Best Earplugs for Flying
Updated How we research
Mack's Ultra Soft Foam Earplugs 50 Pair 33dB
Mack's Ultra Soft Foam Earplugs 50 pair at 33dB, a bulk pack of disposable foam plugs for flights and hostels.
Our score8.6/10Budget
Mack's Pillow Soft Silicone Moldable Earplugs 6 Pair
Mack's Pillow Soft silicone moldable earplugs 6 pair, putty-style plugs that seal the ear opening without going deep inside.
Our score7.8/10Budget
Work out which of two separate problems you are solving, because the products that fix them are different. Ear pain on descent is a pressure problem, and it is addressed by plugs with a ceramic or membrane filter that slows the rate at which cabin pressure reaches the eardrum; these deliberately do not seal completely and they will not make the cabin quiet. Wanting to sleep through engine noise is an attenuation problem, and there the number to read is the rating in decibels. Dense foam plugs reach around 33 dB and block the most, reusable silicone designs are commonly rated near 24 to 27 dB, and high-fidelity filtered plugs sit around 17 dB because they are built to lower volume evenly rather than to shut it out, which is the option if you still want to hear announcements and the person next to you. Do not read those figures as absolute, since the rating is measured in a lab and real attenuation depends entirely on whether the plug seals in your ear canal. That makes fit the deciding factor. Foam is cheap enough to treat as disposable and comes in large multi-packs, mouldable silicone putty suits odd canal shapes and works for people foam hurts, and reusable stemless silicone tips sit flush enough to sleep on your side without being pressed into the ear. Carry a spare pair, because one always disappears down the seat.
The short version
We compared 9 picks. Our scores range from 7.5 to 8.6 out of 10, across $, $$ price bands.
- Best overall:Mack's Ultra Soft Foam Earplugs 50 Pair 33dB. Highest overall score in this guide at 8.6/10.
- Also great value:Mack's Flightguard Airplane Pressure Relief Earplugs. Value score of 9/10, overall 8.1/10.
- Solid build:Loop Quiet 2 Reusable Noise-Reducing Earplugs 24dB. Build and materials score of 8/10, overall 8.4/10.
- Feature-rich:Loop Quiet 2 Plus Earplugs with Double Tips 27dB. Features score of 8/10, overall 8.4/10.
Scores are our editorial assessment, not customer ratings. How we score
- 1.Mack's Ultra Soft Foam Earplugs 50 Pair 33dB8.6/10$Check price
- 2.Loop Quiet 2 Reusable Noise-Reducing Earplugs 24dB8.4/10$Check price
- 3.Loop Quiet 2 Plus Earplugs with Double Tips 27dB8.4/10$$Check price
- 4.Mack's Flightguard Airplane Pressure Relief Earplugs8.1/10$Check price
- 5.Mack's Pillow Soft Silicone Moldable Earplugs 6 Pair7.8/10$Check price
- 6.Mack's Pillow Soft Silicone Earplugs 12 Pair7.8/10$Check price
- 7.Loop Quiet Silicone Ear Plugs for Sleep and Flights (Blue)7.8/10$Check price
- 8.Loop Quiet Reusable Silicone Ear Plugs 24dB (Black)7.8/10$Check price
- 9.Loop Experience 2 High-Fidelity Earplugs 17dB7.5/10$$Check price
#1Mack's Ultra Soft Foam Earplugs 50 pair at 33dB, a bulk pack of disposable foam plugs for flights and hostels.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 10/10
- + 33dB noise reduction blocks snoring roommates and engine noise
- + 50 pair pack lasts many trips and can be shared
- + Ultra soft foam feels comfortable for overnight wear
- - Disposable foam plugs create waste compared with reusable silicone
- - Foam plugs need rolling and correct insertion for best results
#2Loop Quiet 2 reusable noise-reducing earplugs at 24dB, soft silicone plugs designed for sleep and travel.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + 24dB noise reduction softens cabin noise and hotel street sounds
- + Reusable silicone plugs save money and waste over time
- + Loop's ring design makes plugs easy to remove
- - Less noise reduction than foam plugs rated higher
- - Small pieces are easy to lose in bed sheets
#3Loop Quiet 2 Plus earplugs with double tips at 27dB, the strongest Loop Quiet option for sleep and loud travel.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + 27dB reduction is stronger than the standard Quiet 2 plugs
- + Double tips create a deeper seal against engine noise
- + Reusable silicone design saves waste on frequent flights
- - Double tips can feel intrusive for sensitive ears
- - Higher price than the standard Loop Quiet plugs
#4Mack's Flightguard airplane pressure relief earplugs, designed to ease ear discomfort during takeoff and landing.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 9/10
- + Pressure relief filters help reduce ear pain as cabin pressure changes
- + Very cheap and small enough to keep in a jacket pocket
