Checklist · 13 picks · 4 categories
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Thin walls, a snoring partner, a bar downstairs: noise is the sneakiest sleep thief. Beat it two ways.
First, cover it up with a sound machine (NBC Select and Sleep Foundation picks) or sleep headphones that Tom's Guide's sleep team reviewed overnight, side sleepers included. Second, block it: earplugs from Reviewed and Sleep Foundation, plus soundproof curtains that Bob Vila hung for days and reviewed with a decibel meter and a trumpet played outside the window. Real talk on the curtains: its picks cut noise by 5 to 10 decibels, so they soften a loud street rather than silence it. A door draft stopper closes the gap under the door, which Bob Vila says can also keep out noise and light. Each card shows the drawback its outlet called out.
Who this is not for. Skip this if noise isn't what's keeping you up; the Better Sleep list covers light, pillows and wake-up alarms too.
Tell me what you can spend. I pick a tier for every item, essentials first, and show what is left. The first amount covers everything you need at the cheapest tier.
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Estimates based on typical prices, checked Oct 31, 2026. Prices change; see the store for today's price.
0 of 3 on your list · tap one to see your options
| Pick | Tier | Price | Best for | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hearos Xtreme Protection Earplugs | budget | under $15 | snoring roommates | 1 outlet |
| Loop Dream Earplugs | splurge | $50-100 | side sleepers | 1 outlet |
| HoMedics SoundSleep White Noise Machine | budget | $25-50 | dorms and thin apartment walls | 1 outlet |
| LectroFan EVO White Noise Machine | mid | $50-100 | light sleepers | 1 outlet |
| SNOOZ Original White Noise Machine | splurge | $100-150 | a real-fan sound | 1 outlet |
Best earplugsbudget pick · Pack
Best for snoring roommates
Reviewed's best overall earplugs, first in its comfort and noise-blocking tests.
1 outlet. Reviewed best overall earplugs for sleeping.
under $15
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splurge pick · Multiple tip sizes
Best for side sleepers
Sleep Foundation's most comfortable earplugs: soft silicone tips that don't stick out, so they suit side sleepers.
Heads up. Medium noise reduction, and you may need to try a few tip sizes
1 outlet. Sleep Foundation most comfortable earplugs.
$50-100
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Best sound machinebudget pick · Compact
Best for dorms and thin apartment walls
Covers up hallway noise and a roommate's alarm. NBC Select's best budget sound machine: slim, portable and battery-powered.
Heads up. Only three timer settings
1 outlet. NBC Select best budget white noise machine.
$25-50
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mid pick · Compact
Best for light sleepers
NBC Select's best overall sound machine: precise volume, a sleep timer and lots of fan and noise sounds.
Heads up. No night light
1 outlet. NBC Select best overall white noise machine.
$50-100
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splurge pick · Compact
Best for a real-fan sound
Sleep Foundation's best overall sound machine: crisp sound from a real fan, an easy app and 10 volume levels.
Heads up. Only two colors
1 outlet. Sleep Foundation best overall white noise machine.
$100-150
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| Pick | Tier | Price | Best for | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soundcore Sleep A30 Earbuds | mid | $200-300 | sharing a bed with a snorer | 1 outlet |
| MUSICOZY Sleep Headphones | budget | $15-25 | white noise and a blackout mask in one | 1 outlet |
| Ozlo Sleepbuds 2 | splurge | $200-300 | side sleepers who want sound masking, not silence | 1 outlet |
Best sleep headphonesmid pick · 4 silicone + 3 foam tip sizes
Best for sharing a bed with a snorer
Tom's Guide's best sleep headphones with ANC: active noise cancelling plus snore masking in small buds that sit flush, even on your side.
Heads up. Quite pricey, the extra size can cause discomfort, and the sleep-detection feature is fiddly
1 outlet. Tom's Guide best sleep headphones with ANC.
