Office headphones are typically versatile headsets used at work or in an office-like environment. You'll want something comfortable enough to last an entire workday without causing fatigue, a battery that won't need charging halfway through the day, and an excellent active noise cancelling (ANC) feature that can help you concentrate on your work by blocking background noise and chatty coworkers. Additionally, headphones with minimal leakage mean that you can crank up your music without bothering your nearby colleagues.
We've tested over 820 pairs of headphones, and below are our recommendations for the best headset for office use. Also, check out our picks for the best noise cancelling headphones and the best noise cancelling earbuds. If you want to improve your workstation further, check out our recommendations for the best ergonomic mice and the best ergonomic keyboards.
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones Wireless are the best headphones for work we've tested. These high-end headphones have a very comfortable fit for long days at work. Like most Bose headphones, they have a powerful ANC system that can easily block out chatty coworkers and whiny A/C fans. With their ANC on, they last about 29 hours continuously, so they can get you through multiple days without recharging. They also support multi-device pairing so you can stay connected to your smartphone and PC simultaneously.
They have a bass-rich sound profile out of the box, but voices are present and clear, so they're suitable for phone calls and meetings. If you prefer a different sound, it can also be customized with a graphic EQ and presets in their companion app. They support the aptX Adaptive codec, which helps lower latency when streaming video. Their integrated mic makes your voice sound clear and natural and adequately separates it from background noise.
If you're looking to retain the top-tier noise cancellation of the Bose at a more affordable price, consider the stepped-down Bose QuietComfort Headphones Wireless. They're the predecessor to the QuietComfort Ultra and have a similarly powerful ANC system to effectively block noise in a bustling office space. That said, their microphone performs worse, especially when separating your voice from a noisy environment—they're not ideal if you work in a noisy environment and can't book a room for a voice call. You'll also miss out on extra immersion provided by virtual soundstage features to help keep you dialed in on your next productivity sprint.
The Razer Barracuda Pro Wireless are the best headphones for work in the upper mid-range we've tested. At this price point, it's unlikely that you'll find nearly the same high-powered noise cancellation performance as the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones Wireless. These headphones have a longer battery life than our top pick, but they don't have the same premium-level comfort. The Razer's integrated mic has a decent performance, so your voice is clear and intelligible when you take calls or attend online meetings. They come with a wireless dongle that you can connect to your computer, and since they also support Bluetooth, you can use both technologies simultaneously to stay connected to your smartphone and PC. Additionally, both their Bluetooth latency using 'Game Mode' and dongle latency are quite low, so your headphones won't cause significant audio-visual desync on video calls.
Their ANC system does a great job of blocking background noise like office chatter. They're well-built, but the hinges are a bit creaky, which can be annoying. Their versatile sound profile is suitable for most genres, and if you prefer a different sound, their companion app offers a graphic EQ and presets. If you're keen on saving USB ports on your laptop or tablet but still want to connect to your phone at the same time, consider the Sony ULT WEAR. Their ANC is similar in performance, and they support multi-device pairing through Bluetooth. That said, you'll miss out on extra features like microphone ANC and a noise gate when using the Razer with its dedicated dongle.
The Anker Soundcore Space Q45 Wireless are the best mid-range headphones we've tested for work. These cheaper headphones have a sturdy build and a comfortable fit for most people. Their ANC feature does a fantastic job of blocking out a wide range of ambient sound, including noise like background conversations at the office. The integrated mic doesn't make your voice sound as full-bodied as the Razer Barracuda Pro Wireless but does a better job of separating it from noise, which is a bonus if you work in a pretty noisy office.
Their continuous battery life of around 28 hours easily lasts through a few workdays. You can also listen to audio passively with the included cable. Their V-shaped sound profile adds a lot of extra rumble and punch to your audio. Instruments and voices can sound harsh, but you can use the in-app graphic EQ and presets to adjust the sound. The headphones don't leak much audio, so even if you like to listen to loud music at work, it won't bother people nearby. They also support multi-device pairing, which is nice if you connect to your phone and computer simultaneously.
