CPAP Masks Explained: Full Face, Nasal and Nasal Pillows

The mask is the part of a CPAP setup you wear every night, and the style you choose shapes how it feels, how much of your face it touches and which parts you will replace later. There are three main styles: full face, nasal and nasal pillows. This guide explains how each one works, gives examples from ResMed and Fisher & Paykel, and covers sizing, headgear and parts.

CPAP masks are prescription devices in the US. Your pressure settings, your mask style and any change between styles should be agreed with your clinician or sleep team, so talk to your clinician before you switch.

What is a full face mask?

A full face mask covers the nose and the mouth with one cushion that seals around both. It touches more of the face than the other styles, but it lets air through whether you breathe through your nose or your mouth. Some people who breathe through the mouth at night use this style on a clinician's advice.

The ResMed Quattro Air weighs 3.3 ounces and has four parts. Its dual-wall Spring Air cushion fits into the frame without clips, a swivel tube lets you move, and the SoftEdge headgear has rolled fabric edges. It comes in Small, Medium and Large, and a Quattro Air for Her version is also listed. The Fisher & Paykel Simplus uses a RollFit seal that rolls along the bridge of the nose as you shift position. Its Small, Medium and Large cushions all clip onto the same frame, and an air diffuser spreads the exhaust to keep noise and draft down.

What is a nasal mask?

A nasal mask covers only the nose, with a cushion that sits on the bridge of the nose and just above the upper lip. It touches less of the face than a full face mask and is a common middle ground between the other two styles.

Fisher & Paykel's Eson 2 nasal mask pairs a RollFit seal with a narrow frame that fits all three seal sizes, so switching sizes is a matter of swapping the seal. The diffuser is washable along with the other parts, and blue-marked pieces show how it goes together. Note that this listing is the mask only: headgear is sold separately in Small or Medium-Large. Fisher & Paykel's Zest Q is another nasal option in our range.

What is a nasal pillows mask?

Nasal pillows are small, soft inserts that rest at the openings of the nostrils, held by a light frame and minimal headgear. They touch the least of the face, leave a clear view for reading or watching TV in bed, and suit people who find a cushion over the nose bulky.

The ResMed AirFit P10 weighs 1.6 ounces and has three parts. It uses dual-wall silicone pillows, slip-on headgear with a QuickFit clip and woven-mesh QuietAir vents, and an AirFit P10 for Her version is offered on the same page. The Fisher & Paykel Pilairo Q weighs 1.83 ounces and comes apart into three key parts. Its AirPillow seal is made of soft silicone and fills out by itself when air starts to flow. One size is included, and the listing describes two headgear styles, so confirm which one you will get before ordering. ResMed's Swift FX is another pillows system, sold with small, medium and large pillows in the box.

How do the three mask styles compare?

How do you size a CPAP mask?

Mask sizes are set by each manufacturer, so a Medium from one brand is not the same as a Medium from another. Read the size options on the product page and note what is in the box. Some masks, such as the Simplus and the Eson 2, use one frame with several cushion or seal sizes, while others come in one size.

• Cushion or pillow size. This is the part that seals, and it matters most. If you already use a mask you like, start with the same size in that brand.
• Headgear size. Some masks list headgear sizes separately from the cushion, and some listings do not include headgear at all.
• Fit at pressure. Put the mask on lying down with the machine running, since a mask that feels fine sitting up can shift on the pillow.
• Strap tension. Tighten only enough to hold the seal. If you keep having leaks or marks, ask your clinician or equipment provider about another size or style.

Replacement parts and cleaning

Cushions, pillows, headgear and frames wear with daily use. The AirFit P10 listing, for example, suggests a new cushion monthly, a new frame every 3 months and new headgear every 6 months, and recommends checking your insurer's schedule. Follow the manufacturer's cleaning instructions for each part, and keep the model name and size written down so reorders match.

Before you order

• Have your prescription ready. Several of these listings state that a prescription is required.
• Confirm the style with your clinician: full face, nasal or nasal pillows.
• Pick the cushion or pillow size, and check whether headgear is included.
• Check that the mask is listed as compatible with your CPAP or bi-level machine.

Talk to us

Need help with a mask or a part? Call 1-877-861-8000, Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 6 PM Pacific, or email contactus@medsupplynow.com. We ship free within the US when an order reaches $50. Browse our CPAP masks and accessories, the wider CPAP, BiPAP and respiratory collection and our CPAP machines.

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