Best Over-Ear Headphones 2025: Top Budget & Premium

I’ve owned more pairs of headphones than I’d like to admit. Some of them were impulse buys in airports when I forgot my “real” pair at home. Others were big, shiny purchases because a YouTube review told me they’d “change my life.” Spoiler: they didn’t.

The problem is that headphone shopping is a minefield of marketing nonsense. So instead of regurgitating spec sheets and affiliate-linking the top 10 Amazon results, I’m putting together a list of the best over-ear headphones at every budget, based on my personal experience and real-life testing.

Under £100: Surprisingly Decent Without Selling a Kidney

If you’re dipping your toes into the over-ear world or just need a backup pair, the sub-£100 range isn’t as tragic as it used to be. A few years ago, “budget headphones” basically meant crunchy treble, muddy bass, and headbands that cracked faster than a glow stick. Today? You can actually get something… well, decent.

What to Expect in This Range

Here are a few specs you can expect in the under £100 range.

Build Quality	Mostly plastic, but lightweight and usually fine for casual use. Don’t expect aluminium hinges or plush memory foam.
Sound	V-shaped tuning (i.e., bass and treble boosted, mids kind of missing). Works well for pop, EDM, and podcasts; not so much for classical or detail-rich genres.
Noise Cancelling	Some budget ANC exists (Soundcore, JBL, Skullcandy), but quality can be hit and miss.
Battery Life	Often advertised as lasting 30-40 hours. Realistically, battery life is closer to 20-25 hours, depending on volume.

Standout Picks

Anker Soundcore Life Q35: One of the best cheap ANC headphones out there. Comfortable enough, sound is punchy, and you don’t feel bad chucking them in a backpack.
JBL Tune 510BT: No ANC, but ridiculously cheap, solid battery life, and a “fun” sound profile.
Skullcandy Hesh Evo: Bright sound, bold design, and very affordable.

Who These Are For

These options work best for students, commuters who don’t want to risk expensive gear, and anyone who just wants a cheap wireless option.

They won’t blow you away, but they will get the job done. And for under £100, that’s really all you should expect.

£100-£200: The Sweet Spot for Most People

This is where things start to get interesting. Spend a bit more money, and suddenly you’re in the land of actually good headphones. The materials feel sturdier, the sound has more detail, and ANC gets way better.

If you’re buying your first proper pair of over-ear headphones, this is the price range I usually point people towards. You don’t have to remortgage your house, but you’ll notice a massive step up from the £99 specials.

What to Expect in This Range

Here’s what you can expect in the £100-£200 range.

Build Quality	Still mostly plastic, but more refined. Hinges don’t creak, padding feels thicker, and they won’t disintegrate after one drop.
Sound	Balanced tuning. Bass is still fun, but mids and vocals come alive. Perfect for long playlists and Zoom calls.
Noise Cancelling	Legitimately useful. Not Bose-level, but absolutely good enough for office noise, commutes, and the odd short-haul flight.
Battery Life	30+ hours in real use is normal here. USB-C charging is also becoming standard (finally).

Standout Picks

Sony WH-CH720N: Sony’s affordable ANC option. They look a bit plain, but sound quality is way better than the price suggests and battery life is excellent.
Sennheiser HD 450BT: Slightly older but often discounted, with that classic Sennheiser sound (clear mids, smooth highs). The ANC isn’t incredible, but it’s fine for office noise.
Anker Soundcore Space One: Anker keeps sneaking into higher tiers with surprisingly strong performance. Good ANC, comfortable, and a very wallet-friendly “premium” option.

Who These Are For

There’s something for everyone in this range. If you’re not an audiophile, not a frequent flyer, and not chasing the absolute top of the range, this is the sweet spot. You’ll get headphones that sound great, cancel noise well enough, and last a full day without drama.

£200-£350: The “I Actually Care About Sound” Range

Now we’re stepping into serious territory. This is the tier where most people stop asking, “Do these sound good?” and start asking, “Do these sound better than the other £300 pair I just tried?”

If you want headphones that can handle long-haul flights, daily commutes, endless Teams calls, and still make your Spotify playlists sparkle, this is the bracket. It’s also where the “big three” (Sony, Bose, Sennheiser) all have very strong offerings.

What to Expect in This Range

Over-Ear Headphones: What to Expect for £200-£350

Build Quality	More premium plastics, some metal, and comfier padding. These are headphones you can wear for 3-4 hours straight without wanting to rip them off.
Sound	Balanced but with character. You’ll get proper detail, tighter bass, and less distortion at higher volumes.
Noise Cancelling	Now we’re talking. These will genuinely make plane engines disappear and office chatter fade into the background.
Battery Life	Usually 30-40 hours, and they’re quick to top up with USB-C fast charging.

