The Best Earplugs for Snoring: Manta Sleep Earplugs
Written by: Gabrielle Talan
Gabrielle, a former insomniac turned sleep writer, brings over a decade of content expertise to her work. For the past 3 years, she's focused exclusively on sleep topics – a happy choice that helps give her the deep and restful sleep she craves.
Let's face it. Sharing a bed with a snorer is challenging, especially if you're a light sleeper. The constant noise makes it hard to drift off and stay asleep.
Now, if you're the snorer, you might be concerned about how it's depriving your partner of a good night's rest.
Whether you are the one making the noise or the one losing sleep because of it, keep in mind that snoring isn't intentional and should be handled with understanding and patience. Sometimes, snoring is a sign of an underlying health condition, like obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), so it’s highly advisable to look into its cause.
The good news is that there are ways to manage the unpleasant snoring sounds. If you're looking for a cost-efficient yet straightforward solution, it’s time to start looking for the best earplugs for snoring.
Read on to learn how earplugs work for snoring, tips for choosing the right ones and our top recommendation.
Key Takeaways
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Sleeping with a snoring partner may harm sleep quality and quantity, increasing health risks and potentially straining relationships. Snoring should be addressed with patience and understanding, as it's unintentional.
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Earplugs are an effective, simple, and cost-efficient device that reduces snoring noise. Their effectiveness depends on material, fit, design, and proper insertion.
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When choosing earplugs, consider factors such as Noise Reduction Rating (NRR), size, fit, material, and ease of use.
Table of Contents
The Challenges of Sleeping With a Snorer
Before we get down to what makes it hard to sleep with a snoring partner, let's first explore how noise negatively impacts sleep in the first place.
Disruptive noise, snoring included, can lengthen the time it takes you to fall asleep, known as sleep latency. It can also affect how long it takes you to drift off again after you've woken up from your partner's snoring, which can happen repeatedly throughout the night. These frequent awakenings can disrupt the amount of time you spend in restorative sleep stages, harming both your sleep quality and quantity.
Poor sleep quality and quantity can lead to sleep deprivation, which can harm your mood, energy and cognition. Over time, chronic sleep deprivation puts you at higher risk for serious health conditions, such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes and mental health conditions, to name a few.
Sleeping with a snorer doesn't just affect your physical health; it can also strain your relationship. Stress and frustration over being unable to sleep may create tension between you. Your partner may also feel distressed knowing that they are unintentionally making it hard for you to get the rest you need and deserve. It's important to work on the problem together rather than lay blame.
Did you know that 31% of adults in the U.S. have opted for a sleep divorce, according to a survey conducted by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine?(1) Snoring is one of the leading causes for choosing a sleep divorce, which is when a couple opts to sleep in separate bedrooms or beds.
Sleep divorce is a solution, in a way. However, it requires an extra bedroom or bed, with both partners who are willing to take this step. Those who don't have enough space often turn to sleeping on the couch to get a good night's rest. Before making any drastic decisions, consider trying earplugs to see if they work for you or your partner.
As we mentioned earlier, loud snoring may also be a symptom of sleep apnea, a condition in which the back of the tongue collapses into the soft palate, obstructing the airways during sleep. Other health issues that have snoring as a symptom include:
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Chronic sinus issues
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Hypothyroidism
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Obesity
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Chronic nasal problems
You or your partner should consult a healthcare provider to rule these issues out or get the necessary treatment. In the meantime, try using earplugs to reduce snoring noises.
How Effective Are Earplugs for Snoring?
Earplugs for snoring are effective. They muffle or reduce snoring sounds, allowing you or your partner to sleep peacefully. Note that they won't completely block out unwanted noise, especially when the snoring is extremely loud, but they will provide some relief.
In general, how well earplugs for snoring work depends on their material, fit and design. The proper insertion and maintenance of your earplugs also matter, not just for comfort and performance, but also for preventing ear infections. It's essential to do your research and choose earplugs wisely before purchasing a pair or more.
How to Choose Earplugs for Snoring
There are several factors to consider when choosing earplugs for snoring. Let's explore each in detail:
Select Earplugs Based on Their Size and Fit.
There are three common complaints about sleeping with earplugs, especially from side sleepers. The first is that they tend to fall out during sleep. The second is that they cause discomfort and pain. Finally, an incorrect fit and size reduces the noise-reduction capability of earplugs. All these issues combined disrupt your sleep, thereby lowering your sleep quality. However, they are often resolved by choosing well-fitting earplugs in the correct size.
