13 Most Comfortable Headphones (for Easy All-Day Comfort) in 2023

Do you hate painful headphones? We too.

That’s why we tested 192 headphones for comfort and fit. We’ll cover:

• The most comfortable headphones at different prices and types
• Our “head-on” experience with each pair
• Things to consider when buying headphones for comfort

Note: In case you’re looking for in-ear headphones, check the most comfortable earbuds guide.

No matter how great your headphones sound, you can’t listen to them if they aren’t comfortable to wear.

You deserve to enjoy the headphones you put on your head. So, they need to be comfortable.

For this reason, we made a list of the most comfortable headphones that are great for prolonged listening and have the latest features.

We took into account the 9 key factors (our Sonic9Score).  However, the main criteria we looked at to pick the most comfortable models are comfort and fit, especially earpads and headband comfort (read more below).

Explore our testing and ranking methodology.

Most Comfortable Headphones

1. Apple AirPods Max

Apple AirPods Max are the most comfortable headphones we’ve tested. The Apple Bluetooth headphones come with a sleek design, good sound quality, superb comfort, and high-end features. Plus, a high price too – Apple AirPods Max review.

Weight: 13.6oz (384.8g) Replacable earpads: Yes

AirPods Max have a U-shaped sound signature, providing deep, rumbly bass response and sparkly highs without sibilance.

They’re fantastic over-ear headphones for both music and movies, even for audiophiles.

Quickly swappable earpads are made from a fabric, which increases comfort level, breathability, and airflow, preventing excess sweating.

Also, the memory foam ear pads ensure luxurious comfort. A knit-mesh canopy gently rests on your head and successfully distributes the weight of the headphones.

The build is exceptional, with each ear cup being made from a single slab of aluminum.

You also get excellent active noise cancellation performance, Transparency mode, Dolby Atmos support, Siri voice control, and great microphones for taking phone calls.

For comfortable headphones that you can wear all day, AirPods Max are a top choice.

Most Comfortable Runner-Up Headphones

2. Sony WH-1000XM5

Sony WH-1000XM5 are one of the most comfortable headphones we’ve tested. They’re close to AirPods Max and come with amazing noise cancellation in a compact, travel-friendly design – Sony WH-1000XM5 review.

Weight: 8.82 ounces (250 grams) Replacable earpads: Yes

The sound quality of these is quite energetic and extremely easy to listen to. They’re very much like the previous Sony WH-1000XM4.

These popular noise canceling headphones offer a fun and punchy listening experience while remaining enjoyable even for more demanding audiophiles. They support LDAC, which is one of the best Bluetooth audio codecs.

Thanks to plastic construction, they are light and very comfortable. The padding is thinner than with the previous version but sufficient to keep the casing from touching your skin. And once on your head, they stay comfy.

Plus, they come with a hard carrying case, which makes them super portable. Different touch controls, like changing volume levels, are helpful if you don’t like constantly touching your phone. You can further change Bluetooth settings in the app.

These are some of the best noise cancelling headphones. If you travel a lot and don’t like the airplane noise, or just want to isolate the human voices in the cafeteria, these can block it all.

The Sonys are feature-rich headphones you can wear for hours. Learn more in our full review.

Most Comfortable Sennheiser Headphones

3. Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless

Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless headphones exchange the warm and bassy sound of their predecessor for a more detailed yet balanced response. And the big and soft earcups ensure long-term comfort.

Compared to the previous gen, the sound quality got much more balanced and detailed, surpassing the competitors from Bose and Sony headphones by a long shot.

Build quality is also better over their predecessor, now boasting more padding, especially in the headband. The fabric stitching on top makes Momentum 4 Wireless look and feel more premium.

As a result of extra padding (and better weight distribution), headphones feel exceptionally comfortable. That’s perfect for long travels and daily commutes. While they’re quite big as a result, the padding makes them super comfortable to wear.

