Sleep Better: Best Earplugs for Sleeping with Snorers

At first, it might simply make you feel unbalanced. You may miss your alarm or forget little things from time to time. However, eventually, it gets a little too much. You lash out at people (without meaning to). You can’t concentrate. You feel exhausted even after doing nearly nothing.

Because your body doesn’t receive the reset it requires, you find yourself getting sickly more frequently, your head weighs you down, your response gets sluggish, and even the most simple tasks become more difficult than they need to be. That’s your body trying so hard to operate without quality sleep.

That’s why snoring may appear to be a minor problem, but when it’s interrupting your sleep nightly, it becomes a bigger problem. Sleep is when everything repairs itself. When that gets cut short over and over, everything else starts to slip too.

Plus, there’s the relationship strain. When their snoring has kept you up until 3 AM and you have a big meeting the next day, it’s hard not to question your choices. The Sleep Foundation did some research and found that people sleeping next to snorers are way more likely to have relationship problems. Makes sense when you think about it

Most people try the obvious first: white noise machines, separate bedrooms, nagging them to sleep on their side, or cut back on beer before bed.

White noise machines are hit or miss. Some people swear by them, others say they just add more noise to the mix. Separate bedrooms work for the snoring problem, but then you’re dealing with all the weird relationship stuff that comes with that. And trying to get someone to change their whole routine is another (difficult) conversation.

Earplugs are simple. Cheap. Practical. You don’t have to negotiate with anyone or rearrange your entire living situation. Just stick them in and boom - problem mostly solved. No drama, no expensive equipment, no awkward sleeping arrangements.

Sleep earplugs are little noise blockers designed to let you sleep through whatever racket is going on around you. They work by cutting down the sound that gets into your ears - scientists measure this in decibels and give earplugs something called a Noise Reduction Rating or NRR. A higher number means more noise gets blocked out.

You’ve got different types made from different materials: foam, silicone, wax, and custom-made ones. Each kind has its pros and cons depending on what you’re dealing with.

• These are the classic ones you’ll find in most drugstores and in-flight kits. They’re made of soft, squishy foam that you roll between your fingers before inserting. Once they’re in, they expand to fill your ear canal and block out a good chunk of sound.

PROS:

• Cheap and widely available
• Expand to fit most ears
• Good noise reduction

CONS:

• It can be uncomfortable for side sleepers
• Tend to fall out during the night
• Not reusable (needs frequent replacing)

• These usually come in two kinds. One type is the squishy, moldable kind that you press over your ear like soft putty. The other is already shaped and just pops into your ear canal. Either way, they’re softer than foam and usually feel nicer, especially if you’re wearing them all night.

PROS:

• Reusable and longer-lasting
• Molds to your ear shape
• Better comfort for side sleepers
• Creates a solid seal against noise

CONS:

• Slightly more expensive than foam
• It can lose shape over time if not cleaned

• These are soft, pliable, and warm up to your body temperature, which helps them mold smoothly to your ears. They’re usually covered in cotton and designed to press gently over your ear opening (not deep inside). People with sensitive ears often love them.

PROS:

• Very comfortable and gentle on the ears
• Great noise-blocking ability
• Ideal for sensitive skin

CONS:

• Can feel sticky, especially in warm weather
• Not the most durable
• Needs to be replaced more often

• These are the deluxe options. You can have them custom-shaped, or use one of those home kits to mold them yourself. Either way, once they’re fitted to your ears, they stay in place and feel way more comfortable than the usual one-size-fits-all options.

PROS:

• Perfect fit for your ears
• Extremely comfortable for long-term use
• Blocks the most noise
• Durable and reusable

CONS:

• Higher upfront cost
• Requires time and effort to mold correctly

Find the Right Noise Reduction Rating (NRR) for you

NRR tells you how much sound the earplugs can block. Higher number = more noise blocked.

If the snoring next to you is loud enough to shake the walls, go for something with a rating of 30 or higher. If it’s more of a soft buzz or background noise, anything in the upper 20s should help. They won’t cancel everything out, but they’ll take the edge off so you can finally get some sleep.

Choose Comfort That Lasts

You’ll be wearing these for hours at a time, maybe every night, so comfort is key. Side sleepers should look for earplugs that are soft and low-profile, that won’t press into the pillow. If they stick out too far or feel stiff, they’ll dig into your pillow, and you’re guaranteed a noisy and physically painful sleep. Some plugs feel fine at first, then cause soreness after a few hours. Others fall out halfway through the night. Either way, you won’t wake up rested.

Pick the Right Material 

Some earplugs feel fine, others feel like they were designed by someone who’s never had ears. Foam ones are cheap and everywhere, but they can make your ears itch, especially if you’re wearing them night after night. Silicone tends to be softer and better for sensitive skin. Wax ones are ultra comfortable, but they can get a bit gross if your room’s hot, since they soften up and get kind of sticky. Not ideal in summer. If you have sensitive skin or easily react to materials in certain accessories, definitely look for hypoallergenic earplugs. You don’t want to be waking up at 2 AM with itchy ears.

Decide Between Tossing or Reusing

Disposable earplugs are super convenient. Pop them in, sleep, and toss them the next day. No fuss. But if you’re using them every night, you’ll go through a ton, and that starts to get pricey (and wasteful).

Reusable ones are a better deal long-term. Some can even last for months if you take care of them. But yeah, you do have to clean them or they’ll get gross pretty quickly. If you’re okay rinsing them every few nights, then get yourself a reusable pair. If not, keep a backup stash of disposables on hand.

Find Your Best Fit

“Standard size” doesn’t mean much when it comes to ears. If the plug’s too small, it might not block anything at all.

Finding the right fit might take a little trial and error, but once you do, you’ll be guaranteed a good night’s sleep. Bonus tip: Check out brands that offer multiple sizes.

If you’ve already tried earplugs and you’re still not getting decent sleep, it’s probably time to deal with what’s actually causing the snoring.

Some nights, the noise is worse, maybe they had a couple of drinks, or passed out on their back again. But if the snoring has a weird pattern like it suddenly stops for a bit and then kicks back in with a gasp, that’s not just regular snoring. That’s something that should probably be checked out. You don’t have to panic, but you also don’t have to keep guessing while lying there at 3 AM wondering if it’s normal. A doctor can tell you what’s up.

In the end, if your partner’s snoring keeps disturbing your sleep and not just for your own sake, but also out of consideration for their health, resolving the root cause of the persistent snoring is key. Investing into a quality snoring mouthpiece is often a great first step. Check out our VitalSleep Anti-Snoring Mouthpiece . It is custom molded for perfect fit and maximum comfort. It will effectively stop your partners snoring so that you can finally enjoy a restful sleep! Have your partner join more than 10,000 happy US customers who have benefited from our best-selling anti-snoring device.

If you’ve made it this far, you’ve probably already been dealing with this for a while. Snoring’s not exactly a new guest in your life. But the fact that you’re even looking into earplugs, or any solution really, says a lot - you’re done losing sleep over it.

It’s time to try something. Anything. Don’t just wait around hoping that snoring will fix itself. Whether it’s trying a better pair of earplugs or having an honest talk with your partner.

However, as pointed out, while earplugs may help you sleep better, ultimately you should help your partner resolve the root cause of their snoring - our anti-snoring mouthpiece is a very effective solution for this.

If you found this blog post interesting, also check out our related posts: Why can't I hear myself snore , Does smoking cause snoring ? and The link between caffeine and snoring .