The right earplugs block noise adequately, stay put all night, and fit so they don't create pressure points when side sleeping.
Custom-made earplugs are a popular option because audiologists design them to fit your unique outer ear canal shape and size. However, they tend to be quite expensive. Trying out foam, silicone or wax earplugs at a store isn't always an option because it's unhygienic.
The most cost-efficient and safe way to fit earplugs is to buy a set that offers a range of sizes to ensure a snug fit.
Choose Earplugs Based on Their Materials.
Earplugs are typically constructed from foam, silicone or wax.
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Foam earplugs are best suited for noisy environments, such as construction sites or concerts. Soft foam earplugs are also comfortable. Disposable foam earplugs are usually thrown away after a single use.
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Silicone earplugs are ideal for sleeping in moderately noisy environments, making them effective at reducing snoring noise. These reusable, moldable earplugs are also suitable for swimming, as they create an effective seal against water.
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Wax earplugs can provide a more custom fit because they're moldable. They're great for sleeping and for blocking noise in environments with moderate noise levels.
Read our guide to sleeping with earplugs for more information.
Pick Earplugs That Are Easy to Use.
Remember when we said that the correct insertion of earplugs is essential for optimal comfort and functionality? It really isn't just a matter of shoving them into your ear canal, and you're good to go. Some earplugs require molding before use, especially wax earplugs.
Ease of use shouldn't be overlooked, especially if you plan to use earplugs regularly. That means every night if your partner snores.
Choose Earplugs Based on Their Noise Reduction Rating.
Noise Reduction Rating (NRR) is the maximum potential noise reduction of earplugs, as determined by laboratory testing. Generally, the NRR of earplugs ranges from 14 to 33 decibels (dB). Earplugs with an NRR within this range can usually block out sound from snoring enough for the wearer to sleep well.
The Best Earplugs for Snoring: Manta Sleep Earplugs
Now that you know what to consider when choosing the best earplugs for snoring, allow us to save you some time and effort.
There’s no need to ask Google or AI – Manta Sleep Earplugs tick all the boxes. We aren't kidding when we say they're the "most comfortable earplugs on the planet." They'll fit you perfectly. They're easy to use and clean, and they're super effective at reducing the sound of your partner's snoring.
Here's what you need to know about them:
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They're guaranteed to fit your ears. The earplugs come in a pack of 5 sizes – XS, S, M, L, and XL – so you can choose the one that fits you best. Each earplug features size indicators for easy identification. You can give the other sizes to your friends and family to help improve their sleep, too.
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They're super comfortable and reduce noise effectively. Their silicone exteriors feature an ultra-thin, zero-pressure shell design, providing a superbly comfortable and adaptive fit that's ideal for all-night wear. You won't feel our earplugs digging into your ears in the middle of the night, even if you sleep on your side! The soft foam interior offers superior noise-blocking, so your partner can snore all they want. Meanwhile, you'll remain fast asleep.
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They're easy to insert. Insertion is easy. Push and twist them into place. You'll learn the process quickly.
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They're easy to clean. Dampen a soft cloth with rubbing alcohol and gently wipe the exteriors of the earplugs after every few uses. They also come with a clear plastic case for storage when not in use.
We tested Manta Sleep Earplugs against other leading earplug brands, and our test group rated them as #1 for both overall and side-sleep comfort.
Conclusion
Sleeping with a snoring partner can make it extremely difficult to get deep and restorative sleep. Also, it can create tension in your relationship because it's frustrating and stressful, but it's nobody's fault. Snoring is often unintentional. It's an issue that should be worked on by both partners and handled with understanding and patience.
Earplugs are a simple, affordable and effective solution to reduce snoring sounds. However, not all earplugs are created equal. Choosing the right earplugs is essential to effectiveness, comfort and safety. Consider Manta Sleep Earplugs, which offer a combination of comfort, fit, superior noise-blocking and ease of use to help you or your partner get better sleep. Devices like white noise machines and sleep mask headphones are also options.
Let us know if wearing earplugs helped you get the sleep you crave by leaving a comment below.
Sources:
(1) "New survey data reveals nearly one-third of Americans engage in a ‘sleep divorce.’” American Academy of Sleep Medicine, aasm.org/new-survey-data-sleep-divorce/. Accessed 24 October 2025.
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