If you prefer the comfort, ease of use, and sound quality of over-ear headphones, you surely know how challenging it can be to find the best bang for your buck. There are many options out there, but how do they stack up? It depends on what you're looking for: some models are more versatile, with noise cancelling and Bluetooth for added convenience while commuting. However, gamers will want something with lower latency, and audiophiles will focus most on sound quality and comfort. Fortunately, there's something for everyone, even under $100.
We've tested over 425 pairs of over-ear headphones, and below are our recommendations for the best headphones with an over-ear design under $100. If you're looking for our top picks for other over-ear headphones, check out our recommendations for the best over-ear headphones, the best wireless Bluetooth headphones, and the best over-ear headphones for working out.
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 Over-Ear Headphones Under $100
The best over-ear headphones under $100 that we've tested are the Anker Soundcore Life Q30 Wireless. These lightweight, well-built headphones are a good option if you're looking for all-around casual use. They have a comfortable fit and about 44 hours of continuous battery life to get you through long flights or a few days at work. Their ANC does a good job blocking out rumbling engines and background chit-chat, making them the best ANC headphones on this list.
Out of the box, their V-shaped sound profile brings out the thump, rumble, and boom in your audio, while voices and lead instruments are bright. This sound is well-suited for genres like rock and pop and can be adjusted with a graphic EQ and presets in the headphones' companion app. That said, the headphones also leak quite a bit of sound, so if you're listening to music at the office, people nearby might hear it.
If you're looking to save some cash, you can also check out the Edifier W800BT Pro, which offer a comparable feature set and ergonomics at a lower price. The Edifier have a more balanced default sound and a better-performing mic too. That said, the Anker's battery life is double the length, and their ANC system performs slightly better.
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Best Over-Ear Headphones Under $100 For Build Quality
While it's common to see manufacturers cut corners when it comes to build quality at this price point, the CMF Headphone Pro bucks the trend. As with our other picks, they use a lot of plastic in their construction, but the stainless steel used in their hinges points to better durability. They also feature replaceable earpads and a rating against water splashes. That said, they're not as comfortable as our top pick, the Anker Soundcore Life Q30 Wireless, and their mic can make your voice sound a little distant.
Other standout features include LDAC support for high-resolution streaming and an excellent ANC system that can tamp down on external noise across the entire frequency spectrum. They can last up to 37 hours off a single charge using LDAC, which increases to 46.1 hours using AAC. Rounding out the feature set is Bluetooth multi-device pairing with up to two devices, along with wired analog connectivity, for compatibility with in-flight entertainment systems. Just be aware that the headphones need to be charged and powered on to use a wired connection, and you'll lose mic support.
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Best Over-Ear Headphones Under $100 For Calls
The best over-ear Bluetooth headphones under $100 for calls that we've tested are the JBL Tune 760NC. These headphones fluctuate in price, but if you can find them for under $100, they offer a better microphone performance than the other options in the article. The integrated mic makes your voice clear and natural and does a decent job of separating it from ambient sound, so distractions like traffic outside your window or a humming A/C unit won't disrupt calls very much. Though they have a comfortable design, they can feel tight, especially if you have a large head. And unfortunately, their ANC feature doesn't have the best performance, so if you work in a busy office, you might prefer the Anker Soundcore Life Q30 Wireless, our top pick.
The 760NC have a long continuous battery life of more than 40 hours, which is more than enough to get you through several workdays without recharging. They also have a warm sound profile, though the balanced mid-range ensures voices are detailed and clear. That said, they lack companion software and customization features. If those options are important to you, consider the JBL Tune 770NC, which have an app and EQ support, but a slightly worse-performing mic.
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Best Over-Ear Wireless Gaming Headphones Under $100
If you're looking for headphones that deliver a solid wireless gaming experience at an affordable price, then the Logitech G535 LIGHTSPEED Wireless could be right up your alley. These comfortable headphones have a balanced default sound that's well-aligned with our target curve. A slight boost in the high bass allows footsteps to be clearly discerned in-game, and their built-in mic also does a solid job of rendering your voice in a natural and detailed way, so you can stay in the loop with your teammates. While they retail for slightly more than $100, they can often be found on sale at a lower price point.
While they offer a low-latency performance using their wireless dongle, there's no option to use them wired. There's also no ANC feature, so they're best used in a controlled environment like a gaming room. That's probably for the best anyway, as you can't detach the mic for a more casual look if you decide to wear them outside. Their 35 hours of battery life will be enough to get you through some serious marathon gaming sessions, too. If you're looking for a longer battery life or want the option to use your headphones wired, check out the Razer BlackShark V2 HyperSpeed Wireless. They have over double the battery life and work via wired USB with PC and PlayStation. That said, neither of these are compatible with any Xbox consoles, which is a dealbreaker if you're on Team Green.
You can also check out our picks for the best budget and cheap gaming headsets for more inexpensive, gamer-centric headphone picks.
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Best Audiophile Over-Ear Headphones Under $100
If you're looking for dedicated headphones for listening to music, look at the Philips SHP9500. These are the best audiophile headphones under $100 that we've tested, and unlike the Anker Soundcore Life Q30 Wireless, they're wired and have an open-back design. As a result, they let in a lot more background noise and leak a lot of your audio, so they're most suited for listening in controlled environments.
These very comfortable over-ears have a well-balanced sound, ensuring vocals and instruments are clear and natural in mixes. They lack a little thump and rumble in the bass, but the mid and treble ranges are almost flat, vocals don't sound honky, and sibilants and cymbals are bright without sounding piercing. If you want headphones for music that block out a little more background sound and leak less audio, you might prefer the closed-back Sony MDR-7506. Although they're pricier, their sound packs a bit more low-end thump, and they bleed less audio at high volumes. On the flip side, they're not as comfortable.
Notable Mentions
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Anker Soundcore Life Q20 2024:
The Anker Soundcore Life Q20 2024 are a refreshed version of the Anker Soundcore Life Q20 Wireless. While they're technically a tier down from the Anker Soundcore Life Q30 Wireless, they offer a comparable ANC performance, and their out-of-the-box sound profile is similarly bass-heavy. However, the Q20 don't tamp down on low-frequency sounds quite as effectively as the Q30.
See our review -
Superlux HD 681:
The Superlux HD 681 are semi-open-back audiophile headphones that pack a bit more low-end punch than the Philips SHP9500. Their balanced sound suits most genres but shines with hip-hop and EDM. Unfortunately, their poor, plasticky build quality lets them down, and they're not as comfortable as the Philips.
See our review
Recent Updates
Nov 09, 2026:
We've added the Edifier W800BT Pro as an alternative to our top pick due to their balanced sound at a lower price point. We've also added the CMF Headphone Pro as a Notable Mention due to their solid build quality. Otherwise, we updated the text throughout to improve clarity and ease of decision-making.
Jun 16, 2026:
We've trimmed down the text further and verified the picks are still available and appropriate for the article.
Mar 17, 2026:
While our picks remain the same, we've updated the article text to improve clarity and conciseness.
Dec 19, 2025:
We've checked this article, but have kept our picks the same as we believe they represent the best value at the moment. However, we've added the refreshed Anker Soundcore Life Q20 2024 as a Notable Mention.
May 01, 2025:
We've removed our LDAC pick as the Anker Soundcore Q35 Wireless are not consistently in stock. We've also removed our low-latency pick as there aren't any sub-$100 picks with low, application-independent Bluetooth latency.
All Reviews
Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best headphones under $100 with an over-ear design 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 of over-ear headphones under $100. Be careful not to get caught up in the details. There are no perfect headphones. Personal taste, preference, and listening habits will matter more in your selection.