Why You Shouldn’t Wear Earbuds to Bed (It’s Not About Hearing Loss)

You Should Know: Many of us wear earbuds almost constantly — while exercising, traveling, doing chores, and even sleeping. They can block noise and play white noise, music, or meditations to help us fall asleep. But are they safe to wear overnight?

Going Deeper: Experts say the biggest concern isn’t usually volume, as long as you’re not listening to loud music for hours. At low levels, overnight audio is unlikely to damage hearing. The larger issue is ear health. Earbuds can push wax deeper into the ear canal and trap moisture, especially after a shower, which can interfere with the ear’s natural cleaning process and create a breeding ground for bacteria. Poorly cleaned earbuds increase the risk of infection even more.

The Takeaway: Beyond health risks, there are also practical safety concerns. Earbuds — especially noise-cancelling ones — may block important sounds like a crying child, an alarm, or a smoke detector. Be cognizant of volume levels, dry your ears out before bed, and clean your ‘buds regularly to minimize the risks of sleeping with earbuds in.

The Bottom Line: Sleeping in earbuds occasionally at low volume is probably fine, but experts recommend safer long-term alternatives like over-the-ear headphones or a bedside speaker.