Loud noises can be really unpleasant, especially when you’re subjected to them for hours at a time.
Worse yet, if you’re subjected to noise levels of 85 decibels or above for an 8 hour shift, this can damage your inner ear and lead to irreparable severe hearing loss.
To avoid such a scenario, you must endeavor to do everything in your power to protect your ears from high levels of noise.
But the good news is that this is very easily achieved. And you can do it without having to wear a headband. All you have to do is buy yourself some really good earplugs.
Lucky for you, we’ve been checking out some of the best noise reducing ear plugs out on the market at the moment. And after much deliberation, we were able to hand pick our top few favorites to review for you here today. That’s coming up very shortly.
But if you haven’t really looked into it just yet, you may still be a little unsure what to look out for. Which is why we’ve also put together a handy buying guide for you that follows the earplug reviews. You can use it as a little checklist before you buy.
Then we’re going to top that off with a section where we tackle some of your most frequently asked questions on the subject.
And, without further ado, let’s get straight to it.
OUR TOP PICK
Talk about flying off the shelves!
This is hands down one of the biggest selling earplugs with the leading online retailers. There has been well over a whopping 29,000 customer ratings on Amazon, and that’s just from those who bothered to leave a rating.
Better yet, the average customer rating still comes out at a very impressive 4 and a half stars out of 5. With reviews praising their value for money and their durability in particular.
These earplugs have won the title of Amazon’s Choice in the category of earplugs. Such a title is only given to products that are both of excellent quality and are also available at a good and reasonable price.
These disposable earplugs are made with ultra soft foam and are designed to fit snugly in your ear canal, and this makes them comfortable to wear, even for long work shifts.
They have an NRR of 33 dB, which basically means that they reduce the noise levels in the surroundings going to your ears by up to a whopping 33 decibels. That’s the best noise reduction capability within this brand’s range. They’re perfect for protecting your ears from loud and bothersome sounds.
This beige color option is the most popular one across the brand. Presumably because it’s less noticeable than their other colors and draws less attention.
It comes in a jar of 50 pairs, so if you’re only using them for weekday shifts Monday through to Friday and you’re disposing of them after just one shift, then one jar will last you 10 whole weeks. (Some people use them at their own discretion and only dispose of them after several uses.)
We were also reassured to learn that this is a brand recommended by doctors, and that they’re made right here in the USA.
We’re also pleased to report that these earplugs are available on Amazon’s Subscribe and Save scheme, which allows you to save 15% on repeat deliveries. You can cancel anytime and there are no fees for this service.
Amazon occasionally has deals on these particular ear plugs, simply click on “Check Price” to see if there’s a deal on now.
Pros:
- Flying off the shelves & great ratings
- Comfortable to wear during long shifts
- Noise reduction rating of 33 decibels
- Winner of the title of Amazon’s Choice
- One jar should last at least 10 weeks
- Available on Subscribe and Save scheme
Cons:
- Some customers have said that they with these earplugs were more tapered
EDITORS CHOICE
When we saw the phenomenal customer ratings on these ear plugs, we just had to see what all the fuss was about - and we weren’t disappointed.
After well over 400 individual customer ratings these earplugs still came out with an impressive average Amazon customer rating of a full 5 stars out of 5. And they were highly rated for a number of specific features, including noise level, noise cancellation, comfort and value for money.
But when we saw what brand they were from, we were no longer surprised. 3M is hands down one of the very best brands in the hearing protection industry.
These disposable earplugs have an NRR of 29 dB. And what this means is that these earplugs can reduce the noise levels from your surroundings reaching your ears by up to a substantial 29 decibels. This can help to make loud work noise less bothersome, and can help to prevent any ear damage that could lead to hearing loss.
We were also impressed with just how many earplugs you get in the box. There are a total of 200 pairs (not singles) in the box, which means if you only use one pair for each weekday’s work shift, then one box will last you a total of 40 weeks. Or in other words, over 8 months. Or longer if you decide to use each pair more than once.
It’s available on Amazon’s Subscribe and Save scheme, which saves you money if you order repeat deliveries.
Now, disposable earplugs are normally very easy to lose because they’re so small. But these ones are bright high-visibility yellow, so you can easily spot them anywhere.
Pros:
- Phenomenal customer ratings
- They come from the best brand
- Reduces noise levels by 29 dB
- One box lasts more than 8 months
- Available on Subscribe & Save
- They’re high-visibility yellow
Cons:
- Not available on the Subscribe and Save scheme
- They’re relatively expensive for disposable earplugs, but we would argue that they’re still great value for money.
BEST VALUE
Now, if you’re looking for reusable earplugs rather than disposable ones, these are hands down the best ones we could find. They’re a bestseller with the leading online retailers where they’ve been met with excellent customer ratings and reviews.
These earplugs have an NRR of 21 dB, which means that it reduces surrounding noise levels reaching your ears by up to 21 decibels.
The great thing about reusable earplugs, is that you never have to worry about buying new, or keeping track of how many you have left.
But what’s really great about these particular earplugs is that they have built-in attenuation filters, and this means that you get high fidelity sound but no distortion, which is great for those who need to be able to hear at least some of what’s going on around them.Perfect for musicians.
These earplugs are hypoallergenic which means that they won’t itch. They are made from silicone which means that they’re non-toxic and comfortable to wear all day or all night.
Now, one of the common drawbacks of earplugs compared to ear muffs is that they’re very small and easy to lose, and if you lose your reusable ones, you may not have any well fitting spares for your next shift.
However, these earplugs come with their own portable (and waterproof) carry case which can be carried as a key ring, so you can keep them safe and close at hand wherever you are.
Every box contains two shell sizes, a standard size and a smaller one. Simply use the one that fits best.
