You don't need to spend a lot of money to get active noise cancelling (ANC) headphones that compete with flagships. That said, budget noise cancelling headphones still tend to have slightly worse overall noise isolation, particularly when it comes to bass rumble from engines and similar noise sources. More budget entries also tend to sacrifice access to specialized features or have worse build quality, though this isn't a hard rule and more of a trend. Just keep in mind other factors beyond ANC, like battery life and comfort, so the headphones you choose fit your needs. This article covers noise cancelling over-ear headphones that sit around your ears, but there are also plenty of noise cancelling earbuds with great ANC if that's what you're looking for.
We've tested over 915 pairs of headphones, and below are our picks for the best budget-friendly noise cancelling headphones. For more recommendations, check out our picks for the best noise cancelling headphones and the best travel headphones.
Our How We Test Headphones article takes you behind the scenes in our lab. You'll learn how we choose and purchase products and dive into the details of our review philosophy, from testing and scoring to writing and editing.
You can also discover how we produce recommendations like this one so that you can find the best headphones (or earbuds!) for your needs.
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Best Budget Noise Cancelling Headphones
Noise Isolation - Full RangeNoise Isolation - Common ScenariosRecording QualityNoise HandlingBatterySee all our test resultsAudio Reproduction AccuracyThe Anker Soundcore Space Q45 Wireless are the best budget noise cancelling headphones we've tested. Their price hovers around the $100 mark, but they still manage to deliver amazing noise isolation performance that quiets engine rumble and chatty coworkers. However, compared to newer versions in the same product line, like the Anker Soundcore Space 2, they have a notably shorter battery life, though it's still a respectable 28 hours; they keep the top spot because their noise isolation remains the best of the bunch. The Q45 also have an auto-off timer that powers them down when you're not using them, a comfortable fit, and a hard case for storage or safe transport.
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 offers a graphic EQ and presets to fine-tune the headphones. For taking calls, their mic does an impressive job separating your voice from background noise, though you sound a bit thin and dark. Unfortunately, some owners have reported that the headband can crack over time, so it's worth treating these headphones gently.
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Best Cheap Noise Cancelling Headphones
Noise Isolation - Full RangeNoise Isolation - Common ScenariosRecording QualityNoise HandlingBatterySee all our test resultsAudio Reproduction AccuracyThe Anker Soundcore Life Q20 2024 nearly capture the same level of noise isolation as our top pick, the Anker Soundcore Space Q45 Wireless, at a lower price, making them the best cheap noise cancelling headphones we've tested. While there are other options that cost less, these headphones are a good stopping point for the cheapest possible headphones that still have excellent noise cancelling; so, they're perfect for people looking to optimize each dollar without sacrificing performance. The Q20 2024 mainly fall behind our top pick in bass range noise cancelling, so you may notice more rumbly construction noise or bus acceleration if you're sitting near the engine. There are other small sacrifices, but they won't affect noise cancelling performance: you get a pouch instead of a hard case, and the microphone has a harder time keeping your speech intelligible with background noise. Still, the Q20 2024 have almost double the Q45's battery life, clocking in at 49 hours.
The headphones have a big dose of bass and treble, so there's plenty of boom and rumble for electronic beats, while vocal lines stay bright and central in the mix. 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. They're comfortable, but their plastic build feels hollow and creaks when handled. The earpads are also prone to flaking with heavy use. If price is really a factor and you're prioritizing cost over noice cancelling performance, check out the TOZO HT3. They're normally priced lower than the Anker, but they're not as comfortable, and their noise cancelling is slightly worse across the board.
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Best Durable Budget Noise Cancelling Headphones
Noise Isolation - Full RangeNoise Isolation - Common ScenariosRecording QualityNoise HandlingBatterySee all our test resultsAudio Reproduction AccuracyBy now, you've seen us mention flaking earpads or weak headbands on our previous picks. If you're looking for a sturdier pair of headphones, the CMF Headphone Pro are the best durable budget noise cancelling headphones we've tested. Of the budget headphones we've tested, the CMF are the only headphones with brand-advertised rigorous testing of weak points like their hinges. Plus, the headphones' construction uses stainless steel in their hinges rather than primarily plastic in our other entries, which should make them sturdier. They also have a rare certification for resistance to mild water splashes if you accidentally get them a bit wet. However, the headphones' noise isolation performance isn't quite as good as the Anker Soundcore Space Q45 Wireless; it's still impressive, but there's a small hit to noise reduction across the board, so you'll hear a bit more of everything in your surroundings.
Out of the box, the headphones have a warm tuning that emphasizes thumpy kick drums and softens the attack of consonants and cymbal hits. If you want to change the tuning, you can choose from EQ presets or make tweaks yourself with a basic 3-band graphic EQ. The battery lasts for an impressive 46 hours, giving you plenty of flexibility to use the headphones for a few days without worrying about charging.
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Best Budget ANC Headphones For Low Latency
Check out the Razer Opus X Wireless if you like mobile gaming 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 low-latency Bluetooth mode for better sync between audio and video. Their ANC does a great job cutting out ambient chatter, but it isn't as effective as the Anker Soundcore Space Q45 Wireless' ANC, particularly against bass-range noise like bus engines and heavy traffic. That said, the Razer headphones have much lower latency, making them better suited for watching videos or playing mobile games.
The Razer headphones have a balanced sound profile out of the box, with a touch of extra bass that can emphasize footsteps and sound effects in games. 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 a week of use without issue.
Notable Mentions
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JBL Live 680NC:
If you prefer a headphone that rests on your ears rather than around them, the JBL Live 680NC are a good option.
They go toe-to-toe with the Anker Soundcore Space Q45 Wireless on noise isolation, but their mic isn't as good and the form factor of on-ears can be uncomfortable to many.
See our review
Recent Updates
Sep 24, 2026:
We've added the CMF Headphone Pro as a 'Durable' pick. We also verified that the remaining picks are still in stock and relevant.
Jul 30, 2026:
The CMF Headphone Pro replace the Wyze Noise-Cancelling Headphones Wireless in our Notable Mentions because they have a longer battery life and stronger ANC performance for a similar price. We also added the JBL Live 680NC to our Notable Mentions for anyone looking for an on-ear pair of budget headphones.
Jun 02, 2026:
We've added the TOZO HT3 to the Notable Mentions. While they're not on par with our other picks in terms of ANC performance, they offer great wired connectivity and mic performance at this low price point, which will appeal to some people. Otherwise, we've checked our picks and ensured they still represent the best value in the price range.
Apr 08, 2026:
We've checked that all our picks are still the best in their price range, but we haven't changed them.
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.
All Reviews
Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best budget noise cancelling headphones 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'd like to choose for yourself, here's the list of all our reviews for headphones with ANC, 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.
