10 Best Noise Reduction Earplugs in 2024 – Reviews & Top Picks

There are tons of different reasons you might want to lower the noise level of the world around you. Whether you’re in a recording studio, a concert, a gun range, or you just need everything a bit quieter around you to stay calm, noise-reduction earplugs can be the answer.

But there are tons of earplugs on the market, and you don’t want to end up with a subpar product. It is a big decision, and it is why we tracked down and came up with reviews for 10 of the noise-reduction earplugs on the market today.

A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2024

Rating	Image	Product	Details
Best Overall		SureFire EP4 Sonic Defenders Plus	A great mix of quality and price Extremely durable option Low profile design	CHECK PRICE
Best Value		Mack's Ultra Soft Foam Earplugs	Very affordable option You get 50 pairs Outstanding noise reduction rating	CHECK PRICE
Premium Choice		Eargasm High Fidelity Earplugs	You get two pairs with each purchase Extremely durable option Multiple color options are available	CHECK PRICE
		LiveMus!c HearSafe Earplugs	Higher noise reduction rating Two size options Easy to clean and use	CHECK PRICE
		Hearprotek Sleeping Earplugs	Higher noise reduction rating An outstanding mix of price & performance Multiple color options are available	CHECK PRICE

The 10 Best Noise Reduction Earplugs

1. SureFire EP4 Sonic Defenders Plus – Best Overall

With the SureFire EP4 Sonic Defenders Plus you are getting the best overall noise-reduction earplugs for a multitude of reasons. First, it’s available for an outstanding mix of quality and price, which is a huge deal.

Second, they will last a long time, so you don’t have to worry about replacing them soon after you get them. They also feature a low-profile design, so they look great and work with hats, headphones, helmets, or just about anything else.

Still, while all these things are great, their signature feature is the EarLock retention rings that hold them in place and give you a secure fitment every time you use them. They might not have the highest noise reduction rating, but 24 dB is far from insignificant.

They’ll do an excellent job for you, and you don’t have to worry about quality concerns since SureFire makes them in the United States. In short, they’re exactly what high-quality earplugs should be!

2. Mack’s Ultra Soft Foam Earplugs – Best Value

While Mack’s Ultra Soft Foam Earplugs might not be the best earplugs on the market today, if you’re looking for outstanding value it’s hard to top what they offer. Not only are they available for a great price, but with a 33 dB noise reduction rating, they provide tons of protection too.

Each purchase gives you 50 pairs of disposable earplugs, so you won’t need to replace them all that often. They’re easy to use and effective, which is exactly what you want from earplugs.

Still, there’s no overlooking the disposable design, which means eventually you’ll be right back here looking to purchase more. But at this price, it’s easy to see how they’re the best noise-reduction earplugs for the money.

3. Eargasm High Fidelity Earplugs – Premium Choice

While you can’t deny that the Eargasm High Fidelity Earplugs cost a bit more than the other options on our list, we think it’s well worth the higher price tag if you can afford it. They’re incredibly durable so you won’t have to replace them for years, and there’s no denying they’re some of the most comfortable and stylish earplugs available.

They come in multiple color options, but they all feature a low-profile design so they’re barely noticeable when you’re wearing them. Not only that, but the low-profile design ensures you can wear them no matter what else you have on your head.

You get two pairs with each purchase for different-sized ears, and they come with a carrying case for easy transportation from place to place.

Still, they don’t have the highest noise reduction rating and they are a bit more expensive, so they’re not the best choice for everyone.

4. LiveMus!c HearSafe Earplugs

The LiveMus!c HearSafe Earplugs didn’t crack our top three, but it was a near miss. With a 29 dB noise reduction rating, they provide plenty of protection, and the hi-fidelity filter ensures you still get outstanding sound quality for everything that does come through.

Add in the convenient carrying case, their comfort, and the multiple size options available and it’s easy to see why they’re such a popular choice. Still, they missed our top three, which comes down to two things.

First, they’re a little more expensive. And while that isn’t a huge deal all on its own, since these reusable earplugs don’t last quite as long as other options it matters a bit more. They’re a high-quality choice, but they just narrowly missed our top three.

5. Hearprotek Sleeping Earplugs

These might be “sleeping” earplugs, but the truth is that they’ll do a great job of blocking out sound in just about any application. They have a 30 dB noise reduction rating, which is high enough for just about any application.

These Hearpotek earplugs come with two pairs of different sizes with each set, and they come with a carrying case so you can easily take them wherever you need them. Furthermore, there are multiple color options for you to pick from, and they’re available for a great price considering the quality.

The triple-flanged design does a great job of keeping noise out, but it does mean you need to be a little more careful while cleaning them, and the pull tabs make it easier to get them out but they also make them a bit more visible when you’re wearing them.

But overall, they’re a high-quality choice and you could do far worse than the Hearprotek sleeping earplugs.

6. Etymotic Research ER20XS High-Fidelity Earplugs

If you want earplugs that do a great job of filtering out sound without sacrificing sound quality, then the Etymotic Research ER20XS High-Fidelity Earplugs are exactly what you want. They come in multiple size options to help you get a secure fitment, and they’re extremely comfortable to wear for long periods.

They also have a low-profile design and are cost-effective, so you’re not spending much to get them either. But while all these things are great, the reason they made our list is their high-fidelity technology. This technology gives you the same sound quality as if you weren’t wearing earplugs, it just lowers the overall noise level.