Standout Picks

Bose QuietComfort: The classic “safe” choice. Light, extremely comfortable, and with ANC that’s hard to beat. Sound is a little softer than Sony, but fatigue-free for long listening.
Sony WH-1000XM4: Yes, they’re technically “last-gen,” but they’re still excellent, often discounted, and easily one of the best all-rounders ever made.
Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2: A bit pricier, but stylish with fantastic sound detail. Less bass-heavy than Sony.

Who These Are For

This range is for travellers, professionals, or anyone who spends hours a day in headphones. If you care about both sound quality and ANC but don’t want to stretch into Apple AirPods Max territory, this is your playground.

£350-£500: The Luxury Everyday Picks

Welcome to the “treat yourself” category. This is where you’re not just buying headphones, you’re buying a daily companion.

The ANC is scary good, the comfort is next level, and the sound is tuned so well that you’ll start noticing instruments you didn’t even realise were in your favourite songs.

What to Expect in This Range

Here’s what you can expect in this top tier.

Over-Ear Headphones: What to Expect for £350-£500

Build Quality	Premium plastics, lightweight designs, soft padding. These headphones feel like a proper bit of kit.
Sound	Detailed and refined. Both Sony and Bose have moved away from the overly “consumer bass-heavy” sound, giving you clarity without being boring.
Noise Cancelling	This is the best you can buy right now.
Battery Life	Around 30-40 hours, depending on ANC use, with quick charging.

Standout Picks

Sony WH-1000XM6: Sony’s latest flagship. Incredible battery life, strong ANC, and a sound signature that’s warm but detailed. The companion app is packed with features, which can be a blessing or a curse depending on how much you like fiddling with EQ.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra: Probably the most comfortable headphones you’ll ever wear. Bose ANC is still the benchmark, and the Ultras add more balanced sound with improved clarity over the old QC45s. Slightly less battery than Sony, but you’ll forgive them once you feel that fit.
Apple AirPods Max: Occasionally dips into this price range if you catch a sale or refurbished deal. Fantastic build, top-class ANC, and spatial audio that works beautifully inside the Apple ecosystem.

Who These Are For

This range is for the frequent flyers, the professionals who basically live in their headphones, and anyone who wants the best noise-cancelling in the business. The only danger? Once you’ve experienced ANC this good, it’s very hard to go back.

Cheat Sheet: Pros and Cons by Price Tier

To make it easy for you to make your choice, here’s a quick summary of the pros and cons at each price tier.

Price Tier	What You Get	Standout Picks	Pros	Cons
Under £100	Basic wireless over-ears with “good enough” sound.	Anker Soundcore Q35 JBL Tune 510BT Skullcandy Hesh Evo	Cheap, lightweight, decent bass, and long-ish battery life.	Build feels cheap, ANC weak or missing, lifespan questionable.
£100-£200	Proper entry into ANC and balanced sound.	Sony WH-CH720N Sennheiser HD 450BT Anker Space One	Good ANC for the price, reliable sound, sturdy enough for daily use.	Still mostly plastic, not premium comfort, average detail.
£200-£350	Flagship features at older-gen pricing.	Bose QC45 Sony WH-1000XM4 Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2	Excellent ANC, refined sound, very comfy.	Older models = weaker resale; some tuning quirks.
£350-£500	Top-tier ANC + premium sound.	Sony WH-1000XM6 Bose QC Ultra AirPods Max	Industry-leading ANC, premium build, and feature-rich apps.	Expensive, Sony app can be fiddly, Bose battery is shorter.

Final Thoughts on the Best Over-Ear Headphones: Spend Where It Matters

There’s no such thing as the “perfect” pair of headphones. There’s only the pair that fits your budget and your lifestyle.

If you just need something cheap for commutes or study sessions, grab a £100 pair and don’t overthink it. They’ll get the job done, and you won’t cry if you leave them on the bus.

If you want something that feels like a proper step up (ANC that actually works, balanced sound, comfort that lasts more than an hour), the £200-£350 range is where I’d point most people.

But if you’ve got the budget and you spend half your life with headphones glued to your head, it’s hard to ignore the flagships. The Sony WH-1000XM6 and Bose QuietComfort Ultra are neck and neck, with Sony winning on battery and features, and Bose on comfort and pure ANC magic. And if you’re an Apple die-hard who loves spatial audio and doesn’t mind the weight (or the price), the AirPods Max are still a very tempting option.

My rule of thumb? Buy the best you can comfortably afford, but don’t feel pressured to chase features and go over budget.