CPAP Mask Finder Quiz
This free CPAP mask quiz asks 6 quick questions about how you sleep and breathe, then shows the mask types worth trying with your DME or provider, and why.
What This Tool Does
It asks how you sleep, whether you breathe through your mouth, whether your nose is often blocked, your pressure, whether you have a beard, and how you feel about face coverage. It then lists the mask types most likely to work for you and real masks of each type, checked against the makers' own pages. It does not fit a mask or replace a fitting; your DME or provider does that.
The Five Mask Types
Nasal pillows
Two soft pillows seal at the opening of each nostril, and very little else touches your face. They suit stomach and side sleepers and people who dislike anything on their face, and they sit away from most of a beard. Some people find them less comfortable at higher pressures. They need you to breathe through your nose.
Nasal cradle
A small cushion cups the underside of the nose, with nothing on the bridge of the nose and nothing inside the nostrils. Masks like the ResMed AirFit N30i put the tube at the top of your head, which side sleepers often like. Like pillows, they need a clear nose and a closed mouth.
Nasal mask
A cushion covers the nose itself. It touches more of your face than pillows or a cradle and is a common middle ground, including at higher pressures. It still needs you to breathe through your nose.
Under-the-nose full face (hybrid)
A cushion seals under the nose (or nasal pillows seal at the nostrils) and another part covers the mouth, so air reaches you through either, with less on your face than a classic full face mask. ResMed's AirFit F30i and F40 and Fisher & Paykel's Evora Full work this way; ResMed's AirFit X30i pairs nasal pillows with a mouth cushion.
Full face
One cushion covers the nose and mouth. If your mouth opens at night or your nose blocks up, air still reaches you. The trade-off is more mask on your face and more to shift against a pillow.
How the Quiz Works
Two answers are rules, not points. If you breathe through your mouth, or your nose is often blocked, the quiz leaves out nasal pillows, nasal cradles and nasal masks completely, because air cannot reach you through a blocked nose and escapes through an open mouth. You then see the two mask types that cover the mouth.
Everything else is points. Each answer adds or takes away points for each type, using the table below, and the highest-scoring type comes first. A second type is shown when it also scored above zero. If you are not sure how you breathe, or your nose is sometimes blocked, the second type is always one that covers your mouth. Ties go to the less invasive type. The result shows each type's score and the answers that moved it.
See every point the quiz uses
| Answer | Nasal pillows | Nasal cradle | Nasal mask | Under-the-nose full face | Full face |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Side | +2 | +3 | +1 | +1 | −1 |
| Back | +1 | +1 | |||
| Stomach | +3 | +1 | −1 | −1 | |
| I move around a lot | +1 | +1 | +1 | −1 | |
| Yes | +3 | +3 | |||
| No | +1 | +1 | +1 | ||
| Not sure | |||||
| Yes, often (allergies, deviated septum, frequent stuffiness) | +2 | +3 | |||
| Sometimes | +1 | +1 | |||
| No, my nose is usually clear | |||||
| Under 8 cmH2O | +1 | +1 | |||
| 8 up to 14 cmH2O | |||||
| 14 cmH2O or higher | −2 | −1 | +1 | +1 | +2 |
| Not sure | |||||
| Yes | +3 | +2 | −2 | −2 | |
| No, or light stubble | |||||
| Fine with it | +1 | +1 | |||
| Prefer minimal coverage | +2 | +2 | +1 | −1 | −2 |
| Uncomfortable with face coverage | +3 | +2 | +1 | −1 | −3 |
Breathing through your mouth and a nose that is often blocked also rule out the three nasal types, whatever their points.
Choosing the Right Mask Size
Most masks come in several sizes, and the quiz results list them for each mask. ResMed and Fisher & Paykel publish printable sizing templates for most of their masks; hold the template to your face, then have your DME check the fit. If you fall between two sizes, ask to try both. ResMed's own advice for its F20 full face masks is to choose the larger size. A mask that is too big tends to leak at the bridge of the nose or the chin; one that is too small tends to need tight straps to seal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a prescription for a CPAP mask?
In the US, yes, for a complete mask. ResMed and Fisher & Paykel mask instructions say federal law restricts their sale to a physician's order, so your DME supplier or CPAP retailer will ask for your prescription. Many retailers sell replacement parts such as cushions and headgear on their own, so you can reorder the part that wears out in your current size.
Do I need a full face mask if I breathe through my mouth?
A mask that covers the mouth, either a full face mask or an under-the-nose full face (hybrid) mask, is the usual answer, and it is the only kind this quiz shows if you breathe through your mouth. ResMed and Fisher & Paykel both also describe adding a chin strap to a nasal mask to keep the mouth closed. Fisher & Paykel warns a chin strap can be risky if your nose blocks up, so ask your provider before trying one.
Which mask type works best for side sleepers?
Lower-profile masks usually shift less against a pillow, which is why nasal pillows and nasal cradles score well for side sleepers in this quiz. A tube that connects at the top of your head, as on ResMed's AirFit P30i, N30i and F30i, keeps the hose from being pinched between pillow and mask, so the results list those first for side sleepers. If you need a mask that covers your mouth, the AirFit F30i and X30i also put the tube on top.
Can I wear a CPAP mask with a beard?
Yes, though facial hair can break the seal of a cushion that sits on the upper lip, cheeks or chin. ResMed's own mask selector suggests a memory foam cushion or nasal pillows for beards, naming the AirTouch F20, AirTouch N30i, AirFit P10 and AirFit N30. If you also breathe through your mouth, a mask that covers the mouth still comes first; ask your DME about the AirTouch F20 and about a trimmed mustache line.
What if I am between two mask sizes?
Ask your DME to let you try both. For its AirFit F20 and AirTouch F20 full face masks, ResMed's advice is to choose the larger size. Most ResMed and Fisher & Paykel masks have a printable sizing template; Fisher & Paykel's guides say to choose the size that best fits your nose.