The Best Mower Headphones in 2022

Taking headphones outdoors while you’re mowing can solve two problems at once. First and most importantly, a good pair of noise-canceling headphones for mowing can prevent serious damage to your hearing from the loud noise levels that lawnmowers produce. 

Many lawnmowers create over 90 decibels of noise, which is a serious risk to your health—especially if you have a large lawn that takes a long time to mow. 

Secondly, wireless headphones for mowing can also provide digital entertainment during an often boring, time-consuming, and thankless task. Putting on an awesome playlist, interesting podcasts, or audiobooks can transform mowing the lawn from something you dread doing to something that isn’t all that bad. 

In this list of the best headphones for mowing the lawn, you’ll find a diverse range of options—from burly over-ear headphones designed for construction workers to small but powerful in-ear headphones with great sound quality and active noise-canceling capabilities. 

Overall, we find that the 3M WorkTunes Connect Hearing Protector is the best overall headphones for mowing the lawn. The lightweight headphones have all the features you could want, including a high degree of noise-canceling capacity for hearing protection, high-fidelity speakers, plus a microphone that enables cell phone calls and voice control in high background noise situations. 

Not only do the headphones come packed full of features, but the 3M WorkTunes Connect Hearing Protector is a durable enough product that you can plan on using for years to come. You’ll be amazed at the headphone sound quality as well.

However, we realize that different consumers might have different needs and preferences. For instance, some people don’t like wearing over-the-ear headphones, and others won’t need the same level of noise-canceling protection or the need to connect to their mobile devices while mowing the grass. 

For that reason, we recommend lots of other high-quality and reliable options that can enable you to protect your hearing while working on the lawn. 

Keep reading to find out which of these noise-canceling lawn mowing headphones fits into your lawn care routine the best. 

The Best Headphones For Mowing The Lawn Compared

Buyer’s Guide: What to Look for When Buying Headphones for Mowing the Lawn

As with purchasing any piece of complex technology, there are many factors to consider when buying noise-canceling headphones for mowing. It is, of course, doubly true regarding items that impact your health and safety. 

This buyer’s guide will review the most important questions when choosing between prospective headphones for mowing your lawn, using power tools, or doing yard work. 

How Well Do The Headphones Protect Your Hearing? 

You want to be sure that the noise-canceling headphones for mowing you buy meet industrial safety regulations. To keep ears safe from possible noise damage lawnmowers cause, always protect ears with a noise-canceling ear defender, like a wireless headset or true wireless headphones with Bluetooth 5:0 connection. Then listening to mp3, AM radio, podcasts, or audiobooks with HiFi stereo quality speakers won’t harm your ears.  

According to the US Department of Labor, exposing yourself to loud noises is a hazard that has harmful effects in both the short term and the long term. In the short term, loud noise can cause tinnitus or a ringing in your ears. Although this type of hearing damage could be treatable and seems small compared to total healing loss, it is uncomfortable and may lead to long-term hearing issues. In addition, longer-term exposure can lead to permanent hearing loss. 

Government regulations require employers to practice good hearing conservation, or the prevention of any harmful effects from loud noise, by supplying the necessary hearing protection equipment for their employees. So why wouldn’t you want to use the same best practices in your own home? It’s easy to prevent hearing damage by wearing noise cancellation protection like earbuds, earphones, or wireless headphones.

You are at risk of hearing loss whenever you experience noise that rises above 70 decibels for an extended amount of time. The louder the noise, the less time you need to spend with it before there is damage. 

Given that lawnmowers produce around 90 decibels, you are taking a risk with your hearing when you use mowers without precaution. Keep in mind that there is a range here: if you have a very large and powerful mower, it’s likely much louder than a smaller model, and the chances of hearing damage are high.

You can tell the amount of protection that noise-canceling headphones for mowing offer you by looking at the particular model’s noise reduction rating (NRR). The NRR tells you how much sound they can block out, with a higher value corresponding to a greater ability to cancel out noise. Most brands have designed noise-canceling headphones with built-in noise protection, but check if the levels are sufficient for your needs.

Do The Wireless Headphones Have A Snug Fit? 

It is an important question because it is directly connected to the previous question about how strong their noise-canceling rating is. An expensive pair of noise-canceling headphones for mowing with a high hearing protection range is useless if the headphones don’t fit properly. 

When I talk about a ‘snug fit,’ I mean that your headphones completely block the entries to your ears. Otherwise, the sound will find its way into your ears due to the gaps left by poorly fitting headphones. 

When it comes to in-ear headphones, be sure that the plug that goes into your ears is the proper size. Many such headphones come with multiple options for that rubber plug in the package, giving you a few different sizes to choose from. Be sure to choose one large enough to create a stable seal and one that’s small enough to fit inside without popping out often. 

