Earplugs, Earmuffs or Both: Which Should You Wear?

Most of the time, one good hearing protector is enough: earplugs or earmuffs, whichever you’ll wear comfortably and correctly. Wear both together when the noise is very loud, about 100 dBA or more, or when there’s sharp impulse noise like gunfire. In everyday noise, doubling up usually blocks more sound than you need.

Here’s how to choose between plugs, muffs and both, with the trade-offs explained in plain language.

Quick answer

• One protector: fine for most noise. NIOSH says most workers need 10 dB of reduction or less.
• Both together: NIOSH suggests earmuffs over earplugs at 100 dBA or more, or with impulse sounds.
• Shooting: ASHA’s advice is to wear earmuffs over earplugs.
• Too much protection: if you can’t hear people, you’re likely to pull your protection out. Aim for a safer level, not silence.
• Fit is everything: glasses, hair and hats can break an earmuff seal, and a loose plug leaks sound.

What’s the difference between earplugs and earmuffs?

Earplugs sit in your ear canal. Earmuffs are padded cups on a headband that, in the NIDCD’s words, reduce noise “by completely covering both ears.” Both can protect your hearing well. They just suit different people and places.

The NIOSH guide to choosing hearing protection lays out the trade-offs clearly:

• Earplugs are often more comfortable for long wear and in hot places. They’re light, easy to store and easy to keep on hand.
• Earmuffs are heavier and can feel warm. Their cushions also don’t seal as well in very cold weather.
• Earmuffs are often easier to fit properly, while earplugs can take a little practice.
• Earmuffs can clash with hard hats, helmets, eye protection and some glasses.
• Earmuffs and pre-formed plugs are easier to take on and off when the noise stops and starts.

For young children, earmuffs are usually the easier choice. The NIDCD’s page on children’s hearing notes that earmuffs come in sizes for infants and children and are easier to use correctly than earplugs.

How do you choose between plugs, muffs and both?

When should you wear earplugs and earmuffs together?

NIOSH recommends earmuffs over earplugs for workers exposed to noise levels of 100 dBA or greater, or to impulse sounds. OSHA’s Technical Manual chapter on noise makes the same point: when a single protector may not be enough for very high noise, workers should wear double protection.

Shooting is the classic example. ASHA says small-caliber rifles, air rifles, shotguns and pistols can reach up to 140 decibels peak, and higher-caliber rifles can go past 175. Its advice is simple: “Double-protect your ears” by putting earmuffs over earplugs when you shoot.

The NIDCD also mentions woodshops and shooting sports events as places where wearing both is a great idea, because together they reduce noise further.

Can you have too much hearing protection?

Yes, and it can lead people to stop wearing protection. NIOSH suggests aiming for just enough reduction to bring your exposure to about 75–85 dBA. Go far below that and you may feel cut off, so you pull a plug out to hear a coworker, and that’s when the noise gets in.

The NIDCD puts it nicely for parents too: “A higher NRR is not always better.” If protection is stronger than the setting needs, people are more likely to take it off to talk.

So for a loud workshop, a concert or yard work, one well-fitted protector is usually the friendlier choice. Save doubling up for the truly loud stuff.

Why does fit matter so much with both types?

A protector only works as well as its seal. For earmuffs, the NIDCD warns that the arms of glasses can create gaps between the cushion and your head, and that hair, hats or facial hair can do the same. OSHA’s manual adds that even a very small leak in the seal can spoil an earmuff’s protection.

Earplugs need a good seal too. The NIDCD reminds us that proper fit is important for successful protection, that earplugs should feel comfortable and secure, and that wearing them shouldn’t hurt. Never force a plug into your ear.

One small detail if you wear both: OSHA suggests avoiding corded earplugs and hearing bands under earmuffs, since a cord or band can get in the way of the muff’s seal. If your plugs have a lanyard, unclip it before the muffs go on.

How does Big Ear handle this?

We build custom earplugs from impressions of your own ears, so they sit the same way every time you put them in. That’s handy on its own, and it’s handy under a set of earmuffs, where you want the plug to stay put while the muff does its part. Here’s how our range lines up:

• Guardian Vanquisher ($179.95): our highest-rated solid plug, NRR 37 dB, made in a semi-soft Shore A 45 silicone. A strong partner for earmuffs in very loud work. Our post on when NRR 37 makes sense goes deeper.
• Full Stop Super-Soft ($168.95): NRR 32 dB in a very soft platinum-cure silicone (Shore A 25), for adults and children. Comfortable for long wear with or without muffs.
• The One filtered earplugs: NRR 25 dB with one filter installed, and the filters are interchangeable (9, 15, 20, 25 or 30 dB). We suggest the 25 or 30 dB filters for firearms. Kits are Standard $224.95, Select $299.95 and Premium $574.95. Select gives you two filter sets, so one pair covers two noise levels.
• Guardian Max ($149.95): a specialty industrial plug that lets you still hear the sound around you in very loud work.
• Our hunting plug ($166.95): made to filter out sound at very high decibel levels. Our hunting guide covers it in the field.

Not sure where you land? The shooting page and our industrial page walk through the options, and we’re happy to talk it over on the phone.

Frequently asked questions

Do I add the two NRRs together when I wear both?

No, the combined protection isn’t something you can read off two labels. OSHA notes that the protection people actually get is likely lower than the label NRR, because it depends on fit and how the protector is worn. Our post on what NRR means explains why fit changes the real-world number.

Are earmuffs better than earplugs?

Neither is better across the board. NIOSH notes earplugs are often more comfortable for long wear and in heat, while earmuffs are often easier to fit and to take on and off.

Can I wear earmuffs with glasses?

You can, but check the seal. The NIDCD says glasses arms can open small gaps under the cushions. If you can’t get a good seal, earplugs avoid the problem, since nothing has to seal around the frames.

What’s best for my kids?

For young children, earmuffs are usually easiest, according to the NIDCD. For older kids, our guide to protecting kids’ hearing covers games, concerts and fireworks.

My ears hurt after wearing protection. What should I do?

Hearing protection shouldn’t hurt. If you have ear pain, ear tubes, recent ear surgery, or ringing that’s new or getting worse, please see a doctor or audiologist before wearing earplugs again.

Ready for earplugs made for your ears?

Your order includes a free Home Impression Kit. It arrives in 3 to 5 business days, takes about 15 to 20 minutes at home with a helper and our guided video, and the return postage is paid. If an impression can’t be used, we’ll send a second kit free. Your custom pair is ready 40 business days after your impressions reach our lab, shipping on an order is $10, and every pair comes with our 30-Day Fit Warranty and a 1-year manufacturer defect warranty against manufacturing defects (loss isn’t covered). Because each pair is made for you, custom products can’t be returned.

Want help picking? Try Find my pair, or give us a call at (719) 271-4528. We love this stuff.

Sources

• NIOSH (CDC). Provide Hearing Protection. Reviewed January 31, 2024.
• OSHA. OSHA Technical Manual, Section III, Chapter 5: Noise.
• NIDCD (NIH). Hearing Protectors. Updated April 16, 2025.
• NIDCD (NIH). Protect Your Child’s Hearing. Updated April 28, 2025.
• American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Recreational Firearm Noise Exposure.