Can you reuse disposable face masks? The do’s and don’ts, according to doctors

Wearing a face mask when you’re in a public setting is one of the best ways to avoid getting and spreading illnesses like Covid-19, the flu, RSV and the common cold, says Dr. Carl Fichtenbaum, a professor of clinical medicine at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. But choosing which type to use might seem tricky — you could go with a reusable cloth mask, a disposable mask or a respirator, like a N95 or KN95.

Ultimately, “the best mask is the one you’re going to wear,” says Dr. Sharon Nachman, chief of the division of pediatric infectious diseases at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital. Ideally that’s a respirator, which offers the highest level of protection, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But wearing a disposable mask is better than wearing no mask at all, she says. And since some people find them more comfortable, they’ll likely wear them properly and for longer periods of time, thus reducing viral transmission.

To help you shop for the best disposable face masks, I talked to doctors about what features to look for and rounded up a handful of options that align with their guidance. Experts also explain when you might want to wear a face mask and why doing so is important.

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Can wearing a mask help prevent the flu?

According to the CDC, wearing a mask gives you an extra layer of protection from respiratory illnesses, including the flu. You should especially consider wearing a mask when respiratory viruses are causing a lot of illness in your community — the CDC currently considers U.S. respiratory illness activity very high, and community viral level for the flu specifically is high, making now a crucial time to consider wearing a mask. To learn about the prevalence of flu, Covid and RSV in your community, use the CDC’s community snapshot tool online and input your zip code. The CDC also recommends wearing a mask if you were recently around someone who is sick or recovering from respiratory illnesses like the flu. If you tested positive for the flu or are having symptoms, wear a mask if you have to be around other people, like at the doctor’s office or pharmacy.

How I picked the best disposable face masks

Consider the following factors while shopping for disposable face masks:

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

All of the disposable face masks below are highly rated and align with expert shopping guidance. 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. The mask from DemeTech is medical-grade, while all others are nonmedical-grade.

You can buy these three-layer masks, the only medical-grade option on this list, in a pack of 50. They have an adjustable nose bridge and come in various colors.

These face masks have three layers of nonwoven fabric and an adjustable nose bridge. You can purchase them in sets of 50 or 100. The brand also sells individually wrapped options.

WeCare’s disposable face masks come individually wrapped. They’re made from three layers of nonwoven fabric and have an adjustable nose bridge. You can purchase packs of 50 masks in various colors and patterns.

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. You can purchase a pack of 30.

Frequently asked questions

Disposable face masks are multi-layered, single-use face coverings that create a physical barrier between the wearer’s nose and mouth and their environment. They help block germs from entering the air when the wearer speaks, breathes, coughs or sneezes, says Fichtenbaum. Disposable masks also help prevent the wearer from inhaling large germ particles that may be in the air around them.

Medical-grade (often called surgical masks) and nonmedical-grade are the two types of disposable face masks. I’ll break down the differences in more detail below, but 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, says Nachman.

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 masks often 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 do mask 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 has Covid-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.

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.

Dr. Carl Fichtenbaum is a professor of clinical medicine at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine.
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 a reporter at NBC Select who 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.