Best Noise-Cancelling Headphones for Home Office (2026)
Noise-cancelling headphones for working from home per Wirecutter and SoundGuys: Sony WH-1000XM6, Bose QC Ultra, Jabra Evolve3 85 and budget Soundcore.
Quick answer: my top pick is the Sony WH-1000XM6 (best overall). Wirecutter's top noise-cancelling pick and SoundGuys' best noise-cancelling headphones for work.
- Best for adjustable ANC: Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen)
- Best for all-day calls: Jabra Evolve3 85
- Long battery, adjustable ANC: Soundcore Space One
- Best earbuds for calls: Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro
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At a glance
| Product | Type | Battery | Price at Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sony WH-1000XM6Best overall | Over-ear, wireless | Up to 30 hours | Check price for Sony WH-1000XM6 |
| Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen)Best for adjustable ANC | Over-ear, wireless | Not published | Check price for Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) |
| Jabra Evolve3 85Best for all-day calls | Over-ear business headset | Up to 55 hours of music with ANC, about 21 hours of talk time (Jabra spec sheet) | Check price for Jabra Evolve3 85 |
| Soundcore Space OneLong battery, adjustable ANC | Over-ear, wireless | About 40 hours (ANC on) | Check price for Soundcore Space One |
| Soundcore Liberty 5 ProBest earbuds for calls | Wireless earbuds | About 6.5 hours (ANC on) | Check price for Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro |
“Not published” means none of my cited sources list that spec. Prices aren't shown because they change often; “Check price” opens the current listing. Availability and shipping vary by region; links go to US stores.
The short answer
For most people working from home, the Sony WH-1000XM6 is the safest choice. It is Wirecutter’s top noise-cancelling pick and SoundGuys’ best for work, with strong noise reduction, clear calls and a light, comfortable fit for long days. If you want to turn the noise cancelling down, or you find Bose more comfortable, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) measured just as well in Wirecutter’s tests. If you live on calls, the Jabra Evolve3 85 is built for it, with six mics, Teams or Zoom/Meet versions and a busy light, though it costs far more. The Soundcore Space One is the budget pick for blocking noise while you focus, but its mic is weaker. Prefer earbuds? The Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro has the best call noise reduction Wirecutter has tested.
What to look for
- Noise cancelling plus a good seal. ANC handles steady hums like HVAC and traffic. Earpads that seal well block the sudden sounds ANC misses, like a dropped mug or a barking dog.
- Microphone quality. Your coworkers hear your mic, not your music. Check call reviews, not just ANC scores.
- Comfort for hours. Weight, clamping force and earpad size matter more at a desk than on a flight. Wirecutter found the heavier AirPods Max 2 gave one tester headaches within about 30 minutes.
- Multipoint and a laptop dongle. Staying connected to your laptop and phone at once saves time between meetings. A USB adapter, like the Jabra’s, can make laptop connections more reliable.
- Battery life. Over-ears from these sources run about 30 to 55 hours. Earbuds run far less, so keep the case nearby.
- Adjustable ANC. Helpful if strong noise cancelling makes your ears feel pressurized.
Complete the setup
Sounding good on calls also means looking good: see my webcams for home office calls, desk lamps for home office and ergonomic keyboards.
Calling from a laptop? Raise the camera to eye level with one of my laptop stands.
My picks in detail
1. Sony WH-1000XM6
by Sony
- Type
- Over-ear, wireless
- Battery
- Up to 30 hours
- Wired option
- 3.5 mm cable included
Wirecutter's top noise-cancelling pick and SoundGuys' best noise-cancelling headphones for work. It pairs strong noise cancelling with the best passive isolation Wirecutter has measured, clear calls in an office setting, a lightweight comfortable fit and about 30 hours of battery life.
- Excellent active and passive noise reduction
- Clear call quality with background noise reduction
- Light and comfortable for long sessions
- Multipoint connection to laptop and phone
- Expensive
- Noise cancelling strength isn't adjustable
- Sony's app is cumbersome
Opens Amazon in a new tab. Price and stock can change. Availability and shipping vary by region; links go to US stores.
2. Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen)
by Bose
- Type
- Over-ear, wireless
- Measured ANC (Wirecutter)
- 26.9 dB average
- Top-tier noise cancelling, measured
- Adjustable noise-cancelling level
A close rival to the Sony. In Wirecutter's measurements it cancelled slightly more noise in the 100 Hz to 1,200 Hz band than the WH-1000XM6, and unlike the Sony you can turn the noise cancelling down, which helps people sensitive to the pressure feeling some ANC causes. SoundGuys calls it a close runner-up for its seal and passive isolation.
