On ear headphones sit directly on top of the ear rather than fully surrounding it, using padded cushions that press gently against the outer ear to create their seal. This design typically results in a lighter, more compact headphone than a full over ear model, since the ear cups don't need to be large enough to fully enclose the ear, making on ear headphones a popular choice for anyone who wants more presence and comfort than earbuds without the size and weight of over ear headphones.

Because they don't fully seal around the ear, on ear headphones generally offer less passive noise isolation than over ear designs, though many models compensate for this with effective active noise cancelling technology. Their smaller folding designs also often make them easier to pack for travel compared with bulkier over ear alternatives.

For anyone wanting a comfortable, portable middle ground between the intimacy of in ear headphones and the immersive scale of over ear models, on ear headphones offer a genuinely practical compromise.