There are 3 color options available, including rainbow, for a funky look, transparent to go unnoticed, or a traditional blue.
Amazon occasionally has deals on these particular earplugs, simply click on “Check Price” to see if there’s a deal on now.
Pros:
- Best selling reusable earplugs
- Reduces noise levels by 21dB
- You can still hear if you need to
- Hypoallergenic & comfortable
- Comes with its own carry case
- Each pack contains two sizes
Cons:
- Because they are reusable earplugs rather than disposable ones they do require regular cleaning
- The Eargasm cleaning kit does not come in the box and has to be purchased separately
RUNNER UP
When we saw the SNR on these earplugs, we knew we had to include them in our shortlist!
The SNR rating for these disposable earplugs is 38 decibels of hearing protection, while it’s NRR rating is 31 decibels of noise reduction. This means that whatever noise level your surroundings are, what you will hear through these earplugs will be 31 decibels lower.
This should really make your work surroundings sound much quieter.
They’re made of super soft skin-friendly PU foam, meaning that they’re non-toxic and comfortable to wear.
There are 60 pairs in each jar, which means that if you only use one pair for each weekday’s work shift, then one box will last you a total of 12 weeks, which is about 3 months. And they’ll last longer if you use each pair for more than one shift each.
But that’s not all. The jar also comes with a pair of reusable silicone plugs, and a handy carry case.
It’s available on Amazon’s Subscribe and Save scheme, which saves you money if you order repeat deliveries.
If you don’t fancy the pale lake blue color, there’s also a lime green or a pink to choose from. All 3 colors are highly visible, making them easy to find if you forget where you put them down.
They’re a bestseller with the leading online retailers and they’ve been me with really positive customer ratings and reviews.
Amazon occasionally has deals on these particular earplugs, simply click on “Check Price” to see if there’s a deal on now.
Pros:
- Reduces noise by 31 decibels
- They’re soft and comfortable
- You get 60 pairs total in the jar
- Also comes with a reusable pair
- Comes with a handy carry case
- Available on Subscribe and Save
- There are some great color options
Cons:
- These earplugs are not waterproof
RUNNER UP
If you’re looking for reusable earplugs that are available at a bargain affordable price, this could be exactly what you’re looking for...
They’re made of flexible silicone, and in the box you get four sizes of eat tips for each ear plug (not each pair). So you can choose the size that best fits your ears, whether it’s extra small, small, medium or large. And once in they stay put. You don’t have to worry about them falling out.
They have an NRR of 27 dB, which basically means that they reduce the surrounding noise levels by 27 decibels before they get to your ear. And this can really help to reduce bothersome noise at work. Or in other settings for that matter.
We also love the fact that they come with their very own portable carry case. Very handy.
They’re available in several different color options, including black, blue, green, pink, red and white.
The only downside is that because they’re reusable ones rather than disposable, they require regular cleaning. But you can easily do this with a little dish washing soap.
Amazon occasionally has deals on these particular earplugs, simply click on “Check Price” to see if there’s a deal on now.
Pros:
- Bargain, excellent value for money
- Reduces outside noise by 27 decibels
- Several different sizes are provided
- They come with a portable carry case
- 6 great color options to choose from
Cons:
- Because they’re reusable ones rather than disposable, they require regular cleaning
Best Earplugs For Work Buying Guide
As promised, here’s your buying guide. Here are some points to consider before you buy.
NRR Rating
NRR stands for Noise Reduction Rating. And the noise reduction rating is basically just a measure of the extent to which ear protection reduces the noise level of the surround, measured in decibels.
The higher the NRR rating, the greater the noise level is reduced, and the quieter the surrounding noises become.
Any earplug worth wearing will have an NRR of at least 20 decibels. But you can get ones that offer a noise reduction of 33 decibels, as with our number one pick, the Mack's Ultra Soft Foam Earplugs.
But it’s worth noting at this point that, if your work requires you to be around noise levels of 85 decibels or louder for an 8 hour period, then your employer has to provide you with adequate hearing protection. It’s their responsibility.
Disposable Vs Reusable
Disposable earplugs are the best option for those who are prone to ear infections, because you can dispose of them after each use. But if not, you can get away with using them more than once, and use them at your own discretion until they get a little dirty or sticky.
But that’s not your only option. You can also get reusable earplugs. But earplugs can be very easily lost because they are so small.
So if you’re going to pay a bit more money to invest in reusable earplugs, we would recommend getting ones that come with either a cord or a carry case to prevent them getting lost.
Size and Fit
Disposable earplugs tend to be made of foam, and all you have to do is squeeze them and push them in, Then they will conform snugly to the shape of your ear and start to work straight away.
Reusable earplugs on the other hand tend to be sold in packs, with different sizes in each pack. All you have to do with these is try them out to see which size fits best, and always use that size.
Aesthetic
You may also want to consider the color of the earplugs. You can get transparent ones, which are great for those who don’t want to draw attention to their noise sensitivity. Or you might want to go for ones that stand out and look funky.
Value for Money
Earplugs can really vary in price, especially the reusable ones, so it’s best to check prices as you go long. When you are looking at disposable earplugs, you will need to make a note of how many you get in each jar to work out their value for money.
Retailer
If you decide to go for disposable earplugs, we would recommend that you get them from Amazon.
This is because Amazon has a Subscribe and Save scheme, that allows you to receive a jar of disposable earplugs and intervals of your choosing, without having to keep ordering. And you can save money on this scheme too, usually about 10%.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there any ear plugs that block all noise?
Unfortunately, to date, there aren’t any ear plugs that can block out ALL of the noise in your immediate surroundings.
The best you can hope for is ear plugs that can significantly reduce the noise levels that make it through to your ears. The best earplugs on the market at the moment can reduce noise levels by up to 33 decibels.