9 Best Earplugs for Sleeping of 2026

Alpine SleepDeep is the closest match to Loop Dream at a much lower price. Alpine rates both at 27 dB of average noise reduction, and SleepDeep uses an oval shape that the company says follows the natural curve of the ear canal for a snug fit. The plugs come in Small, Medium and Large, and Alpine's advice is to pick the size that sits flush in the ear so nothing presses against the pillow, which is the right test for any side sleeper. The material is soft and silicone-free. A single size costs $15.95 and the multisize pack, which is the safer first buy, costs $19.95. Alpine lists reusability at 3 to 6 months, so these are a recurring purchase rather than a one-time one, though even two pairs a year cost less than one Loop Dream set. Alpine offers a 100-day satisfaction guarantee and free US delivery on orders over $20. There is no extra small size, so people with very narrow ear canals may do better with Loop or Mack's Dreamgirl.

Loop Dream is Loop's earplug made only for sleep, and it fixes the main complaint people have about the brand's ring-shaped plugs at night: the part outside the ear. Dream uses a low-profile body made from the company's softest silicone, which Loop says reduces pressure for all-night comfort when you lie on your side. The plugs come preloaded with oval foam-silicone tips that follow the shape of the ear canal, and the box adds a second style called Double Tips, each in four sizes from XS to L. That gives eight fitting options, which matters because a plug that does not seal will not block a snoring partner. Loop rates the noise reduction at 27 dB (SNR). A bedside case with a no-slip bottom keeps the plugs in one place. The catch is price: $49.95 buys one set, while foam plugs cost a few dollars a pack. Loop offers 100-day returns in the US, which lowers the risk of trying them.

Mack's Ultra Soft Foam is the plug to try first if the problem is a loud snorer and the budget is small. Mack's gives it a Noise Reduction Rating of 33 decibels, its highest, and that is the top rating on this list. The foam is what Mack's calls Comfy Cush comfort foam, made to press gently on the ear canal as it expands, which is the main thing that separates a sleep-friendly foam plug from a stiff industrial one. Packs on Mack's own store start at $2.99 and go up to bulk counts with travel cases, so you can try a pair for the price of a coffee. The tradeoffs are the usual ones for foam. You need to roll the plug thin and let it expand in the ear to get a seal, and a plug that is not deep enough will block far less than its rating. Foam also sits further out than the low-profile silicone plugs here, which some side sleepers feel against the pillow. Mack's makes the plugs in the USA.

Mack's Dreamgirl solves a narrow but common problem: foam plugs that are too big. Mack's designed them for small or sensitive ear canals, and the plug is smaller, softer and contoured, with a hollow, flared body that the company says maximizes comfort during sleep. A plug that is too large either hurts after an hour or slowly works its way out, and both end with you awake. Dreamgirl keeps a Noise Reduction Rating of 30 decibels, only a few points under the NRR 33 Ultra Soft Foam, so the smaller size does not cost much blocking on paper. Prices on Mack's store start at $2.99, which makes it cheap to try both Mack's foams and keep the one that fits. The limits are the same as any foam plug: it needs to be rolled and inserted properly, it is replaced rather than washed, and people with larger ear canals may find it does not seal. Despite the name, nothing about the plug is specific to one gender.

Loop Quiet 2 is the plug to buy if you want one reusable pair for the bedroom, the plane and the office. Loop describes it as made for deeper focus, calmer travel and sleep, and it is made from flexible soft-touch silicone with four ear tip sizes from XS to L in the box. A keychain case keeps it on hand during the day. Loop rates it at up to 24 dB (SNR), which is the lowest figure on this list, so it will soften a snoring partner rather than shut them out. It is also not built around side sleeping the way Loop Dream is, so people who sleep on their side may feel it against the pillow. In its favor, $24.95 is half the price of Dream, it is reusable and easy to clean, and the store's 4.2 out of 5 rating is higher than Dream's. Loop's US store includes a 100-day risk-free trial and free shipping on orders over $44.

Ozlo Sleepbuds 2 take a different approach from the plugs above: rather than just blocking sound, they cover it. You can stream music, podcasts or an app such as Calm or Audible from any Bluetooth source, and Ozlo says the buds detect when you fall asleep and automatically switch from streaming to noise masking tuned to soften snoring and traffic. Each bud weighs 1.6 g and is 11 mm tall, and Ozlo says they are comfortable on your side. Battery life is up to 14 hours per charge in Ozlo's testing, enough for a long night. A built-in alarm plays in your ears only, so one partner can get up without waking the other. The buds have no microphone, and the case and app add sleep pattern and environment tracking. At $279 they are the priciest option here, and they need charging. Ozlo includes a 1-year warranty and a 30-day money-back policy, and the buds are HSA/FSA approved.

Alpine SleepSoft is the simpler sibling of SleepDeep. Instead of three sizes, it comes in one universal fit that Alpine lists at 9 to 12 mm in diameter, and the company rates it at 25 dB of average attenuation (SNR), two points under SleepDeep. Alpine pitches that level as enough to cut snoring and street noise while leaving an alarm clock or doorbell audible, which is a fair goal for parents and anyone who cannot risk sleeping through an alarm. Alpine says the plugs can be reused up to 100 times, and the box includes a storage case and an insertion sleeve. ANSI and CE certification are listed on the page. The odd part is the price: at $16.95, SleepSoft costs a dollar more than a single-size SleepDeep pair, so once you know your size, SleepDeep is the better buy. SleepSoft makes most sense for people who do not want to guess a size and prefer a softer, less deep fit. Alpine's 100-day satisfaction guarantee applies.

Mack's Pillow Soft is the main option for sleepers who find any plug inside the ear canal uncomfortable. It is a moldable silicone putty that you roll into a ball, press over the ear opening and flatten into a seal, and Mack's is explicit that it should not be inserted into the canal. Because it covers rather than fills, there is no pressure deep in the ear, which some people prefer for a full night. Mack's calls it the original and best-selling moldable silicone plug in the US and markets it to people sleeping next to a snoring spouse. The Noise Reduction Rating is 22 decibels, lower than the foam plugs, and the seal depends on clean, dry skin with hair kept out of the way. Each plug lasts up to five uses before Mack's says to discard it once it is soiled or no longer sticky. Packs start at $3.49 for two pairs with a storage case. It is also waterproof, so the same pack works for swimming.

Soundcore Sleep A30 is the most technical option on this list. Soundcore calls it a triple noise reduction system: active noise cancellation, passive isolation from the ear tips, and adaptive snore masking, aimed at snoring, appliance hum, pets and traffic. That combination is the reason to pick it over Ozlo, which relies on masking. Each earbud weighs about 3 grams and is made from soft silicone, and Soundcore says the shape works for side sleepers. Battery life is 8 to 10 hours per charge with up to five nights from the case, and Soundcore says playback can stretch from 6 to 16 hours depending on settings. The app tracks sleep duration, position and snoring, and includes Calm Sleep Stories plus white noise. At $199.99 it costs about $79 less than Ozlo, and a Partner Bundle of two sells for $399.98. Against cheap plugs, though, it is a large spend, it needs charging, and it is heavier than Ozlo per bud.