Noise cancelling headphones are necessary if you like peace and quiet during long commutes or need help focusing in a busy office. ANC used to be exclusive to premium-priced headphones, but many cheaper models have emerged recently, with some even rivaling the noise isolation performance of flagship earbuds. Many earbuds at this price point also manage to cram in high-end features, like high-resolution codec support, long battery lives, and adaptive ANC systems, too. That said, the trade-off tends to come in the form of build quality, with many of our picks featuring less durable, plastic-heavy construction.
We've tested over 900 headphones, and these are the best with active noise cancelling for under $200. Need more picks? Check out the best noise cancelling headphones, the best headphones under $200, and the best noise cancelling earbuds.
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 Noise Cancelling Headphones Under $200
Noise Isolation - Full RangeNoise Isolation - Common ScenariosContinuous Battery LifehrsSports And FitnessTravelOffice WorkWireless Gaming (In Development)Wired Gaming (In Development)Audio Reproduction AccuracyNoise IsolationMicrophone (In Development)See all our test resultsFrequency Response ConsistencyThe best noise cancelling headphones under $200 we've tested are the JBL Live 780NC. These over-ears feature an ANC system that competes with flagship offerings from brands like Sony and Bose, effectively isolating you from noises across the entire frequency spectrum. The ANC strength is manually adjustable too, and you can always switch to 'Adaptive' mode or 'TalkThru' if you want to blend in some external noise to your audio. Out of the box, they have a bass-heavy sound profile that injects boom and punch into EDM mixes, with a balanced mid and treble range that aligns well with our target. You can always dial the sound in to your preference via the in-app graphic EQ and presets, though.
Their amazing 60 hours of continuous battery life will see you through even the most arduous long-haul travel days, and you can also use them wired via a USB-C-to-analog cable to connect to seatback entertainment systems. Bluetooth multipoint connectivity rounds out their impressive feature set, along with LC3 and LDAC codec support, for low-latency and high-resolution streaming, respectively. That said, their high clamping force and mediocre headband padding mean they're not the most comfortable to wear over long sessions, especially if you have a larger head. Their built-in mic renders your voice intelligible, but it's not exactly high-fidelity, so it's worth scrolling down to check out our top pick for phone calls if this is a concern.
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Best Sounding Noise Cancelling Headphones Under $200
Noise Isolation - Full RangeNoise Isolation - Common ScenariosContinuous Battery LifehrsSports And FitnessTravelOffice WorkWireless Gaming (In Development)Wired Gaming (In Development)Audio Reproduction AccuracyNoise IsolationMicrophone (In Development)See all our test resultsFrequency Response ConsistencyIf you're looking for good sound from noise cancelling headphones, check out the Sennheiser ACCENTUM Plus. These over-ears have a sound profile similar to that of the JBL Live 780NC; they offer even more bass and fewer mid- and treble-range fluctuations, so voices and instruments are reproduced more naturally. They're suitable for a variety of genres out of the box, but their companion app offers a parametric EQ, which gives you more customization flexibility than traditional presets or a graphic EQ. While their ANC system is weaker than the Q45's, especially at cutting down low rumble from plane engines, they still effectively tackle office noise, such as chatty coworkers and squeaky reclining chairs.
You can connect these headphones to up to two devices at a time, and they support the aptX Adaptive codec, which lets your device switch between high-quality and low-latency modes based on your usage. They have a well-built design, too. But while they're lightweight and don't clamp too hard, they lack padding along the headband; those with larger heads may find them uncomfortable.
If you aren't too picky about the colorway, you can occasionally find the Beats Studio Pro Wireless within budget, but their price varies considerably at different retailers. The Beats outperform the Sennheiser in noise isolation and deliver a balanced sound that works for pop, hip-hop, and various other genres. Plus, you can use their integrated digital-to-analog converter (DAC) for lossless audio via their USB-C connection. That said, they don't offer the same degree of sound customization.
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Best Noise Cancelling Headphones For Phone Calls Under $200
Noise Isolation - Full RangeNoise Isolation - Common ScenariosContinuous Battery LifehrsSports And FitnessTravelOffice WorkWireless Gaming (In Development)Wired Gaming (In Development)Audio Reproduction AccuracyNoise IsolationMicrophone (In Development)See all our test resultsFrequency Response ConsistencyThe Sony ULT WEAR are good for calls, as they block out a significant amount of noise across the whole sound range. Their ANC performs amazingly, though they attenuate slightly less bass-range noise than our top pick, the JBL Live 780NC, meaning rumbly bus engines will be slightly more audible. If you're taking a call from a noisy environment, the Sony's mic will separate your voice from background noise, ensuring you're intelligible and decently clear; it even outperforms our top pick in reproducing your voice as full-bodied and natural-sounding.
They have a bass-forward sound profile; you can pile on even more bass by toggling bass-boosting modes with their dedicated ULT button. The ULT modes are great for listening to thumpy music between calls, like hip-hop and EDM, and you can cycle through them easily. If you find the headphones' bass overwhelming, you can also adjust their sound to your liking using their companion app's graphic EQ and presets. Their design is comfortable overall, with good build quality and 44 hours of battery life, making them a good choice for the office, especially if you're on calls throughout the day. If you run out of battery, you can even use them wired in a pinch, though you'll lose out on mic functionality.