You can evaluate the fit of over-the-ear headphones by checking whether the ear cups completely encircle your ears. That means they can’t be resting on any part of your ear or be so large that they move around. 

You check the fit of over-ear headphones by running a finger around the entire circumference on the outside of the headphones to ensure they are firmly attached to your head at all points. A snug fit provides better sound quality and sound isolation from your hearing protection headphones.

One further note about ear cup headphones is that their ear pads tend to wear out after lots of use, which can eventually compromise their passive noise isolation properties. Luckily, most manufacturers allow you to order replacement pads that restore a proper fit when wearing them. 

What Is The Best Buy For Sound Quality?

Of course, you can just buy earplugs if all you are looking for is hearing protection. But you want to listen to music while mowing the lawn and noise isolation.

So superb sound quality is a factor as well. Some of this is subjective – one person can find a model of noise-canceling headphones good enough, while another might notice missing bass.

However – even the most premium headphones aren’t going to deliver an audiophile performance for you while you are lawn mowing. The low-frequency noises – and other outdoor background noises – are strong while mowing the lawn.  

If you want excellent sound quality from your noise-canceling headphones, try them out without noise. If the headphones are outstanding without noisy interference, you can be sure they will provide good sound quality under stress – as long as the noise reduction and other active noise canceling systems are top-notch.  

How Comfortable Are The Headphones? 

When you’re out working on the lawn, you need to make sure that the headphones you’re wearing are comfortable for you. Otherwise, the headphones become an additional annoyance, and you’ll always be tempted to take them out, exposing you to the risk of hearing loss. 

Everyone has differently shaped ears and tends to prefer one or the other type of headphones or earbuds in terms of comfort. 

In this context, you can use your preferences for regular headphones to guide you in choosing a pair. For example, if you usually like big, over-ear headphones, buying a pair for mowing the lawn is a good idea. The headphone design is built to reduce outside noise the best because of the passive ear protection they provide. In addition, the extra mass is suitable for high sound quality, passive noise isolation, and hearing protection.  

On the other hand, if the idea of having your ears cooped up gets on your nerves, you might want to think about changing it up and going for smaller in-ear noise-canceling headphones – likely with a rechargeable battery.   

If you don’t have a strong idea of what you prefer when it comes to the most comfortable noise-canceling lawn-mowing headphones, I’d suggest going into an electronics store and trying on some different types of headphones. 

That will give you a good idea of which ones will be the most comfortable for you when you’re out on the lawn mower. You can also ask them if they carry any models on this list if you’ve found one or two that interest you. 

Do the Noise-Canceling Headphones Restrict Your Range of Motion? 

Since you’ll be doing physical work while wearing your headphones, it’s crucial that you can move comfortably and freely when wearing them. 

Here, the best option is to get Bluetooth lawn mowing headphones, which don’t have cords to get in the way. There is a little bit of a price difference compared to corded headphones, but it isn’t too significant these days. A wired connection will severely strain your movement, but most headphones for lawn and yard work are truly wireless headphones. When you purchase the best noise protection headphones, the ideal is affordable headphones with low charging time and long battery life.

How Durable Are The Headphones? 

Durability is crucial when buying headphones because you don’t want to break the pair after a short time and then have to buy a new pair. It can, however, be challenging to tell whether a pair of headphones is durable or not. 

Here are a few ways to know whether a prospective pair of headphones will likely stand the test of time. 

The first thing to look at is the brand. If it’s from an internationally recognized and well-regarded brand, chances are that the headphones are made from high-quality materials and are unlikely to break for no reason. On the other hand, headphones made by brands that don’t have much of a track history or web presence beyond amazon are much riskier to buy from. 

Secondly, you can look at the manufacturer’s materials to make the headphones. In general, metals and high-quality plastics will be more reliable than cheap, hard plastics that you might find on lower-priced headphones. 

Finally, the manufacturer’s warranty is an excellent piece of information. When a company grants lifetime or long-term warranties on its products, it shows that they believe in the durability of its product. 

Do You Want Over-Ear or In-Ear Headphones?

We briefly looked at this choice when going over the importance of finding headphones that are comfortable for you. However, there are a few more factors involved in this decision that I’d like to go over. These are especially important to go over if you’re one of those who doesn’t have a strong preference for in-ear vs. over-ear headphones. 

Over-ear headphones are going to be able to provide the most powerful hearing protection from noise. The reason over-ear headphones are better than in-ear headphones is relatively simple: they have all that extra material in their large ear muffs that help block out surrounding noise. It’s a passive form of effective noise cancellation. They can eliminate much noise when complemented by active noise reduction while mowing the lawn. 

So, if you have a particularly loud lawn mower or are very worried about hearing loss and want to maximize the degree to which you avoid it, over-ear headphones are best for you. They have the best ear protection, hands-down.

