Active noise cancelling (ANC) used to be a feature reserved for only the most expensive headphones. However, now you can get surprisingly decent noise cancellation at almost every price point, even if the number of options is more limited. While blocking out background noise is important, factors like sound, battery life, and comfort are still considerations.
We've tested over 860 pairs of headphones, and below are our recommendations for the best budget-friendly noise cancelling headphones. Looking for more picks? Check out our recommendations for the best noise cancelling headphones, the best travel headphones, the best noise cancelling earbuds, and the best wireless Bluetooth headphones under $100.
-
Best Budget Noise Cancelling Headphones
Noise Isolation - Full Range8.9Noise Isolation - Common Scenarios8.7Recording Quality6.1Noise Handling8.2Battery8.7See all our test resultsAudio Reproduction Accuracy6.9The Anker Soundcore Space Q45 Wireless are the best budget noise cancelling headphones we've tested. They're often on sale for around $100, and if that's as far as your budget will stretch, they're worth waiting for. Anker dominates the low-to-budget headphone price bracket with good reason. These over-ears deliver amazing noise isolation, whether you're blocking out rumbly bus engines during your commute or chatty coworkers at the office. With their ANC on, they last almost 28 hours continuously. They also have an auto-off timer to help conserve battery life when you aren't using them, and a good-quality zip case to store them in. They have a comfortable fit and support multi-device pairing, so you can stay connected to your PC and smartphone simultaneously.
Out of the box, they have a slightly warm yet still exciting sound profile. Kick drums have plenty of thump and rumble, while cymbals and hi-hats are still present and clear. If you don't like their default sound, their companion app has a graphic EQ and presets, so you can fine-tune them. Their mic also does an impressive job separating your voice from background noise, though you sound a bit thin and dark. Unfortunately, some users have also reported that their unit's headband has cracked over time, so it's worth treating these gently. Still, for the price, they're hard to beat. If you're looking for other options around their price, check out our article on the best noise cancelling headphones under $200.
-
Best Cheap Noise Cancelling Headphones
Noise Isolation - Full Range8.8Noise Isolation - Common Scenarios8.4Recording Quality7.2Noise Handling6.5Battery9.5See all our test resultsAudio Reproduction Accuracy7.3If you're looking to save money and are willing to compromise a little on microphone performance, the Anker Soundcore Life Q20 2024 are almost as good as the Anker Soundcore Space Q45 Wireless while being a fair bit cheaper. The Q20 2024's ANC system filters out almost as much as the Q45's, although our more expensive top pick do a better job isolating you from bassy sounds like rumbly bus engines. The Q20 2024 also only come with a pouch instead of a proper case, but their battery lasts almost twice as long as the Q45's, offering an impressive 49 hours of juice.
The Q20 2024 are voiced with a big dose of bass and an excited top end, producing a V-shaped frequency response by default. But, as with the Q45, if you prefer a different sound, you can use the EQ in the companion app to tweak it to your liking. While they feel comfortable to wear, the build quality seems a bit creaky due to the plastic coming across as hollow. The earpads are also prone to flaking with heavy use. It's also worth noting that while the Q20 2024 are an upgrade over the previous Anker Soundcore Life Q20 Wireless, both models can jump around in price, and if the budget is very tight, you might be able to find the previous gen for cheaper. The older model has a shorter battery life, and you'll miss out on the companion app and USB-C charging, but if those aren't dealbreakers, get whichever model you can find at a better price.
-
Best Budget ANC Headphones For Low Latency
Check out the Razer Opus X Wireless if you like mobile gaming, scrolling through social media, or watching videos during your commute, and don't want to experience audio lag. Unlike other picks on this list, these over-ears feature a 'Gaming Mode' that provides low-latency Bluetooth connectivity for better sync between audio and video. Their ANC also does a great job at cutting out ambient chatter, but struggles to isolate you from bass-range noise like a bus engine or heavy traffic. It doesn't perform as well as the Anker Soundcore Space Q45 Wireless' ANC system. However, the Anker headphones have higher latency overall, making them less suitable for watching content or playing games.
Out of the box, the Razer have a relatively flat sound profile, with a touch of extra bass, making game soundtracks and sound effects seem warm. The treble range also feels bright, and their companion app has EQ presets to help you find the right mix if you prefer a different sound. They're well-built and comfortable, but their integrated mic performs only okay, making your voice sound thin and muffled in team chat. Fortunately, their 68-hour continuous battery life will last you through nearly a whole workweek at the office and on the bus without worries.
Notable Mentions
-
Sennheiser ACCENTUM Wireless:
The Sennheiser ACCENTUM Wireless push the definition of 'budget.' Still, they offer premium features like aptX for high-quality audio and long battery life, along with an app with EQ. By default, they sound slightly bass-heavy but still have a fairly well-balanced mid-range. However, they cancel less noise than the Anker Soundcore Space Q45 Wireless.
See our review -
Sony WH-CH720N Wireless:
The Sony WH-CH720N Wireless are comfortable mid-range over-ears. While their ANC performance isn't as good as the Anker Soundcore Space Q45 Wireless, their continuous battery life is longer at 38 hours. They also have a better mic recording quality, adding more body and fullness to your voice.
See our review -
Wyze Noise-Cancelling Headphones Wireless:
The Wyze Noise-Cancelling Headphones Wireless have a decent ANC performance, but it's not as powerful as the Anker Soundcore Space Q45 Wireless, and the 22-hour battery life is outclassed. Still, they're well-built and comfortable with a less 'excited' default tuning that some may prefer.
See our review
Recent Updates
Feb 11, 2026:
The Anker Soundcore Space Q45 Wireless are our new top pick, because they're often on sale for under $100 and perform better than any headphones we've tested in the budget price range. We also removed the best budget headphones with ANC for calls, since the existing picks cover phone call use well. Finally, we removed the Skullcandy Hesh ANC Wireless from our Notable Mentions.
Oct 29, 2025:
The Anker Soundcore Life Q20 Wireless were replaced by the Anker Soundcore Life Q20 2024. Notable Mentions were revised to remove out-of-stock models, add the Skullcandy Hesh ANC, and re-add the Wyze Noise-Cancelling Headphones (which are back in stock). Otherwise, the format was refreshed to align with style standards.
Apr 30, 2025:
The Anker Soundcore Life Q35 Wireless are out of stock at most retailers. Therefore, the JBL Tune 760NC are our new pick for the 'Best Budget Headphones With ANC For Calls.'
Jan 31, 2025:
The Anker Soundcore Life Q35 Wireless are back in stock. Since their ANC system is better than the JBL Tune 760NC, the Anker are our new pick for the Best Budget Headphones With ANC For Calls. The JBL are an alternative pick for anyone who expects to take a lot of calls in noisy areas. We also updated text throughout this article as a result of Test Bench 1.8, which changed how we measure the sound profile of headphones.
Nov 06, 2024:
We removed the Anker Soundcore Life Q35 Wireless from our Notable Mentions because they're currently out of stock.
All Reviews
Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best value noise cancelling headphones to buy for most people. We factor in price (cheaper headphones win over pricier ones if the difference isn't worth it), feedback from our visitors, and availability (no headphones that are hard to find or almost out of stock everywhere).
If you would like to choose for yourself, here is the list of all our reviews for headphones with an ANC feature, sorted by their noise isolation performance. Be careful not to get caught up in the details. There are no perfect headphones. Personal taste, preference, and listening habits will matter.