In short
A VoIP headset is a headset with a microphone used for calls on a VoIP desk phone or softphone. It connects by wire to the phone's headset port, by USB to a computer, by Bluetooth, or by DECT radio to a base station. Choose by device and role, then look for noise cancelling, comfort and platform certification.
Get a quote for a VoIP headset
Tell us roughly how many users or sites you have and we will reply by email with options and a quote.
What is a VoIP headset?
A VoIP headset is simply a headset with a microphone, designed for phone calls on a VoIP phone system. What makes it a VoIP headset is how it connects: to the headset port on an IP desk phone, to a laptop running a softphone app, or wirelessly to both.
Headsets matter because they keep the microphone at a steady distance from the mouth, cut out background noise and leave hands free for typing. People on the other end hear a clearer voice, and the user avoids the neck strain of holding a handset all day. For anyone on calls for much of the day, a headset is worth planning in from the start.
Connection types
| Connection | Connects to | Best for | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wired to the phone | The headset port on a desk phone | Reception and staff who stay at the desk | Reliable and simple; the cable keeps the user at the desk |
| USB (wired or dongle) | A laptop or PC, and some desk phones | Softphone users and hot-deskers | Plug and play with most softphone apps, with call controls on the cable or earpiece |
| Bluetooth | A mobile, laptop or Bluetooth desk phone | Hybrid and mobile staff who switch between devices | Many pair with more than one device, so one headset covers mobile and laptop |
| DECT | A base station on the desk, wired to the phone, the computer or both | People who walk around the office while on calls | Uses DECT radio rather than Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, for range around an office |
Some headsets combine these: a DECT base that connects to both a desk phone and a laptop, for example, lets a receptionist take calls on either without swapping headsets.
Not sure which option fits? Ask us
Tell us what you need and we will recommend the right option for your organisation, with a quote.
Wireless VoIP headsets: Bluetooth or DECT
Wireless headsets free people from the desk, and the two technologies suit different jobs.
Bluetooth headsets pair directly with a mobile, laptop or Bluetooth-capable desk phone. They are the natural choice for hybrid workers who move between a laptop at home and a mobile on the road, because one headset can work with both. Range is suited to a desk or a small room.
DECT headsets talk to their own base station, which sits on the desk and connects to the phone or computer. DECT uses its own radio band, separate from Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, so it does not compete with other wireless devices, and it gives the range to walk round an office or to a printer while staying on a call. They suit reception, office managers and anyone who needs to move while talking.
Wireless headsets need charging, so build in a routine: a charging stand at the desk, or a spare battery for long shifts.
Answering calls away from the desk: hook switch support
A wireless headset on a desk phone is only half useful if the user has to walk back to the phone to answer. An electronic hook switch (EHS) solves this: when a call rings, the user presses a button on the headset to answer or end it, and the phone responds as if the handset had been lifted.
EHS needs support on both sides: a desk phone that offers it, and a headset with a matching cable or adapter for that phone. Where a phone has no EHS support, a mechanical handset lifter is the alternative. We can check EHS compatibility when we pair headsets with VoIP desk phones.
Is a VoIP headset the right fit for you?
We will check it against your systems and requirements and recommend the right option.
