Since 1982, PCMag has tested and rated thousands of products to help you make better buying decisions. See how we test.
That's why our favorite headphones for children have volume-limited modes. Other key aspects to consider include affordability, durability, and comfort. Kids tend to break, lose, and tire of things, so it's important to find a pair with all those qualities. Below are our favorite kids' headphones, along with everything you need to know before making a purchase.
In the smartphone and tablet era, kids start listening to headphones from an early age, so the risks of hearing damage apply to them as well. If you want your kid to keep their hearing pristine for as long as possible, you need to make sure they listen at reasonable volumes throughout their childhood.
As you age, you are likely to experience some level of hearing loss either because of quick, intense bursts of loud sound or sustained exposure to audio at high volumes. It should come as no surprise that headphones and earphones are often the culprits.
Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks
4.0 Excellent
The EarFun K2 Kids headphones look a little more grown-up than most others we test in this category and sound better too thanks to their commendable bass response. They offer two volume limiting modes (85dB and 94dB), sport an over-ear design that helps passively reduce surrounding noise, last up to 40 hours per charge, and use up-to-date Bluetooth standards. Best of all, they cost less than $30.
For kids who care about sound quality, the K2 Kids headphones offers the AAC codec for better-than-basic streaming fidelity on Apple devices. Parents on a strict budget should also like the affordable price.
GET IT NOW
$24.99 Amazon
Learn More
EarFun K2 Kids Review
4.0 Excellent
The Happy Plugs Play offer two main benefits: They sport a stylish Swedish design and don't get louder than 85dB. That means your kids won't suddenly outgrow the look and can't be tempted by a louder listening mode. They also sound balanced, with a focus on the mids and highs.
If your kid has minimalist design tastes, the Happy Plugs are a great option. They are also particularly suitable for use with Android devices since they support the AptX codec. Just keep in mind that you pay a premium for all these features.
GET IT NOW
$79.99 Happy Plugs
Learn More
Happy Plugs Play Review
4.0 Excellent
Look at those ears! These are among the few animal-themed headphones we've tested. They also ship with various creature stickers that add a level of personalization. All that aside, they reliably limit volume (to either 75, 85, or 94dB) and sound quite good with robust bass depth.
Whether your child likes to dress up or simply enjoys animals, you can't go wrong with these. A Study mode that prioritizes speech and filters out bass can also be helpful if your kid needs to focus on an instructor during a virtual class session.
GET IT NOW
$49.99 Amazon
Learn More
Onanoff BuddyPhones PlayEars+ Review
3.5 Good
The JLab JBuddies Pro Wireless get 35 hours of battery life and deliver a surprisingly rich bass response at safe volumes. They also hide their volume limiter switch behind the fabric of the right earcup, a slight deterrent to your kid increasing the volume limit from 85 to 95dB. Build quality isn't top-notch, but they still feel comfortable.
These are a good value for kids who prefer an over-ear design and parents who don't want to spend a lot. They are easy to travel with too, thanks to their collapsible, exceptionally lightweight design.
GET IT NOW
$21.50 Amazon
$29.99 Target
Learn More
JLab JBuddies Pro Wireless Review
3.5 Good
Most kids' headphones we test have lousy built-in mics, but the wired BuddyPhones School+ come with a boom mic that produces a loud, clear signal. They opt for a balanced sound signature with distortion-free bass and plenty of detail in the mids and highs. And you don't have to worry about recharging these.
If your kid does a lot of computer-based studying, the wired design and quality mic array of the BuddyPhones School+ make them a smart choice. They also lock the maximum volume to 85dB for safe listening.
GET IT NOW
$17.99 Amazon
Learn More
Onanoff BuddyPhones School+ Review
3.5 Good
The Onanoff BuddyPhone Pop Fun don't compete with other models on sound quality, but they earn a spot on this list because of their customizable design. They ship with color-matched stickers your kid can apply to the earcups and you can preview which ones come with each color variation before you buy. As for volume limiting, they offer 85db and 94dB listening modes.
These budget-friendly headphones should appeal to kids who want to change how their headphones look every once in a while; it's possible to remove the stickers without leaving much residue at least once.
