According to Dr. Carl Fichtenbaum, a clinical medicine professor at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, wearing a face mask in public is one of the greatest methods to prevent contracting and transmitting diseases including COVID-19, the flu, RSV, and the common cold. It can be difficult to decide which kind to use, though; you can use a respirator like a N95 or KN95, a disposable mask, or a reusable cloth mask.
According to Dr. Sharon Nachman, head of the pediatric infectious diseases division at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital, the best mask is ultimately the one you choose to wear. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the best protection is provided by a respirator. However, she asserts that donning a throwaway mask is preferable to doing nothing at all. Additionally, some people will probably wear them correctly and for longer periods of time since they find them more comfortable, which will lessen the spread of viruses.
I spoke with doctors about the qualities to look for in disposable face masks and compiled a few selections that follow their recommendations to help you shop for the best ones. Experts also discuss the importance of wearing a face mask and when it might be appropriate.
GO Ahead and SkipWhy should I trust NBC Select? What are disposable face masks? How did I choose the best disposable face masks? Which disposable face masks are the best to buy?
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Best overallDemeTECH ASTM Level 3 Face Masks
$undefined$15.99Amazon
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Best individually wrappedCandyCare Disposable Face Masks
$undefined$6.99Amazon
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Most layersEvolvetogether Face Masks
$32.38$35.97Evolvetogether
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What are disposable face masks?
Disposable face masks are single-use, multi-layered face coverings that physically separate the wearer’s mouth and nose from their surroundings. According to Fichtenbaum, they aid in preventing pathogens from entering the air when the wearer breathes, speaks, coughs, or sneezes. Additionally, disposable masks shield the wearer from breathing in big germ particles that might be present in the surrounding air.
Medical-grade (often referred to as surgical masks) and nonmedical-grade disposable face masks are the two varieties available. “The most important thing to know is that a nonmedical-grade face mask is a fine option for the average person, so long as you wear it properly and dispose of it frequently,” Nachman says, explaining the differences in more detail below.
How I picked the best disposable face masks
Experts advise keeping the following things in mind while purchasing disposable face masks.
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Fit
: Disposable masks should fit tightly around your nose, mouth and chin. There shouldn t be any big gaps between your face and the mask. Look for masks with adjustable nose wires, which can help you customize their fit. -
Multiple layers
: The CDC recommends buying disposable face masks made from multiple layers of material. Experts say your mask should be at least two-ply, but three-ply is ideal. Don t buy masks with exhalation valves, according to the CDC. -
Price
: More expensive disposable masks don t guarantee better protection, so don t sweat price point, experts say.
The best disposable face masks to shop
The disposable face masks listed below are all well-reviewed and compliant with professional purchasing advice. They also have features the CDC recommends looking for each mask is at least two-ply, has a nose wire and does not have exhalation valves. All of the other masks are not medical-grade, but the DemeTech mask is.
DemeTech ASTM Level 3 Face Masks
DemeTECH ASTM Level 3 Face Masks
You can buy these three-layer masks, the only medical-grade option on this list, in a pack of 50. They come in a variety of colors and include an adjustable nose bridge.
PM Performotor Disposable Face Mask
PM Performotor Disposable Face Mask
These face masks have an adjustable nose bridge and three layers of nonwoven fabric. They are available for purchase in quantities of 50 or 100. Additionally, the brand offers individually wrapped choices.
WeCare Disposable Face Mask
WeCare Disposable Face Mask
Disposable face masks from WeCare are individually packed. They include an adjustable nose bridge and are composed of three layers of nonwoven cloth. You can purchase packs of 50 masks in various colors and patterns.
CandyCare Disposable Face Masks
CandyCare Disposable Face Masks
CandyCare s disposable face masks have three layers of fabric and an adjustable nose bridge. There are twenty-five of them.
Evolvetogether Face Masks
Evolvetogether Face Masks
Evolvetogether s masks have four layers of fabric and an adjustable nose bridge. The masks come with two mask keepers, which you can use to store the face coverings when you re not wearing them.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Disposable face masks protect those around the wearer by blocking germ particles they exhale from entering the air. This decreases the chance that someone who is sick will spread an illness, says Fichtenbaum. To some extent, disposable masks also help prevent the wearer from breathing in larger airborne particles. They also may deter wearers from touching a contaminated surface and then touching their mouth or nose, he says.
