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CPAP mask finder: which mask type fits how you sleep?

This CPAP mask finder turns seven questions about how you sleep and breathe into a ranked shortlist of the five mask types, with a top pick, a runner-up and the reasons behind each. It narrows the field; a fitting with your equipment provider settles the size.

About 1 minute
Free, no sign-up

Free CPAP mask finder quiz. Seven questions on sleep position, mouth breathing, nose, pressure and facial hair point you to the mask type most likely to fit.

7 questions · nothing leaves your device

Take the quiz

Answer for a typical night. If you already use Apnealytics, you can fill in your pressure from your own data.

What this tool does

The mask finder is for anyone starting CPAP, struggling with a mask, or wondering whether another type would suit them better. It ranks the five common mask types against your answers and explains each ranking.

It cannot tell you your size, check your seal or promise a mask will work. Faces vary, and the only real test is a few nights of wear. That is where your data helps: if you use Apnealytics, the result also shows Mask Analytics for any mask you have logged, so you can see seal, AHI and usage for the masks you have actually tried.

How the quiz decides

Each answer moves points between types. The two rules that override points are mouth breathing and a frequently blocked nose: if either is "most nights", nasal-only masks drop to the bottom, because air escaping through the mouth defeats them.

Answer	Pillows	Cradle	Nasal	Under-nose FF	Full face
Side sleeper	+2	+2	+1	+1	0
Stomach sleeper	+3	+2	0	0	−1
Mouth breathing, most nights	last	last	last	+3	+3
Blocked nose, often	last	last	last	+2	+3
Pressure 15+ cmH2O	−1	0	+1	0	+1
Full beard	+2	+2	+1	−1	−2
Feels closed in	+2	+2	0	+1	−2
Glasses or reading	+1	+1	0	+1	−1

Ties go to the type with less on your face. The pressure points reflect a common comfort preference rather than a clinical limit; all five types are designed to work across standard CPAP ranges.

Reading your result

Nasal pillows. The lightest option. If you still wake with a dry mouth, revisit the mouth-breathing question.

Nasal cradle. Light like pillows, gentler on the nostrils. Watch your leak for the first week.

Nasal mask. A steady middle ground with wider support across the nose.

Under-nose full face. Covers mouth breathing without the bridge-of-the-nose cushion.

Full face. The safe choice when your mouth or nose is the problem.

Example models in your result come from our gear catalog: nasal pillows such as ResMed AirFit P10, AirFit P30i, Fisher & Paykel Brevida or Nova Micro; nasal cradle such as ResMed AirFit N30i or Philips DreamWear Nasal; nasal mask such as ResMed AirFit N20; under-nose full face such as ResMed AirFit F30, F30i or Philips DreamWear Full Face; full face such as ResMed AirFit F20 or Fisher & Paykel Vitera.

Your mask, your leak and your AHI

A mask that leaks badly can push your AHI up and make the machine's numbers less reliable. After any change, give it a week and look at leak P95 and AHI side by side. In Apnealytics, set the date you started the new mask and Mask Analytics compares it with the one before.

Sources

Patil SP et al. Treatment of adult obstructive sleep apnea with positive airway pressure: AASM clinical practice guideline. J Clin Sleep Med, 2019.
Andrade RGS et al. Impact of the type of mask on the effectiveness of and adherence to CPAP. J Bras Pneumol, 2018.
Rowland S et al. Comparing three CPAP interfaces to treat moderate–severe OSA. J Clin Sleep Med, 2018.
Stewart MG et al. Development and validation of the NOSE scale. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg, 2004.

FAQ

Which CPAP mask is best for side sleepers?

Side sleepers usually do best with low-profile masks that do not get pushed by the pillow: nasal pillows, a nasal cradle or an under-nose full face mask. Tubing that connects at the top of the head can help too. If you also breathe through your mouth, an under-nose full face mask keeps the low profile while covering your mouth.

Can I use nasal pillows if I breathe through my mouth?

Sometimes, with a chin strap, but air escaping through the mouth reduces the pressure reaching your airway and dries you out. That is why the quiz ranks nasal-only masks last for frequent mouth breathing. Talk to your clinician before trying a chin strap, and watch your leak and AHI for a week.

Does facial hair affect CPAP mask fit?

Yes. Cushions that rest on hair struggle to seal, so leak rises. Nasal pillows and cradles touch very little hair, which is why the quiz favours them for beards and moustaches. A full face mask can still work with a beard, but expect to check your leak closely.

Is a full face mask worse than a nasal mask?

Not worse, different. Some studies have found higher residual AHI and leak with oronasal masks than with nasal masks, but a full face mask is the right tool when mouth breathing or a blocked nose makes a nasal mask fail. The best mask is the one you wear all night with a good seal.

How do I know if my new mask is working?

Give it about a week, then compare leak P95, AHI and usage with your previous mask. In Apnealytics, Mask Analytics lines these up per mask automatically once you set the start date. Waking with a dry mouth, red marks or a hissing sound are signs to adjust the fit or revisit the type.