5 Best Kids' Headphones of 2024

Our experts like these best because the same pair can either work wirelessly, via Bluetooth or can be plugged in with its traditional 3.5mm headphone jack. In Bluetooth mode these pair easily with a phone or tablet; the jack comes in handy on airplanes so kids can listen to music or watch movies, and it can also be plugged into some devices such as a Chromebook. If you have two kids and two pairs of these headphones, they can be daisy-chained together so that both kids can listen to the same device.

While not completely noise-cancelling, the brand says these block approximately 83 percent of ambient noise. While they're listening to their show or to their gamer friends they won't hear the low hum of family conversation, but they will be able to hear you loudly announcing dinner time.

We don't think these are studio-grade quality, as touted by the brand — your budding teen songwriter or DJ will want something more pro — but the sound quality on these is excellent for kids and a huge step up from the rest of the under-$100 kid headphones we've tested. A built-in microphone is good for gaming or for any online school work.

Durability-wise, we found these hard to break when just twisting them. There are many online reviewers who say they've been using the same pair for years. Others report that the headband and headphone jack can break with rough usage (kids can be aggressive with their tech!) but Puro's customer support is top-notch, so don't hesitate to reach out if you do have an issue. There's a one-year warranty and also a 30-day money back guarantee.

While we wish there was a reliable pair of $10 headphones for every age, please note that these are sized especially for the preschool set. They're foldable for storage — the ear cups fold in. They are wired and work only via headphone jack, so be sure you can plug it into your child's favorite device, or for very little money you can buy a headphone jack adaptor, separately, for iOs devices, Samsung devices and others.

Many parents jumped on these to fulfill a school supply list, for when their kids are using a tablet in the classroom or doing online learning from home. The fact that they fold up also makes them great for travel, though because they have the safe, limited volume paired with limited noise-cancelling ability, some online reviewers have noted their preschoolers can't hear through these over the noise of an airplane engine. We find they work best during car travel or at home.

RELATED: Best Baby Headphones for Noise Protection

We went straight to the source and asked a Nintendo representative for the headphones the brand recommends. Not surprisingly, Nintendo sells its own wired headphones with a mic, optimized for use with the brand's games.

Surprisingly, these headphones are nice and affordable — roughly the cost of one of the games themselves and a nice accessory to include if you are gifting your child a Nintendo Switch or will be taking their existing Switch on your family travels.

A gamer just flips the mic up to mute it and flips it down to talk with friends. It can also be used for non-gaming purposes, like a group school assignment that's being worked out online. Nintendo says that in addition to being licensed for Switch, Switch OLED and Swith Lite, these headphones work with the Wii, PCs, tablets and smartphones that have a headphone jack.

This fits elementary-age kids and tweens best with a sweet spot at about age 8. The headphones may be too tight for adult gamers.

Like our best overall pick, this can work with a headphone jack or it works via Bluetooth for wireless connection. For travel in a plane or car, you can't beat that the batteries last for about 55 hours in wireless mode.

Also, though we believe in capping volume at 85 dB whenever possible, we know from experience that if you're the family sitting over the wings on a big airplane you may need a pair of headphones that can go up to 94 dB for your child to hear a movie or show on their device. For that reason we are including these as a travel-friendly option.

These also have a fast charging time, in case you realize at the last minute that they're not charged up and ready for wireless use. Ten minutes of charging gives you up to seven hours of listening. They come with a wire and jack in case you prefer to plug these directly into a tablet or other device.

Colorful LED lights are a decorative touch but also indicate that the headphones are charged and working. There are eight different color patterns available, and there's also a new version that features pink and purple cat ears that has the same features in a fun style for a couple more dollars.

Finally, there's a foldable version that has about half the battery life but is cheaper and smaller for storage. These fit toddlers and kids from about age 2 until the end of elementary school, at about age 10.

Cute and customizable with stickers, these headphones are built for school-age kids and won a Good Housekeeping Parenting Award. The sound quality works well, as does the inline microphone that's built into the wire and sits near your child's mouth. For that reason the headphones are popular for doing online school classes and for gaming.

Up to four of these headphones can plug into one device thanks to a stackable audio jack. That means you can have four kids listening to an online lesson, watching a show together or enjoying a storybook all in sync.

The wired-only Explore+ is made to be foldable for travel. This set even comes with a soft travel bag. But if wireless connectivity is important to you, check out the brand's more expensive School+ version as well. The only complaint in online reviews is that these aren't durable with kids who are rough with them.