Best earbuds for small ears: Top 10 for small ear canals
What are the best earbuds for small ears that don't fall out? Which ones don't press against your outer ear, and which fit a small ear canal? As someone with small ears, I set out to find out. After a long search, I now know which earbuds stay put in a small ear canal. Here are the best earbuds for small ears.
In this article
- 1. Best earbuds for small ears
- 2. The problem with small ears and earbuds
- 3. Test results
- 3.1 Best small wireless earbuds tested
- 3.2 Best option under €200
- 3.3 Best small wired earbuds
- 3.4 Best small in-ear earbuds
- 3.5 Best bone conduction option
- 3.6 Best budget option
- 3.7 Best small earbuds for sleeping
- 3.8 Best small earbuds for Android
- 3.9 Smallest earbuds
- 3.10 Smallest AirPods
- 3. All about earbuds for small ears
Best earbuds for small ears
Here's our list of the best earbuds for small ear canals that won't fall out of small ears:
- pocobob Z
(Best small wireless earbuds) - Jabra Elite 7 pro
(Best under €200) - OneMelon Waterfall
(Best small wired earbuds) - pocobob SP
(Best small in-ear earbuds) - Shokz OpenRun small
(Best bone conduction option) - Haylou GS1
(Best budget option) - OneMelon Drops with sleep mode
(Best small earbuds for sleeping) - Buds 2
(Best small Android earbuds) - OneMelon Drops
(Smallest earbuds) -
AirPods Pro 2
(Smallest AirPods)
Earbuds and small ears: the big problem
Sometimes it seems earbud manufacturers don't give our ears a second thought. Why is that? Almost every pair I've tested, with the odd exception, is too small.
It's always the same reasons earbuds don't work for small ears:
- The housing is too big (presses against the outer ear)
- The ear tips don't fit my small ear canal
I've lost 1 earbud while cycling or riding my scooter 3 times (yes, really). That alone cost me nearly €400 (one pair of white earbuds cost over €250). Ridiculous. But after a long search, my advice will save you quite a bit.
The thing is, I'm happy with my small ears. I'd rather have small ears than oversized ones. But I'm almost never happy when I put an earbud in. They always fall out.
Earbud housings and a small outer ear
With about 75% of earbuds, I might manage to get them into my ear canal after some fiddling, but they press against my outer ear. That pushes them out of my ear, and after about 15 minutes they become really uncomfortable. So they won't stay put.
I always end up wearing them differently from how they're meant to be worn. Usually, I point the earbud housing straight down because I can't wear them any other way.
But that's clearly not how they're meant to fit. Sometimes I don't push them as far into my ears. That stops them pressing against my outer ear, but then the sound suffers (read: no bass). Worse still, they keep falling out!
Sound familiar? I know lots of people with the same problem. Mostly women. Our ears are often a little smaller than men's.
Update: we've now heard from several men whose earbuds were too big for their ears too. So it's definitely not just a women's issue.
Ear tips are too big for my ears
Another common problem is that earbuds won't fit into my ear canal. My ear canals are too small, so I need to find earbuds with small ear tips.
Foam ear tips often help my earbuds fit better. You attach them to your earbuds instead of the standard silicone or rubber ear tips, then squeeze them before putting them in your ears.
Once inside, they expand and mold to your ear canal. That alone is a clever solution. But you're still left with the large earbud housing, which makes them uncomfortable and keeps pushing them out of your small ears. So the question remains: what are the best earbuds for small ears?
But there is hope. I've made quite a few disappointing purchases. Still, a few earbuds fit my small ear canals just right. I put them in and everything fell into place. Even better, the sound suddenly came through properly too. A lovely full sound with good bass.
Test results
As you can see, earbuds for small ears are often too big. They fall out and deliver no bass because of the poor fit. So you need the smallest earbuds.
During testing, we noticed that the difference in quality is huge, especially among small earbuds. We always see quality differences in the earbud market, of course. But the gap seems much wider with small earbuds. Perhaps it's because fitting all the hardware into such a small housing is so difficult.
