Basics

Which colour custom earplug goes in which ear? How to choose your colour

Thijs Worm4 October 2026Updated 23 October 20266 min read

The well-known convention is red for the right ear and blue for the left ear. This colour code comes from the world of hearing aids, where a red or blue marking shows which hearing aid goes in which ear. For custom earplugs, it is not a requirement. You simply choose the colour that suits you. Below, you will read where the rule comes from, how to put it to good use and how to choose the colour that works best for your situation.

Where does the convention of red on the right and blue on the left come from?

A hearing aid is set up for one specific ear. If the left hearing aid is in your right ear, you hear less well. That is why manufacturers and hearing care professionals mark the right hearing aid with red and the left one with blue. You see this convention again and again in instructions from hearing care professionals and hearing aid brands (see the sources at the end of this article).

A handy memory aid is that red and right both start with an r. That leaves blue for the left.

Does the colour code also apply to custom earplugs?

A custom earplug is made from an impression of your own ear. That means the left one only really fits well in your left ear and the right one in your right ear. If you swap them, you usually notice straight away. It does not feel comfortable and seals less well. And an earplug that does not seal properly also protects less. How to put a custom earplug in the right ear and check that it fits properly is explained in how to insert and remove custom earplugs.

So a colour code is not a requirement, but it is a handy aid. This is especially true if you often put your earplugs in and take them out, use them in the dark (for example for sleeping) or need to grab them quickly at work.

Three ways to tell left and right apart

Choose two colours, red on the right and blue on the left, following the well-known hearing aid convention. Want a different colour for each ear? Then choose the option Custom colour (by arrangement) and discuss your wishes with us.
Choose one colour and get to know the shape. Because a custom earplug follows the shape of your ear, after a few times you will recognise left and right by their shape.
Give them a fixed place in the case. Your earplugs come with a storage case. Always put them in the same way, left on the left and right on the right, and you will automatically pick them up correctly.

Which colours can you choose at Audibling?

At Audibling, you choose the colour of your custom earplugs yourself, both in silicone and in hard acrylic. These are the options.

Colour	Good to know
Clear	The least noticeable in your ear. Understated and timeless.
Black	Sleek and discreet, goes with a lot of clothing and workwear.
White	Fresh and easy to see against a dark background.
Green	Eye-catching, so easy to find in your bag or in the workplace.
Red	Easy to see and the classic colour for the right ear.
Blue	Easy to see and the classic colour for the left ear.
Custom colour (by arrangement)	For example your favourite colour or your company's brand colour.

Want to see what your combination looks like? In the Designlab, you choose the material, colour and filter and see your design straight away. All colours, logos and jewels together are on personalise your earplugs.

Which colour custom earplugs should you choose?

Choose a bright colour such as green, red or blue if you want to find your earplugs quickly, and clear or black if they should be as unnoticeable as possible. If you want to tell left and right apart easily, take red for right and blue for left. At work, visibility and your employer's rules also play a part.

Eye-catching is harder to lose

A clear earplug disappears against a tabletop, in a coat pocket or on the floor. You spot a bright colour straight away. Do you tend to lose things, or do you use your earplugs in places where they easily fall, such as at a festival, in the workshop or on the go? Then choose green, red, blue or a bright custom colour.

In the workplace, think of visibility and safety

In production environments, for example in the food or pharmaceutical industry, you do not want an earplug to end up in a product unnoticed. A colour that clearly contrasts with the product and the surroundings makes a lost earplug easier to spot. Always follow your employer's hygiene and colour rules. Some companies have fixed rules for the colour of personal protective equipment.

Do you work in a noisy environment? Then also take a look at our custom earplugs for construction.

In your company style

Equipping a whole team? Then you can have the custom earplugs made in your company colour and, from 10 pairs, printed with your own logo. That makes them recognisable and stops colleagues from picking up each other's earplugs. Read more on Audibling Business.

Discreet or eye-catching?

If you do not want anyone to see your earplugs, for example at the office or during a concert, clear or black are the obvious choices. For music, you will find more options in our custom earplugs for music. Would you rather show them off? Then turn them into an accessory.

Make it personal with a jewel or logo

As well as choosing the colour, you can finish your custom earplugs with a jewel or a logo. You choose a jewel in silver, gold or rose gold. See Audibling Silver, Audibling Gold and Audibling Rose Gold. Your own logo is available for orders from 10 pairs, for example for a company or club. We make a print-ready version of it and you see a proof first. If you order fewer than 10 pairs, you choose a standard logo in the Designlab.

Colour, logo or jewel have no effect on the protection. That is determined by the fit and the filter. Which filter suits you is explained on our filter page.

Silicone or hard acrylic?

You choose the colour separately from the material. Silicone is soft and flexible and gives extra wearing comfort. Hard acrylic is sturdy, durable and easy to clean, which is handy for intensive use. Not sure? Then read our article hard acrylic or silicone, which should you choose?

How to get custom earplugs in your colour

Choose your use in the collection custom earplugs, for example general use or motorcycling.
Design your earplugs in the Designlab. You choose the material, colour, filter and a jewel if you like.
Have your ear impressions taken at a partner hearing centre. Through find a hearing centre, you can easily book an appointment. The ear impressions are included in the price and you pay at the hearing centre.
Collect your custom earplugs or have them sent to you. You agree this with your hearing care professional. They are ready about three weeks after your ear impressions are taken.

Curious about the cost? On custom earplug prices, you can see what to expect.

Frequently asked questions

Is red left or right?

Red is right. According to the common convention from the world of hearing aids, red goes in the right ear and blue in the left ear. It is easy to remember, because red and right both start with an r. For custom earplugs, the colour code is not a requirement, but it is a handy way to avoid mixing them up.