Medical-grade disposable face masks(often called surgical masks or medical procedure masks) are regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. They re specifically designed to wear in healthcare settings, says Nachman, so they have to meet strict design and performance criteria to be considered medical devices. It s important to remember that medical-grade disposable masks differ from respirators like KN95s and N95s, the latter of which are regulated by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
Nonmedical-grade disposable face masksoften look identical to medical-grade disposable face masks, says Fichtenbaum , but they re not regulated by the FDA. They re made for the average person to wear, not healthcare workers, so there s no uniform design or performance standard they follow. Most, however, have at least two layers of protection.
A face mask won t protect you or the people around you unless you wear it correctly. The CDC recommends making sure it completely covers your mouth and nose and fits tightly against your face to prevent gaps around the sides of the mask, nose and chin. Also, don t wear masks with exhalation valves or vents.
All masks fit differently, and features like adjustable ear loops and an adjustable nose bridge help you improve the fit of your mask, as domask fitters or braces, according to the CDC. Using a fitter or brace is an especially good idea for people with facial hair, which can make it difficult to achieve a tight fit.
Disposable face masks are not meant to be worn for more than a few hours, says Nachman. They get less effective over time, so after wearing one for a while, throw it out and put on a fresh one. It s also important to keep in mind that any mask that gets dirty or wet from mouth breathing, coughing or sneezing is not going to be useful, says Nachman. She recommends carrying an extra mask with you in case you need to swap yours out.
You re typically at the highest risk for getting sick while spending more than 15 to 20 minutes in crowded indoor spaces, says Fichtenbaum. Examples include concerts, grocery stores, classrooms and offices, as well as transportation hubs like airports and train stations. Wearing a face mask while traveling on a crowded plane, train or bus is also a good idea, he says.
If you have a fever, you re at the highest risk for transmitting a virus, so you should stay home, says Nachman. Once your fever gets better, or if you re just coughing and sneezing, wear a mask if you absolutely have to go out in public, she says. Doing so makes it less likely that you ll spread germs to others.
You may want to consider wearing a face mask if you re at higher risk for infection. That goes for people 65 and older, and those who have medical conditions or take medications that weaken their immune system, says Fichtenbaum.
The CDC hasCovid-19,fluandRSV trackersonline that are open to the public, which Nachman recommends bookmarking. You can enter a zip code and see how present each illness is in your community or those you re traveling to. If positivity is trending upward, that s a sign that you should consider wearing a mask, especially in crowded indoor public spaces, says Nachman.
Disposable face masks are less protective than N95 and KN95 respirators for two reasons.
Disposable face masks have a looser fit, so there tends to be gaps between the mask and the wearer s face, giving germs an open door to slip through, says Fichtenbaum . N95s and KN95s, on the other hand, form an airtight seal around the wearer s mouth and nose.
Disposable masks are typically made from a loosely woven material that has a large pore size. This allows more germs to get through disposable face masks, including very small airborne particles often transmitted by coughs and sneezes, says Fichtenbaum . In contrast, N95 and KN95s are typically made from a tightly woven that has a small pore size. This means less germs get through N95s and KN95s, which effectively filter out very small airborne particles.
That said, some people find wearing N95 and KN95s uncomfortable, making disposable face masks the next best option, says Nachman.
Meet our experts
At NBC Select, we work with experts with specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also ensure that all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and with no undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
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Dr.
Carl Fichtenbaum
is a professor of clinical medicine at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine.
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Dr.
Sharon Nachman
is the chief of the division of pediatric infectious diseases at Stony Brook Children s Hospital.
Why trust NBC Select?
I m areporter at NBC Selectwho has written about face masks since 2020, including articles about KN95s, N95s, disposable face masks and kid s face masks. To write this article, I interviewed two doctors about how to shop for disposable face masks and researched face coverings using resources from the CDC and FDA. I also recommended disposable face masks to buy that meet expert guidance.
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