Certified headsets for Teams, Webex and 3CX
- Certified for Microsoft Teams: Microsoft's device certification programme tests personal devices such as headsets for audio quality, user interface, device management and security. If your phone system is Microsoft Teams Phone, a certified headset gives a dependable experience with Teams call controls
- Webex Calling: Cisco lists Cisco headsets and Jabra headsets as accessories for its multiplatform phones, and headsets can be used with the Webex App on laptops and mobiles. See Webex VoIP
- 3CX: 3CX's supported devices list includes headsets it has tested, from Jabra and Yealink. See 3CX VoIP
- Forever UC and Forever Teams: headsets work through the apps on laptops and mobiles, and with optional desk phones
Noise cancelling, mono or stereo, and comfort
- Noise-cancelling microphones: filter background noise from open-plan offices, homes and shop floors so the caller hears only the user's voice
- Active noise cancelling in the speakers: reduces the noise the user hears, which helps concentration in busy offices
- Mono (one ear): the user can still hear the room, which suits reception and anyone who talks to visitors as well as callers
- Stereo (two ears): blocks more of the room and suits people on long calls in noisy spaces, and those who listen to training or meetings
- Wearing style: over the head, behind the neck or in the ear; for all-day use, comfort and light weight matter most
- Busy lights: a light on the headset tells colleagues the user is on a call
Choosing a headset by role
| Role | Headset that usually fits |
|---|---|
| Receptionist | A DECT headset with a base connected to the desk phone (and laptop), mono, with hook switch support |
| Contact centre or support agent | A wired or DECT headset with a noise-cancelling microphone, mono or stereo depending on the room |
| Office worker on a softphone | A USB headset, wired or with a dongle |
| Hybrid or mobile worker | A Bluetooth headset that pairs with laptop and mobile |
| Manager who walks while talking | A DECT headset, or Bluetooth if calls are mostly on the mobile |
Not sure whether someone needs a desk phone at all? Our softphone vs desk phone guide helps you decide, and the VoIP call quality guide explains why a headset is one of the first fixes for echo and background noise.
Buying VoIP headsets
VoIP headsets can be bought outright or, in some cases, included in your monthly rental, with the options confirmed at quote, alongside the desk phones, cordless handsets and conference phones on your system. We can match the connection type to each user's devices and check compatibility with your platform.
Contact us with a count of users by role and the platform you use. The VoIP handsets for business hub covers the other device types.
How Forever Systems helps you choose a VoIP phone system
We supply and support several VoIP platforms, so we can recommend the one that fits how your team takes calls rather than fitting your business around one product.
- Platform advice across hosted 3CX, Microsoft Teams Phone, Webex Calling, Forever UC and Forever Teams, with SIP trunks for phone systems you already own
- A requirements check of your broadband, network and routers before anything goes live
- Numbers and porting: we can help you keep your existing business numbers and plan the move away from analogue and ISDN lines
- Handsets and headsets that suit each platform, bought outright or, in some cases, included in your monthly rental, with the options confirmed at quote
- Set-up and changes: call flows, users and devices configured for you, and help with moves, adds and changes afterwards
- For BT Cloud Voice, see our sister site cloudvoice.cloud, and for hosted and cloud platforms in depth, cloudphone.cloud
We work with businesses, schools, charities and public sector organisations.
Frequently asked questions
What is a VoIP headset?
A VoIP headset is a headset with a microphone used for calls on a VoIP phone system. It connects by wire to a desk phone's headset port, by USB to a computer running a softphone, by Bluetooth, or by DECT radio to a base station.
Is a wireless VoIP headset better than a wired one?
It depends on the role. Wireless headsets let people move around while on calls and suit reception and managers. Wired headsets are simple and need no charging, which suits people who stay at the desk.
Should I choose Bluetooth or DECT?
Choose Bluetooth for hybrid and mobile staff who switch between a mobile and a laptop. Choose DECT for people who walk around the office while on calls, because DECT uses its own radio band and base station for range around a building.
What is an electronic hook switch (EHS)?
An electronic hook switch lets a wireless headset answer and end calls on a desk phone remotely, without lifting the handset. It needs support on the phone and a matching cable or adapter for the headset.
Do I need a headset Certified for Microsoft Teams?
For Teams Phone users it is worth it. Microsoft's certification programme tests headsets for audio quality, user interface, device management and security, which gives a more dependable experience with Teams call controls.
Mono or stereo: which headset is better for calls?
Mono headsets cover one ear, so the user can still hear the room, which suits reception. Stereo headsets cover both ears and block more noise, which suits long calls in busy spaces.
Still have a question about a VoIP headset?
Ask us and a member of our team will reply by email.
More VoIP phone system guides
Teams VoIPCalls to landlines and mobiles in Microsoft Teams: licences, PSTN routes and devices.