On the other hand, you might not need as much NRR out of your headphones if you only have a small lawnmower and a lawn that doesn’t take too much time to mow. In those conditions, the risk of acute hearing loss is lower, so in-ear headphones provide adequate ear protection.  

Another consideration is heat. I have quite a large lawn and live in a hot climate, and let me tell you that over-ear headphones can become uncomfortably hot during the summer. If you’re sensitive to heat, in-ear headphones are a good idea during lawn-mowing midday. 

Watch Out for Battery Life With Bluetooth Headphones

If you’re looking at buying a pair of headphones that feature a rechargeable battery, make sure that they have enough battery life to get through not just the lawn but a full day of yard work. You don’t want them to run out of power while trimming the hedges in the middle of one of your favorite albums. Most Bluetooth headphones are rechargeable – but not all.

Further, you should still consider the efficiency of active noise-canceling headphones that use replaceable aa batteries because these extra expenses can add up over time. For example, a pair of noise-canceling headphones powered by replaceable batteries will typically go through the power of one battery in about 25 hours. 

If you buy a pair whose battery needs to be replaced after significantly less time, you’ll have to pay for many extra batteries over the product’s lifetime. Battery life is essential.

Noise-Canceling Wireless Headphones Frequently Asked Questions

Can Noise from Lawnmowers Damage My Hearing?

Yes, lawnmower noise can damage your hearing, especially over long periods. Hearing damage is cumulative, which means that once you do damage, it doesn’t heal, and you can always do further damage. 

The 90 decibels that household lawnmowers produce are loud enough to damage hearing if you don’t take the proper precautions. 

How Long Do Noise Cancelling Headphones Last?

It depends on the make and model of your headphones, but the best quality noise-canceling headphones can last from 5 to 8 years. Lower-quality headphones might only last 1 to 3 years. 

Do Noise Cancelling Headphones Wear Out?

No, noise-canceling headphones don’t wear out, but some of their components might. For instance, the pads on the outside of over-ear noise-canceling headphones will eventually wear down from repeated use, but the actual mechanism that cancels out noise won’t break down. 

Likewise, you’ll eventually have to replace the battery in noise-canceling headphones that require battery power. 

The good news is that when you buy high-quality noise-canceling headphones, more or less all of the components will be replaceable. All you need to do is get in touch with the customer service division of the manufacturer and have them send you replacement parts. Whether or not your headphones are still under warranty will determine whether this comes at a cost to you or not. Check the warranty policy and services offered before getting your new headphones from a company you don’t know.

Noise-Canceling Headphones For Mowing Product Reviews 

Here are the best headphones for mowing that we could find after an exhaustive search. I believe that each of these headphones can do a great job of keeping your hearing safe and your mind entertained while working on the lawn. 

3M WorkTunes Connect Hearing Protector with Bluetooth Technology, 24 dB NRR, Ear protection for Mowing, Snowblowing, Construction, Work Shops—Best Overall Headphones for Mowing

3M is one of the largest companies in the world for a reason: they apply science and great manufacturing practices to whatever they manufacture. The 3M WorkTunes Connect Hearing Protector is no exception. 

In our eyes, it’s the best Bluetooth hearing protection you can get, filled with features that enhance the headphone’s effectiveness and comfort for the wearer. 

That starts with the extremely high noise reduction rating of 24 decibels, achieved through a combination of active noise canceling and passive noise-canceling. Wearing this headset, you’ll be protected from even the loudest lawnmowers and be able to mow the most extensive lawns without any negative consequences or damage to your ears. 

Regarding the entertainment side, these are a great pair of headphones that feature high-fidelity speakers. You can stream any media you like from any Bluetooth-compatible device to the headphones, which don’t feature cords or antennae to get in your way. 

Finally, and probably my favorite feature of the 3M WorkTunes Connect Hearing Protector, is the microphone integrated into the headphones that allow you to take a call. At the same time, you’ve got them on and enabling voice control.

These headphones are for those who are very serious about their lawns and technology, not interested in anything but the best in both situations. But, of course, you want the best headphones for mowing while working on the lawn for hours, striving to outdo your neighbors.

3M WorkTunes Connect + AM/FM Hearing Protector with Bluetooth Technology, Ear protection for Mowing, Snowblowing, Construction, Work Shops—Best Headphones for Mowing with Radio

This model from 3M is a close cousin of the noise-cancellation wireless headset we just discussed, except for a few extra features. We’ve ranked the wireless headphones just below the top spot because many of these features won’t be seen as necessary by everyone, but for some people, this version of the 3M WorkTunes Connect will be the preferred option. 

