Best Over-Ear Headphones Under $100

Spend two minutes on the checklist below and you will get a dramatically better pair of headphones for your money. The differences that matter in this bracket are not the ones the listing photos shout about.

The budget over-ear checklist

Feature	What to look for	Why it matters
Noise cancelling	ANC on the box, or a used flagship with ANC	At this price, ANC is the single biggest upgrade you can buy
Battery hours	40+ hours advertised	A long battery means weeks of commutes between charges
Driver size	30–40mm drivers	Bigger drivers usually mean fuller, more confident sound
Condition note	Read the description, not just the badge	Worn ear pads or a scuffed chassis are cosmetic; a bad battery is a dealbreaker
Foldability	Folding or collapsible design	Makes a big difference if the headphones travel with you
Mic + multipoint	Built-in microphone and multipoint pairing	Turns daily cans into a work headset for meetings

One more eBay-specific rule: a screaming price from a low-feedback seller is not a deal at all. Favor listings that name the condition, mention a healthy battery, and come from sellers with real history. When the difference between two listings is $4, that peace of mind is worth far more.

Reading an eBay headphone listing without getting burned

About half the risk of buying headphones used on eBay disappears the moment you learn to read the listing properly, so here is the version we use when we hunt deals for the Tahabay catalog. First, ignore the big green condition badge and read the actual description paragraph — the sellers we link here are good about spelling out scuffs, worn pads and missing cases, and the ones who hide things almost never describe anything at all. Second, look for the words tested and battery in the text: a seller who states the unit was fully tested and the battery is healthy has done the hard work for you. Third, match the photos to the words. A listing that says excellent but shows heavy wear is a red flag; a listing that says well used and prices accordingly is usually exactly what it appears to be. Fourth, check whether extras are included — charging cables, original cases and spare eartips are worth real money, and their presence in the title usually means the seller is organized. Finally, remember that listings quietly relist: if a price looks too old to be true, it probably is, because a fresh listing at a live price is what you actually want to pay.

Condition shorthand matters too. Brand-new or sealed means unopened stock. Open-box or like new usually means a returned or display unit with no wear. Certified refurbished means the seller (or a third party) went through the unit and made it work like new. And parts or spares means exactly that — incomplete units sold for someone who already owns the set. Every one of these is a legitimate buy at the right price; the trick is knowing which label you are actually clicking.

Sony WH-1000XM4 — the $99 flagship deal

The Sony WH-1000XM4 is the pair that made the whole category famous: class-leading noise cancelling, comfy fit and that Sony tuning that somehow pleases everyone. On eBay in 2026 it shows up around $99 — essentially free, given that it launched at roughly three times that price. This listing is black, wireless, noise-cancelling and in new condition for the money.

• Pros: industry-leading ANC, plush over-ear comfort, excellent sound for any price bracket
• Cons: the most you will spend in this roundup, and still a former flagship rather than the latest model

Bose QuietComfort 35 — calm, tested, under $60

The Bose QC35 is the pair that long defined comfortable long-haul listening, and this used listing is a good example of why the brand holds value: fully tested, working perfectly, healthy battery, minimum scuffs. QuietComfort lineage means the ear cushions are soft, the headband is light and the ANC is the smooth, uncanny kind Bose made its name on.

• Pros: proven comfort, tested working unit with healthy battery, historical-best noise cancelling
• Cons: used condition with minor scuffs; an older model in the Bose range

Sony WH-XB910N — extra bass, big ANC, $63

If you want the Sony tuning with a thump, the WH-XB910N is the extra-bass take on the formula: noise cancelling, wireless, over-ear, and on this listing in used but fully tested condition with a healthy battery and light scuffs. XB stands for Extra Bass, so expect a richer low end than the balanced WH-1000XM4 while keeping Sony ANC on duty.

• Pros: punchy bass tuning, noise cancelling on board, tested working unit under $65
• Cons: bass-forward signature is not for purists; used condition with minor wear

Beats Studio Pro (Black & Gold) — lifestyle design at $62

Beats over-ear sets have always been about style as much as sound, and a former flagship like the Studio Pro is a great used-value pick on eBay. This Black & Gold listing is described as excellent cosmetically and functionally, with rich, detailed sound — the Studio Pro line is a big step up from the old Solo series in both comfort and audio quality.