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Best Noise Cancelling Headphones Under $100
Noise Isolation - Full RangeNoise Isolation - Common ScenariosContinuous Battery LifehrsSports And FitnessTravelOffice WorkWireless Gaming (In Development)Wired Gaming (In Development)Audio Reproduction AccuracyNoise IsolationMicrophone (In Development)See all our test resultsFrequency Response ConsistencyIf you're looking to spend a little less, the best noise cancelling headphones under $100 we've tested are the Anker Soundcore Life Q20 2024. These value-driven ANC-equipped headphones have amazing noise isolation performance, effectively filtering out ambient din on planes, nearby conversations, and sharp sounds like cafe dish clatter. Their ANC isn't quite as effective as our top pick's in office settings, but their battery lasts even longer at 49 hours, easily getting you through a workweek or an intercontinental flight. They're also comfortable to wear, but they're not the most durable headphones, so be mindful of knocks and drops to their plasticky frame.
If you take a lot of calls, the mic system is fairly decent, too. These over-ear headphones feature a talk-through function that lets you quickly switch to transparency mode when you need to let the world in temporarily. Out of the box, they have a V-shaped tuning that adds clarity and weight to your audio. If you'd prefer a different sound, tweak the EQ in the companion app. That said, people who wear glasses may notice a drop in bass, so you'll want to take care when putting these on to ensure you get a good fit and seal.
For more lower-cost headphone picks, check out our recommendations for the best budget and cheap headphones.
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Best Noise Cancelling Earbuds Under $100
Noise Isolation - Full RangeNoise Isolation - Common ScenariosContinuous Battery LifehrsSports And FitnessTravelOffice WorkWireless Gaming (In Development)Wired Gaming (In Development)Audio Reproduction AccuracyNoise IsolationMicrophone (In Development)See all our test resultsFrequency Response ConsistencyIf you want the peace and quiet ANC offers without the bulkiness of over-ear headphones, check out the Anker Soundcore Space A40 Truly Wireless. While these are well below our price threshold, earbuds tend to be less expensive than over-ears, with many more options in the sub $100 range, so don't underestimate their capabilities. Their impressive ANC system effectively mitigates noise from rumbling bus engines to clinking glasses in a cafe. Thanks to their IPX4 rating, they can withstand some moisture, making them a good choice for extended gym sessions.
With a continuous battery life of just over eight hours with ANC enabled, they'll make it through most of a workday if you pop them back in the case (which holds four additional charges) when not needed. Plus, they support two-device Bluetooth multi-point if you need to juggle connections between devices. That said, they don't perform well in the microphone department, capturing your voice unnaturally. When exposed to noise, they do a decent job of isolating your voice from your environment, but you'll be drowned out in louder situations.
If you're looking for other earbud options that won't leave a huge hole in your wallet, check out our picks for the best wireless earbuds under $100.
Notable Mentions
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JBL Live 770NC:
The JBL Live 770NC are more comfortable headphones than the Sennheiser ACCENTUM Plus. The JBL have a more bassy sound profile than the Sennheiser and support virtual surround sound. That said, they don't support Hi-Res audio codecs like aptX or LDAC.
See our review -
Anker Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro:
The Anker Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro offer a slightly better ANC performance than the Anker Soundcore Space A40 Truly Wireless along with a more comfortable, stable fit. However, they're also a fair bit pricier, and their 6.9 hours of battery life falls short of that offered by the Space A40.
See our review
Recent Updates
Aug 12, 2026:
We've added the JBL Live 780 as the new top pick due to their outstanding ANC performance and broad feature set. The Anker Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro have been added as a Notable Mention too, as they offer improved ANC performance over the Anker Soundcore Space A40 at a higher price point.
Apr 13, 2026:
We've merged this article with the 'Best Noise Cancelling Headphones Under $100.' As a result, we've migrated over the Anker Soundcore Life Q20 2024 as the 'Best Noise Cancelling Headphones Under $100.'
Jan 06, 2026:
We've checked stock availability and ensured our picks are still valid. Notably, we added the Bose QuietComfort Headphones Wireless to the Notable Mentions, and switched our earbud pick to the Anker Soundcore Space A40 Truly Wireless.
May 14, 2025:
We've replaced the Jabra Elite 8 Active 2 with the Technics EAH-AZ80 as our 'Best Noise Cancelling Earbuds' pick due to the Technics' wider availability.
Feb 12, 2025:
We've rearranged the picks in this article to improve clarity and accuracy, notably changing our 'Best Sounding' and 'Best For Phone Calls' picks to the Sennheiser ACCENTUM Plus and Sony ULT WEAR, respectively.
All Reviews
Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best ANC headphones under $200 for most people. We factor in price (cheaper headphones beat 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 noise cancelling headphones reviews for under $200. Be careful not to get caught up in the details. There are no perfect headphones, and the level at which you play your music will naturally drown out the ambient noise of lower amplitudes.