These 10 Disposable Masks Are All Certified for Their Filtration Abilities

Officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continue to recommend masking for unvaccinated individuals as well as fully vaccinated Americans in indoor spaces that may be poorly ventilated. And because COVID-19 continues to spread and cause breakthrough cases due to the viral Delta variant, upgrading your collection of masks for maximized protection while in public is more crucial now than ever before.

Earlier this year, a recommendation for double masking was made by federal health officials to help Americans create a more secure mask fit — something that a disposable surgical mask is perfect for on its own when you shorten its ear loops. "Fit is important, and there are some hacks to make these masks fit better, like adding a new parallel wire to the nose band," says Steven Rogak, PhD, a mechanical engineering professor at the University of British Columbia who has conducted field tests on face masks' fabrics efficacy. "The ear loops can also be knotted close to the mask attachment. These things don't universally work, but it's crucial for every individual to find a way to make masks fit better."

CDC-published research suggests that a tight-fitting disposable medical mask (also sometimes referred to as surgical masks!) can greatly reduce the spread of COVID-19 via airborne particles and infectious respiratory droplets. It also provides more protection: The study's lab results suggest that tight-fitting masks could lower transmission risks by up to 96% if everyone in public wore them. For medical masks in particular, though, data suggests a plain disposable option alone provided more protection over cloth-based sewn masks — and when knotted for a tight fit, efficacy in reducing spread increased an additional 25%.

What makes a good disposable mask?

If you're looking for a disposable face mask that's been tested and made to provide you similar protection as outlined in CDC-sponsored research, you'll need to look for labeling that shows it conforms to certain criteria, explains Lexie Sachs, Textiles Director at the Good Housekeeping Institute.

Those guidelines come from ASTM, a group of industry professionals that develop testing standards for a myriad of products (including face masks as a whole!). The criteria for disposable masks are outlined in ASTM F2100-20, a set of standards that guide manufacturers in their design, creating top-notch medical masks as it relates to construction and fit. Sachs explains that ASTM standards dictate a need for a filtration efficiency test as well as a test for protection against any fluids in a medical setting. Manufacturers submit disposable medical masks to labs that follow ASTM protocol for testing, and based on the results brands can use one of three levels of certification; levels one through three, indicating how rigorously it was tested (3 is the most protective!).

In addition, the standards focus on:

• How well the mask can filter bacteria for the wearer
• How well the mask can filter or trap sub-micron particles
• How breathable they are, or examining differential pressure as you breathe
• How resistant the mask is when it comes to liquid, or in this case, tests involving synthetic blood
• How flammable the mask is

Sachs advises you should look for language from the retailer that says "Meets ASTM F2100" on any mask page you come across. Manufacturers should also clearly state which level of certification it has, with Level 3 being the most protective. While the standard isn’t required for medical face masks to be sold, it’s the easiest way for shoppers to know which ones have actually been tested independently.

Below, we're sharing disposable medical masks that are labeled to meet ASTM standards and have earned top marks from shoppers. These make for great options if you're interested in inserting a filtering layer beneath your favorite cloth-based face masks. Here are 10 well-made disposable face masks to shop now: