The 4 Best Foam Earplugs for Sleeping on Planes of 2026
Sleeping on a plane is hard enough without the engine drone, the chatty row behind you, and the PA system announcing the beverage cart. The right pair of foam earplugs turns all of that into background static you can actually sleep through. This guide covers Best Overall for maximum quiet, Best for Small Ears for narrower ear canals, Best Budget Pick for a dirt-cheap throw-in-your-bag option, and Best Bulk Value for anyone who burns through pairs.
The Mack's Ultra Soft stood out as our Best Overall pick for its NRR 33 rating and a comfort record that thousands of side sleepers swear by. Read on for the full breakdown of who should buy which pair.
| Product | Ease Of Use | Noise Reduction | Sleep Comfort | Value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Best Budget PickFlents Quiet Time Foam Ear Plugs 10 Pair | 8.5 | 9.0 | 7.5 | 9.5 | See PriceAmazon |
 Best Bulk ValueLYSIAN Soft Foam Ear Plugs 60 Pairs | 8.5 | 8.5 | 8.5 | 9.5 | See PriceAmazon |
 Best OverallMack's Ultra Soft Foam Earplugs 50 Pair | 9.0 | 9.5 | 9.0 | 8.5 | See PriceAmazon |
 Best for Small EarsMack's Dreamgirl Soft Foam Earplugs 50 Pair | 9.0 | 8.5 | 9.5 | 7.5 | See PriceAmazon |
Flents Quiet Time Foam Ear Plugs 10 Pair
Best for
You want earplugs in your carry-on without spending more than a coffee. You fly occasionally and need decent quiet for the price of pocket change. If you fly weekly and burn through pairs, Best Bulk Value works out cheaper per plug.
Why we love it
The headline here is simple: NRR 33, the same top-tier rating as the Mack's Ultra Soft, for about 36 cents a pair. We like that the slow-recovery foam still expands into a real seal instead of collapsing like some bargain plugs. At 10 pairs a pack, it is the perfect throw-one-in-every-bag option without committing to a bulk box. Reviewers report them doing the job on flights and in noisy apartments alike. They will not coddle your ears like the softer premium foams, but the noise blocking per dollar is the best in this guide.
Pros
- NRR 33 at a bargain price
- About 36 cents per pair
- Slow-recovery foam seals well
- 10-pair pack, easy to stash
Cons
- Firmer foam than premium picks
- Only 10 pairs per pack
- No smaller size option
Verdict
Yes, if price is the deciding factor. You get the same 33 dB rating as the top pick for a fraction of the cost. If you use plugs daily, the LYSIAN 60-pair box costs less per pair over time.
LYSIAN Soft Foam Ear Plugs 60 Pairs
Best for
You fly often enough that earplugs are a recurring purchase, not a one-off. You want a big, fresh supply at a low per-pair cost without dropping to the cheapest foam that barely works. If you only need a few pairs for one trip, Best Budget Pick is the simpler buy.
Why we love it
Sixty pairs for under ten dollars works out to about 17 cents a plug, the lowest per-pair cost of any pick here that still rates well for comfort. We like the 38 dB SNR rating because it signals real noise reduction, not just marketing foam. The slow-rebound foam and soft material get consistent praise for sleep comfort from reviewers. Compared with the Flents 10-pack, you get six times the pairs for less than three times the price. For a frequent flyer, this is the box that lives in the nightstand and the carry-on at the same time.
Pros
- 60 pairs, about 17 cents each
- 38 dB SNR noise reduction
- Soft slow-rebound foam
- Great for frequent flyers
Cons
- Bulk packaging, not travel-sized
- Standard size only
- Less reviewed than Mack's picks
Verdict
Yes, if you go through earplugs steadily. The per-pair math is unbeatable among comfortable options. If you want the absolute quietest plug regardless of supply, the Mack's Ultra Soft rates higher.
Mack's Ultra Soft Foam Earplugs 50 Pair
Best for
You sleep on planes regularly and want the single best shot at real rest. You care about maximum noise blocking first, proven comfort second, and you are happy to pay a few dollars more per pair than the budget options. If your ear canals are narrow or standard plugs ache, grab Best for Small Ears instead.
