Among the several face masks available, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention state that N95 respirators are the most protective. They fit snugly on your face to minimize gaps around the sides, chin, and nose area, and they are made to filter out at least 95% of small and large airborne particles. Additionally, compared to comparable international respirators like KN95s and KF94s, N95s are easier to find because they are regulated in the US by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Although most individuals use the terms mask and respirator interchangeably, the CDC and medical experts expressly refer to fitted face coverings with certified filtration, such as N95s, KN95s, and KF94s, when they use the term respirator.
I talked to medical professionals about what to look for when buying for N95 masks, how they differ from other disposable face coverings, and when to wear them if you need to replenish your supply. Additionally, I put together a list of highly regarded NIOSH-approved N95s that may be purchased online.
GO Ahead and SkipWhen to wear a face mask, how to wear one, the finest N95 masks to buy, and why NBC Select is reliable.
Selected.
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Best cup-shapedShawmut Protex N95 Respirator
$11.99$14.99Amazon
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Best flat-foldDemeTECH N95 Respirator
$undefined$65.00Amazon
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Best individually wrapped3M Aura N95 Respirator
$14.75$20.99Amazon
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How I picked the best N95 masks
Experts advise considering the following when purchasing N95 masks:
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NIOSH approval
: Since N95 masks are regulated by NIOSH, you should only purchase those listed on the agency slist of approved models
. When NIOSH gives an N95 its stamp of approval, it means the respirator has met very specific requirements for
testing
, says Dr.
Stella Hines
, an associate professor in the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. It s a quality assurance indicator that the respirator will perform as expected. All NIOSH-approved N95s adhere to specific performance and quality requirements, including the ability to filter out at least 95% of large and very small particles (0.3 microns in size).
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Appropriate markings
: Specificmarkings
on an N95 mask indicate that it s NIOSH-approved. These markings include identifying information verified using NIOSH s
Certified Equipment List
, filter designations, model numbers and more.
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Features
: N95 masks should have two straps that go around your head and an adjustable wire nose bridge. Experts say these features help ensure that the mask fits tightly against your face. Never buy N95s made with exhaust ports, which holds true for all face masks, says Dr.David Rempel
, a professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco. The best N95 masks to purchase
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Shape
: N95 masks come in cup, flat fold and duckbill shapes. One is not better than the other, so experts recommend picking whichever you find the most comfortable. -
Type
: N95 respirators labeled as surgical or medical should be prioritized for healthcare workers, according to the CDC. A standard N95 mask is sufficient for the general public.
The best N95 masks to shop
Although many N95s satisfy NIOSH regulations, the CDC advises that surgical-grade masks be saved for medical personnel only. I’ve put up a list of highly regarded NIOSH-approved N95 masks that you can purchase online, excluding those options. Keep in mind that some N95s are separately wrapped, while others are bundled together. Every mask on this list features two headstraps and an adjustable nose bridge.
3M Aura N95 Respirator
(3-pack)
3M Aura N95 Respirator
The three-paneled 3M Aura folding N95 respirator is designed to be low profile around the nose and eye area to fit spectacles. The respirators are sold in packs of three or more, however they are individually wrapped and can be purchased in bigger quantities if necessary.
Honeywell N95 Flatfold Disposable Respirator
(20-pack)
Honeywell N95 Flatfold Disposable Respirator
When not in use, Honeywell’s N95s fold up. A foam cushion in their adjustable nose clip aids in forming a snug fit against the face. There are twenty masks in a pack.
DemeTECH N95 Respirator
(20-pack)
DemeTECH N95 Respirator
Five layers of material make up DemeTech’s N95s, which fold flat when not in use. There are twenty of them in the bag.
Shawmut Protex N95 Respirator
(10-pack)
Shawmut Protex N95 Respirator
Shawmut N95 respirators are available in packs of ten, twenty, or 240. The masks are built with a piece of foam that lines the inside of the adjustable nose piece, which helps reduce eyeglass from fogging up. The N95s are available in small, medium, and large sizes.
BNX N95 Mask
(50-pack)
BNX N95 Mask
BNX N95 masks have head straps devoid of latex and fold flat when not in use. There are ten of them in the pack.
