The Best Headsets and Headphones for Your Home Office (2024)

Recommended by Our Editors

Why We Picked It

If you want to get work done, tuning out distractions is a wise first step. And the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds currently offer the absolute best in-ear noise cancellation on the market. They also have clear mics and produce pleasing audio with a strong bass response.

Who It's For

If you prefer using earphones and really need to concentrate, the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds are your best option. They effectively block out nearly all frequency ranges and can even intelligently lower loud noises in your environment while letting you hear everything else.

Why We Picked It

Bose's QuietComfort Ultra Headphones outpace both theSony WH-1000XM5 and the Apple AirPods Max (below) on the noise cancellation front, making them our go-to recommendation for people who need a quiet work environment. We also enjoy their bass-forward sound signature and like the inclusion of the AptX Adaptive Bluetooth codec for high-quality streaming from Android devices. They remain supremely comfortable over long listening sessions, too.

Who It's For

Although there are reasons to consider models from Apple and Sony, Bose's QuietComfort Ultra Headphones are the clear leaders in active noise cancellation. That's arguably the most important aspect for home office workers.

Why We Picked It

The Apple AirPods Max are the most expensive entry on the list at $549. Although you pay a bit of an Apple tax, you get a very powerful set of headphones for your money. Aside from their excellent noise cancellation, they also feature an adaptive EQ and spatial audio features. And, if you're an iPhone user, they have hands-free Siri access, too.

Who It's For

The AirPods Max work best for people with an iPhone. Their striking design should also catch the eye of style-conscious users. If you prefer earphones, the AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) perform even better in the noise cancellation department with an innovative Adaptive Audio mode.

Why We Picked It

Jabra's Evolve2 75 headphones are pricey, but offer excellent audio quality, a clear boom mic, effective active noise cancellation, and a premium design. For serious work, they boast the Unified Communications (UC) certification and are available with either a UC- or Microsoft Teams-optimized USB transmitter for a rock-solid connection. And, whenever you aren't at your desk, you can still fall back on Bluetooth.

Who It's For

These headphones are for serious hybrid workers who want the best performance available, along with UC certification or Microsoft Teams optimization. They cost a lot, but deliver a superlative experience.

Why We Picked It

Gaming headsets are essentially just headphones with boom mics and some gaming features. Some might look a bit outlandish for professional calls, but the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless headset is downright classy with its black-and-gunmetal design. More importantly, it offers tons of connectivity features, including a 2.4GHz transmitter with volume controls and a helpful display, Bluetooth for phone connections, and even two interchangeable batteries for unplugged use. The headset also sounds excellent, includes a clear (and retractable) boom mic, and effectively cancels noise.

Who It's For

This is a good all-around headset for your desk, whether you play video games or not. Sure, its abilities to concurrently connect with a console and a PC over USB, as well as simulate surround sound on Windows are more useful for gamers, but its comfortable design, high-quality audio output, and useful noise cancellation all add up to a comprehensive (if pricey) package for everyone else.

Why We Picked It

Once again, a gaming headset can work well for your home office needs. The Razer Barracuda X doesn't have nearly as many features as the Steelseries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless, but for less than $100, it offers both USB and Bluetooth wireless connectivity as well as excellent sound. It also features a fantastic mic and an understated, work-friendly design.

Who It's For

If you want a headset with wireless audio and reliable voice quality at an affordable price, the Razer Barracuda X is a good choice. It doesn't have any enterprise features, but it performs well and is just as usable on the go as at your desk.

Why We Picked It

You don't need to spend a lot on a quality wireless stereo headset. The Wyze Gaming Headset offers a comfortable over-ear fit, above-average sound quality, a decent mic signal, and both 2.4GHz and Bluetooth connectivity. And it's downright cheap at $60.

Who It's For

The Wyze Gaming Headset is a commendable budget option that doesn't excel in any particular category but still works for just about all of your gaming or corporate communication needs. That said, you should consider spending a bit more for the Razer Barracuda X if you want a really clear microphone.

Why We Picked It

If you already have a favorite pair of headphones and don't want to buy a separate headset, you could always just turn to Antlion Audio's ModMic Wireless boom microphone. It is easy to mount on your headphones and connects wirelessly to your PC via a USB receiver. The mic sounds excellent and is simple to detach when you don't need it.

Who It's For

This is for people who prefer to use a single set of headphones for everything, but also need to conduct clear phone calls for work. Just be aware that it doesn't support Bluetooth, so you can't use it with your phone; it's purely a desk mic.