Furthermore, the battery lasts up to 60 hours per charge, which is more time than anybody needs. The headphones effectively cancel out background noise and look very sleek on the head.

And since they cost less than $300, they’re perfect for traveling audiophiles.

Most Comfortable Open-Back Headphones

4. Sennheiser HD 599

Sennheiser HD599 are the most comfortable open-back headphones for home listening.

The sound quality is great. Balanced frequency response with even slightly improved detail reproduction compared to HD598. You might as well use them as studio headphones.

And if you want to have one of the most popular Sennheiser series, HD599 are one of the best comfortable headphones in the Sennheiser lineup.

The older model had air air-padded headband cushion, which wasn’t the best. But with this new model, they improved the headband design to provide superb comfort.

The velour ear pads are super comfortable and replaceable as well. You can find a replacement part online. Built quality is solid, too, as you’d expect from Sennheiser. If you can get them for a lower price, they’re a steal.

Most Comfortable Bose Headphones

5. Bose QuietComfort 45

If you’re a Bose fan looking for cozy cans, check out the Bose QuietComfort 45. These are beautifully crafted wireless over-ear headphones that are made from exquisite, high-quality materials.

A successor to Bose’s most successful wireless headphones is better in every way, even in sound. It’s still nicely balanced and pleasant to listen to, with a good detail rendition.

Bose headphones have a super lightweight design, with just enough padded earcups to ensure excellent comfort. You can wear them for hours and forget they’re on your head.

On top of that, the excellent noise cancellation is top-notch. It’s on par with the competition, reducing a big chunk of background sounds.

Other improvements are seen in better battery life, measuring around 24 hours per charge, and a switch to USB-C and fast charging.

Strangely, you can’t completely turn off ANC or ambient mode, which can be annoying.

Most Comfortable Gym Headphones

6. Treblab Z7 Pro

Treblab Z7 Pro are the most comfortable gym headphones we’ve tested. They come with a warm sound, good active noise cancellation, and water protection: perfect for workouts – Treblab Z7 Pro review.

Weight: 8.6 oz (245g) Replacable earpads: No

Treblab headphones have a very warm sound signature with smooth treble and relaxing midrange.

However, they’re no detail monsters, so don’t expect high-end fidelity.

On the other hand, Treblab Z7 Pro are well-built and don’t rattle when shaken. They have sufficient and thick memory foam padding made from soft faux leather.

Oval-shaped ear cups help enclose the entire ear, so you don’t feel any pressure. Just be aware that the pleather isn’t very breathable, so you will get sweaty over time.

Thankfully, headphones are IPX4 rated, meaning their internals are protected against sweat and light rain.

The noise canceling headphones are perfect for commuting too, the ANC does away with most of the ambient noise.

So, if you’re looking for comfy gym headphones that stay on your head during movement, can survive some sweat, and have ANC, Treblab Z7 Pro are your top choice.

For more gym options, see the best workout headphones.

Most Comfortable under $100

7. 1MORE SonoFlow

1MORE SonoFlow are the most comfortable over-ears under $100 we’ve tested. Their simple and lightweight design helps them create a soft-wearing experience during long listening sessions – 1MORE SonoFlow review.

Weight: 8.8 oz (250g) Replacable earpads: No

To truly shine, SonoFlow need some equalization and ANC turned on. Then is where their sound quality becomes quite enjoyable, especially for the price of under $100.

Headphones have modest padding that doesn’t look too confident at first glance. However, due to the very lightweight construction, you barely feel them on your head.

Overall, the construction is pretty good and comparable to similarly priced headphones. One thing to be aware of is that you can’t replace the earpads once they wear off.

On the positive side, headphones support LDAC Bluetooth codec and the 1MORE Music app for additional customization.

Moreover, the battery life is outstanding at 61.5 hours on a single charge in our test (more in the review).

1MORE SonoFlow are the comfiest headphones under $100 that also sound and work well.

Check out similar options: the best budget noise cancelling headphones and the best headphones under $100.

