ByKate Antoniades Hours Updated
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Where to Find the Best Face Masks for Coronavirus — and Where to Donate

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A lot of us were thrown for a loop by the CDC's advice on April 3 to wear non-medical masks in public — after we'd been told for weeks not to wear masks at all. Suddenly, we all needed them — but not N95 respirators or surgical face masks, which needed to be reserved for front-line health workers (and still do). For those readers who don't yet have a mask, and those who have one but need more (and also for those who want to donate some), today we're talking about where to find the best face masks for coronavirus. (Remember that a non-medical mask is more effective at protecting other people from you than protecting you from people who are sick. Don't let it give you a false sense of security.)

We're limiting our focus to sources of masks and ways to donate them, so here are some helpful articles on how to use them properly: how to clean masks, how to put on and take off a mask the correct way, whether you need a filter inside your mask, how to stop your glasses from fogging up when you wear a mask. August 2020 update: The most recent comprehensive review of mask types was performed by Duke University and summarized here; you can read the findings here.

(For more info, see the Further Reading links at the bottom of this post — updated in August 2020.) 

This post contains affiliate links and Corporette® may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. For more details see here. Thank you so much for your support!

DIY Masks

If you want to make your own mask, it can be confusing to know which design and which fabric to use. A study by the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine found that the best material is “[T]wo layers of high-quality, heavyweight ‘quilter's cotton' with a thread count of 180 or more, and those with especially tight weave and thicker thread.” The Missouri Institute of Science and Technology has studied various face mask materials and found that a bandana performed the worst, while, for example, four (!) layers of a 400-thread-count pillowcase did significantly better. August 2020 update: The most recent comprehensive review of mask types was performed by Duke University and summarized here; you can read the findings here.

Here are directions for making your own face mask: 

1. No-sew masks: CDC, Good Housekeeping

2. Sewn masks: CDC, NYT

3. More detailed specs: UT Austin, Vanderbilt University

4. 3D-printed masks: Oesh, White Label Face Shields, huge collection of plans at Cults3D

5. Sewn D/deaf-friendly mask (allows for lip reading): Julia Bartsch, PA-S

6. Video tutorials

Non-Medical Masks Available from Crafters 

Etsy is a hugely popular source of face masks right now — they're being produced by 20,000 sellers, some of whom are working 12 hours a day. If you can't find fabric masks locally and don't want to make one, buying from individual crafters (on Etsy or otherwise) is a nice way to support small businesses during coronavirus.

Here are a few crafters around the country who are selling masks: 

The seller Mila's Beach House (Seattle, WA) was recommended to me recently, and the masks are very highly rated. Each double-layer, washable mask is $18 and has an insert pocket for a filter, which adds another protective barrier. Several fabric designs are available in medium, large, and toddler sizes. (Note that the seller has temporarily run out of white elastic for the ear loops and is currently using colored elastic.) 

Akos Regal (Baltimore, MD) is another recommendation I've received (source: my mom), and the seller's double-layer, highly rated masks are $14.95. The machine-washable fabrics have vibrant and colorful prints that might make you feel a teeny bit better about having to wear a mask. (Hey, I'll take what I can get right now.) For every mask purchased, one will be donated to a local hospital. (Note: The fabrics are described as “Ankara African prints,” which made me wonder about cultural appropriation until I discovered the seller is from Ghana, i.e., it's not a case of a white person profiting from another culture's traditions.) 

I've bought some cool jewelry in years past from Circuit Breaker Labs (Washington, D.C.), which is now selling masks with science-themed patterns (as well as solid colors) and ear savers. (I have the latter, and they're great.) The masks are made from 100% cotton, a cotton blend, or 100% polyester, depending on the color and pattern, and you can choose between elastic ear loops or adjustable ribbon ties. Soon, more designs will be available, as will masks with filter pockets and nose-piece pockets.

Non-Medical Masks Available from Fashion Brands

Amy Kuschel is making stylish face masks for everyone (pictured above), as well as stylish covers for N95 face masks for healthcare workers. The sustainable masks are made from three layers of natural fabric and have an adjustable nose and fabric ties. They are elastic-free and are machine wash, line dry/tumble dry. (Currently there's a waitlist.) 

Reformation is selling a 5-pack of masks for $25 and also offers a 5-pack for donation. Fabrics (cotton blends, Tencel) and colors may vary. The masks have tie straps and are machine wash, tumble dry low. They ship in 3–7 days. 

Emilia George, a new maternity brand in NYC, is making 100% sustainable face masks. They're made from 100% cupro, a cotton by-product that is very breathable, and they're available in four colors: blue, red, blush, and mint. They are $10 each, and right now you can preorder for shipping by May 10. 

A reader recently recommended the face masks from BlaqPaks, a small Portland, Oregon, company. They have several fun prints (cherries, space, and so on) with more to come. The machine washable masks are made of two layers of cotton with a flannel inner liner and are $10 each. They are currently shipping the next business day, and if you live nearby, you can pick up at the store. 

