The best kids headphones

Wait a minute. Why’s there a page dedicated to the best headphones just for kids? Surely the better solution is to just dust off an old pair of headphones and hand-’em-down. Well, not exactly. As it turns out, kids’ auricles are a lot more sensitive to sound than adult earholes. That’s why kid-friendly headphones have volume limits and other comfort considerations to help protect growing ears.

In terms of cost, cheap kids headphones cost under $50, while you can get a decent pair for not much more than that. Those cheap costs extend to wired and wireless headphones, but a good pair of noise-cancelling headphones is closer to $100. If you want to dabble in the latest open-ear headphones technology, expect to pay closer to $300.

Scroll on for our picks of the best kids headphones in Australia.

The iClever BTH12 Wireless is a great place to start when comparing kids headphones. For a very competitive price, you get a pair of over-ear headphones that offer wired or Bluetooth wireless connectivity. These cans boast 40mm drivers, soft earcups alongside an adjustable headband for growing noggins and a foldable design so they can tuck into a backpack. There are three practical volume-limited presets, too: a quieter 74 dB by default, 85 dB for most use cases and a 94 dB boost for a practical travel alternative (or more mature ears). There are five colours to choose from, up to 55 hours of playback before recharge and an inbuilt mic for video calls.

For alternatives, consider any of the other picks on this page alongside the Moki Mixi Kids or Polaroid Foldable RGB Wireless for over-ear equivalents.

Our top pick above isn’t overly expensive at $55, but there’s still space to go cheaper. Case in point, the JBL Junior 310 Kids headphones. These wired kids headphones are a solid cheap starting point if your child tends to use devices with a 3.5mm port. The over-ear design is easy to adjust, plus it adds an extra layer of comfort by not trapping younger ears. Better still, they should still be comfortable as those young ears grow. There are six colours to choose from, plus they fold into a portable size. On the practical front, there’s also an inbuilt microphone for video calls.

For cheap alternatives, consider the Belkin SoundForm Mini (below) or the Moki Over-Ear Headphones (ACCHPCAMGY). Our top pick above isn’t overly expensive at $55, but there’s still space to go cheaper. Case in point, the JBL Junior 310 Kids headphones. These wired kids headphones are a solid cheap starting point if your child tends to use devices with a 3.5mm port. The over-ear design is easy to adjust, plus it adds an extra layer of comfort by not trapping younger ears. Better still, they should still be comfortable as those young ears grow. There are six colours to choose from, plus they fold into a portable size. On the practical front, there’s also an inbuilt microphone for video calls.

For cheap alternatives, consider the Belkin SoundForm Mini (below) or the Moki Over-Ear Headphones (ACCHPCAMGY).

The Belkin SoundForm Mini proves that you don’t need to spend a lot to get Bluetooth wireless headphones for kids. Its design is reminiscent of adult headphones albeit with four colour options. As on-ear headphones, the SoundForm Mini are kinder on growing ears, and it’s appreciated that these cans have been tested for spills and drops. On the connectivity front, there’s Bluetooth 5.0 for compatible phones and tablets, with up to 30 hours of playback and an admirable nine-metre wireless range. There’s also an included 3.5mm cable for wired devices. We also like the kid-sized comfort considerations, plus an inbuilt microphone for video calls.

For wireless alternatives, consider the comparatively affordable iClever BTH02 or Biggerfive BH100 kids wireless headphones.

Compared to the picks above, the JBL JR 460NC is a pricey pair of kids headphones at $100+ with typical pricing. That said, it’s a good pricepoint for a brand with a solid reputation in the audio space. The JR 460NC over-ear kids headphones have four colour options to choose from. Whichever colour your kid chooses, you get wireless Bluetooth headphones with up to 20 hours of battery life (and a respectable two hours for a full charge). While not as powerful as adult equivalents, expect the noise cancelling to do a decent job of quietening consistent background noise. To help boost the versatility, the JR 460NC kids headphones also support 3.5mm wired connectivity, plus they have an inbuilt mic.

For noise-cancelling alternatives, consider the cheaper Laser ANC Kids Wireless Headphones (HPS-KANCL-071) or the similarly priced Moki Navigator ACC HPKNCB cans.

While potentially a contentious choice as headphones (compared to typical headphones), the inelegantly named Philips TAK4607GY/00 use bone conduction for audio playback. Effectively, these so-called “open-ear headphones” transmit audio without needing to go on or inside the ear canal, making them a great pick for protecting growing ears. The other benefit is that unobstructed ears make it easier to hear outside noises. These Philips open-ear headphones are designed with younger noggins in mind, built for a secure but comfortable fit, and meant to accommodate children aged four to 12. They offer five hours of playback time via Bluetooth, which acts as an inbuilt time limiter alongside the additional app-based parental controls.

For cheaper open-ear alternatives, consider the Golvery G03, Mehomeli MEKJ001AB or GenXenon X12 options.