How to Choose The Right CPAP Mask
Shopping for CPAP equipment can be overwhelming since there are so many choices—plus, all the medical terminology can be confusing—especially if you’ve just recently been diagnosed with sleep apnea. In an effort to ensure the language surrounding CPAP masks is easy to understand, so you can make a purchasing decision that suits your needs and your budget, we’re sharing some basic information about the variety of features that CPAP masks offer.
Though this guide is designed to help you find a top-tier CPAP mask, it’s important to talk with your doctor about their recommendations since they can expertly identify how the advantages and disadvantages of any CPAP mask can benefit (or hinder) the type of sleep apnea you have.
Comfort
The goal of sleep apnea treatment is to be both effective and comfortable; the more comfortable your mask fits, the more likely you are to stick with your CPAP treatment. Look for a mask made of high-quality materials that fits well and can accommodate your preferred sleeping position(s). We suggest looking at other components, too, like where the hose connection is located and if comfort-focused accessories like fabric wraps are included.
Pricing
Whether you’re billing insurance for a CPAP mask or paying for it out of pocket, it’s important to use a mask you can afford—particularly because your CPAP mask should be replaced every 6 to 12 months. At CPAP.com, we offer a wide variety of quality CPAP masks at competitive prices that fit every budget. For your convenience, all purchases through our online shop are eligible for free returns, giving you the option to try a mask and return it within 30 days of your purchase for any reason.
CPAP.com does not accept insurance or Medicaid, but many private insurance companies are willing to reimburse medical equipment purchases. Since we don’t accept insurance or Medicaid, we are able to keep our prices lower than other online retailers.
Mask Type and Breathing Style
There are several types of CPAP masks available, including full face CPAP masks, nasal CPAP masks, and nasal pillow CPAP masks. Other mask styles include hybrid, oral, total full face masks, and nasal prong CPAP masks. The type of CPAP mask you need depends on your breathing style, sleeping style, and the pressure settings your doctor has prescribed; because individual needs vary, there isn’t a single CPAP mask type that works for everyone.
Preferred Sleeping Position
Ideally, your CPAP mask can accommodate the position you sleep in. Full face masks are usually worn by those who sleep on their back and aren’t very active in their sleep while nasal and nasal pillow style masks tend to be geared for side and stomach sleepers who toss and turn throughout the night. If you are an active sleeper, look for a CPAP mask with a top-of-head tube connection.
Fit and Sizing
You may be wondering: “What size CPAP mask do I need?” Generally, CPAP masks are available in small, medium, and large, though some brands offer specialized sizes for petite and wide facial structures. An ill-fitting CPAP mask can cause discomfort and leaks, so it’s crucial to get a CPAP mask that fits your personal needs.
Seal
Mask leaks happen for a variety of reasons: poor fit, certain sleeping positions, or the age of the mask. When shopping for a CPAP mask, look for one that offers a customized fit or user-friendly adjustability features. Having a secure seal is crucial to successful sleep apnea therapy since leaks can dry out your nose and eyes, lead to dry mouth, cause sore throats, or create a pesky sound. The best sealing CPAP mask is one that secures the seal and prevents leaks, and you may find that adding a mask liner can enhance the performance of the seal on the CPAP mask you pick.
On the other hand, you may be wondering: “How do you know if your CPAP mask is too tight?” If you wear a full-face CPAP mask and it’s touching your teeth or bottom lip or it’s pinching the bridge of your nose, you may need to loosen the fit.
Open View Design
If you prefer to read a book or stream your favorite television series before you fall asleep, you’ll appreciate CPAP masks that open your line of sight. Typically, nasal pillow CPAP masks and those with low-profile designs will provide an open view.
Machine Compatibility
All CPAP masks offer a universal fit across all CPAP machines if using a standard hose, so any CPAP mask can be paired with any CPAP machine—though special mask connection equipment may be required. Previously, the ResMed AirMini had limited compatibility, but now, it can be used with any standardized tubing, which will work with any CPAP mask, thanks to this universal adapter.
Prescription
Purchasing CPAP equipment, including CPAP masks, requires a prescription from your doctor. A prescription outlines important information such as the therapy pressure you need, your replacement part schedule, and more. A mask prescription should contain details about the type of CPAP mask you need, your physician’s contact information and signature, and your full name.
31 Responses
As someone who suffers from dry eyes, it would be nice to see a discussion on exhaust air
The absolute best CPAP mask you guys sell is the Tap Pap. I’ve been a CPAP user for 30 years and it’s far and away the best mask I have ever used and I’ve tried a lot. Why not give us a writ up and comparison to the ones on this list?