• Pros: distinctive design, excellent used condition, proper over-ear comfort
• Cons: ANC is decent rather than class-leading; premium looks still attract a style premium

JBL Tune 670NC — new ANC for $47

New, sealed and under $50, the JBL Tune 670NC is the closest thing to a no-brainer in this category: wireless, noise cancelling, multipoint Bluetooth to switch between devices seamlessly, and up to 70 hours of claimed battery life. That combination — new condition plus genuinely useful features — makes it hard to beat as a first or daily pair.

• Pros: brand-new condition, ANC, multipoint, huge battery claim
• Cons: budget build materials; features beat the materials they come in

Sony WH-CH720N — lightweight ANC for $34

The WH-CH720N is Sony's light-touch daily model, and at $34 new it is arguably the best pure value here. It keeps the comfy headband design, built-in noise cancelling and Bluetooth wireless that define the Sony feel, in a lighter frame that disappears on your head. If you mostly listen to podcasts and calls during the day, this is more headphone than you need — and that is the point.

• Pros: featherweight comfort, new condition, ANC at a genuinely low price
• Cons: lighter build, less bass authority than Sony's bigger models

Soundcore Q30 — hybrid ANC value king

Anker's Soundcore brand built its reputation on exactly this product: hybrid active noise cancelling, Bluetooth wireless, over-ear comfort and a price that embarrasses the competition. This Q30 listing is new from UK stock, and the Q30 has long been the go-to recommendation for people who want 80% of the flagship experience for a fraction of the cost.

• Pros: hybrid ANC, new condition with UK dispatch, proven budget formula
• Cons: not the premium build of Sony/Bose; app features are nice-to-have rather than essential

JBL Live 660NC — mid-tier comfort at $54

The JBL Live 660NC slots above the Tune lineup with a comfier fit and sleeker styling, and this unit is in great working condition. JBL's signature sound — lively, fun, slightly bass-friendly — carries across, backed by active noise cancelling and wireless Bluetooth. At roughly $54 it is a tidy upgrade over JBL's entry-level over-ear sets.

• Pros: lively JBL sound, ANC, upgraded comfort over the Tune range
• Cons: considered condition (great working, minor wear); mid-tier rather than flagship

Skullcandy Hesh 540 ANC — sealed with 65 hours of battery

The Skullcandy Hesh 540 ANC is the brand's proper over-ear flagship for this class, and this unit is still factory sealed. The headline feature is the 4-mic adjustable active noise cancelling built to block out distractions, backed by an enormous up-to-65-hour battery with rapid charge. New-in-box condition on eBay at $80 is a solid deal for a full-featured pair.

• Pros: sealed and unused, adjustable 4-mic ANC, class-leading battery claim
• Cons: near the top of our $100 budget; Skullcandy's signature look is not for everyone

Beats Solo3 Wireless — classic on-ear with case, $75

The Solo3 may be an older model, but it remains one of the most recognizable wireless headphones ever made, and this Matte Black listing is in excellent condition and ships with the original case and charging cable. Pairing with Apple gear is famously seamless thanks to the W1 chip, and the battery reputation is genuinely strong. Note it is on-ear rather than over-ear, so it sits on the ears rather than around them.

• Pros: iconic design, excellent condition, case and cable included, seamless Apple pairing
• Cons: on-ear fit, not over-ear; dated model without modern ANC

Sennheiser Accentum — audiophile DNA for $52

Sennheiser rarely does cheap, and its presence under $60 on eBay is worth a look for anyone who cares about detail retrieval. This Accentum over-ear set is used but fully tested, working perfectly, with a healthy battery and only light scuffs. Wireless Bluetooth, over-ear comfort and that unmistakable Sennheiser clarity about voices and instruments.

• Pros: Sennheiser sound signature, tested working unit, proper over-ear comfort
• Cons: used with minor wear; Accentum is Sennheiser's entry tier, so the case is not premium

Soundcore Q20i — foldable ANC for $40

For the money, the Q20i is very hard to argue with: hybrid active noise cancelling, foldable design for the bag, and Anker's value-focused Soundcore tuning — all brand new for about $40. Folding is the feature that quietly matters most if you commute with headphones in a backpack, and very few pairs in this bracket fold like this one does.

• Pros: foldable, hybrid ANC, brand new, genuinely low price
• Cons: smaller fit than the Q30; bass is warm rather than detailed

JBL Tune 720BT — simple, new, $35

Sometimes you just want a reliable wireless pair with no fuss, and the JBL Tune 720BT is precisely that: 40mm drivers, comfortable over-ear fit, built-in microphone for calls, and a new listing at about $35. There is no ANC here — that is the main thing you give up — but the sound is classic JBL and the simplicity is a feature.