- Top-tier noise cancelling, measured
- Adjustable noise-cancelling level
- Plush, sealing earpads
- Premium price
- SoundGuys finds the app fairly basic
Opens Amazon in a new tab. Price and stock can change. Availability and shipping vary by region; links go to US stores.
3. Jabra Evolve3 85
by Jabra
- Type
- Over-ear business headset
- Battery
- Up to 55 hours of music with ANC, about 21 hours of talk time (Jabra spec sheet)
- Extras
- USB-C Bluetooth adapter, busy light
A business headset built around calls. SoundGuys picks it as the best noise-cancelling headphones for calls: six microphones push down background noise, it comes with a USB-C Bluetooth adapter for your computer, a busy light shows when you're on a call, and Jabra rates the battery at up to 55 hours of music with ANC on (about 21 hours of calls). Teams and Zoom/Meet versions are available.
- Boom-mic-level call quality without a boom
- Teams or Zoom/Meet certified versions
- Very long battery life, replaceable battery
- Busy light on the ear cup
- Very expensive
- Noise cancelling trails the Sony
- Bass-heavy for music
Opens Amazon in a new tab. Price and stock can change. Availability and shipping vary by region; links go to US stores.
4. Soundcore Space One
by Soundcore (Anker)
- Type
- Over-ear, wireless
- Battery
- About 40 hours (ANC on)
- Warranty
- 18 months
Wirecutter's budget noise-cancelling pick: effective, adjustable ANC, a lightweight comfortable fit and about 40 hours of battery with ANC on. The catch for work is the microphone; Wirecutter found voices can sound compressed and distant to callers.
- Strong noise cancelling for the price
- Adjustable and adaptive ANC
- About 40 hours of battery with ANC on
- Comfortable for long wear
- Callers may hear you as distant or compressed
- Small buttons take practice
- Soft pouch rather than a hard case
Opens Amazon in a new tab. Price and stock can change. Availability and shipping vary by region; links go to US stores.
5. Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro
by Soundcore (Anker)
- Type
- Wireless earbuds
- Battery
- About 6.5 hours (ANC on)
- Water resistance
- IP55
If you'd rather wear earbuds, Wirecutter's top noise-cancelling earbud pick has what it calls the best noise-reducing microphones it has tested, filtering even short, sharp sounds out of calls. The touchscreen case can switch modes and devices, handy when you are working on a laptop.
- Best-in-class call noise reduction per Wirecutter
- Effective, adjustable ANC
- Several tip and wing sizes for fit
- Touchscreen case
- About 6.5 hours of battery with ANC on
- Touch controls can misfire
Opens Amazon in a new tab. Price and stock can change. Availability and shipping vary by region; links go to US stores.
Frequently asked questions
Do noise-cancelling headphones block voices and barking?
Only partly. Wirecutter explains that active noise cancelling works best on low, steady sounds like an air conditioner, traffic or a furnace hum. Voices and sudden noises are reduced mainly by a good seal, which is passive isolation. The Sony WH-1000XM6 had the best passive isolation Wirecutter has measured.
What matters most for video calls?
The microphone. SoundGuys notes that how you sound matters as much as what you hear. In its tests the Jabra Evolve3 85 sounded clearest, and Wirecutter says the Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro earbuds have the best noise-reducing mics it has tested. Budget headphones often cut corners here: Wirecutter found callers heard the Soundcore Space One as somewhat distant.
Do I need Teams or Zoom certification?
Only if your company asks for it or you want reliable mute and answer buttons inside those apps. Of SoundGuys' work picks, only the Jabra Evolve3 85 is certified; it comes in Teams and Zoom/Meet versions.
What is multipoint and why does it matter?
Multipoint keeps headphones connected to your laptop and phone at the same time, so you can take a phone call right after a meeting without re-pairing. The Sony and Jabra picks support it.
Why do some headphones feel like pressure in my ears?
Wirecutter calls this 'eardrum suck,' a pressure sensation some people get from strong noise cancelling. If you're sensitive to it, choose a pair with adjustable ANC, like the Bose QuietComfort Ultra or Soundcore Space One.