Best small earbuds tested for small ears
These are currently our top picks for small ears. We keep this list up to date. A price change or new small earbuds on the market could change the rankings.
1. pocobob Z
Smallest earbuds | Small and lightweight | Good sound | Sleep mode
- Price: ~50
These are the best earbuds I've tested for my small ears. They're 1.9 cm long and have a lovely, full sound. They also have a good microphone, seal really well in your ears, and come with sleep mode. There's an Android app too, with iOS coming soon! And those colors: shiny gold, a very cute purple, and black. The purple ones in particular are just beautiful. You almost don't need earrings anymore.
They're also the best earbuds for my small ear canals. I've never worn a better-fitting pair. They're nice and light too, at 3.1 grams. They feel premium, with a soft matte finish and a glossy top.
The sleep mode is a nice addition. Perfect if you like falling asleep to music or a podcast. Put the earbuds in and turn on sleep mode. This disables the touch controls, and you can set a timer (for example, for 30 min). You do all of this in the pocobob app. Ideal for sleeping. I can even lie on one ear while wearing them. I can't do that with other earbuds: they stick out and press into my ear. These don't, thanks to their small size. In short, it sounds strange, but these are the only earbuds I take to bed.
So the pocobob Z are tiny earbuds. We see plenty of other nice options in this category. They're all fairly small, just not as small as the pocobob Z.
Take the OneMelon Drops, for example. They're small too, but the sound and fit aren't quite as good.
The green ones are OneMelon Drops. The cream ones are other sleepbuds, as they're often called. Both pairs are fine. We also see plenty of other earbuds that look a lot like OneMelon Drops. But don't be fooled: there's only one version of OneMelon Drops.
Best small Bluetooth earbuds under €200
2. Jabra Elite 7 Pro
Fairly small | Good ANC | Good sound
- Price: ~150
It's a close call, but these Jabras are very small considering their excellent features. They pack in quite a bit: ANC, transparency mode, ENC, and more. They're much bigger than our number 1 pick, but they're very good earbuds if your ears are on the smaller side. If your ear canals are really small, go for something smaller still.
You can also see our full Jabra Elite 9 Pro review.
There's also a trick that may save you from buying new earbuds just to get a better fit. Ear tips can often solve a lot of the problem. These are the attachments on your earbuds, and they come in many shapes and sizes. Memory foam versions sometimes work wonders for small ears.
Ear tips for small ears
With in-ear earbuds (not semi-in-ear models), replacing the ear tips can make a big difference to the fit.
Consider foam ear tips. These earbud attachments are made of memory foam. It's a clever solution. Squeeze them before putting them in and they become very small. They slowly expand inside your ears. The benefit is an excellent seal and a very soft, comfortable feel.
You can buy them for different earbuds. The standard foam ear tips fit most models. If they don't, the page will tell you. You can then click on your earbuds to find the right foam ear tips.
Best small wired earbuds
Have small ears like me and prefer wired earbuds? Your choice of earbuds that fit is even smaller. The problem is that the cable pulls on the earbud. It hangs straight down from your ear, making it even harder to keep your earbuds in, especially if you have small ears.
That's why my advice (and I hope you'll hear listen to it) is to choose a cable that runs behind your ear. That was a real discovery for me. I've had earbuds with cables hanging straight down, and they were a nightmare. Running the cable behind my ear gives me more support and keeps them in place.
So keep in mind that with wired earbuds:
- the cable adds extra weight
- the earbuds can fall out even more easily if you choose the wrong pair
In short, our advice is to buy earbuds with a cable that runs behind your ear.
3. OneMelon Waterfall
Cable behind the ear for extra support | Very good sound | Small, sturdy metal build
- Price: ~70
These OneMelon Waterfall wired earbuds are nice and small, and the cable runs behind your ear. That makes them very stable, so they stay in your ears.
Besides fitting well and staying put, they also sound particularly good. I've become quite attached to them. The sound is well balanced, so if you like heavy bass, these aren't the earbuds for you.
