Basics

Custom earplugs or universal earplugs? Costs and benefits compared

Fons van den Oord14 September 2025Updated 4 October 20263 min read

Audibling custom earplugs for the food industry

When you think about hearing protection, you often face a choice. Do you go for cheap universal earplugs or invest in custom-made earplugs? At first sight, universal earplugs seem cheaper. But if you look at comfort, protection and lifespan, the comparison often works out in favour of custom earplugs. In this article we make a cost-benefit analysis, so you can make a well-considered choice.

1. Purchase costs

Universal earplugs are cheap to buy. Custom earplugs are a bigger investment. At Audibling, individuals pay from €179 for custom earplugs, including VAT and ear impressions, with the DR filter, a cord, a clip and a storage case. You pay at the partner hearing centre where your ear impressions are taken. The price depends on the use, the material and the colour. For a DM, DI or DIM filter, there is an extra cost. All current prices are on custom earplug prices. Still, the purchase price is only the start of the comparison.

2. Lifespan

Universal earplugs wear out quickly, get lost or stop working properly. They often have to be replaced several times a year. As a guide, custom earplugs last around 4 to 5 years with normal use and good care. For continuous use at work, the Arbocatalogus Grafimedia, the health and safety catalogue of the Dutch graphic media industry, mentions 2 to 4 years. Read more in how long do custom earplugs last? Because of that long lifespan, the higher purchase price works out a lot lower per year of use.

3. Wearing comfort

Comfort plays a big role in whether someone actually wears hearing protection. Universal earplugs can press, fall out of the ear or become irritating after a few hours. Custom earplugs are made from an impression of your own ear. That is why they press less and you can wear them for hours. This makes people more willing to wear them, and so it increases the protection they actually get.

4. Protection and safety

With universal earplugs, the attenuation depends heavily on how well they are inserted. Even a small mistake can mean less protection. Custom earplugs, on the other hand, offer predictable attenuation with certified filters. With filters, you can also adjust the level of protection to the situation, for example in construction or during music performances.

5. Hygiene and care

Universal earplugs are often hard to clean, so they quickly become dirty or unhygienic. Custom earplugs have a smooth surface that is easy to clean. Special cleaning kits are also available to extend their lifespan.

6. Costs and benefits in practice

A worked example. At Audibling, custom earplugs cost from €179 including VAT. If you assume a lifespan of 2 to 4 years, that comes to about €45 to €90 per year. If they last longer, that amount goes down.

Suppose you replace reusable universal earplugs costing €10 per set four times a year. Then you spend €40 per year. If you use foam earplugs, you need a new pair every working day, because they are meant for single use. With 220 working days, that is 220 pairs a year, times the price you pay per pair.

So purely on cost per year, the options are not always far apart. The real difference is in wearing comfort and in attenuation that you get the same way every day. People who find their hearing protection comfortable will actually wear it.

7. Which choice suits whom?

Universal earplugs are fine for occasional use, for example at a one-off festival. How a well-known brand compares with custom earplugs is explained in Loop Earplugs or custom earplugs. For regular or professional use, such as for construction workers, musicians and staff in hospitality or factories, custom earplugs are usually the better choice, because they are comfortable and reduce sound the same way every day. Are you an employer? Custom earplugs for businesses start at €148 per person excl. VAT, and the bigger the team, the lower the price per employee. For 10 or more employees, we take the ear impressions on site. Take a look at Audibling Business.

Sources

Arbocatalogus Grafimedia, Toepassen van gehoorbescherming (using hearing protection, in Dutch) (accessed 4 October 2026)
Ambulancezorg Nederland, Informatiekaart gehoorbescherming (information sheet on hearing protection, PDF in Dutch) (accessed 4 October 2026)

Frequently asked questions

For regular use, yes. For occasional use, universal earplugs are enough.

Not by basic health insurance (basisverzekering). Some supplementary insurance policies (aanvullende verzekering) cover part of the cost. If you need hearing protection for your work, your employer arranges and pays for it. Read more in are custom earplugs reimbursed?

No, but they often give less consistent protection.

Want to know more?

Want to be sure which custom earplugs best suit your work, hobby or business? Let us advise you on material, filters and SNR values. We take your risks and budget into account and arrange the whole process, from ear impressions to aftercare. Would you rather know the costs straight away? Request a quote, with no obligation.

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