• Pros: new condition, 40mm drivers, mic for calls, very low price
• Cons: no noise cancelling; plain feature set

Skullcandy Crusher 540 — style + extra bass for $42

The Skullcandy Crusher 540 in that distinctive Concrete grey keeps the brand's playful DNA — bold colors and a bass-forward signature — in a proper wireless over-ear frame. New on eBay for about $42, it is a fashion-forward pick that still delivers a comfortable fit and decent sound for music-first listeners.

• Pros: distinctive styling, new condition, comfortable over-ear design
• Cons: no ANC; sound favors personality over precision

PowerLocus P2 — Bluetooth + FM radio + microSD for $25

Not everyone needs a flagship. The PowerLocus P2 is the wildcard of this roundup: wireless Bluetooth plus an FM radio plus a microSD card slot, in a foldable over-ear frame, used but bargain-priced at $25. If you want one cheap pair for the gym, the shed or the car, this covers modes most headphones simply do not offer.

• Pros: Bluetooth, FM radio and microSD in one; very low price; foldable
• Cons: used condition, budget sound quality, no ANC

Now that the individual picks are out of the way, it is worth being honest about the trade-offs you are actually choosing between, because not one of the pairs above is best at everything — and knowing what each one gives up is exactly how you avoid buyer's remorse.

Start with noise cancelling, because it is the feature that most distorts budgets. The Sony WH-1000XM4 and Bose QC35 are the class act here: their ANC is refined, adjustable and handles low rumble — engines, trains, office HVAC — with the kind of quiet that makes you forget the headphones are on. The new-budget sets from JBL and Soundcore deliver real ANC that knocks out a solid chunk of noise, but the implementations are simpler: no adaptive modes, less aggressive reduction at the deepest frequencies. If you fly weekly, the used flagship is worth more to you than the feature set of any new $50 pair. If you mostly listen at home or on a train, the budget ANC is plenty.

Battery life is where the cheap-new pairs punch up hardest. The JBL Tune 670NC claims up to 70 hours, the Skullcandy Hesh 540 ANC claims 65, and the Soundcore H30i that sells above our bracket is all about marathon runtime. A used flagship from a few years ago will come in somewhere between 25 and 40 hours — still comfortably enough for a week of commuting — but you should pay attention to the battery-health note in the listing, because an old Lithium cell is the one part you cannot easily replace. A sealed-new pair carries effectively zero battery risk; a budget used pair carries a little. That is the real price of the savings.

Build and comfort split the difference the other way. The Bose QC35 and Sony WH-1000XM4 are legendary for soft cushions and balanced clamping force, and a used example of either is usually still more comfortable than a brand-new budget set with firmer pads. The flip side: cheap-new pairs are lighter and more replaceable, which matters if your headphones live in a backpack. Foldability is worth a special mention — the Soundcore Q20i folds, the PowerLocus P2 folds, and most of the JBL Tune range folds too, while several flagships did not. If you commute with headphones rather than wear them, put folding near the top of your list and it will quietly save you more hassle than a slightly better ANC chip ever will.

Pick	Condition / price	Best for
Sony WH-1000XM4	New, ~$99	Maximum sound + ANC at exactly $100
Bose QC35	Used, ~$58	Flight comfort and long-haul calm
JBL Tune 670NC	New, ~$47	Best all-rounder new ANC set
Sony WH-CH720N	New, ~$34	The cheapest genuinely good pair
Soundcore Q20i	New, ~$40	Foldable commuter ANC
Skullcandy Hesh 540 ANC	Sealed, ~$80	Huge battery + sealed-new ANC
PowerLocus P2	Used, ~$25	Cheap utility pair with radio/microSD

If we had to hand you one recommendation, it is the for absolute value or the for a brand-new ANC all-rounder. If you would rather spend the full budget once and get flagship-level sound and noise cancelling, the is the pick — at $99 it is the entire argument for buying over-ear headphones on eBay in one listing. And if earbuds suit your life better than cans, our separate ranking of the [best wireless earbuds under $50](/g/best-wireless-earbuds-under-50-1) covers the true-wireless side of the same deals. Either way, prices vary by seller and condition, and they move constantly — check the live listing before you click.