Kimberly-Clark Kimtech N95 Pouch Respirator
(50-pack)
Kimberly-Clark Kimtech N95 Pouch Respirator
The pouch design of these N95s creates a large breathing chamber, making it easier to talk while wearing the respirators, according to the brand. There are fifty of them in a pack.
Aidway NIOSH N95 Respirator
Aidway N95 Respirator
Aidway s N95 mask has five layers of protection and a flat-fold design. You purchase the masks in packs of 10, 20, 50, 100, 500 or 1,000.
WellBefore N95 Flat Fold Respirator
(10-pack)
WellBefore N95 Flat Fold Respirator
The N95 respirator from WellBefore features a flat-fold design and four layers of protection. It comes in black or white. The N95s come in a 10-pack and are individually wrapped.
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How to wear N95 masks
Regardless of the type of mask you wear, it won t protect you or the people around you unless you wear it correctly. Make sure your mask completely covers your mouth and nose and fits tightly against your face to prevent gaps around the sides of the mask, nose and chin, according to the CDC.
N95 respirators will provide the regulated, expected level of protection to the wearer only if there s a good seal to the face, says Hines. You want a good seal so that all of the air that s breathed in is pulled in through the mask body. That s where all the filtration of particles and microbial contaminants occurs.
You can do an at-home leak test with an N95 by putting it on and breathing out, says Rempel. If you can feel the air under your chin or around your eyes, it s not tight enough. And if your glasses fog up while wearing an N95, there s leakage and it s not tight enough, says Hines.
All masks and models fit differently, and features like an adjustable nose bridge help you improve the fit of your mask, as domask fittersor braces, according to the CDC. Using a fitter or brace is especially a good idea for people with facial hair, which can make it difficult to achieve a tight fit.
When should you wear a face mask?
There s no nationwide mask wearing mandate in the United States, so it can be tricky to decide when you should wear one. Here s what experts recommend and remember, wearing a mask can help reduce the transmission of illnesses like the flu, RSV and the common cold, not just Covid-19.
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In crowded indoor spaces where you spend more than 15 to 20 minutes
: Examples include concerts, grocery stores, classrooms and offices, as well as transportation hubs like airports and train stations, says Dr.Carl Fichtenbaum
, a professor of clinical medicine at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. Wearing a face mask while traveling on a crowded plane, train or bus is also a good idea, he says.
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When you re sick
: You re at the highest risk for transmitting a virus when you have a fever, so you should stay home, says Dr.Sharon Nachman
, chief of the division of pediatric infectious diseases at Stony Brook Children s Hospital. 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.
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If you re at a 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. -
When there s high levels of illness in your community
: The CDC hasCovid-19
,
flu
and
RSV trackers
online 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
In settings where workers are required to wear an N95, like some construction zones and healthcare settings, they have to do anofficial fit test, says Hines. The public, however, does not need to do a formal fit test before buying and wearing an N95. Regardless, you should still check to see if your respirator fits properly before wearing it in public, she says.
Technically, N95s are disposable, single-use face coverings. But if you remove and store an N95 properly, you can reuse it multiple times simply put, that entails taking the mask off by its head straps and storing it in a paper or mesh fabric bag between uses, according to the CDC.
N95 manufacturers often provide instructions for the suggested length of use for their masks on the box or online. But in general, you should throw out your N95 if it gets damaged crumpled up in your bag, for example or if you can no longer achieve a tight seal to the face. You should also replace your N95 if it gets wet, dirty or contaminated.
N95 respirators are not intended for use by children and have not been broadly tested on them, according to the CDC. However, some brands offer N95s in small and large sizes, and smaller N95s may fit some children s faces. Select brands makekids KN95s, too. When it comes to kids face coverings, it s crucial to choose a well-fitting and comfortable option to reduce the chance of children removing it often or wearing it incorrectly, according to the CDC.
Yes, N95 masks areeligible for reimbursementwith a flexible spending account (FSA), health savings account (HSA) or health reimbursement arrangement (HRA). They are not eligible with a dependent care flexible spending account (DCFSA) or a limited-purpose flexible spending account (LPFSA).
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.
David Rempel
is a professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco.
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Dr.
Stella Hines
is an associate professor in the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.
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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 areporterat 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 four doctors about how to shop for N95 masks and researched face coverings using resources from the CDC and NIOSH. I also recommended NIOSH-approved N95 masks to buy that meet expert guidance.
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