Honorable Mentions

8. Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2

9. HIFIMAN Edition XS

10. Meze 99 Classics

11. Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2

12. Sony MDR-1AM2

13. Koss KTXPRO1 Titanium

How We Tested

We objectively test headphones by measuring frequency response, noise isolation, effectiveness of active noise cancellation (altogether, we test them on 9 key points), but there is no way to objectively test comfort.

The only objective measurement we can take is weight. And weight doesn’t tell the whole story.

Testing for comfort is the hardest part of reviewing headphones. Everybody has a different head. This is why we combined our “head-on” experience with user feedback for optimal evaluation.

So, while all headphones don’t fit the same way on all heads, the odds are our recommendations are going to be comfortable for most people.

See our testing and scoring methodology.

How did we choose the models?

As mentioned above, we primarily focused on 2 decision points: comfort and fit. More specifically, we looked at:

• The feeling of wearing the headphones
• Stability during head movement
• The thickness of the earpad and headband padding
• And weight

The recommended headphones have features that make them more comfortable than alternatives in their category. But that doesn’t mean they’re perfect. Read our reviews for more info.

These are the models we tested and most people claim to be very comfortable for them. So they’re more likely to be cozy for everyone else as well. It’s not a specific rule but more of general guidance.

The way we ranked them is from the most expensive to more affordable towards the bottom, and for different use cases in between.

How Can I Know What Comfortable Headphones Are?

We all have different head shapes and sizes, so there’s no other way to know unless you try them.

Theoretically, you could visit your local tech store and try a lot of different headphones, but that’s not realistic since we all have busy lives. You will just have to make a decision, and the best is an educated decision.

Here’s quick advice:

• If you have a big head, try looking for bigger frames. Bigger headphones are less likely to have overly strong clamp force. Get over-ears instead of on-ears, which have smaller headbands.
• Bigger, over-ear earpads with thick padding: Sure, headphones can be comfy even without excessive padding. But if you can’t try them by yourself and you have to pick one based on pictures, this is a good indicator of comfort.
• Lighter is better: This also means more plastic and less metal parts.
• Replaceable cushions/earpads: Pads play a big role in comfort. If you can replace them when they get old, that’s a big plus.

Here are more guides on comfort:

• How to wear headphones and earbuds comfortably
• How to wear headphones with glasses
• How to prevent earbuds from hurting your ears

Which Type of Headphones is The Most Comfortable?

The headphone design plays a big role. In our opinion, these are the most comfortable designs:

Over-ear: These have the biggest cups and are sometimes heavy, but they make up to it with lots of cushioning and big frames that fit even the biggest and most unusual head sizes. You can wear them for hours on end without any discomfort. Many high-end over-ear headphones offer the option of changing earpads, which improves comfort and longevity. This is the standard and most comfortable overall headphone design.

In-ear: Or earbuds, as they’re also known, are the smallest headphones, and that’s their advantage. Due to their small size and weight, they’re easy to put in your ear canal and forget about. The in-ear model’s comfort can be adjusted by changing the ear tips. Since there are many sizes and shapes of ear tips as well as different materials (foam), you can really adjust the fit. For most people, foam eartips offer the best comfort as well as a secure fit. Bluetooth earbuds are the best since they lack wires.

Check the most comfortable earbuds here.

On-ear: These are the smaller brothers of over-ear headphones. The cups and ear pads are smaller to fit on the ears instead of over the ears, hence the name. While most on-ear headphones can be very comfortable for hours, if they have quality cushioning, they do get slightly uncomfortable after many hours, which is their biggest problem. For all-day-wearing, over-ear or in-ear might be a great all-around choice for comfort. This is not a fact for all on-ear headphones but more of a general rule. Keep that in mind when buying a pair of headphones.

FAQs:

Conclusion

Of all 192 headphones we tested, Apple AirPods Max are our #1 recommendation for long-lasting comfort.

Last update: Updated with new models and buying guide.