Why we love it
The 33 dB noise reduction rating is the highest in this guide, and it shows: engine drone drops to a low hum and seatmate chatter mostly disappears. We like the slow-release foam because it gives you time to seat the plug properly before it expands, which matters more than any spec on the box. The 50-pair jar keeps the per-pair cost under twenty cents, cheaper per night of sleep than the Flents pair once you do the math on a full travel year. Reviewers who side-sleep report wearing these through full red-eyes without soreness, which is where most foam plugs fail. They are also the most reviewed plug here at over 50,000 ratings, and that long track record is part of why they take the top slot.
Pros
- 33 dB NRR, highest in this guide
- 50 pairs per jar, about 20 cents a pair
- Slow-release foam seats easily
- Proven comfort for side sleepers
Cons
- Standard size can ache in small ear canals
- Disposable, so waste adds up
- Not reusable like silicone
Verdict
Yes, if you want the best all-around foam plug for sleeping on planes. The combination of top-tier noise blocking and a comfort record built over 50,000 reviews is hard to argue with. If standard foam hurts your ears, get the Mack's Dreamgirl instead.
Mack's Dreamgirl Soft Foam Earplugs 50 Pair
Best for
Your ear canals run small, or standard foam plugs leave you sore after a couple of hours. You want a plug that seals without pressure, and you are fine trading a little noise reduction for a fit you can wear all night. Frequent flyers who go through pairs fast may prefer Best Bulk Value for the lower per-pair cost.
Why we love it
These are molded about 20 percent smaller than Mack's standard plug, and that narrower, tapered shape seals small canals without the ache that drives people away from foam plugs. The NRR 30 rating still blocks meaningful cabin noise, just a step below the Mack's Ultra Soft at 33. We like the skinned, low-pressure foam because it releases slowly and sits gently, which is exactly what you want pressed against a pillow on a long flight. The 50-pair jar means you are not rationing pairs on a two-week trip. Long-wear reviewers report wearing them all day without soreness, which almost never happens with standard-size foam.
Pros
- 20% smaller than standard plugs
- NRR 30 with 33 dB SNR
- Gentle low-pressure foam
- 50 pairs per pack
Cons
- Less noise blocking than the overall pick
- Higher per-pair cost than budget options
- Still disposable
Verdict
Yes, if small or sensitive ear canals are your problem. The comfort upgrade over standard plugs is immediate and real. If your canals fit standard plugs fine, the Mack's Ultra Soft blocks more noise for less money.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are foam earplugs safe to sleep in on a plane?
Yes, foam earplugs are safe for overnight wear on flights. They sit in the outer ear canal and do not create pressure changes. If you wake with sore ears, switch to a smaller plug like the Mack's Dreamgirl rather than skipping earplugs.
Do foam earplugs block crying babies on planes?
They soften sharp sounds like crying considerably but will not erase them. The NRR 33 picks cut the most, which turns a scream into a distant wail. For total silence, pair earplugs with noise-canceling headphones.
How do I stop foam earplugs from falling out in my sleep?
Roll them thinner before inserting and give the foam a full 30 seconds to expand. A plug that falls out was usually under-compressed or too large for your canal. Smaller plugs like the Dreamgirl pair stay put better in narrow ears.
Can you reuse foam earplugs?
You can get a few wears from a pair if you keep them clean, but the foam compresses and seals worse each time. Treat them as multi-night disposables: two to four nights, then replace. Bulk packs like the LYSIAN box make frequent replacement painless.
Honorable Mentions
HEAROS Nanos Extra Small Ear Plugs
HEAROS Nanos are built for genuinely tiny ear canals and stay comfortable through the night, though the NRR 28 rating gives up some noise blocking to the Dreamgirl pair.
See PriceAmazonAZEN Bulk Foam Ear Plugs 100 Pairs
The 100-pair bag at NRR 32 is the cheapest per-plug route through a whole travel season, with a comfortable standard-size foam.
See PriceAmazonMoldex Softies Foam Earplugs
Moldex Softies use a very low-pressure foam that side sleepers praise, but the per-pair cost runs higher than the overall pick.
See PriceAmazon
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