Where to find NIOSH-approved N95 masks right now
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Recently published research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that wearing a respirator indoors offers the best protection against Covid-19, compared to surgical and cloth masks. These findings build on the CDC’s latest mask guidance, which details the varying levels of protection different types of masks offer — N95 respirators are at the top of the list. While experts have long held that respirators like N95s and KN95 are preferable to cloth masks and other options, these releases from the CDC are the first time the agency has specified the quality of certain types of masks. President Joe Biden even announced an initiative to get N95s into Americans’ hands for free last month — the first initiative of its kind for any kind of mask.
In this article: Defining N95 face masks, how to wear them and why
According to the CDC, when worn consistently, well-fitting respirators approved by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health — including N95s — “provide the highest level of protection from particles, including the virus that causes COVID-19” and the highly transmissible omicron variant. (Most people use “mask” and “respirator” interchangeably, but when the CDC and medical professionals say “respirator,” they specifically mean specialized, fitted face coverings like N95s, KN95s and KF94s.)
The CDC further sorted everything by efficacy, prioritizing respirators above masks and emphasizing the importance of a proper fit:
Highest level of protection: Well-fitting respirators approved by NIOSH, including N95s
Less protection than NIOSH-approved respirators: Well-fitting disposable surgical masks and KN95s (learn more about how to shop for the best KN95 face masks, according to experts)
Less protection than non-NIOSH respirators and surgical masks: Layered, finely woven products
Least protection (but still better than not wearing a mask at all): Loosely woven cloth products
The CDC stopped short of directly recommending one mask over another, saying Americans should “wear the most protective mask you can that fits well and that you will wear consistently." But medical experts have been encouraging the public to make respirators their first choice for face coverings at this point in the pandemic, as they told us in our guide to KN95 masks.
Since we don’t test masks ourselves, we consulted medical experts about who should use N95 respirators, as well as when to wear them and how to source and shop for them. We also compiled highly rated options that are approved for use by NIOSH and available online. We also compiled highly rated options that are approved for use by NIOSH and available online.
N95 masks to purchase
Experts told us you should only purchase N95s featured on NIOSH’s list of approved models — they’ve undergone specific testing to meet NIOSH’s performance and quality requirements, among those a check on filtering out at least 95 percent of very small particles (0.3 microns in size). There are some specific features to look for in an N95 (learn more about sourcing the best N95 mask).
Appropriate markings indicating that it’s NIOSH approved, including identifying information we verified using NIOSH’s Certified Equipment List
Two straps that go around your head
An adjustable wire nose bridge
There are dozens of N95s featured on NIOSH’s list of approved models but some of them are surgical N95s, which the CDC said should be reserved for medical workers. After filtering those out, we chose the models below, each meeting NIOSH requirements and expert-recommended criteria — they’re also all available online and have earned high average ratings from users. Some N95s come packaged together, while others are individually wrapped, which we indicated below.
DemeTECH N95 Respirator
DemeTECH’s N95 features a foldable design, meaning it folds flat when it’s not in use. The respirators are available in a pack of 20. They are designed with five layers of material, an adjustable nose bridge and two head straps.
DemeTECH N95 Respirator
3M Aura N95 Respirator
3M’s Aura N95 Respirator is available in a pack of three, 10 or 20. It comprises a three-panel design and is foldable. The face covering is designed to be low profile around the nose and eye area to accommodate glasses, and it has two head straps as well as an adjustable nose bridge. The respirators come individually packaged.
3M Aura N95 Respirator
BYD CARE N95 Respirator
BYD’s blue foldable N95s are designed with three layers of material and come individually wrapped in a pack of 20. The respirators feature two head straps and an adjustable nose bridge.
BYD CARE N95 Respirator
BYD CARE N95 Respirator $19.99 at Amazon
Harley N95 Respirator
Harley’s N95s are built with two latex-free head straps and an adjustable nose piece that has a piece of padded foam underneath for added cushioning. The respirators are foldable and come in a pack of 20.
Harley N95 Respirator
Harley N95 Respirator $45.00 at Bona Fide Masks
Aegle N95 Respirator
Aegle’s N95 respirators are foldable, have two head straps and an adjustable nose bridge. They come in a pack of 50. The brand offers anti-counterfeit verification through programmed near-field communication tags — using an NFC-enable device like some Android and Apple products, the brand says, you can learn more about the product, including details about its testing and manufacturing.
Aegle N95 Respirator
Aegle N95 Respirator $69.00 at Amazon
Protective Health Gear N95 Respirator
Protective Health Gear’s N95 respirators are foldable and come with elastic head straps as well as an adjustable nose bridge. They feature four layers of material and are available in a pack of 20 or 50. The respirators come individually wrapped.
Protective Health Gear N95 Respirator
Protective Health Gear N95 Respirator $79.99 at Amazon
Protective Health Gear N95 Respirator $79.80 at Protective Health Gear
Kimberly-Clark Kimtech N95 Pouch Respirator
The pouch design of Kimberly-Clark Kimtech N95s creates a large breathing chamber, making it easier to talk while wearing the respirators, the brand says. They’re built with two head straps and an adjustable nose bridge. The N95s come in a pack of 50.
