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How to Choose a CPAP Mask: Nasal, Pillows or Full Face
Choose by how you breathe and sleep: nasal pillows and nasal masks suit nose breathers, while a full face mask suits mouth breathers and people who are often congested. A good fit at the right size matters more than any brand, and you can change mask style through your prescriber and supplier.
The three main styles
Nasal pillows have small soft tips that sit at the opening of your nostrils. They touch the face the least and suit people who wear glasses or read in bed, but some people find the direct airflow uncomfortable at higher pressures.
Nasal masks cover the nose. Full face masks cover the nose and mouth, or sit under the nose and over the mouth in newer minimal designs. Full face masks are the usual choice if you breathe through your mouth at night.
Questions that point to the right style
Do you wake with a dry mouth? You may be breathing through your mouth, which points toward a full face mask, or a nasal mask with a chinstrap. Do you sleep on your side or stomach? Low profile pillows or minimal nasal masks usually shift less against the pillow.
Do you have a beard, frequent congestion, or claustrophobia? Beards can break the seal on full face masks. Frequent congestion points toward a full face mask. Claustrophobia often points toward nasal pillows.
Sizing matters as much as style
Most masks come in several cushion sizes, and many manufacturers provide paper or online sizing guides. A cushion that is too large leaks at the edges; one that is too small pinches and can cause sores.
If you are fitted in person, ask to try the mask lying down with the air running at your prescribed pressure. The FDA cleared mask documents describe these masks as prescription devices, so your supplier or retailer will need your prescription to sell you a new style.
Masks with magnets
Some masks use magnetic headgear clips. In 2022 Philips added a contraindication for its magnetic masks, and in January 2024 the FDA announced a ResMed recall of several AirFit and AirTouch masks with magnets. If you or anyone who sleeps near you has a pacemaker, implanted defibrillator, neurostimulator, cochlear implant, aneurysm clip or another implant listed in the warnings, choose a mask without magnets.
See our guide on mask magnets for the full list and what to do if you already have one.
When to change masks
Give a new mask several nights to settle in. If you still have big leaks, sores, dry eyes from air blowing upward, or you keep pulling it off, try a different size first, then a different style.
Many suppliers offer a mask exchange window; ask before you open the box. Skin that stays broken or bleeding is a reason to call your clinician.
Checklist
- Notice whether you wake with a dry mouth.
- Note your main sleep position.
- Check the magnet warnings if you or a bed partner has an implant.
- Try the mask lying down with air on.
- Ask about the supplier's mask exchange window.
Supplies that can help
A soft strap that supports the jaw to help keep the mouth closed, used mainly with nasal and nasal pillow masks to reduce mouth leaks.
Soft fabric liners that sit between your skin and the mask cushion to reduce skin irritation, red marks and the noisy leaks some people get from …
Thin gel or foam pads that stick to the bridge of the nose, where many masks press hardest, to prevent red marks and sores.
A pillow with cutouts or a contoured edge so a mask and hose are not pushed out of place when you sleep on your side.
Soft fabric sleeves that wrap mask headgear straps to stop red lines, rubbing and hair tangles.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the best CPAP mask?
There is no single best mask. The best one is the style and size that seals at your pressure in your sleep position without hurting your face. Expect to try more than one.
Can I use a full face mask if I breathe through my nose?
Yes. Full face masks work for nose breathers too, but they are larger and have more seal area to leak. Many nose breathers find a nasal mask or pillows more comfortable.
Do I need a new prescription to change masks?
Usually your existing CPAP prescription covers a mask, but some prescriptions name a mask type. Ask your supplier; insurers often need an updated order when the mask type changes.
Why does my mask leak when I roll over?
Pillow pressure pushes the mask off seal. A CPAP pillow with cutouts, a smaller profile mask, or adjusting the tube to come over your head can help.
Sources
Last reviewed October 11, 2026. How we research · Report an error