- + Mack's is a long-trusted earplug brand sold in most US pharmacies
- - Designed for pressure relief rather than blocking loud noise
- - Not a fix for everyone, especially those with sinus congestion
#5Mack's Pillow Soft silicone moldable earplugs 6 pair, putty-style plugs that seal the ear opening without going deep inside.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 9/10
- + Moldable silicone seals over the ear canal, which suits people who dislike foam
- + Great for swimming as well as sleeping on noisy trips
- + 6 pair pack is a cheap way to test moldable plugs
- - Silicone can pick up lint and hair in a pocket
- - Moldable plugs lose tackiness after a few uses
#6The Mack's Pillow Soft silicone earplugs 12 pair pack, a larger supply of moldable plugs for frequent travelers.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 9/10
- + 12 pair pack covers many flights and hotel nights
- + Moldable design is comfortable for side sleepers
- + Waterproof silicone works in pools and showers too
- - Plugs are single-use or short-lived compared with Loop reusable plugs
- - Can feel sticky and messy to handle at first
#7The Loop Quiet silicone ear plugs in blue, reusable plugs for sleep and flights with a soft, flexible fit.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + Soft silicone is comfortable for sleeping on your side
- + Blue color is easy to spot if a plug falls out
- + Reusable design pays off after a few trips
- - Original Quiet design may feel less refined than the Quiet 2
- - Noise reduction is moderate compared with foam earplugs
#8Loop Quiet reusable silicone ear plugs at 24dB in black, a discreet version for sleep and noisy travel.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + Black finish looks discreet in public and on flights
- + 24dB reduction handles snoring and traffic noise
- + Silicone tips come in sizes to fit different ears
- - Dark color makes plugs harder to find if dropped
- - Some users need to test tip sizes for a proper seal
#9The Loop Experience 2 high-fidelity earplugs at 17dB, designed to lower volume while keeping sound clear.
Fit for the job 7/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 7/10
- + 17dB high-fidelity reduction keeps conversations and music clear
- + Great for concerts, festivals and noisy city tours
- + Stylish ring design looks like jewelry rather than earplugs
- - Lower noise reduction is not ideal for sleeping on flights
- - Costs more than basic foam or silicone plugs
Before you buy: trade-offs we flagged
No pick is perfect. These are the main compromises we noted for the top products in this guide, so you can check they will not matter for you.
- Disposable foam plugs create waste compared with reusable silicone (Mack's Ultra Soft Foam Earplugs 50 Pair 33dB)
- Less noise reduction than foam plugs rated higher (Loop Quiet 2 Reusable Noise-Reducing Earplugs...)
- Double tips can feel intrusive for sensitive ears (Loop Quiet 2 Plus Earplugs with Double Tips 27dB)
- Designed for pressure relief rather than blocking loud noise (Mack's Flightguard Airplane Pressure Relief...)
- Silicone can pick up lint and hair in a pocket (Mack's Pillow Soft Silicone Moldable Earplugs...)
- Plugs are single-use or short-lived compared with Loop reusable plugs (Mack's Pillow Soft Silicone Earplugs 12 Pair)
Frequently asked questions
›What is the best choice among earplugs for flying?
Mack's Ultra Soft Foam Earplugs 50 Pair 33dB is our top overall pick. Mack's Ultra Soft Foam Earplugs 50 pair at 33dB, a bulk pack of disposable foam plugs for flights and hostels. It earns our score of 8.6/10, based on fit for the job, features, build and value.
›What is a good budget option?
Mack's Pillow Soft Silicone Moldable Earplugs 6 Pair is the strongest low-cost pick in this guide. Mack's Pillow Soft silicone moldable earplugs 6 pair, putty-style plugs that seal the ear opening without going deep inside.
›How much should I expect to spend?
Picks in this guide span $ to $$ price bands (roughly: $ = under $30, $$ = $30 to $100, $$$ = over $100). We never display exact prices because they change constantly, so the buttons above always show Amazon's current price.
›How were these products chosen?
We shortlist products that fit the job this guide solves and compare their published specifications, such as size, capacity, materials and what is included. Each pick gets an editorial score out of 10 for fit, features, build and value, and we write the pros and cons from those details. Our score is not an Amazon customer rating. We earn a commission if you buy through our links, which never affects the ranking.
One Bag Picks independently selects every product; we may earn a commission from links above.
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