But the tradeoff for this great sound quality is the overall noise reduction rating. At 20 dB it’s one of the lowest options on our list, but it’s still high enough for most activities.

7. Howard Leight Laser Lite Foam Earplugs

The Howard Leight Laser Lite Foam Earplugs are another disposable earplug option that you’ll want to consider if you’re on a tight budget. While you’ll have to spend a little more upfront for these earplugs, since you’re getting 200 pairs with each purchase, it’s the lowest cost per pair on our list.

But not only are they available at a great price, but they provide 32 dB of noise reduction, so you know you’re getting great noise reduction and hearing protection.

Each earplug is extremely lightweight and easy to see, so if you need them somewhere for compliance reasons, everyone will know you’re wearing them.

Still, they are disposable earplugs, and even with 200 pairs, eventually, you’ll need to purchase more if you’re using them consistently.

8. Mixerfy Earplugs

If you want noise-reduction capabilities but still want to hear some of the world around you, the Mixerfy Earplugs are a great choice. With a 23 dB noise reduction rating, you won’t want to take these earplugs to the gun range or anything similar, but for concerts or other loud events, they can be an outstanding choice.

They come with a carrying case that clips onto a standard keychain, so you don’t have to worry about not having them when you need them. The earplugs themselves are very comfortable, easy to clean, and are easy to use too.

Add in the excellent price and it might be hard to see why they’re near the bottom of our list. But the problem is that they don’t provide a ton of noise reduction compared to other options and they don’t last the longest.

9. Hearos Xtreme Foam Earplugs

The Hearos Xtreme Foam Earplugs are yet another disposable earplug option to make our list. With a 32 dB noise reduction rating, they do an outstanding job for any application where you need to reduce noise. But if you want something that lets in some noise, these aren’t the way to go.

Each box of these disposable earplugs comes with 100 pairs and they’re all very easy and effective to use. They all come from the United States too, so you shouldn’t have to deal with any quality control issues.

Still, they are disposable and each box does cost a bit more, even if the cost per pair is on the lower end of things.

10. Moldex 6800 Pura Fit Disposable Earplugs

The Moldex 6800 Pura Fit Disposable Earplugs might be the last option on our list, but they beat out a ton of other choices to get here. As disposable earplugs, you need to know that you will need to replace them eventually and because they cost a little more per pair, that’s a bigger deal with these earplugs.

Still, they do an outstanding job of noise reduction with a 33 dB rating, and they’re very easy to use. Moreover, while you’re paying a little more per pair since you’re only getting 50 pairs that’s still a lower upfront cost.

If you don’t plan on using the earplugs a ton and you just need some around for the odd job or task, these earplugs might be just what you’re looking for.

Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Noise Reduction Earplugs

There are a ton of great earplug options out there, but they don’t all thrive in every application. Because of this you need to know what you plan on using them for and what you need for each application to get the right headphones for you.

It can be a lot to try and figure out on your own, and that’s why we came up with this buyer’s guide to walk you through everything you need to know to get the perfect earplugs for whatever you need.

Noise Reduction Rating

One of the most important numbers you need to look at for every earplug on our list is the noise reduction rating. This number simply refers to the number of decibels the earplugs will lower the surrounding sound.

For instance, if you’re using an air tool that produces 100 dB of noise, an earplug with a 25 dB noise reduction rating will lower the noise level in your ear to 75 dB. It will not completely eliminate the noise, but it can lower it to a safe and more manageable level for you!

Getting a Secure Fitment

It doesn’t matter what earplugs you go with, if you want them to work correctly you need to ensure you use them correctly, and that all starts with getting a secure fit.

You need them to sit completely inside your ear canal and expand out to fill and completely block everything out. Otherwise, sound will slip past the earplugs and you won’t get the correct noise reduction.

Not only will this make everything louder for you, but if you’re in an area with unsafe noise levels you can end up with damaged hearing simply because you thought you were getting a level of protection you weren’t!

Disposable vs. Reusable

Two of the most common types of earplugs on our list are disposable and reusable. There’s no wrong choice with either option, but there’s likely a better choice for you. In the end, it all comes down to what you need.

If you only need earplugs for you, reusable earplugs are likely the better long-term option. However, if you don’t use them very often or you need them for multiple people, disposable options might be the better choice.

What Is High-Fidelity?

If you’re looking at our list, you’ll notice a few options are “high-fidelity” earplugs. But what exactly does that mean and when do you want them?

In short, high-fidelity earplugs do everything they can to send the same quality while lowering the volume of the sound reaching your ear. This is a big difference compared to regular earplugs that simply try to block out all the noise and muffle the sound in the process.

High-fidelity earplugs are great for recording studios, concerts, or even everyday life if you just want a bit less noise. However, they don’t typically reduce noise levels quite as much as traditional earplugs, so they’re usually not an excellent choice for gun ranges and other extremely loud locations.

Conclusion

After reading through the reviews and buyer’s guide, you should have at least some idea of what earplugs are right for you. But if you don’t, consider the SureFire EP4 Sonic Defenders Plus. They do a great job of filtering out noise and they’ll last a long time.

Of course, if you still need more time to figure it out and need something to hold you through, Mack’s Ultra Soft Foam Earplugs can hold you through. They’re a super affordable choice, although they are a disposable earplug option.

See also: 10 Best Ear Protection for Construction – Reviews & Top Picks

Featured Image Credit: Thermchai, Shutterstock