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Nasal pillow CPAP masks

A nasal pillow CPAP mask seals at the nostrils with two soft pillows and almost nothing else on the face. It is the lightest option, the quietest to put on, and the one that lets you wear glasses and read before sleep. Apnealytics tracks every nasal pillow mask in its catalog and shows, per mask, how well it sealed, what your AHI was and how long you kept it on.

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Who nasal pillows suit

People who want minimal contact. No cushion on the bridge of the nose, no frame across the face.
Glasses wearers and readers. Nothing blocks your field of view.
Facial hair. With no cushion resting on the upper lip or cheeks, a beard matters less.
Nose breathers at lower to moderate pressures. Pillows are comfortable in that range; at higher pressures the jet of air at the nostrils can be uncomfortable for some.
Active sleepers who dislodge bigger masks. The top-of-head tube on the P30i and DreamWear Pillows tolerates rolling over.

They suit fewer people who breathe through the mouth or who have frequent congestion, because there is no way to deliver pressure if the nose is blocked.

Front-tube and top-of-head nasal pillow masks side by side

A nasal pillows CPAP mask resting on a bedroom nightstand at night

Typical leak signature

A correctly sized pillow mask shows the lowest leak baseline of any type in Apnealytics. The signature to watch for is a step upward after sleep onset: that is mouth leak, the same pattern as with nasal masks, and it is the most common reason pillow users see a high leak P95. A second pattern is a jagged, intermittent leak throughout the night, which usually means one pillow is slipping out of a nostril; that is a sizing issue, and the Pro waveform viewer shows it as repeated short spikes. Soreness at the nostrils in the morning usually means the pillows are too large or the straps too tight.

Night leak trace with low baseline and jagged intermittent spikes, P95 line, 24 L/min threshold

Fit tips

Size is everything
Pillows come in extra small to large, and a half-size change can transform the seal. Most kits include two or three sizes; try them all.
Seat them lightly
The pillows should rest at the nostril openings, not be pushed inside.
Keep the straps loose
Pillows seal with pressure; overtightening pushes them in and causes soreness.
Mind the tube
On front-tube designs (P10), the tube should hang freely; on top-of-head designs (P30i, DreamWear) route it over the pillow.
Set the mask type on the machine to Pillows
It changes how leak is reported.
Replace pillows on schedule
Silicone pillows soften and lose shape; set a reminder in Gear.

Popular nasal pillow masks in the catalog

ResMed AirFit P10 (front tube, very light)
ResMed AirFit P30i (top-of-head tube)
Philips Respironics DreamWear Gel Pillows (top-of-head tube)
Fisher & Paykel Brevida (inflatable AirPillow seal)

All are in the Apnealytics catalog with photos, sizes and part lists, and fit any machine with a standard 22 mm tube connection. Mask listings describe the mask only and say nothing about whether a machine's data is supported.

What Mask Analytics shows

Attach your pillow mask in Gear with a start date and Apnealytics compares it against every mask you have used:

Seal from leak P95, with pillows expected to score well when sized right
AHI average across its nights, where mouth leak reveals itself
Usage average hours, which pillows often win on comfort
Nights and span behind each number

If you switch between pillow sizes, add each as its own entry so Mask Analytics compares the medium against the small. The "What changed?" panel marks every switch. See mask fit and leak for the product tour.

Mask Analytics comparing AirFit P10 medium and small on seal, AHI and usage

FAQ

Questions people ask

Help center →

Are nasal pillows good for sleep apnea?

For nose breathers at lower to moderate pressures, yes, and many people find them the most comfortable mask they have tried. They are less suitable for mouth breathers and for people with frequent congestion. Mask Analytics shows your own seal, AHI and usage per mask so you can judge from your nights.

Why do my nasal pillows leak so much?

The two usual causes are mouth leak, which shows as a step up in leak after you fall asleep, and the wrong pillow size, which shows as intermittent spikes all night. Try the other sizes in your kit and loosen the straps. If the step pattern persists, talk to your supplier about a chin strap or a different mask type.

What pressure is too high for nasal pillows?

There is no single cut-off, and manufacturers rate pillow masks for the full 4–20 cmH₂O range. Some people find the airflow at the nostrils uncomfortable in the upper teens; others are fine. If your pressure P95 is high and usage is low, comfort may be the reason, and Mask Analytics will show it.

P10 or P30i?

The AirFit P10 is lighter with a front tube; the AirFit P30i routes the tube over the head, which suits side sleepers and people who move. The pillows themselves differ slightly. Seal is personal, and Mask Analytics compares both directly if you try each for a few weeks.

How often should I replace nasal pillows?

Follow your supplier's interval and set it as a reminder in Gear. Silicone pillows soften, stretch and lose their seal over weeks. In your data, a slow rise in leak P95 with no change in habits is the usual sign they are due.