If you're looking for a more budget-friendly option, you might prefer Anker Soundcore Life Q30 Wireless. These headphones are significantly cheaper than the Anker Soundcore Space Q45 Wireless but have a comparable ANC performance. They're very effective at blocking noise like rumbling engines on a busy street outside your office window. The Q45 are better at reducing mid-range noise, like background chit-chat, but the Q30 still block out a good amount.
These headphones last around 44 hours of continuous use, so you don't need to recharge them daily. They're comfortable for most people and are decently well-built, although some users have reported that the headband breaks over time. The integrated mic has an alright recording quality, so recorded speech is clear and understandable. However, compared to the Q45's mic, it struggles to separate your voice from ambient sound, so it's not ideal for calls from a chaotic living room or lively bullpens.
They have a bass-heavy sound profile, but the balanced mid-range helps ensure that voices sound clear and detailed. Their app also features a graphic EQ and presets for sound customization, and they support multi-device pairing. However, they leak much more audio than the Q45, so people nearby can hear your music if you crank up the volume. If you're worried about bothering people in a quiet place, you might prefer the Wyze Noise-Cancelling Headphones Wireless, which can't block out as much noise but leak much less audio.
If you're keeping your spending to a minimum, try the Anker Soundcore Life Q20 Wireless instead. Even though this is the third Anker pick in a row, it's no surprise that this manufacturer dominates the lower-end market, thanks to their powerful ANC systems, which are uncommon in over-ears at this price point. They may not provide the same level of noise isolation as the previous pick, the Anker Soundcore Life Q30 Wireless, but they can still cut down on a good amount of ambient sound. They also last over 32 hours continuously, which will easily get you through long days at the office.
Like their successor, these headphones have a bassy sound; they even have a 'BassUp' feature if you want to add more thump and rumble to your audio. They have a comfortable and lightweight fit, although their design feels plasticky. If you need to take calls, their integrated mic offers decent recording quality, making your voice easy to understand. However, background sound can drown out speech if you work in a busy office. These over-ears also lack multi-device pairing, so you can't connect them to your computer and phone simultaneously.
If you spend a lot of time at work on the phone or in meetings, the Jabra Evolve2 85 Wireless is the best office headset for calls we've tested. Unlike the other headphones on this list, they're specifically for business calls. They have a boom microphone, which sits closer to your mouth and offers better performance than the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones Wireless'. It makes your voice sound clear and natural and has decent noise handling, even in loud environments, meaning background conversations or traffic outside the window won't drown you out.
The headphones also have an integrated mic you can enable in their companion app, although you can't detach the boom mic, it can be flipped up and out of the way. Their sound profile is well-balanced, and elements like voices in your audio are present and clear. However, they have a much weaker noise isolation performance than the Sony, especially when blocking noise like rumbling engines. Still, the ANC feature does a good job of blocking out mid-range sounds like voices, so it can still be helpful in a busy office or call center. They support multi-device pairing via Bluetooth and also come with a wireless USB dongle that you can plug into your computer for quick pairing. However, they have high latency via USB, so you might notice audio lag if you use the dongle.
If you're alright with the headset form factor, consider checking out our best gaming headsets; they typically feature boom mics and low latency, though most entries won't have ANC.
The Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 are the best earbuds for work that we've tested. These sturdy earbuds have a comfortable fit for long days at the office. Their ANC system blocks out a remarkable amount of noise, isolating you from the traffic outside your window to background conversations. They also leak very little, so you can crank up the volume without bothering people nearby. They last just under eight hours of continuous use and have a flat sound profile that suits a wide variety of audio and will ensure whoever you're talking to sounds natural and detailed. Their integrated mic makes your voice sound full-bodied but lacking detail and sparkle, which is normal for Bluetooth earbuds. It records voices clearly enough and does a great job separating your voice from any noise around you, so you can take a call in a noisy place without being drowned out.
