The best budget noise-canceling headphones under $100 for 2025

How cheap?

Budget headphones with active noise cancellation typically range in price from $50 to $100. The question you need to ask yourself is, are you looking for the cheapest ANC headphones or are you willing to spend closer to $100? There’s usually a significant difference between a set of ANC boxes that cost $50 to $60 and one that costs $80 to $100, especially when it comes to build quality. If you’re looking for an upgrade in audio performance, your best bet is to stick to the higher end of the budget price range.

Design

Budget headphones tend to be a bit bulkier than more premium models and can also look and feel a little, well, cheap. All of our suggestions on this list offer reasonably good design (at least), but some are more appealing than others. Finding a design you like is obviously important.

Fit

It’s key that the headphones you buy fit your head well. The key to good noise-canceling headphones is the fit of the ear cups around your head, so the best pair should offer a comfortable fit that’s snug but not too tight. Ideally, you want headphones that you can wear all day with minimal breaks. Budget headphones may offer a comfortable fit, but more premium headphones tend to have better memory foam and a more ergonomic design.

Endurance

You want headphones that last well over time, so look for models that we note have solid build quality. Even budget models can be equipped with excellent resistance in several more difficult conditions.

Maximize performance and features for your budget

You want the best-sounding headphones with the best noise cancellation, call quality, and features like wireless charging for all you can spend. Be sure to pack in as many features as you think you’ll need when choosing a set of headphones, even on a budget.

Return Policy

It’s extremely important that you buy your headphones from a retailer that has a good return policy in case you feel guilty. Some people who have trouble choosing between two models sometimes buy both, try them out for a few days, and then return one.