Hi Bruce,
Thank you for sharing. We are very happy to hear about your positive experience with the TAP PAP Mask. Perhaps we will!
Michael
bruce , is this difficult to get used to, do you have issues will leakage? i read reviews that it leaks a lot… was the mouthguard hard to use? is it hard to adjust each night?
A couple of comments. 1) I can barely see the very light gray font color of this comment. And that is AFTER cataract surgery. 2/ The photos on the website show clear masks on a white mannequin. I can hardly see that, either. No clue what the masks look like or how t hey fit. So, CPAP.com is a useless site for me.
Hi Becky,
Thank you for the helpful feedback. We do our best to make our services accessible to everyone, so we are very sorry about this negative experience. Your comments have been noted by our product photographers and designers for a solution.
Michael
I totally agree with Becky. Will check back in a couple of months to see if any improvements have been made.
I agree with Dave, who wrote in January of 2018. I would love if the air would not blow at all toward my eyes!
Hi Laura,
You may want to try adjusting the position of the mask on your face slightly. Little shifts can make a big difference when it comes to blowing air.
My CPAP machine is a ResMed S9. What function do the settings pillows, nasal, and full mask change the way the machine provides air pressure? What do the different settings actually do?
I switched to Sleepweaver masks a few years ago. I tried going back to another mask one night, (actually less than an hour before I couldn’t take it anymore).. I was miserable. I’ll never make that mistake again. No Sleepweaver mask, no CPAP therapy for me.
Would be useful to comment on how the various masks work with beards.
What’s the best full face mask?
Hi Anna, while masks are very personable since all face structures are different. I have linked to you a few of the most popular masks also, we would be happy to assist you in selecting a mask that may best fit you, but this will require us to ask you a few questions. You can reach us at: 1-800-356-5221, please see the link below for a few mask options.
https://www.cpap.com/cpap-compare-chart-share/2e1r
I hope this helps and we wish you the best!
I have been a CPAPist for about 20 years, have used all of the products over the yerars, and always had a problem with mouth breathing/awakening. I switched FOR THAT REASON to full face, and after careful selection ended up with ResMed Quattro… It has been about 1 1/2 years, and I sleep routinely over 6 hours without problems at all, and have slept 8 from time to time after an exhausting day. I am 81. I take a nap in the afternoon, and that affects how long I sleep at night in a single stretch. I can honestly say that I am pleased with the Quattro, and unless something full face comes on the market that does what it does at present, I am here for the duration. Full face masks are for people with mouth breathing issues.
i was wondering how difficult it is to adjust the TAP PAP each night.. ive read reviews on problems with leaking…. the mask shifting bc there are no straps…. does it cause teeth pain from having the mouth guard?
Hi Kelly, each person is different, but if you would like to try one of the TapPaps for yourself, we offer free returns within 30 days if you do not like the mask for any reason you can receive a refund, or select a different mask.
You may also find interest in a different mask which is very popular with our customers. Please see the link below for information on this mask.
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/puritan-bennett-breeze-cpap-mask-bundle
I hope this information helps. For further assistance we can be reached at: 1-800-356-5221.
Have a great weekend!
have a full mask still wake up with a very dry mouth
Hi Thomas, I am sorry to hear that you are having some problems with dry mouth. Please make sure that you do not have any mask leaks. Be certain that you are changing out your full face mask cushion every 3 months for most masks.
Also, if you are using a heated humidifier, I would recommend that you increase the humidity a little to see if this provides some relief. If you are not currently using a humidifier, you may want to get one and this may provide some relief to the problem that you are having with dry mouth.
For further questions, or concerns please feel free to reach us at: 1-800-356-5221, or email us at: cpap@cpap.com.
I hope this helps, have a great day!
I would like to see a pticure of the mask.
Hi Darrel, you can view all of our masks by visiting our website: CPAP.COM. Also, please see the links below for the 6 top-rated masks.
https://www.cpap.com/cpap-compare-chart-share/2ero
https://www.cpap.com/cpap-compare-chart-share/2erq
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/resmed-airfit-f20-full-face-cpap-mask-headgear
Please let us know if there is anything else we can assist you with.
Have a great day!