Another reader suggested Los Angeles Apparel, which is selling a 3-pack of masks for $30. The 100% cotton masks have an adjustable nose and straps, and they are machine wash, tumble dry. The company is also donating masks. (Update, 7/17/20: According to BuzzFeed News, more than 300 workers at Los Angeles Apparel have contracted coronavirus, and four have died — and the company was found to have violated several coronavirus safety measures at its factory. It also ignored a July shutdown order from the county's department of public health. We can longer recommend the company's masks.) 

RoHo normally produces shoes, jewelry, bags, and other items made by artisans in Kenya (mostly women) who are employed ethically and paid fairly. To help these artisans during the pandemic, the company created the RoHo Food Security Fund. Each dollar spent on their website will provide another meal for the artisans and their families — and 100% of the profits from RoHo's face masks, made from colorful Kitenge African fabric, will support the fund. The double-layer, washable masks have nylon ear loops and are reversible — just be sure to wash them before reversing. They are $15 each — and unlike RoHo's other products, they're made in the U.S. (Full disclosure: Kat is friendly with RoHo's founder.)

Forbes has a whole roundup of fashion companies making face masks — custom shoe brand Oesh is new to us, but their 3D-printed face mask looks awesome.

Where to Donate Masks  

Whether you're looking to donate handmade masks or store-bought ones, here are some ways to help:

A new app called HealthEquip connects donors with hospitals that need supplies (medical-grade preferred). The hospitals cover the shipping, which is provided by UPS. You can learn more from this USA Today story. 

The nonprofit HumankindNOW is aiming to raise $500,000 to provide PPE to front-line medical professionals. Here is the GoFundMe.

If you drop off masks at any JOANN Fabrics location, the company will pass them on to hospitals and healthcare systems that have requested handmade masks. 

The New York Times explained how to donate N95 masks to NYC hospitals. 

United Farm Workers needs monetary donations to provide reusable cloth masks to essential farm workers; each mask costs $6.25 to purchase, ship, and distribute. 

Are most people wearing face masks where you live? Has your local government required residents to wear them, or is it voluntary? Have you made or bought face masks, and what are you finding is the most comfortable/wearable option that still provides protection? Where have you found the best face masks for coronavirus? 

Further Reading: (some older links replaced, August 2020) 

  • Use of Cloth Face Coverings to Help Slow the Spread of COVID-19 [CDC]
  • When and how to use masks [WHO]
  • Masks are effective only if you wear them properly. Here's the right (and wrong) way. [CNN]
  • What You Need To Know About Protective Face Masks [NPR]
  • COVID-19: How much protection do face masks offer? [Mayo Clinic]

17 Comments

  2. In “Posts that would otherwise read as the April Fool’s Post”, this was great! Ordered from two different etsy sellers on your list. It’s been on my mental to-do list, thanks for this so I can finally pull the trigger…without much legwork.

  3. I got masks from Lesley Evers, https://lesleyevers.com/collections/masks Really nice fabrics, and they fit me well – not oversized. Lesley Evers does mostly dresses for professional women, in bright floral prints, and the masks are right on target for her customers. They do have ear loops, and an internal wire to make the nose fit adjustable. They came in a few days, via USPS.

  4. Timely post – work is just in the beginning phases of talking about what reopening might look like and suggested that face masks would be mandatory when you weren’t in your office with the door closed. I have the Los Angeles Apparel ones in black and they are fine. I’d like something more cheerful I think if I’ll be wearing them every day.

  5. Utah is offering free masks to any Utahn (especially those who can’t afford them). They have budgeted 2 million masks (3 M is the population of utah). Google-able, but also link to follow.

  6. Posted this earlier, but after wasting tons of money on masks that were duds, I found some decent ones from 8creativestudio on Etsy. Selective Ha also has nice ones but they’re a bit heavier.

  7. Caution – I believe Los Angeles Apparel is a successor (in spirit if not legally) to American Apparel. If you have ethical concerns about supporting Dov Charney (involved with both companies and with a reputation for poor treatment of women), you may want to research or reconsider buying from LAA.

  8. I was planning to buy some face masks, but realized I had some pretty quilter’s cotton stashed away that I’d never used. They turned out so well my family asked me to make some for them, and then I started getting interest from other people… I now have my own Etsy shop selling masks!

    It’s taking care of my desire to shop online, because I get to spend time picking out pretty fabrics. And I’m certainly not bored! =)

    (If it’s okay for me to post, my shop is TheMaskedOctopus.etsy.com) <–If that's not ok, I'll take it out.

  9. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend the Reformation masks. I ordered some because I really, REALLY didn’t want a black face mask–and that’s exactly what ended up in my package. The fabric is fairly thin, and the pattern isn’t particularly fitted to your face. The masks I’ve made by hand (without a sewing machine) are higher quality. I don’t think I’ll use the Reformation masks at all, sadly–but maybe I’ll make use of the tie straps to make my own masks after I cut up some more clothes/pillow cases.

  11. Johnny Was has masks now. Beautiful fabrics & they are donating 1:1. Best price I’ve found for masks that look great at work. Johnnywas.com

    1. I’m sure you’ll never see this, but thank you! I’m a trial attorney and we’re wearing masks for court hearings starting next week. These actually look like they’ll do the trick of looking professional and potentially even adding a bit of polish to my outfit.

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