The Independent's journalism is supported by our readers. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn commission. Why trust us?

11 best kids’ headphones for noise-free screen time

Keep their ears safe while learning, gaming or watching their favourite shows

Zoe Phillimore
Wednesday 24 May 2023 17:13 BST
<p>We tried different headphones at home for playing and homework, and when out and about </p>

We tried different headphones at home for playing and homework, and when out and about

Our Top Picks

  • POGS.jpg
    POGS the gecko wireless kids’ headphones
    Best overall

    All our testers were big fans of these headphones. The Gecko has lots of brilliant features at a fair price point. The noise limiter gave us great peace of mind, as it doesn’t go above the WHO recommendations. And our testers didn’t ever mention the volume wasn’t loud enough, even on busy trains. These headphones fold up nice and compactly, too, so we were able to lob them in our bag and they survived to tell the tale.

    JBL by Harman JR460NC kids’ headphones
    JBL by Harman JR 460NC on-ear headphones
    Best for teens

    These headphones have fairly large cups, and are perhaps more well-suited to older kids and teens. This is also because they’re high spec and have functions that a teen would probably get more use out of, such as the integrated mic in the cup and 20-hour battery life.

  • Belkin mini
    Belkin soundform mini
    Best value

    Kids will be drawn to these brightly coloured headphones. And once our testers realised they come with stickers to personalise them, they were even more keen. The cups on the headphones are a brightly coloured version of the headband. We went for pink, so the cups were neon pink.

    JLab JBuddies play gaming wireless headset
    JLab JBuddies play kids gaming wireless headset
    Best for gamers

    Designed for kids aged six and up, mini gamers will love these shrunken gamer-style headphones. With a retractable boom mic that has a quick-mute button (great if your parents are shouting “It’s dinner time” for the 57th time in the background), these are ideal for multiplayer gaming. We liked the almost retro look on the adjustable cups – something our tester was oblivious to, but we appreciated them looking a bit cooler than some other gaming headphones out there.

  • Tonies headphones
    Tonies headphones
    Best for young children

    Cute and lightweight, these headphones are great for younger kids – certainly our five-year-old tester was keen on the red pair we went for. The fully padded headband and small cups made wearing these lightweight headphones comfortable, and they were very easy to use – just plug in and go.

    Onanoff Storyphones storytelling headphones for kids
    StoryPhones storytelling headphones for kids
    Best for screen-free entertainment

    We were dumbstruck by the genius of these headphones (which are so much more than a set of headphones, by the way). They have “shields” on the cups, which connect to wifi and download stories to the headphones, so your child can listen to the audio wherever they go.

  • JLAB JBuddies studio wireless over ear folding kids headphones indybest.jpeg
    JLab JBuddies studio wireless over-ear folding kids' headphones
    Best budget buy

    These headphones are a great midway point between younger kids’ headphones and ones for teens. They’re also very reasonably priced and have a good range of functionality.

    BuddyPhones pop fun wireless headphones
    BuddyPhones pop fun wireless headphones
    Best for personalising

    Our mini tester loved these bright (but not garish) headphones. The cans are small, so perfect for young children. While our tester enjoyed the stickers to customise the headphones, we liked that the fabric on the cans was mesh and didn’t become sweaty like some others can. The fact they fold up makes them practical too, as does the 24-hour battery life.

  • MyFirst headphones
    MyFirst headphones bone conduction wireless headphones
    Best for those with hearing loss

    These are one of the first bone-conducting headphones for children. If you’re not familiar with bone-conduction headphones, let us fill you in. These sit on your cheekbone, not in or on your ear. There are several benefits to this. One is that you can then still hear environmental sounds – great for kids walking to school. The next benefit is that people with hearing loss can use them, and hear the audio playing. One school of thought is that they reduce hearing damage, but the jury is still out on that one.

    POGS elephant on-ear wired headphones
    POGS elephant on-ear wired headphones
    Best wired headphones

    These have most of the features of our overall best, the Pogs gecko, except these ones are wired. The main benefit of this is that you don’t have to think about charging them. Plus, there’s no hassle in pairing them – you can just take them wherever you’re going without a second thought. Hugely handy if you have a child who likes to switch devices, or if you’re going on a flight.

  • Belkin nano
    Belkin soundform nano wireless earbuds for kids
    Best earbuds

    If your teen has been asking you for AirPods, but you’re not sold on the idea, these might be the solution. These earbuds are truly wireless, meaning they’re not connected to a device or each other. They come with a case, which also holds charge, so when they’re nestled in the box they’re charging (you then charge the box). The headphones themselves hold five hours of charge, and the box another 19 hours.