Kimberly-Clark Kimtech N95 Pouch Respirator
Kimberly-Clark Kimtech N95 Pouch Respirator $55.80 at Amazon
Makrite SEKURA N95 Foldable Particulate Respirator
Makrite’s N95 respirators feature two head straps and an adjustable nose bridge. They’re foldable and come in a pack of 40.
Makrite SEKURA N95 Foldable Particulate Respirator
Makrite SEKURA N95 Foldable Particulate Respirator $42.75 at Amazon
Makrite SEKURA N95 Foldable Particulate Respirator $79.60 at WellBefore
WellBefore N95 Flat Fold Respirator
WellBefore’s N95 respirator offers four layers of protection and is available in a flat-fold design. It comes in white or black and is built with adjustable head straps and an adjustable nose piece. The N95s are individually wrapped and come in a 10-pack.
WellBefore N95 Flat Fold Respirator
WellBefore N95 Flat Fold Respirator $19.90 at WellBefore
Honeywell N95 Flatfold Disposable Respirator
Honeywell’s N95s fold flat when they’re not in use. They feature head straps and have an adjustable nose clip with a foam cushion that the brand says helps create a tight seal against the face. Masks come in multipacks ranging from five to 50 per box.
Honeywell N95 Flatfold Disposable Respirator
Honeywell N95 Flatfold Disposable Respirator $37.38 at Amazon
Honeywell N95 Flatfold Disposable Respirator $39.95 at Honeywell
How to buy N95 masks
Buying N95s is simpler than buying international respirators like KN95s or KF94s because they're regulated in the U.S. by NIOSH, according to David Rempel, MD, a professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco.
When NIOSH gives an N95 its stamp of approval, it means “the respirator has met very specific requirements for testing. It is a quality assurance indicator that the respirator will perform as expected,” explained Stella Hines, MD, an associate professor in the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.
Medical experts told us all N95s — whether they come in cup, flat fold or duckbill shapes — should at least have the following features:
Appropriate markings printed on the respirator indicating that it’s NIOSH-approved
Two straps that go around the head, which experts said are used instead of ear loops on all N95 models to create a tighter seal against the face
An adjustable wire nose bridge
Rempel said you should not buy N95s that feature exhaust ports, which holds true for all face masks. The CDC also states that “special N95 respirators labeled as ‘surgical’ or ‘medical’ should be prioritized for healthcare workers.”
How to wear N95 respirators (and other tips)
Regardless of the type of mask you wear, it won’t protect you or the people around you unless you wear it correctly. The CDC recommends making 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.
Hines said in settings where workers are required to wear an N95, like some construction zones and healthcare settings, they must complete a fit test. The public, however, does not need to do a formal fit test before buying and wearing an N95. Regardless, Hines emphasized that you should still should check to see if your respirator fits properly before wearing it in public.
“N95 respirators will provide the regulated, expected level of protection to the wearer only if there is a good seal to the face,” she said. “You want a good seal so that all of the air that is breathed in is pulled in through the mask body. That is where all the filtration of particles and microbial contaminants occurs.”
Rempel said you can do an at-home leak test with an N95 by putting it on and breathing out. If you can feel the air under your chin or around your eyes, it’s not tight enough.
Hines added that if your glasses are fogging up while wearing an N95, there’s leakage and it’s not tight enough.
All masks— and models — fit differently, and features like adjustable ear loops and an adjustable nose bridge help you improve the fit of your mask, as do mask fitters or 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.
The CDC has said you should not double-mask while wearing an N95 or KN95 mask. You should not wear respirators with exhalation valves or vents, either, according to the CDC — this guidance applies to all masks.
Are N95 respirators reusable?
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 earloops or head straps and then storing it in a paper or mesh fabric bag between uses, the CDC says.
Hines said N95 manufacturers often provide instructions for the suggested length of use on the box or online. But in general, you should throw out your N95 if it gets damaged — if it gets 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.
Should kids wear N95 masks?
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. When it comes to kids’ face coverings, the CDC said it’s most important to choose a well-fitting and comfortable option to reduce the chance of children removing it often or wearing it incorrectly.
Why wear a face mask? Do face masks protect others against Covid or just the wearers?
The CDC recommends that even those who are fully vaccinated or up to date on their vaccinations mask up in indoor public spaces where there’s a substantial or high risk of transmission or if they have underlying medical conditions. And while you generally do not need to wear a mask outdoors, the CDC said you should consider doing so in crowded outdoor spaces and while participating in outdoor activities where you’ll be in close contact with others who are not fully vaccinated. Everyone, vaccinated or not, is required to wear a mask on public transportation or inside transportation hubs anywhere in the U.S., though you can remove your mask in open-air areas, like the outside deck of a ferry.
Experts have repeatedly stressed that masks help reduce the risk of viral transmission. One 2021 CDC study found that, between two properly masked or double-masked people, the risk of one giving the other a virus was cut by over 95 percent. Masking up also protects other people, as demonstrated in numerous studies like these gathered by the CDC.
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