Wireless Headsets for Office Phones

Start with your desk phone

Compatibility depends on the make and model of your office phone, so write down your phone's brand and model number before you choose a headset. The part that lets you answer calls away from your desk is often model specific too.

Then check two things on the phone. First, does it have a headset port? If it does, you'll find it on the bottom, side or back of the phone, usually next to the handset port, with a small headset icon. If it doesn't, the headset base connects through the handset port instead. Second, does it have a USB port? On compatible IP phones, the Yealink HA64 Pro connects with its included USB cable: one end into the headset base, the other into the phone. For the phone's headset port instead, add the Yealink telephone cord (3311093), sold separately. Our guide to connecting a wireless headset to an office phone walks through each setup step by step.

Why DECT is still the standard for office phones

Wireless headsets for office phones almost always use DECT, not Bluetooth. A DECT headset talks to its own base, and the base plugs into your phone or computer. In our office phone guide, we call DECT the standard for anyone whose main device is a desk phone, because it gives you a stable connection and longer wireless range.

Range ratings are much longer than Bluetooth. The Poly CS540 is rated up to 350 feet, and the Yealink HA64 Pro, HA68 Pro and WH64 up to 606 feet in DECT mode. Ratings are normally measured in an open field with nothing in the way, so we suggest cutting the rated range in half to estimate what you'll get around walls and doors. You can browse every model in our DECT headsets collection.

Bluetooth still has a place. Some DECT headsets put Bluetooth in the base, so your mobile phone only works while you're near your desk. The HA64 Pro, HA68 Pro and WH64 put both DECT and Bluetooth in the headset: DECT for your desk phone and computer, Bluetooth for your mobile, in or out of the office. One caution: a Bluetooth desk phone doesn't mean any Bluetooth headset will answer, end and mute calls the way you expect. Our DECT vs. Bluetooth guide explains when each makes sense.

Answering calls away from your desk: EHS cable or handset lifter

A wireless headset lets you walk around while you're on a call. Answering a new call when you're away from the phone is a separate feature called remote call answering, and on most desk phones it needs one optional accessory: an EHS cable or a handset lifter. Our remote call answering explainer covers both in detail.

EHS cable (electronic hookswitch)

An EHS cable connects the headset base to your desk phone. When a call comes in, you hear a tone in the headset, press the call button, and the cable answers the call electronically. There's no adhesive and nothing to align, and EHS cables tend to be more reliable than lifters over the long term. The catch: EHS cables are phone make and model specific. The Poly APP-51 fits certain Poly phones, the Poly APC-43 is made for Cisco phones, and the Yealink EHS62 connects the HA64 Pro and WH64 to specific models of Cisco, Avaya, Poly, Mitel, Grandstream and Unify phones. Some phones also need a setting turned on, for example Hookswitch Mode on Polycom phones.

Handset lifter

A handset lifter attaches to the phone just under the handset. When the phone rings, you hear a tone in the headset; press the call button and the lifter raises the handset out of the cradle. Lifters work with most office desk phones, which makes them the fallback when no EHS cable fits your model. They do have weak points: the double-sided tape can loosen over time and pull the lifter out of alignment, and noise near the phone can trigger false rings. You can buy the Poly CS540 as a CS540 + Lifter bundle, or add the Poly HL10 lifter later. Read what a headset lifter does for setup and upkeep tips.

When you need neither

Yealink headsets on compatible Yealink desk phones answer and end calls from the headset out of the box, with no EHS cable or lifter. That covers the HA64 Pro, HA68 Pro, WH64 and WH63 E2 on the Yealink models listed in our Yealink headset compatibility guide. Older Yealink phones such as the T40G, T41P, T42G, T46G and T48G don't work with Yealink headsets; pair them with another brand's wireless headset and the Yealink EHS36 cable. The HA64 Pro also gives you remote answering on most Poly IP phones, and the WH64 works the same way. Some Poly phone models need the EHS62 cable, so check your model in our headset compatibility guide.

Desk phone, computer and mobile on one headset

If you take calls on a desk phone and also join Teams or Zoom meetings on your computer, one headset can handle both. The HA64 Pro base connects to your computer and a compatible desk phone, and Bluetooth in the headset pairs with your mobile. It's Microsoft Teams and Zoom certified, and you switch between its Teams and UC setup on the base's touchscreen, with no software to download. The HA68 Pro adds hybrid active noise cancellation and meets Microsoft Teams Open Office requirements. The WH64 comes in separate Teams and UC versions, so choose the one that matches your calling platform.

If your team only uses desk phones, a desk phone headset can be enough. In our comparison with the HA64 Pro, we wrote of the Poly CS540: "Still, if your needs are for desk phone use only, the CS540 could be a viable option." It connects to a computer only through the optional Discover D315 adapter, and you swap cables to change devices. The Yealink WH63 E2 connects to a desk phone and a PC at the same time, but not to a mobile phone. See how the two DECT headsets compare in Yealink HA64 Pro vs. Poly CS540.

Comfort for all-day calls: single or dual ear

Choose single ear (mono) if you work in a quiet or moderately busy office and talk with coworkers between calls. Choose dual ear (stereo) if your space is noisy or you need to concentrate for long stretches, because covering both ears blocks more of the room. The HA64 Pro and WH64 come in mono or duo, the HA68 Pro is dual ear only, and the CS540 and WH63 E2 are convertible single-ear headsets you can wear on the ear or with a headband. Weight adds up over a long day: the HA64 Pro mono weighs 3.2 ounces, and the CS540 just 0.64 ounces. Our mono vs. stereo guide goes deeper.

Noise: what your callers hear, and what you hear

Two different features deal with noise. A noise-canceling microphone reduces the background noise your callers hear. The HA64 Pro and WH64 use Yealink's Acoustic Shield 2.0, and the HA68 Pro uses Acoustic Shield 3.0. Active noise cancellation (ANC) reduces the noise you hear. The HA68 Pro has hybrid ANC; the HA64 Pro and WH64 don't. Our HA68 Pro review says that in an open office, a shared workspace or a busy home, "ANC becomes considerably more valuable." If you work in a quiet private office, you may not need to pay for it.

Buying for a team

If you're buying for a team, list every phone model in the office first, because EHS cables are model specific. Two features help in shared offices: busylights on the HA64 Pro, HA68 Pro and WH64 show coworkers when you're on a call, and the CS540's conference feature pairs up to four CS540 headsets to one base for training and call coaching. Our advisors can check compatibility across your phones and prepare a volume quote. We accept purchase orders, tax-exempt orders and payment terms for enterprise, government, education and healthcare teams, and teams of 10 or more can use our Managed Headset Program, where replacements ship first.

Still not sure?

Tell us your phone model and how you work, and a headset advisor will match you with a compatible headset and the right cable or lifter. You can also read our compatibility guides for Avaya, Cisco, Polycom and Mitel phones, or our article What Is the Best Wireless Headset for Office Phones?