a phone headset, headphones, and hat
  • Superior sound quality for a wireless product
  • Provides a six-hour battery charge
  • Hat is washable

Cons

  • Sound quality isn’t equivalent to professional sets

Price $

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The Verdict

All ten of these headsets deliver excellent sound quality and value for the price tag, except for the Bose QuietComfort, which we feel is overpriced due to supply issues.

However, one model stands out as the best—and it’s not a traditional headphone set. Due to a perfect combination of sound quality, versatility, and low price, we give the Bluetooth Beanie Hat Wireless Headphones Cap our endorsement as the best headphones for kids on the market today.

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