I have a comfort gel blue provided to me by the VA and I hate it. As a CPAP mask it’s okay, but the ball and socket connections on bottom left and right side of the mask are a real PITA. Look closely at the picture you have of the mask – the ball on the lower left connection is not completely in the socket – you couldn’t get it connected even on a manikin. Executing the connect / disconnect of these fittings is done in the blind (you can’t see them because they are below your field of vision). After a few nights, I finally gave up, put the mask in a bag, and it’s somewhere in the back of my closet.
Hey Lester, i’m sorry to hear that the ComfortGel Blue isn’t working out for you. Having a mask that you are comfortable with and a good fit is key to successful CPAP Therapy.
We’d be happy to assist you in selecting a mask that may be a better fit for you. Please feel free to reach us at: 1-800-356-5221.
We hope to hear from you soon, don’t give up on your CPAP Therapy, as there are many, many different mask options.
We wish you the best!
I have 3 res med masks, the p10i pillow mask, p30i mask with the air coming in at the top and a nasal mask. The nasal mask is just too uncomfortable, and the pillow masks really irritate my nostrils. Feel fine when I go to bed, but in an hour or two they just plain hurt, I have adjusted them to assure they are not too tight, I just have sensitive nostrils. I dont know if I could tolerate all the gear of a full face mask as the nasal mask is already too much, any suggestions? I’ve been using it for 4 months and it has really helped my sleep apnea, but the painful issues are a real problem.
Thank you,
Jon
Hi Jon, it isn’t unusual to try several masks before finding one that both keeps a good seal and fits comfortably. We have a full face and a nasal mask that may interest you. Please see the links below for more information on the DreamWear Full Face mask and AirFit N30i. Even though the DreamWear masks is full face, it doesn’t cover your entire face and it seals around the base of your nose, just as the Airfit N30i does.
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/philips-respironics-dreamwear-full-face-cpap-mask-fit-pack
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/resmed-airfit-n30i-nasal-cpap-mask
Also, for the nostril irritation that you are experiencing, you may try https://www.cpap.com/productpage/CPAP-Moisture-Therapy-Cream-1-oz-Tube, or https://www.cpap.com/productpage/neilmed-nasogel-tube.
For further questions, or concerns, please feel free to reach us at: 1-800-356-5221, or you may e-mail us at: cpap@cpap.com.
Have a great day!
Do they make full face mask in a xxl?
Hey Heidi, I’m not showing we sell any full face masks in XXL. We do have a couple of full face masks sold in XL. Please see the link below to view more information on these masks.
https://www.cpap.com/compare-chart/full-face-cpap-mask/2n3q
Also, please keep in mind that sizes of masks are not interchangeable from mask to mask. Even if you feel the need to have a XXL in one mask, a different mask in a smaller size may be a good fit.
In most cases, we have a sizing guide template which can be printed to confirm an accurate size for each mask you’re interested in. If you would like assistance with locating our sizing guide, please feel free to give us a call.
Please contact us with further questions, or concerns at: 1-800-356-5221, or you may e-mail us at: cpap@cpap.com.
Best Wishes!
i would like to find out about n30I mask. I bought 2 weeds ago and very uncomphtable Please advice on how to wear it. Thank you. Paula Picariello
Hi Paula,
I’m sorry to hear your having some problems with your mask. Please see the link below to view a video of fitting for your mask. You can start the video at 4:05.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RLjO1t-Qg8
Also, if you purchased your mask from CPAP.com, please keep in mind that the mask was sold with free 30 day returns. If you would like to return the mask please contact us at: 1-800-356-5221, or you may e-mail us at: cpap@cpap.com.
Best Wishes
I have been on a cpap for 25 years, and I have been running out of water every night the past several months , the cat scan shows my lungs are full of bumps and mucus , and I feel like they are burnt. I had an x ray a year ago and my lungs looked good.
Hi Donald,
I’m sorry to hear about the problems you’re having with your CPAP therapy. Are you waking up with dry mouth even though you’re running out of water each night? What type of mask are you using (full face, nasal, nasal pillow)?
If you’re using a mask other than full face, please try switching to a full face mask as it’s possible that your mouth is falling open during the night and causing dryness.
If you’re currently using a full face mask, please confirm what your leak rate is under your therapy data. If it is higher than 24L/m, this may explain why your machine is using all of the water.
Please be sure that you’re changing your masks cushion every 90 days and your entire mask at least every 6 months to avoid a poor fit and/or mask leaks.
Also, be sure to discuss your CAT Scan, results directly with your doctor for an accurate diagnosis.
If you would like to speak with us further regarding your therapy hardships, please feel free to reach us at: 1-800-356-5221.
We wish you the best