Where to Buy Filters for Cloth Face Masks

Sep 19, 2023

These filters will fit into most sized face masks

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According to guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, non-medical cloth face masks and coverings are recommended as a best practice to help slow the spread of the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19. As a result, tons of brands have pivoted their resources to produce cloth face coverings for the general public.

To meet CDC guidelines, the face coverings should allow you to breathe without restriction, include multiple layers of fabric, fit snugly across the face, and be able to be secured with ties or ear loops. If the mask is branded as a reusable option, it should also be washable. Many retailers, like Vistaprint, are now offering cotton face masks that include all of the above features.

But how do you know which face mask is best for protecting yourself and others? According to a study led by B. Scott Segal, MD, chair of anesthesiology at Wake Forest Baptist Health in North Carolina, the efficacy of homemade masks can vary substantially based on the material it's constructed with. "Recall that the public health rationale for wearing a mask is to protect others from the wearer, not the other way around," Dr. Segal tells PEOPLE. "We feel that if one is going to the trouble of making a mask, offering some protection to the wearer, like hospital-grade masks do, makes sense."

Now that so many retailers have stepped up to produce masks, there are tons of options available. They're made with a range of different materials, and some masks even include pouches for a replaceable filter to be inserted. But with so many choices, it can be overwhelming to figure out which kind of mask you should go with. However, the general consensus among experts has been that, when it comes to reusable face masks, the more layers there are, the better.

Some research suggests that using a mask with a filter can help increase the protection it offers you and those around you. According to a study led by Yang Wang, Ph.D., assistant professor of civil, architectural and environmental engineering at the Missouri University of Science and Technology, filters in face masks offer the most protection, while a single layer of cotton will offer the least — but you should also ensure that the filters do not contain fiberglass.

"Based on our current tests, fabrics [alone] are not very efficient in stopping aerosols in a size range of 100 to 400 nanometers," Wang tells PEOPLE. For reference, viral particles from the coronavirus have been found to be as small as 70 nanometers. "This is especially the case for single-layered fabrics. If no filters are available, people should use multiple layers of fabrics, while making sure that there is no leakage from the side of the mask."

Similarly, Joel Burken, Ph.D., the chair of the department of civil, architectural and environment engineering at Missouri University of Science and Technology, said that "an efficient filter material that still allows airflow is the best option." He adds that "a mask that is fitted well and [allows airflow to go] through the filter material is important so that the air we breathe does not bypass the filter." N-95s filter out the most, but those need to be reserved for healthcare professionals and essential workers on the frontlines.

Instead, Burken says a PM2.5 filter — which many brands are now selling along with reusable cloth face masks — is a good option. It won't be perfect, he says, but "any filter is still better than no filter" because it'll catch more viral particles than a cotton mask alone.

If you decide to use a face mask with a filter, be sure to replace the filter after a week of use at most — preferably more often than that if you're using it daily. Otherwise, the material can start to degrade and the filtration won't be as effective.

Luckily, a number of brands that are producing face masks with pockets for filters, like Masqd and Ministry of Supply, are also offering filter packs for purchase so you can easily stock up. Below, we've listed several places you can find filter packs online; they include a range of sizes and filter materials for you to choose from.

The situation is constantly changing and products are selling out quickly, so be sure to check back as we update this post with the latest information and as new filters become available.

These PM2.5 activated carbon filters come in a pack of 50, so even if you change them out once a day, you still have enough to last you about a month and a half. If you switch them out weekly, as minimally recommended, 50 filters will get you through roughly 12 months. Between that and the 300+ five-star ratings raving about how easy the filters are to breathe though and how well they fit into masks of any size, this pack is well worth the price tag.

Buy It! Millton PM 2.5 Filters Activated Carbon Filter — 50-pack, $23.99; amazon.com

These filters are specifically for masks with front valves, and they even have a little hole cut in the side to accommodate one. They're made from a breathable mesh nylon material, which will filter out most major allergens like dust and pollen. A pack of 15 is $12, and you can order it on Amazon with Prime shipping.

Buy It! Active Carbon Filters — 15-Pack, $11.99; amazon.com

With 24,000 five-star ratings, this set of 10 face mask filters is a hit with customers — so you can rest assured that you're making a solid purchase. The filters are five-layer PM2.5 activated carbon, which means they'll filter out most pollutants as well as block large droplets like those from coughing or sneezing. They're also small enough to fit in most standard face masks, so you don't need to worry about cutting them to fit.

Buy It! Activated Carbon Filter Mouth Mask Filters — 10-Pack, $5.60; amazon. com

If you want to make sure you're set on face mask filters for the foreseeable future, this pack of 100 filters will have you covered for at least a few months (and that's if you used one of them a day). These filters are five-layer PM2.5 material, so they'll block out droplets that can occur with coughing and sneezing, as well as other smaller pollutants like dust.

