Best CPAP Masks Of 2024, According To Research (2024)

Updated: Aug 30, 2024, 3:32pm

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To determine the best CPAP masks available, the Forbes Health editorial team analyzed 48 CPAP masks across 12 CPAP mask brands, evaluating them based on

• Price (20%)
• If the mask headset is adjustable (10%)
• Availability of multiple mask sizes (10%)
• Presence of a seal to prevent air leakage (10%)
• Whether a subscribe and save option is available (7.5%)
• Whether the company offers free shipping (7.5%)
• How much the mask weighs (5%)
• Features noise-reduction technology (5%)
• Whether the mask is suitable for active or side sleepers (5%)
• Universal compatibility with CPAP machines (5%)
• Length of time before mask should be replaced (5%)
• If it includes a foam cushion (2.5%)
• If the mask features a forehead band (2.5%)
• Necessary cleaning frequency (2.5%)
• Necessary headgear cleaning frequently (2.5%)

Star ratings were then determined solely by the editorial team.

“When a patient is diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea, a condition which results in multiple pauses in breathing during sleep, they are prescribed CPAP [therapy],” says Sudha Tallavajhula, M.D., an associate professor at UTHealth Houston and medical director of the Neurological Sleep Medicine Center at TIRR Memorial Hermann in Houston. “These machines generate pressurized air, which is delivered with a hose and mask to open the airway during sleep and help the patient breathe.”

CPAP masks are used as interfaces between a CPAP machine and an individual’s face while they are sleeping, and are generally made with a silicone, gel or foam seal to prevent air from leaking out while in use.

Types of CPAP Masks

There are three main types of CPAP masks, each of which offer a variety of options when it comes to finding the correct style and fit to support comfort and compliance.

“Nasal pillow masks use prongs that fit into the nostrils and cover the entire nose,” says Veronica K. Sesi, D.O., who is board-certified in neurology and sleep medicine. “Full-face masks cover the nose and the mouth.”

The type of mask a CPAP user chooses is based on several factors, including recommendations from a health care provider, the severity of one’s sleep apnea or other breathing disorder (and consequently how much pressure a mask can deliver) and how comfortable the mask is for an individual.

Both nasal and full-face CPAP masks feature a tube that connects to a CPAP machine. The machine delivers pressurized air to keep the user’s airways open and unobstructed while they sleep. CPAP masks should be worn whenever the CPAP machine is in use.

CPAP masks also create a seal, allowing positive pressure to be administered during CPAP therapy sessions, says Dr. Sesi. Depending on the style of mask, different straps connect around the head to keep the mask in place. For example, some masks have forehead straps as part of the headgear, while others connect on top of the head or behind the ears. Meanwhile, different types of headgear are designed to accommodate a range of sleeping preferences, such as side sleepers, back sleepers or individuals who move a lot during the night.

“Choosing the right mask is key to tolerating the treatment,” says Maria Elena Vega-Sanchez, M.D., a sleep specialist at Temple University Hospital and associate professor of thoracic medicine and surgery at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University in Philadelphia. Finding a mask that fits one’s face, has a tight seal and is comfortable during use is essential to choosing the correct mask, she adds, as using a mask with an improper fit or that’s uncomfortable may affect a user’s compliance with CPAP treatment.

It’s also important to consider factors like the mask’s ability to accommodate different sleeping positions and a user’s tendency toward mouth breathing. Some research indicates that people with more severe obstructive sleep apnea benefit from higher pressure CPAP masks, which full-face masks provide efficiently.