GET IT NOW
$29.99 Amazon
Learn More
Onanoff BuddyPhones Pop Fun ReviewBuying Guide: The Best Kids' Headphones for 2024
First off, avoid headphones that don't offer volume limiting no matter what colorful patterns or popular characters are on the headband. It's a requirement to make our list due to the hearing problems continuous loud listening can cause.
(Credit: Tim Gideon)
Not every model limits volume in the same way, but our most straightforward advice is to go with Bluetooth headphones. They offer more control, whereas wired headphones partially rely on the internal amplifier of the connected computer, phone, or tablet. In the latter case, the advertised volume limit is more likely a goal rather than a completely accurate specification. Some primarily wireless models ship with audio cables for wired listening that can unlock higher volume levels, but you don't have to use them.
Of course, you can always institute a volume limit directly on your child's mobile device. In most cases, you can even password-protect these settings so your child can't change them back. We highly recommend this step for the wired options for the aforementioned reason. Just keep in mind that most volume-monitoring apps, like the Health app on iOS devices, merely measure the phone's volume output, not the output of the headphones themselves. In other words, you can max out the volume on an iPhone and get warnings that the levels are too loud, despite the headphones limiting the levels on their end. But since there are several variables at play here, we still recommend keeping the phone's volume shy of the maximum levels.
4 ways you're using your headphones totally wrong — Clarification Please4 ways you're using your headphones totally wrong — Clarification Please
Otherwise, Bluetooth headphones are easier to take around than wired models because they don't require a cable. And nearly all the devices your kid uses have some sort of Bluetooth support, meaning you don't have to worry much about compatibility. Just note that some headphones support newer versions of Bluetooth or offer higher-quality codecs than others.
The one advantage wired models have is that you don't have to worry about charging them. That said, most recent headphones we've tested can last upward of 20 hours per charge. To make charging easier, make sure to get a product that uses a USB-C port.
Most of the child-friendly models we test have an on-ear or over-ear design since in-ear models aren't popular in this realm. We would like to see some earphones in this space eventually, as different listeners have different comfort preferences. For reference, over-ear models (circumaural) tend to fit more securely and passively block out more surrounding noise than their on-ear counterparts (supra-aural).
A volume level of 85dB is a good benchmark because it's safe to listen to audio at that level for as long as eight hours continuously per The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
Ostensibly, kids can listen to headphones at louder levels for shorter periods. Many models include a 94dB mode, for example, that can compensate for airplane cabin rumble or highway noise on a car trip. Just make sure your kid takes a break after about an hour since that's the NIOSH-recommended cutoff. Although we can understand why these high-volume modes exist, we don't like how easy some are to activate (usually they are just a simultaneous button press away). Why leave their discovery up to chance or create opportunities for kids to figure out the way to listen at higher volumes? They might not yet fully understand the consequences of prolonged exposure to loud sound, after all.
Onanoff BuddyPhones PlayEars+ (Credit: Tim Gideon)
Finally, price is another major factor to consider. Most parents likely don't want to drop $100 on headphones for themselves, much less their kids, often in fear that those headphones won't last long. Your kid might quickly outgrow a model with childish stickers or animal ears, for example, or suddenly need something with a better mic array for virtual classes. The good news is that there are plenty of options for under $50.
It's worth noting that some headphones and earphones for adults use apps that allow you to institute volume limits, too. These options are only appropriate for older, more responsible kids since they cost more and might not stand up as well to rough handling. Most kids' headphones lack an app and thus don't allow you to adjust the sound with an EQ or otherwise customize the experience.
Once you choose the right kids' headphones, check out our tips on taking care of them and using them the right way.
Safe protection for your child means a high comfort level and continuous product innovation. We devote considerable attention to the smallest details. Baby ear plugs may be difficult to keep in place. Our infant noise cancelling headphones are made from multiple layers of comfortable foam, ensuring optimum fit and alignment around the ears. The no-slip headband ensures that the earmuff stays put, while the diagonal placement exerts no pressure on the fontanelle. With its easily cleaned top layer, Muffy Baby is super hygienic and durable. Every pack contains a matching, silky soft Protect & Go travel pouch to store and transport the Muffy Baby conveniently and safely.
Trust Alpine to provide the ultimate solution for infant ear protection and noise cancelling headphones for babies, so you and your little one can enjoy the world around you with peace of mind.