OK, so after begging for days, you’ve finally caved and got them their most-wanted piece of tech – perhaps a fancy smartwatch or a Nintendo Switch, maybe even a tablet or a smartphone. Kudos to you, you could’ve just got them a Tamagotchi.

But as the days wear on, you’ve quickly come to realise that these gadgets just won’t stop bleeping and blooping. The noise these tech ‘must-haves’ create is deeply, well, annoying, and your poor ears can’t take any more of Yoshi shouting out his own name in that high-pitched voice. Kids’ headphones to your rescue…

Because children’s and teenagers’ ears are different to adults’, you can’t just sling them a pair of your cans to shut their devices up, we’re afraid. For one, their ears are smaller, but they’re also still developing. If children are exposed to loud sounds, it can cause irreparable damage to their hearing, and maybe even permanent hearing loss.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends 85dB as a safe maximum noise level for children for up to eight hours – that’s around the volume of heavy traffic. Some devices can go to 136dB when on maximum volume. Ouch.

But kids’ headphones, more often than not, have a volume limiter on them, so developing ears stay safe. In our round-up, we’ve listed the maximum volume on all headphone entries, so you know they’re definitely child-proof.

The best kids’ headphones come in all sorts of designs – in ear, on ear, wireless and wired. When choosing one for your child or teen, think about how they’ll use them. If they’re using them with an Apple device, they’ll probably want wireless headphones. Plus, they won’t get tangled up, but you do need to remember to charge them. Folding headphones, on the other hand, are handy if you travel a lot, or your teen is using them when they’re out and about.

How we tested

We spent a solid four weeks testing headphones for kids and teens. During testing, we tried different headphones at home for playing and homework, and while out and about in the car and on trains. Our ideal headphones are lightweight and comfortable, with a noise limiter, natch. Sound quality was important, as well as the headphones being appealing to the wearer, whatever their age. Now, let’s make some noise (up to 85dB) for our best kids’ headphones.

The best kids’ headphones for 2023 are:

  • Best kids headphones overall – POGS the gecko wireless kids’ headphones: £49.99, Pogsheadphones.co.uk
  • Best headphones for teens – JBL JR 460NC on-ear headphones: £69.99, Amazon.co.uk
  • Best kids headphones for value – Belkin soundform mini: £29.99, Argos.co.uk
  • Best kids headphones for gamers – JLab JBuddies play kids gaming wireless headset: £22.99, Amazon.co.uk
  • Best kids headphones for younger children – Tonies headphones: £24.99, Tonies.com

POGS the gecko wireless kids’ headphones

  • Best: Overall
  • Wireless: Yes
  • Mic: Yes
  • Active noise cancellation: No
  • Colourways: Blue, green, yellow, pink
  • Noise limit: 85dB

All our testers were big fans of these headphones. The Gecko has lots of brilliant features at a fair price point. The noise limiter gave us great peace of mind, as it doesn’t go above the WHO recommendations. And our testers didn’t ever mention the volume wasn’t loud enough, even on busy trains. These headphones fold up nice and compactly, too, so we were able to lob them in our bag and they survived to tell the tale.

We’re told the cups are super comfortable, and they’re made from hypoallergenic fabrics too. Pairing them is a breeze, and although the buttons on the cups (for controlling them) are fairly small, our four-year-old tester had no issues.

If you have multiple children tuning into the same device, you can daisy-chain them together with the anti-tangle cord included in the box. The Gecko headphones come in a range of stylish hues, which are fun without being too “out there”, so even the coolest of tweens and teens will be chuffed with them.

Continue reading...

Loading...

JBL by Harman JR 460NC on-ear headphones

  • Best: For teens
  • Wireless: Yes
  • Mic: Yes
  • Active noise cancellation: Yes
  • Colourways: Blue, pink, white
  • Noise limit: 98dB

These headphones have fairly large cups, and are perhaps more well-suited to older kids and teens. This is also because they’re high spec and have functions that a teen would probably get more use out of, such as the integrated mic in the cup and 20-hour battery life.

If you have forgetful kids – who doesn’t? – who don’t remember to charge their headphones, you can get a full charge on these in just two hours. As well as being wireless, you can use them wired, if your battery life is waning.