But if you like balanced sound with a good mix of lows, mids, and highs, these are excellent choices. Compared with well-known premium brands, I think these sound better than earbuds costing €50 more.
The build is durable too. The earbuds are made entirely of metal. In that respect, they're premium earbuds.
Best in-ear earbuds for small ears
If you have small ears, you're better off choosing in-ear earbuds rather than semi-in-ear models, also called half in-ear.
We've explained the difference in another blog post. But here's the short version:
Semi-in-ear (also called half in-ear) models have a hard housing without a little attachment that goes into your ear, called an ear tip. See below:
The problem is that you have no control over the size of the opening. If they're uncomfortable, there's nothing you can change. That makes them unsuitable for small ear canals.
You're much better off choosing a fully in-ear model with an ear tip. That's a small attachment you put on the earbud. Manufacturers of in-ear earbuds always include a bag of extra ear tips. That gives you a better chance of finding a size that fits your small ear canal. If needed, you can also buy foam ear tips that mold even better to your ears.
These are the standard ear tips supplied by a manufacturer, Jabra in this case. Fortunately, all in-ear earbuds come with these attachments. Sometimes you get 4 sizes in total, otherwise 3.
4. pocobob SP
Stay securely in place | Ear hooks | Also well suited to workouts
- Price: ~50
The pocobob SP are earbuds that can't fall out. They have a hook that goes around your ear. Ideal for workouts or if your earbuds often fall out.
They come with 3 ear tip sizes, including small. For small ears, I'd choose the smallest ear tips. That's what I use. I like them for running and working out. But if your earbuds usually fall out very easily, I can see you using these at home and on the go too.
The foam ear tips I mentioned above fit these earbuds well. It's a nice combination.
Best bone conduction option
Ever considered earbuds that don't go inside your ears? Some sit against your cheekbones. Instead of speakers, they have a vibrating plate that sends vibrations through your cheekbone to your eardrum. Strange, right?
I won't go into too much detail about how they work or how the best models compare. We've already covered which bone conduction headphones are best.
Still, they're not all equally suitable for small ears. The main problem is the neckband: its size isn't adjustable. There are versions made for people with a smaller head overall, though.
5. Shokz OpenRun Small
For running | Good sound | Good fit
- Price: ~120
Suitable for: 🏃♀️🎤
These OpenRun headphones from Shokz are designed specifically for running. Shokz is the leading brand for this type of headphones. You can also connect them to your Garmin or another sports watch.
By the way, Shokz is the same brand as AfterShokz. The name changed to Shokz in 2016, but the products stayed the same.
The OpenRun is ideal for running. The OpenRun Pro might be an even better option, but it costs a bit more too.
The fit is excellent, the sound is good, they handle sweat and rain, and the battery lasts a long time. These are very good bone conduction headphones.
Budget small earbuds
Earbuds that fit small ears don't have to be expensive. Although making tiny earbuds takes precise and often costly engineering, budget options do exist.
Just keep in mind that earbuds at this price shouldn't come packed with extra features. See tiny €30 earbuds with ANC, transparency mode, an ENC microphone, and even more features? That should set alarm bells ringing.
6. Haylou GS1 (pro)
Budget-friendly | Very small | Pretty decent sound
- Price: ~30
We've tested these Haylou earbuds. When you hold them, your first thought is that they can't possibly be much good once you put them in. Maybe they'll fit, but surely they won't sound good.
But that couldn't be further from the truth. The earbuds sound more than decent. Quite a surprise. Their shape works well for our small ears too. They fit well. You can see it in the photo I took above. That's a USB-A cable, which isn't very big. The Haylou earbud is exactly the same size as the cable's metal connector.
Best small earbuds for sleeping
More and more people tell us they go to bed wearing earbuds. You can put on some calming music and drift off. That can be very relaxing and even greatly improve your sleep.
It can extend deep sleep, the stage when you get the most rest. But the earbuds need to be small enough to fit your ears without becoming uncomfortable when your head and ear are on your pillow.