The headline is that the 3M WorkTunes Connect + AM/FM Hearing Protector can pick up both AM and FM radio and connect to Bluetooth devices. Some people will appreciate the extra feature because they love listening to the radio while mowing the lawn. 

Other than that, the appearance is slightly different, with grey earmuffs, instead of black, to block out the mower noise and antennae to pick up the FM and AM radio. These two differences give the 3M WorkTunes Connect + AM/FM Hearing Protector headset a little bit more of a workmanlike feel than the other black 3M headphones, which look like they could be used just as easily in a studio as on a worksite. 

These headphones have the same 24-decibel NRR as the base 3M Worktunes Connect, so you’ll get excellent external noise protection from this model. You’ll also find many of the same features included to enhance comfort, like cushioned ear pads and an adjustable headband. 

In conclusion, I’d say that the 3M WorkTunes Connect + AM/FM Hearing Protector is for almost the same group of people as its sister product. The only difference is that the people these headphones are best for those who love listening to the radio and want hearing protection. 

ISOtunes PRO Bluetooth Earplug Headphones, 27 dB Noise Reduction Rating, 10 Hour Battery, Noise Cancelling Mic, OSHA Compliant Bluetooth Hearing Protector (Safety Orange)—Best Sound Quality For In-Ear Headphones for Mowing

While our first two headphones were from the same manufacturer and quite similar, the third pair of wireless headphones we’re looking at is different. The ISOtunes PRO Bluetooth Earplug Headphones are an innovative and effective pair of in-ear headphones to keep you safe while working in high-noise environments. 

With their high visibility, safety orange color, these in-ear headphones are OSHA compliant, and with their over-ear wires, they’re also difficult to use. 

The ISOtunes PRO Bluetooth Earplug Headphones have an NRR of 27 decibels, which outperforms many over-ear headphones. The headphones pull off such a feat by using heat-activated memory foam that expands to produce a perfect seal when you put them on, which enables a high degree of passive noise cancellation. 

When you combine that with the powerful active noise cancellation from the speakers, you get a considerable degree of noise cancellation overall. 

Those speakers also provide excellent sound quality playback of anything you send over Bluetooth. And you’ll be able to listen to whatever you like for a long time: the ISOtunes PRO Bluetooth Earplug Headphones have a 10+ hour battery life that will take you through a full day of yardwork before charging is necessary. 

Like the two headphones from 3M, the ISOtunes PRO Bluetooth Earplug Headphones come with a microphone that allows you to take phone calls while you’re working. The difference here is that the microphone is located on the wire that connects the two headphones, along with volume control and a pause button. 

Anker Soundcore Life Q20 Hybrid Active Noise Cancelling Headphones, Wireless Over-Ear Bluetooth Headphones, 40H Playtime, Hi-Res Audio, Deep Bass, Memory Foam Ear Cups, for Travel, Home Office—Best Hearing Protection While Mowing for Music Lovers

The Anker Soundcore Life Q20 Hybrid Active Noise Cancelling Headphones bring a lot to the table when it comes to using them to protect your hearing while mowing the lawn. The impressive thing is that the headphones do so while maintaining an audio quality that any music lover would be happy with. 

These are an outstanding pair of Bluetooth hearing protection headphones – so good you won’t just wear them when mowing the lawn. The sound quality is that good.

But let’s start with safety. Anker claims their headphones reduce ambient noise by 90%, although they don’t cite a specific NRR. However, given that the noise cancellation is quite powerful and the over-ear design leads to a large amount of passive noise cancellation, you should be more than good to use these for mowing. 

Also, the earpads on these headphones for lawn mowing are incredibly comfortable, so you won’t ever be tempted to take them off while working. 

The standout feature of the Anker Soundcore Life Q20 Hybrid Active Noise Cancelling Headphones is the Deep Base technology that gives you the feeling you are in the club, not mowing the lawn, while EDM or hip-hop is playing. But, of course, you can also turn off the enhanced bass when listening to genres that don’t demand it as much. 

When you combine all those features with the 40-hour playtime per charge, you get a product that’s one of the best wireless Bluetooth headphones for mowing.

Our Verdict

I hope this overview of the best headphones for mowing has convinced you of the importance of wearing ear protection around loud lawnmowers. Hearing damage is permanent and can always get worse, so trust me when I say that your future self will thank you for wearing protection while working with lawnmowers, power tools, and all other loud machinery.

We find that the 3M WorkTunes Connect Hearing Protector is, overall, the best headphones for mowing safely. The wireless headset has all the features you could want and nothing extra—which we view as the mark of a great product. In addition, the headphones have great speakers and wireless Bluetooth connectivity to go with a great NRR of 24 decibels. 

Ultimately, that’s just about all you could want from the best headphones for mowing the lawn. So why not protect your hearing today and order yourself a pair?