Our tester liked the soft, tactile material on the cups, and the chunky, easy-to-use buttons. The active noise cancellation meant our tester wasn’t tempted to turn up the volume when background noises increased, keeping their precious ears safe. You can switch this mode on and off at a click of a button on the cup – great if they’re crossing roads or someone is trying to get their attention.

Continue reading...

Loading...

Belkin soundform mini

  • Best: Value
  • Wireless: Yes
  • Mic: Yes
  • Active noise cancellation: No
  • Colourways: Black, blue, pink, white
  • Noise limit: 85dB

Kids will be drawn to these brightly coloured headphones. And once our testers realised they come with stickers to personalise them, they were even more keen. The cups on the headphones are a brightly coloured version of the headband. We went for pink, so the cups were neon pink.

These cups are cushioned well and very soft, but the headband isn’t cushioned. Our testers didn’t really clock this, but it’s worth noting for those that do mind these things.

An integrated mic meant they could chat with callers (mostly grandparents, if we’re honest) while roaming free and make the most of the wireless connection. The 30-hour battery life is one of the best we tried, and we were grateful for it. These headphones are great value and feel surprisingly premium for the price.

Continue reading...

Loading...

JLab JBuddies play kids gaming wireless headset

  • Best: For gamers
  • Wireless: Yes
  • Mic: Yes
  • Active noise cancellation: No
  • Colourways: Black, blue, pink
  • Noise limit: 85dB

Designed for kids aged six and up, mini gamers will love these shrunken gamer-style headphones. With a retractable boom mic that has a quick-mute button (great if your parents are shouting “It’s dinner time” for the 57th time in the background), these are ideal for multiplayer gaming. We liked the almost retro look on the adjustable cups – something our tester was oblivious to, but we appreciated them looking a bit cooler than some other gaming headphones out there.

Both the cups and headband are cushioned, meaning our tester didn’t get ear ache, no matter how long they played. Speaking of endless use, the battery life is 22 hours, which should be more than enough for even the most avid user.

The JBuddies Play are wireless, but if your child prefers to be hooked up, there’s a wire to plug them in with a volume control on the cord – a nice touch, we thought.

Continue reading...

Loading...

Tonies headphones

  • Best: For young children
  • Wireless: No
  • Mic: No
  • Active noise cancellation: No
  • Colourways: Red, blue, pink, purple, grey
  • Noise limit: 85dB

Cute and lightweight, these headphones are great for younger kids – certainly our five-year-old tester was keen on the red pair we went for. The fully padded headband and small cups made wearing these lightweight headphones comfortable, and they were very easy to use – just plug in and go.

As parents, we liked the anti-tangle cord, too – and the fact it detached from the headphones. Of course, they’re made by Tonies but you can use them with any device that has a headphone jack.

With a noise limiter of 85dB, we felt really at ease with these headphones, knowing our younger children couldn’t get up to too much mischief.

Continue reading...

Loading...

StoryPhones storytelling headphones for kids

  • Best: For screen-free entertainment
  • Wireless: Yes
  • Mic: Yes
  • Active noise cancellation: No
  • Colourways: Pink, blue
  • Noise limit: 94dB

We were dumbstruck by the genius of these headphones (which are so much more than a set of headphones, by the way). They have “shields” on the cups, which connect to wifi and download stories to the headphones, so your child can listen to the audio wherever they go.

You can even record your own stories on to shields, but StoryPhones has a huge library to choose from – our tester loved the Toy Story stories. There are also ZenShields, which have relaxing tracks for quiet time.

You can also use these as wired or wireless headphones with other devices and even daisy-chain them together. Comfort wise, they’re padded on the headband and on the soft, round cups.

Continue reading...

Loading...

JLab JBuddies studio wireless over-ear folding kids' headphones

  • Best: Budget buy
  • Wireless: Yes
  • Mic: Yes
  • Active noise cancellation: No
  • Colourways: Blue, purple
  • Noise limit: 85dB

These headphones are a great midway point between younger kids’ headphones and ones for teens. They’re also very reasonably priced and have a good range of functionality.

We liked that you can daisy-chain them together, using the cable included, so our kids could watch each other game (why is this even a thing?) and we didn’t have to listen to it. Win-win. These headphones also have an integrated mic for chatting to friends (invariably while gaming).

The buttons on the side are tactile enough for older kids, though under-fives will find them tricky (and that goes for most of the wireless headphones in this list).

The whopping 24-hour battery life is a big perk. We also liked that these headphones fold, so you can shove them into a bag for going back and forth to school.

Continue reading...

Loading...

