The Best Headphones to Buy With Your Remote Work Stipend
Whether you're doing deep work in a noisy house or hopping on 10 video calls a day, a great pair of noise-cancelling headphones is a must for remote workers. These are the headphones we recommend for focus and calls — all eligible for most home office stipends.
Top Picks
What to Look For
- If you're on calls all day, a boom-mic headset (Jabra Evolve 2, Poly Voyager) sounds dramatically better than earbuds.
- For deep work and music, over-ear noise-cancelling headphones (Bose QC45, Sony WH-1000XM5) are the gold standard.
- Bluetooth multipoint lets you pair to laptop and phone at once — worth the upgrade if you switch devices often.
- Battery life matters more than you think — aim for 20+ hours per charge if you hate being tethered.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes — headphones and headsets are standard approved items under nearly every remote work and home office stipend policy.
For pure call quality, the Jabra Evolve2 65 and Poly Voyager Focus 2 are hard to beat. They isolate your voice and sound clearer than any earbuds on Zoom.
Sony WH-1000XM5 has slightly better noise cancellation and sound; Bose QC Ultra has more comfortable ear cushions. Both are excellent — pick based on fit.
If calls dominate your day, a dedicated headset with a boom mic. If deep focus work is primary and calls are secondary, over-ear noise-cancelling headphones are more versatile.