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, things like sound, battery, and comfort are also still considerations.
We've tested over 845 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.
Quick Look
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Best Budget Noise Cancelling Headphones
Travel7.6Office Work7.2Audio Reproduction Accuracy6.7Noise Isolation8.3Microphone (In Development)6.2Frequency Response Consistency6.0Noise Isolation - Full Range8.8Noise Isolation - Common Scenarios8.3Peaks/Dips7.3Build Quality7.0Comfort7.5Controls7.5Recording Quality6.9Noise Handling5.6Battery8.9See all our test resultsBluetooth Connection8.3The Anker Soundcore Life Q30 Wireless are the best budget noise cancelling headphones we've tested. Anker dominates the low-to-budget price bracket thanks to their high-powered noise cancelling headphones. These over-ears deliver outstanding performance, whether you're blocking out rumbly bus engines during your commute or chatty coworkers at the office. With their ANC on, they last over 44 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, meaning you can simultaneously stay connected to your PC and smartphone.
Out of the box, their excited sound profile adds thump, rumble, and boom to mixes while sibilants like cymbals are bright. If you don't like their default sound, their companion app has a graphic EQ and presets, so you can fine-tune them. Unfortunately, some users have reported that their unit's headband has cracked over time, so if you care about build quality, consider the Anker Soundcore Space One Wireless instead. Although they have a similar plastic design, they feel slightly sturdier. They also use the LDAC codec for higher-quality audio with similar app functionality. Their ANC performs well but doesn't suppress as much noise as the Q30. Still, if you're not too concerned about wear and tear, the Q30 are the better pick.
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Best Budget Headphones With ANC For Calls
Noise Isolation - Full Range5.2Noise Isolation - Common Scenarios4.1Peaks/Dips7.6Build Quality7.0Comfort7.0Controls7.3Recording Quality7.4Noise Handling7.3Battery7.9See all our test resultsBluetooth Connection8.0If you need ANC headphones for making and taking phone calls, look no further than the JBL Tune 760NC. It's rather hard to find both good ANC and a quality mic at an affordable price, which makes these stand out. These wireless over-ears have an integrated mic that makes your voice sound natural and well-balanced. As such, callers will have no problem understanding you on the other end of the line. They also do a decent job separating your voice from ambient noise, though you can still get drowned out by passing trains or loud traffic. They have an ANC system, and while they don't block out as much noise overall as the Anker Soundcore Life Q30 Wireless, they still cut out a fair amount of noise, like background conversations and humming computer fans. Their ANC has more trouble with rumbly, bassy noises, like a bus or plane engine.
These over-ears have a bass-heavy sound, which will please metal and EDM fans. The rest of their frequency response is relatively flat, making them suitable for most audio content. Their battery lasts over 40 hours, so you can get through multiple workdays without recharging. However, they don't have a companion app, meaning you can't adjust the ANC level or change the sound profile in any way. If customizability is a priority to you, consider the JBL Tune 770NC. These perform similarly to the 760NC and have an app to change their sound to your liking. The downside is their microphone performance isn't as good.
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Best Budget ANC Headphones For Low Latency
Noise Isolation6.6Peaks/Dips7.6Build Quality7.5Comfort7.5Controls7.7Recording Quality6.7Noise Handling5.9Battery8.8See all our test resultsBluetooth7.1Check 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 have a 'Gaming Mode' providing a low latency connection over Bluetooth 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 Life Q30 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 only performs okay, making your voice sound thin and muffled over 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.
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Cheapest Noise Cancelling Headphones
Travel7.9Office Work7.6Audio Reproduction Accuracy7.3Noise Isolation8.5Microphone (In Development)6.8Frequency Response Consistency5.4Noise Isolation - Full Range8.8Noise Isolation - Common Scenarios8.4Peaks/Dips6.5Build Quality7.0Comfort7.5Controls7.6Recording Quality7.2Noise Handling6.5Battery9.5See all our test resultsBluetooth Connection8.3The Anker Soundcore Life Q20 2024 are the best and cheapest noise cancelling headphones, thanks to their ANC system punching above its weight class and pricetag. However, at times these ANC headphones can sometimes cost nearly the same as our top pick when the Anker Soundcore Life Q30 Wireless periodically goes on sale. Compared to the Soundcore Life Q30, they don't filter as much low-pitched noise, and they only come with a pouch instead of a proper case, but their battery lasts an extra five hours for an impressive 49 hours of juice. Still, these cans filter out plenty of nearby chit-chat and high-pitched squeaks, like subway brakes.
They're voiced with a big dose of bass and an excited top-end, producing a V-shaped frequency response by default. You can also use the EQ settings within the company to change the sound to your tastes. 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. The Anker Soundcore Life Q20 2024 represent an upgrade to the previous Anker Soundcore Life Q20 Wireless, with some of the main changes being a companion app, a longer battery life, and a USB-C charging port. However, both models can jump around in price, and if the budget is very tight and if you don't have a strong preference for one charging port over the other or a companion app, it might be worth picking up the cheaper one that day.
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Best Noise Cancelling Headphones Under $150
Travel7.8Office Work7.7Audio Reproduction Accuracy6.9Noise Isolation8.7Microphone (In Development)7.3Frequency Response Consistency7.4Noise Isolation - Full Range8.9Noise Isolation - Common Scenarios8.7Peaks/Dips6.3Build Quality7.0Comfort7.5Controls7.8Recording Quality6.1Noise Handling8.2Battery8.7See all our test resultsBluetooth Connection8.4If you don't mind spending a little more, you can expect to see options that match the performance of some premium-priced headphones. The Anker Soundcore Space Q45 Wireless are one such case, and their price sometimes dips into the more affordable range. They feature an adaptive ANC system that adjusts itself automatically based on ambient noise levels, unlike the Anker Soundcore Life Q30 Wireless' manually controlled settings. The Anker Soundcore Space Q45 block out slightly more noise than the Q30. You'll notice this most in scenarios like busy offices, where the Q45's ANC performs amazingly well. They're also slightly better built than our top pick, which is natural given their more expensive price point.
They have a V-shaped sound profile with an emphasized bass and treble, giving rock and pop plenty of punch and brightness. Their companion app's graphic EQ also allows you to adjust the mix to fit your preferences. They're comfortable enough for long commutes or shifts, but their yoke design leaves them prone to breaking during storage and folding. If you're looking for other options at this slightly higher price range, check out our article on the best noise cancelling headphones under $200.
Notable Mentions
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Sennheiser ACCENTUM Wireless:
The Sennheiser ACCENTUM Wireless push the definition of 'budget.' Still, they offer some premium features like aptX for high-quality audio and long battery life, alongside an app with features like 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 -
Skullcandy Hesh ANC Wireless:
The Skullcandy Hesh ANC frequently come up for sale on a significant discount, making them a bargain for decent noise cancelling cans. Their ANC isn't class-redefining, but it's alright, and they might be a reasonable alternative to the JBL Tune 760NC for their mic performance, but the mic can struggle in noisy spaces.
See our review
Recent Updates
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.
Aug 13, 2024: We added the JBL Tune 770NC Wireless as an alternative to the JBL Tune 760NC Wireless, though our recommendations have stayed the same.
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 the price (cheaper headphones win over pricier ones if the difference isn't worth it), feedback from our visitors, and availability (no headphones that are difficult 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.