Buy It! 5 Layers Air Filtration Filters Replacement Pad — 100-Pack, $13.99; amazon.com

This 30-pack of activated carbon filters will fit into most standard cloth face masks. One filter is made of five layers, and it can effectively filter out most small allergens like dust and pollen down to the micron level. This pack should last you a while, too, if you swap out your filter at least once a week (as is recommended).

Buy It! OUBA Activated Carbon Filters — 30-Pack, $16.99; amazon.com

These PM2.5 filters come in a 10-pack and are made of five layers of material, including two filter cloths and anti-sticking cloths to prevent large droplets from passing through. It's recommended you replace these filters every two days, so one pack should last you a little under a month.

Buy It! Kinglight PM2.5 Activated Carbon Filter, — 10-Pack, $6.97; amazon.com

For only $11, you can buy a 30-pack of PM2.5 activated carbon filters, each of which you can use for up to a week before disposing of it. That means that one pack of 30 filters will last you 30 weeks, or roughly seven months. Not bad at all.

Buy It! PM2.5 Activated Carbon Filters — 30-Pack, $10.99; amazon.com

Tech accessory brand Casetify is now selling reusable cloth masks and filters. These rectangular filters will fit into a range of masks, but they work best with the masks offered by Casetify. Made with five layers of PM2.5 material — which is often used in masks made to block pollution and dust particles — they come in a pack of 10 for $10.

Buy It! Casetify PM2.5 Filter Inserts — 10-Pack, $10; casetify.com

Accessory brand Vida is offering non-medical grade face masks for the general public, as well as insertable filters. The filters are made from six layers of PM2.5 material and are designed to "effectively block airborne contaminants," according to Vida. A pack of five filters costs $10, and the brand recommends replacing the filter in your mask at least once every seven days.

Buy It! ShopVida Replacement PM2.5 Filters — 5-Pack, $10; shopvida.com

This pack of filters from Ministry of Supply is custom-fit for the brand's 3D-printed cloth masks, but it'll also fit into any similar-sized reusable mask with a filter pocket. Ministry of Supply was founded by two former Massachusetts Institute of Technology students, and it tested the filters with Nelson Labs to ensure efficacy. According to the brand, the filters were found to provide "higher than 95% Bacterial Filtration Efficiency," meaning they successfully stop most particles from getting in or out. A pack of 10 filters costs $20.

Buy It! Ministry of Supply Mask Filters — 10-Pack, $20; ministryofsupply.com

To fit its face masks, Vistaprint created its own disposable filters that can be used for up to 12 hours. They come in packs of 10 for $10 and should be stored somewhere cool and dry to ensure efficiency.

Buy It! Vistaprint Filter Pack — 10-Pack, $10; vistaprint.com

These PM2.5 active carbon filter inserts from Masqd have a five-layer filtration system that can protect you against 95 percent of airborne germs. They are designed to fit most standard cloth face masks, and they should last for 4 to 6 hours of use.

Buy It! Masqd PM2.5 Active Carbon Filters — 20-Pack, $27; masqd.com

These filters from the Etsy storefront LoveAllTogether are made from three layers of non-woven polypropylene — which is essentially breathable, but still tightly woven fabric — and should be disposed of after a day of use. They come in packs of eight for $10 and should fit most face masks.

Buy It! Face Mask Filters Refill — 8-Pack, $10; etsy.com

Etsy storefront KnottedStringsShop is offering these filters made from thick shop towel material, which have been shown to filter particles better than cotton filters alone. They come in packs of 10, and if you buy five packs, you'll get one free.

Buy It! Face Mask Filter — 10-Pack, $5.75; etsy.com

These carbon filters from Pokeepet are larger than most other filters on this list for added protection. Despite their larger size, the brand says it should still fit in most face mask filter pockets. Plus, the five-layer design should filter out 99 percent of pollution and dust.

Buy It! Pokeepet 3D Five Layer Carbon Filters — 30-Pack, $17.99; amazon.com

In conjunction with the release of its face masks, Steve Madden started selling packs of 20 PM2.5 activated carbon filters. These filters can fit into Steve Madden masks and most other face masks that have a filter pocket (you can also trim them down for a better fit). One pack costs $25 and will last you a while if you swap out the filter once or twice a week, as recommended.

Buy It! Steve Madden Mask Filter — 20-Pack, $25; stevemadden.com

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Rebecca is the Senior Ecommerce Reviews Writer and Strategist at Meredith Corp. When she's not writing about the latest home, fashion, beauty, and lifestyle products, you can find her shopping at sample sales or enjoying a mid-day snack.