BuddyPhones pop fun wireless headphones

  • Best: For personalising
  • Wireless: Yes
  • Mic: Yes
  • Active noise cancellation: No
  • Colourways: Green, yellow, blue, white
  • Noise limit: 94dB

Our mini tester loved these bright (but not garish) headphones. The cans are small, so perfect for young children. While our tester enjoyed the stickers to customise the headphones, we liked that the fabric on the cans was mesh and didn’t become sweaty like some others can. The fact they fold up makes them practical too, as does the 24-hour battery life.

The volume limiter on this set is adjustable, so you can have them loud at 94dB, or lower at 85dB. We didn’t find the need to rack up the volume on them too high, though, as the sound quality was pretty decent.

Continue reading...

Loading...

MyFirst headphones bone conduction wireless headphones

  • Best: For those with hearing loss
  • Wireless: Yes
  • Mic: Yes
  • Active noise cancellation: No
  • Colourways: Grey, green
  • Noise limit: 85dB

These are one of the first bone-conducting headphones for children. If you’re not familiar with bone-conduction headphones, let us fill you in. These sit on your cheekbone, not in or on your ear. There are several benefits to this. One is that you can then still hear environmental sounds – great for kids walking to school. The next benefit is that people with hearing loss can use them, and hear the audio playing. One school of thought is that they reduce hearing damage, but the jury is still out on that one.

Although the colours are muted, there are stickers included and our tester loved customising their set. The headphones do take a bit of getting used to, but we’re told they work great once you do. They’re lightweight and comfortable, with soft pads on the cheekbones.

The buttons on these headphones (to control them) are small – better for more-dexterous kids. But these headphones are definitely the most lightweight option we tried. They’re even water-resistant, too.

Continue reading...

Loading...

POGS elephant on-ear wired headphones

  • Best: Wired headphones
  • Wireless: No
  • Mic: Yes
  • Active noise cancellation: No
  • Colourways: Blue, green, yellow, pink
  • Noise limit: 85dB

These have most of the features of our overall best, the Pogs gecko, except these ones are wired. The main benefit of this is that you don’t have to think about charging them. Plus, there’s no hassle in pairing them – you can just take them wherever you’re going without a second thought. Hugely handy if you have a child who likes to switch devices, or if you’re going on a flight.

You can daisy-chain them together, and they don’t need to be the same make (there’s a cable included in the box to do this). The headphones themselves are adjustable and well-padded. Our fussier tester happily wore them for a lengthy train journey without complaint. They’re also very durable, and fold up, so you can take them with you on the go.

Continue reading...

Loading...

Belkin soundform nano wireless earbuds for kids

  • Best: Earbuds
  • Wireless: Yes
  • Mic: Yes
  • Active noise cancellation: No
  • Colorways: Blue, pink, white
  • Noise limit: 85dB

If your teen has been asking you for AirPods, but you’re not sold on the idea, these might be the solution. These earbuds are truly wireless, meaning they’re not connected to a device or each other. They come with a case, which also holds charge, so when they’re nestled in the box they’re charging (you then charge the box). The headphones themselves hold five hours of charge, and the box another 19 hours.

These are no doubt better for older kids, as the controls are quite fiddly, requiring you to tap them the right amount of times to play/stop/control the volume and take calls.

The sound quality of these is very decent for the price, and we were relieved there was a noise limiter. A tween and teen will feel very grown up with them, and your wallet won’t feel as light as it would if you forked out for Apple’s version.

Continue reading...

Loading...

The verdict: Kids’ headphones

For the third year in a row, POGS gecko has taken the crown. For durability, functionality and value, we don’t think there’s anything better in the kids’ headphone market. Our testers wore them comfortably for hours, the sound quality is fantastic and they look great, too. For older kids and teens, you might want to lean towards the Belkin minis and JBLs – both are perfect for more-sophisticated tastes and have more grown-up functionality, too.

Compare the best mobile phone deals to accompany kids' headphones

Fitness tech isn’t just for grown-ups – we’ve found the best Fitbits for kids that encourage them to keep active

Voucher Codes

TUI Discount Code
£50 off 2024 bookings over £800 with this TUI discount code
ASOS Discount Code
20% off all first app orders with this ASOS discount code
Travelodge Discount Code
5% off all bookings with this Travelodge discount code
The Body Shop Discount Code
20% off everything with The Body Shop discount code
Cult Beauty Discount Code
20% off all orders over £40 - Cult Beauty discount code
The Perfume Shop Discount Code
Up to 50% off sale fragrances at The Perfume Shop

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in