How Long Do N95 and KN95 Masks Last?

These medical-grade face masks don't need to be thrown out after each use—but you can't use them indefinitely either.

Various types of masks exist, including respirators like N95, KN95, or KF94 masks. Unlike cloth masks, you can't wash these types of masks. Yet, they also aren't single-use. So how long do N95 masks last? The answer varies but is based on how long you wear them, where you wear them, and the quality of the masks.

It's vital to care for these pieces of personal protective equipment (PPE) if you plan to use them more than once. Here's how often you should be changing your N95 masks or other respirators, how to clean them, when to dispose of them, and more.

Person wears KN95 mask. Side profile.

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KN95 Masks vs. N95 Masks

KN95 and N95 masks share some similarities and differences, which can be found in the table below:

Comparison of KN95 and N95 Respirators
   KN95 N95 
Country for Standards Origin China  United States
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Approval No  Yes
Filtration Efficiency 95% (for some masks) At least 95%
Number of Layers 4—outer, filter, cotton, and inner 3—outer, filter, and inner
Markings for Authenticity Yes Yes

How Many Times Can You Wear an N95 Mask?

There's no hard-and-fast rule about how many times you can wear a respirator before throwing it away. Instead, it's more important to track where you wear the face covering and for how long.

For people who wear their masks for shorter periods or in situations where they remain physically distant from others throughout the day, Cassandra M. Pierre, MD, MPH, an infectious disease physician and medical director of public health programs at Boston Medical Center, told Health that it's possible to use the same respirator for up to a week. For people in high-risk settings, like healthcare facilities, it's best to toss the mask after a day.

Also, each time you use a respirator—if you're reusing it—you should make sure it's still in good condition. Some key ways exist to tell if your respirator has lost its integrity:

  • Not snug enough. If the mask has loosened on your face and no longer has a tight seal, it should be replaced and not reused, Jade Flinn, MSN, a nurse educator for the Biocontainment Unit at Johns Hopkins Medicine, told Health.
  • Dirty. If the mask is visibly dirty on the inside from makeup, body oil, sweat, or other forms of moisture, you should also toss it, said Flinn.

Do N95 and KN95 Masks Expire?

Yes, these masks do expire. However, dates indicating a shelf life are not required on mask packaging. For masks that don't have a shelf life date, contact the manufacturer for more information like if certain conditions can affect how well respirators work.

How To Store Your Masks

Since you can wear a respirator more than once—and because cleanliness is an important factor in reusing your mask—you'll want to store them properly between wears.

Proper Removal

That starts with how you take your respirator off, with clean hands and by the ear straps, so you don't touch the front, which may have accumulated some virus particles. The CDC provides easy-to-follow directions on the proper removal (and handling) of respirators.

Proper Storage

Once you've removed the mask from your face, you'll want to store it in a safe, clean space—not in your purse or in your car's rearview mirror. You could keep it in a dry bag, like a paper bag, when you're not using it.

According to Dr. Pierre, a plastic food storage container works, too, but only if you keep the lid slightly open to prevent condensation on the mask. A harder container can also help retain the structure of the mask.

Proper Refitting

When it's time to put your mask on again, wash your hands, then carefully inspect it for damage. If everything looks OK, use the straps to put it on, and avoid touching the outside of the mask. Ensure the respirator fits your face snugly, then rewash your hands.

How To Sanitize Your Masks

Unfortunately, no ways to disinfect or clean respirators are available to the general public, according to Flinn. Any potential ways to clean N95 or other respirators—an area of research health agencies are still looking into—require specific strategies only available in laboratories or other healthcare settings.

One study tested four decontamination methods for N95 fabric:

Researchers found that the VHP and UV light decontamination methods could be used up to three times with the least degrading effects on the fabric. Dry heat could be used up to two times, and ethanol spray was the least effective and not recommended. Also, fit and seal would be important for maintaining the N95 masks' effectiveness with the most effective methods.

How Do You Properly Dispose of Your Masks?

Throwing out your used N95 or other respirators starts exactly how storing them does: Use clean hands to remove the mask from your face by the ear straps, and be careful not to touch the front of the mask.

Then, it's right into the trash. Masks and other types of PPE cannot be recycled and should be kept out of recycling bins. While it might be tempting to toss your respirator and be done with it, you should still throw it out in a way that someone else doesn't come into contact with it.

A Quick Review

Masking is an important public health strategy for preventing the spread of COVID. Experts remind us that any mask is better than no mask. If you are using a respirator, following these best practices will keep you safer and keep your respirator effective at protecting you and others.

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7 Sources
Health.com uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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  2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Types of masks and respirators.

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  7. Environmental Protection Agency. EPA stresses the importance of recycling and proper disposal of personal protective equipment.

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