Over-ear (circumaural) headphones typically offer the most effective ANC. Their earcups can create a tight seal, and the earpads act as an additional barrier. That said, the less-common on-ear ANC models can still eliminate plenty of surrounding noise, are often far more comfortable, and stow away more easily.

ANC-capable earphones have also seen significant improvements in recent years. The most significant advantage of these models is their passive isolation; their eartips seal off your ear canal, effectively eliminating high frequencies even before you enable the ANC.

The advantages one style may present over another are less about ANC performance at this point and more about your preference and comfort. You can find class-leading active noise cancellation in each category.

Noise cancellation circuitry isn't cheap. If a model has been around for more than a year or two, you might find some deals, but a quality pair of headphones rarely sells for less than $200. If they do, the ANC on offer is probably acceptable for the price but not on the same level as the top-tier options. If you're looking for the best, prepare to pay between $350 and $400. Earphones are the exception, and you can get good performance for less than $200.

Whether it's worth spending that much depends on your typical listening environment. If you struggle to focus in the presence of noisy people, pets, or machines, then noise-cancelling headphones are absolutely worth the sense of quiet they can provide.

However, if noise cancellation isn't a major concern for you, focus on other key characteristics by exploring our lists of the best wireless headphones, the best earphones, and the best headphones overall. If you're on a tight budget, consider the best headphones available for under $50.

Adaptive noise cancellation refers to active noise cancellation that adjusts to environmental sounds measured in real time by microphones. Technically, all ANC must be adaptive to a degree or it wouldn’t work—after all, as the sound around you changes, so too must the ANC’s inverse response. However, the term adaptive ANC refers to models that adjust to changes in surrounding noise and shifts in your head’s position. Apple's Adaptive Audio mode is one of the best we've tested, and it can help protect your hearing.

With numerous adaptive models, you can quite literally hear the noise cancellation changing in real-time when you turn your head slightly, or even feel pressure changes in your ear canal. For some users, adaptive ANC represents a crucial advancement, and to others, it’s distracting. As such, some apps now allow you to switch between adaptive and manual ANC modes. You might even be able to set the ANC to focus on a specific frequency range or use a fader to change its overall intensity.