$200-300
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budget pick · One size
Best for white noise and a blackout mask in one
Tom's Guide's best budget sleep headphones: thin speakers built into an eye mask, so you block light and play white noise in one cheap gadget.
Heads up. Middling audio quality, and the thick fabric can sleep hot
1 outlet. Tom's Guide best budget sleep headphones.
$15-25
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splurge pick · Multiple tip sizes
Best for side sleepers who want sound masking, not silence
Tom's Guide's best sleep headphones overall: tiny, comfortable buds that mask sudden noises with soothing sounds, plus sleep and bedroom tracking.
Heads up. No ANC, so no total silence, and it's a luxury price
1 outlet. Tom's Guide best sleep headphones overall.
$200-300
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| Pick | Tier | Price | Best for | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RYB Home 100% Blackout Soundproof Curtains | splurge | $50-100 | the loudest street-facing windows | 1 outlet |
| BGment Insulated Blackout Soundproof Curtains | budget | $25-50 | taking the edge off street noise on a budget | 1 outlet |
| Moondream 3-in-1 Blackout Thermal Soundproof Curtain | mid | $25-50 | blocking light and noise at once | 1 outlet |
Best soundproof curtainssplurge pick · Pick by window
Best for the loudest street-facing windows
Bob Vila's upgrade pick for soundproof curtains: heavier-duty panels with a removable felt liner that cut noise by up to 10 decibels in reviews.
Heads up. Heavy, so they need a sturdy hanging system
1 outlet. Bob Vila upgrade Pick soundproof curtains.
$50-100
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budget pick · Pick by window
Best for taking the edge off street noise on a budget
Bob Vila's best bang for the buck soundproof curtains: budget-friendly blackout curtains that cut about 5 decibels in its trumpet-outside-the-window test.
Heads up. The lightweight fabric isn't 100 percent blackout
1 outlet. Bob Vila best Bang for the Buck soundproof curtains.
$25-50
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mid pick · Pick by window
Best for blocking light and noise at once
Bob Vila's best double-layered soundproof curtains: a multilayer design that makes them a top pick for blocking both sound and light.
Heads up. Dry clean only
1 outlet. Bob Vila best Double-Layered soundproof curtains.
$25-50
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Best door draft stopperbudget pick · Up to 37 in wide
Best for two drafty doors for the price of one fix
Bob Vila's best bang for the buck door draft stopper: two silicone strips that trim easily, stay in place and are nearly invisible on the door.
Heads up. Arrives rolled, so it's awkward to apply and hard to reposition; get the placement right the first time
1 outlet. Bob Vila best Bang for the Buck door draft stopper.
$15-25
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mid pick · 36 in
Best for renters who can't stick anything to the door
Bob Vila's best door draft stopper for kids' rooms: a soft, animal-shaped draft snake that needs no installation and doubles as a doorstop.
Heads up. Shifts when the door opens and closes, and the glass beads could be a hazard if a pet tears it open
1 outlet. Bob Vila best for Kids Rooms door draft stopper.
$25-50
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means three independent outlets recommend a pick, means one, and limited evidence means none has yet. I research these picks. I have not tested them myself. How I pick · Broken link, wrong price range or an outdated pick? Tell me
They help, but they won't make a room silent. In Bob Vila's test, every curtain it recommends cut noise by 5 to 10 decibels, while the ones it passed on managed only 2 to 3. Its upgrade pick from RYB Home cut up to 10 decibels but is heavy enough to need a sturdy hanging system.
Tom's Guide's ANC pick, the Soundcore Sleep A30, pairs active noise cancelling with snore masking. Its overall pick, the Ozlo Sleepbuds 2, skips ANC and plays soothing sounds over disruptions instead, so if you need total silence to sleep, Tom's Guide points you to the A30.
They do different jobs. Earplugs block sound at your ear (Reviewed's best overall pick, Hearos Xtreme Protection, came first in its noise-blocking tests), while a sound machine masks it with steady noise. Nothing stops you from using both.