Active noise cancelling (ANC) was once reserved for the most expensive headphones, but it's now available at almost every price point. In fact, regardless of price, most of our recommendations for the best headphones feature ANC systems that we've put to the test. If you want to learn more, we break our testing down in our in-depth article on noise isolation. While blocking background noise is important, factors such as sound quality, battery life, and comfort remain considerations.
Still, we've tested over 900 pairs of headphones, and if you know you're shopping at the budget end of the headphone market, check out our recommendations for the best budget-friendly noise cancelling headphones below. While this article covers noise cancelling over-ears, there are plenty of noise cancelling earbuds out there, with great ANC. If that's not your cup of tea, check out our recommendations for the best noise cancelling headphones, the best travel headphones, and the best wireless Bluetooth headphones under $100.
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. They're often on sale for around $100, so they're worth waiting for a discount if that's the top of your budget. Anker dominates the budget headphone market 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 for storage. 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 offers a graphic EQ and presets to fine-tune the headphones. Their mic also 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. 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.
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Best Cheap Noise Cancelling Headphones
Noise Isolation - Full RangeNoise Isolation - Common ScenariosRecording QualityNoise HandlingBatterySee all our test resultsAudio Reproduction AccuracyIf 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 noise as the Q45's, although our more expensive top pick does 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.
These headphones are voiced with a big dose of bass and an excited top end, 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. These are an upgrade over the previous Anker Soundcore Life Q20 Wireless, but both models' prices fluctuate. The older model has a shorter battery life and lacks companion app support and USB-C charging, so it's only worth choosing if you can find it at a lower price than the 2024 version.
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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 'Gaming Mode' that provides low-latency Bluetooth connectivity 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.
Out of the box, the Razer headphones have a relatively flat sound profile, with a touch of extra bass, making game soundtracks and sound effects seem warm. The treble range also sounds 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 a week of use without issue.
Notable Mentions
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Sennheiser ACCENTUM Wireless:
The Sennheiser ACCENTUM Wireless support aptX, have a long continuous battery life, and include an app-based EQ. They sound slightly bass-heavy by default, but retain 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 better mic recording quality, giving your voice more body and fullness.
See our review -
CMF Headphone Pro:
The CMF Headphone Pro have impressive ANC performance, though it's just a notch below the Anker Soundcore Space Q45 Wireless. The Anker are also more comfortable and have a better microphone, although fashionistas may still appreciate the CMF's more visually striking design.
See our review -
JBL Live 680NC:
If you prefer an on-ear design to the more common over-ear style, 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 they only come with a soft pouch rather than a hard case.
See our review -
TOZO HT3:
The TOZO HT3 are ANC-equipped, budget over-ears. While they stand out in this price range for their analog and USB connectivity, their noise-isolation performance isn't quite on par with the Anker Soundcore Life Q20 2024, and they don't come with a hard case. Still, their built-in mic performs a little better than the Anker headphones', which can be handy for calls.
See our review
Recent Updates
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.
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.
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.