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Important note: Hoarding face masks contributes to a shortage of masks for healthcare professionals who need them to care for sick patients. Buy only what you need, and use them according to the advice of a trusted medical professional or official guidance from the World Health Organization (WHO).
As the nation responds to the coronavirus outbreak, people are buying essentials in bulk. You may find the goods here are priced higher than normal or temporarily out of stock at your usual go-to retailer.
N95 face masks, also called P2 or respirator masks, are designed to filter out fine particles when properly fitted and airtight. While health officials are not currently recommending N95 masks for the general public to combat the coronavirus outbreak, health workers and those who are sick should consider wearing one.
Make sure the mask you purchase is a legitimate product from a reputable seller — especially when you’re buying on an online marketplace.
AliExpress: Shop hard-to-find items from sellers around the world.
AliExpress is a global marketplace with a wide variety of items available from third-party sellers. Note that some buying options may take several weeks to arrive, depending on the country of origin.
eBay: One of the largest selections of face masks online.
There's a wide selection to choose from on eBay, with a lower chance of selling out of stock than other retailers. Plus, you can even filter your search by guaranteed delivery date if you're in a hurry to receive your order.
Amazon: Get speedy shipping with a Prime membership.
Amazon is not currently selling N95 masks to the general public in an effort to ensure healthcare workers have access to these supplies. But there are cloth masks available on Amazon that can work as an alternative when going out in public. Local availability may vary.
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Ace Hardware: Find in-stock face masks here.
Although originally intended for use while painting and performing other similar home improvement or construction tasks, the masks available at this hardware store can double as protection during the coronavirus outbreak.
GearBest: Find in-stock N95 and medical face masks.
Owned by Globalegrow, GearBest sells a variety of products from vetted suppliers, including an array of respiratory face masks and other in-demand supplies.
Face masks may be temporarily out of stock at many retailers due to increased demand. But don’t forget to check your local dollar store or even a specialty medical supply store. These often-overlooked shops may still have supplies while larger retailers restock.
As an alternative, you can also find cloth masks at several retailers.
What about Amazon?
N95 masks are no longer available to the public on Amazon. They’re being saved for exclusive use by hospital and government agencies. You can find cloth masks on Amazon, which are an alternative for everyday use by the public. See products below for your options on Amazon.
What’s the difference between P2, N95 and KN95 face masks?
The difference lies in the testing requirements for each country of origin. P2 masks adhere to European testing requirements, KN95 to Chinese requirements and N95 masks follow US guidelines. All offer nearly the same level of protection, according to a study by respirator company 3M.
Certification/Class
N95
FFP2
KN95
P2
Korea 1st Class
DS
Filter performance
≥ 95%
≥ 95%
≥ 95%
≥ 94%
≥ 94%
≥ 95%
Test agent
NaCl
NaCl and paraffin oil
NaCl
NaCl
NaCl and paraffin oil
NaCl
Flow rate
85 L/min
95 L/min
85 L/min
95 L/min
95 L/min
85 L/min
Total inward leakage (TIL)
N/A
≤ 8% leakage
≤ 8% leakage
≤ 8% leakage
≤ 8% leakage
Inward Leakage measured and included in User Instructions
Inhalation resistance
≤ 343 Pa
≤ 70 Pa (at 30L/min) ≤ 240 Pa (at 95 L/min) ≤ 500 Pa (clogging)
≤ 350 Pa
≤ 70 Pa (at 30L/min) ≤ 240 Pa (at 95L/min)
≤ 70 Pa (at 30L/min) ≤ 240 Pa (at 95L/min)
≤ 70 Pa (w/valve) ≤ 50 Pa (no valve)
Flow rate
85L/min
Varied – see above
85L/min
Varied – see above
Varied – see above
40L/min
Exhalation resistance
≤ 245 Pa
≤ 300 Pa
≤ 250 Pa
≤ 120 Pa
≤ 300 Pa
≤ 70 Pa (w/valve) ≤ 50 Pa (no valve)
Flow rate
85L/min
160L/min
85L/min
85L/min
160L/min
40L/min
Exhalation valve leakage requirement
Leak rate ≤ 30mL/min
N/A
Depressurization to 0 Pa ≥ 20 sec
Leak rate ≤ 30mL/min
Visual inspection after 300L /min for 30 sec
Depressurization to 0 Pa ≥ 15sec
Force applied
-245 Pa
N/A
-1180 Pa
-250 Pa
N/A
-1,470 Pa
CO2 clearance requirement
N/A
≤ 1%
≤ 1%
≤ 1%
≤ 1%
≤ 1%
If N95 masks are out of stock, can I buy a P2 or KN95 mask?
The short answer? Yes — but be wary of scams. The response to the COVID-19 pandemic has led to equipment shortages, especially N95 masks. Some unscrupulous sellers are selling fakes to try to profit from the situation. 3M, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of masks, offers a tool to check if a product is genuine.
And though the FDA originally left the KN95 off its approved list of respirators in a March 28 statement, it has since approved KN95 masks that meet certain criteria.
First, be sure to wash your hands thoroughly before putting on your mask. When you’re ready to take it off, do not touch the front of the mask — it could be contaminated. Instead, remove it by pulling the bottom strap over the back of your head, followed by the top strap. Discard the mask, and then wash your hands.
Frequently asked questions
Yes — depending on the model. Some common sizing options include small, small/medium, medium/large and large.
Your mask may need to be replaced if there is visible damage to the filter or if you begin to have trouble breathing through it. Disposable masks should be discarded altogether, while other masks are designed to be reused with a replacement filter.
Yes. Retailers like those listed above are legally able to sell face masks online. However, some platforms such as Amazon and Facebook marketplace have put temporary restrictions on new third-party listings for face masks in an attempt to stop price gauging and the sale of counterfeit or fake items.
Gabrielle Pastorek is a staff writer at finder.com, helping readers to round up the best deals, coupons, retailers, products and services to make sound financial decisions. She's written more than 800 articles on the site and is a quoted expert in Best Company and DealNews. She earned an MFA from the University of Pittsburgh, with essays and short stories published in The Collagist, Blue Monday Review, Blotterature and others. When she’s not writing, Gabrielle can be found out in the barn with her horse, Lucy.
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