7. OneMelon Drops earbuds with sleep mode
Ultra-small | 3 grams | Sleep mode
- Price: ~90
These OneMelon Drops are designed for sleeping, with a dedicated sleep mode. But that's not all. They also have great sound, a good microphone, active noise canceling, transparency mode, and more. Good earbuds all around. And they fit even the smallest ears.
Best small earbuds for Samsung and Android
If you want Samsung earbuds and have small ears, take a close look at the fit first. There are a few models I'd skip, such as the Buds Pro. They're too big, and they often fall out.
But don't worry: some earbuds do fit small ears. And you can use any Bluetooth earbuds with an Android phone.
8. Samsung Buds 2 (with foam ear tips, please)
Small | Nicely rounded and compact | Housing sits snugly in your outer ear
- Price: ~70
The Buds 2 sit much more securely in your outer ear than the first version. They're also much better than the model that followed, the Buds Pro. I think the Buds 2 are a good solution for small ears, but only with foam ear tips. These foam ear tips fit the Buds2.
Smallest earbuds
The smaller the earbuds, the more likely they are to fit your ears. But which are the smallest? A typical earbud on the smaller side measures about 3 cm. That's the housing we're talking about.
The smaller the housing, the better it fits your ear. That's why we measured all the earbuds, especially the small ones we've tested. Some earbuds are just 2 centimeters long. That's incredibly small, so there's a good chance they'll fit.
9. OneMelon Drops (2 cm)
2 cm long | 3 grams | Small but packed with features
- Price: ~80
These are by far the smallest earbuds on the market. And they sound good. OneMelon already appears in this list, but we can't name another pair in the "smallest earbuds" category. These are the smallest we've ever worn.
Best small AirPods
AirPods aren't necessarily the best option for a small fit. But if you have small ears, I'd never choose Apple's semi-in-ear models. They have a large housing and no ear tips you can change to suit your size and preferences.
I'd always choose the Pro version. These have soft ear tips that adapt to the shape of your ears.
10. AirPods Pro 2
In-ear | Have ear tips | Foam ear tips available | Good sound and ANC
- Price: ~270
Zoomed in like this, the AirPods 2 look enormous. But they're not that big. There are certainly smaller earbuds on the market, though. If your ears are really small, choose another model. And if you don't have an iPhone, skip these too.
We've also fully tested the AirPods Pro 2. Good sound and remarkably good ANC. But the fit isn't ideal for small ears. You do get 4 ear tip sizes with your purchase, and the smallest is impressively small.
- Those were the 10 best small earbuds from our test. Find more details below, or head back up to the list of 10 earbuds.
All about small wireless and wired earbuds
We received lots of questions about this topic. It's a real sticking point for many people choosing earbuds. That's why we carried out this test.
Which earbuds work for small ears?
The OneMelon Drops are good earbuds for small ears. At 2 cm long, they're the smallest earbuds on the market. But they're certainly not the only good option. See our article for a list of good choices. The most important thing is to choose in-ear rather than semi-in-ear earbuds. With in-ear models, you can choose your ear tip size. The shape also adapts to your ear, which helps.
Which small earbuds can I use while sleeping?
The best noise-blocking option for sleeping is custom-molded hearing protection. It's made to match your ears exactly, so it fits perfectly. You hear almost nothing, which helps you sleep. We're also seeing more and more Bluetooth earbuds for sleeping. But even without Bluetooth or music playing in your ears, noise-blocking hearing protection can help you sleep much better.
Sport earbuds for small ears
For workouts, use earbuds with ear hooks so they don't fall out of your small ears. We've tested several models for running. You can see which option suits you best there.
Earbuds for small ear canals
If you have small ear canals, choosing in-ear earbuds is even more important. Preferably with the smallest possible housing.
Others also viewed:
- Browse all our blog posts about wireless earbuds
- These are the best earbuds under €50
- These are the earbuds with the best microphone
- Also see the 3 best earbuds for running