They have an intuitive control scheme that makes it easy to answer and decline calls without looking at your phone. While they're comfortable for most people, you may find their deep in-ear fit puts too much pressure on your ears after a while. If you wear your earbuds all day and want something more comfortable, you might prefer the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds Truly Wireless. Though they're not quite as effective as the Jabra at noise isolation, the Bose still have fantastic ANC and a more comfortable fit for most people. However, they do a poor job separating your voice from any noise around you, and they leak a little more audio, which might be annoying to nearby colleagues if you like to blast tunes while at the office.
The Bowers & Wilkins Px8 Wireless are premium over-ears. They're as comfortable as the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones Wireless but don't block out as much noise across the entire frequency range. However, they're better built and have a longer continuous battery life.
See our reviewThe Devialet Gemini II True Wireless are premium in-ears with an outstanding noise isolation performance similar to the Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2. They're comfortable and well-built, with an integrated mic that has great noise handling. Though they're among the best earbuds for work we've tested, their continuous battery life lasts less than five hours with the ANC on compared to the Jabra's eight hours, so you'll need to recharge via the case during long workdays. They're also very expensive.
See our reviewThe Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 4 are an alternative pick if you want noise cancelling earbuds with a good mic. While true wireless earbud mics can't outdo a dedicated boom mic, these have a better recording quality than the Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2. On the other hand, they don't do as good a job at separating your voice from any noise around you, and people with smaller ears might find them a bit bulky.
See our reviewWe've made updates to the text to improve clarity and included the Bose QuietComfort Headphones Wireless and Sony ULT WEAR as options in the 'Best Headphones' and 'Best Upper Mid-Range' categories, respectively.
The Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 True Wireless replace the Sony WF-1000XM5 Truly Wireless as our 'Best Office Earbuds' pick for their superior microphone and ANC performance. We also removed the Jabra Elite 10 True Wireless from our Notable Mentions because they're older than the Elite 8 Active Gen 2 and don't perform as well.
Aug 08, 2024: We added the Jabra Elite 10 True Wireless to our Notable Mentions but didn't make any changes to our picks.
May 13, 2024: We've added the Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 4 as a Notable Mention and removed the Wyze Noise-Cancelling Headphones Wireless because they're unavailable. Otherwise, minor text edits have been made throughout.
Mar 11, 2024: We've removed the Sennheiser PXC 550-II Wireless from our Notable Mentions, as they appear to have been discontinued, and added the Bowers & Wilkins PX8 Wireless instead. Otherwise, we've checked stock levels for all our picks and made no changes.
Our recommendations above are a few options if you're looking for the best headphones for working from home or the office 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, ranked by their suitability for office use. Be careful not to get caught up in the details. There are no perfect headphones. Personal taste, preference, and where you use the headphones will matter more in your selection.
What do you think of our picks? Let us know below.
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Interesting. Tried few of them. Even from Jabra (85,65). For office work in noisy environment, Jabra was best of them. Key was boom mic and ANC. But there is one thing, which Jabra failed in this gen - sidetone and how it works with ANC. I dont know if they solved it already. But I had reply from R&D, that it cant be fixed. Sidetone was ok on previous gen of jabra evolve. Also, it is far superior on Poly Voyager Focus 2. And thats headset I ended up with. Absolute best. No other (Sony, Bose, Jabra) couldnt keep up. Of course, its subjective. But incompetency of Jabra communicating sidetone function (lot of frustrated users, when I tried to solve it) is alarming. There were 4 people in our office, who bought same model as me. And returned/sold them as me after discovering this flaw. Aside from sidetone Jabra was great product!
Thanks for your comment, I was using Jabra Evolve2 75 for 3 years. They are simply the best. Unfortunately, in this model, there is a hardware issue where mic get broken after about 1 year of heavy usage. I got 3 warranty replacement during that time. I can guess this issue is with all Jabra headset with mic boom type.
Today I got the same issue, and decided to return them. They are simply unreliable during call activity. I have just found Poly Voyager Focus 2. Next week I have a plan to test them :)