The Best Disposable Face Masks to Stock Up On

The pandemic as we know it may be entering a new phase: mask guidelines are again loosening up, and wearing one of the best disposable face masks or cloth face coverings in public is trending downward, especially for vaccinated individuals. That being said, face masks are still an essential method to prevent the spread of viruses like COVID-19, and some may continue to wear them no matter the state of the world.

The best disposable face masks are N95s, closely followed by KN95 masks, which have gone in and out of shortages for healthcare workers throughout the pandemic (the CDC still recommends civilians forgo N95 so as to reserve their stock). To that end, most disposable masks on the market are 3-ply, akin to the traditionally blue surgical masks. While the levels of protection vary, Dharushana Muthulingam, M.D., M.S., an infectious disease physician and public health researcher at Washington University in St. Louis, tells Vogue that “a [3-ply] surgical or cloth mask by itself can produce about 50% efficiency.” In higher-risk situations like public transportation, if you do not have an N95 mask, Muthulingam suggests double masking. “Double-masking can produce 70% to 90% efficiency for preventing transmission of COVID-19. This is closer to the efficiency of N95 masks.”

Here, shop the best disposable face masks on the market to keep on hand and stay prepared.