If you’ve ever spent a transatlantic flight wide awake while your neighbor snores and the engine drones on, you already know: the right earplugs change everything.
The best earplugs for sleeping on a plane are the Loop Quiet 2 — they combine a comfortable silicone fit with a 26dB noise reduction rating, making them ideal for long-haul flights. Budget travelers who just want disposable foam should reach for Mack’s Pillow Soft Silicone. Below, we break down the top options at every price point.
This guide covers every earplug type worth considering — foam, silicone, flanged, and reusable — and what actually matters at 35,000 feet.
What to Look for in Travel Earplugs
Before we rank them, here’s what separates a good travel earplug from one you’ll abandon at the gate:
Noise Reduction Rating (NRR). This number (measured in decibels) tells you how much sound the earplug blocks. Airplane cabin noise sits around 85dB. You want an NRR of at least 22dB for meaningful reduction. Higher isn’t always better — you still want to hear boarding announcements.
Comfort over time. You may be wearing these for 8–14 hours. Foam earplugs expand inside the ear canal and can become painful after a few hours. Silicone and flanged designs sit at the ear entrance rather than inside the canal — a far better experience for long flights.
Ease of insertion. After two gin and tonics at cruising altitude, you don’t want to roll foam earplugs for 30 seconds. Loop Quiet 2 drops in like a pair of earbuds. That matters.
Packability. A bulky case that takes up space in your carry-on is a deal-breaker. The best travel earplugs come with a small keychain case or fit in a coin pocket.
The 5 Best Earplugs for Sleeping on a Plane
1. Loop Quiet 2 — Best Overall
NRR: 26dB | Type: Silicone flanged | Price: ~$25
Loop Quiet 2 is the earplug that’s quietly taken over the travel community, and for good reason. The circular silicone design sits flush at the ear entrance — no expanding foam pressing on your canal, no discomfort after hour four. They come with four sizes of ear tips, so getting a proper seal takes about 90 seconds.
The 26dB reduction cuts cabin drone and chatty neighbors to a comfortable background murmur without fully isolating you from the world. We’ve worn them on 11-hour flights and forgotten they were in.
The included keychain case means they live in your pocket rather than the bottom of your bag.
Best for: Frequent flyers who want a long-term reusable solution. If you’re on a plane more than a few times a year, Loop Quiet 2 pays for itself immediately.
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Also on our radar: We reviewed the Loop Quiet 2 in depth as part of our Sleep Gadgets guide if you want the full breakdown.
2. Mack’s Pillow Soft Silicone Earplugs — Best Budget Option
NRR: 22dB | Type: Moldable silicone | Price: ~$6 for 6 pairs
Mack’s Pillow Soft is the sleeping earplug that sleep specialists have quietly recommended for decades. Unlike foam, these mold to the outer ear rather than sitting in the canal — press them over the ear opening and they create a soft, painless seal. Comfort-wise, they beat any foam option at any price.
The 22dB reduction is enough to tame cabin noise and overhead bins slamming, though they won’t compete with Loop Quiet’s higher rating.
The catch: they’re single-use (technically 3–5 uses if you’re careful), so budget for a pack per trip. At $6 for 6 pairs, that’s still a bargain.
Best for: Occasional travelers, anyone who finds foam earplugs painful, families buying in bulk.
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3. Hearos Xtreme Protection — Best for Maximum Noise Blocking
NRR: 33dB | Type: Foam | Price: ~$10 for 14 pairs
If you want to block as much sound as humanly possible and comfort is a secondary concern, Hearos Xtreme delivers. At 33dB NRR, these are among the highest-rated consumer earplugs available.
The trade-off is the classic foam problem: they expand in the ear canal, which becomes uncomfortable for some people after a few hours. On a short haul (2–4 hours), they’re excellent. For a 12-hour red-eye, most people switch to something softer by hour six.
Best for: Light sleepers on shorter flights, people who are particularly sensitive to noise and can tolerate foam.
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4. Flents Quiet Please Earplugs — Best Foam for Comfort
NRR: 29dB | Type: Slow-recovery foam | Price: ~$8 for 10 pairs
Most foam earplugs expand quickly and create pressure. Flents uses slow-recovery foam — it takes longer to expand, which means less canal pressure once it’s seated. The oval shape also fits the natural profile of the ear canal better than cylindrical plugs.
At 29dB, the noise reduction is excellent. For budget travelers who prefer foam, these are the best of the category.
Best for: Travelers who prefer disposable foam but want maximum comfort.
👉 [Check price on Amazon →] (affiliate link)
5. Etymotic Research ETY-Plugs — Best for Music + Sleep
NRR: 12dB (standard) / 20dB (large) | Type: Triple-flanged | Price: ~$14
Etymotic’s ETY-Plugs are the musician’s earplug — designed to reduce volume evenly across frequencies rather than blocking everything indiscriminately. The result: conversations still sound natural, engine noise comes down noticeably, and you don’t wake up feeling like you were in a soundproof box.
They sit deeper in the canal than Loop Quiet, so they take getting used to. But for travelers who want to listen to music at lower volume and then sleep without removing the plugs, they’re genuinely smart.
Best for: Travelers who split time between listening and sleeping, anyone sensitive to the “plugged ear” feeling.
👉 [Check price on Amazon →] (affiliate link)
How to Actually Sleep on a Plane (Earplugs Are Step One)
Earplugs block the noise. But the full sleep-on-a-plane setup matters. Here’s what the research-backed sleep stack looks like:
- Earplugs (this guide — you’re covered)
- Eye mask — block the cabin lights and screen glare from the person in front of you (see our Best Eye Masks for Travel guide)
- Neck pillow — prevent the head-fall that jolts you awake (see our Best Travel Neck Pillows for Planes guide)
- Window seat — more control over the light, something to lean on
- Melatonin — 0.5–1mg an hour before you want to sleep if crossing time zones
We put together a full Sleep Travel Kit guide that covers exactly what we pack for long-haul flights, if you want the whole picture.
FAQ
Are earplugs safe to wear on a plane? Yes. Earplugs at any NRR rating you’d buy for travel don’t block emergency announcements — the cabin PA system is designed to cut through. You’ll still hear what you need to hear.
Can I wear earplugs during takeoff and landing? Yes. Unlike noise-cancelling headphones (which use pressure equalization electronics), passive earplugs don’t interfere with any flight systems. You’re free to use them throughout the flight.
Do earplugs help with ear pressure on planes? No — earplugs don’t prevent ear pressure changes during ascent and descent. For that, you want filtered earplugs like Earplanes or to try swallowing and yawning during descent.
How do I keep earplugs clean for travel? If you’re using reusable silicone earplugs like Loop Quiet 2, wipe them with a damp cloth after each flight. Avoid soap inside the ear tip. Replace the ear tips every 3–6 months with heavy use.
The Bottom Line
For most travelers, Loop Quiet 2 is the answer — comfortable enough for long-haul flights, reusable, and genuinely effective at blocking cabin noise. If you’re on a budget or prefer disposable, Mack’s Pillow Soft is the best foam/silicone alternative.
Either way, pack them. Sleeping on a plane without them is just suffering.
