Direct comparison
Bandage vs Band-Aid: Generic Term vs Brand Name
Bandage vs Band-Aid: bandage is the generic type (FDA: adhesive bandage, Class I), Band-Aid a brand. Includes Curad vs Band-Aid and supply-order wording.
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How do Bandage (generic term) and Band-Aid (brand name) compare side by side?
The table below compares Bandage (generic term) and Band-Aid (brand name) across 9 dimensions, from what the name is to when to use each term.
Side-by-side comparison
| Dimension | Bandage (generic term) | Band-Aid (brand name) |
|---|---|---|
| What the name is | A generic name. The FDA regulation names the device an "adhesive bandage". | A brand name. Kenvue lists "Band-Aid Brand" under Wound care on its brands page. |
| FDA wording | 21 CFR 880.5240: a strip of fabric material or plastic, coated on one side with an adhesive, which may include a pad of surgical dressing without a disinfectant. | The regulation describes the device by what it is, not by brand. No brand name appears in the regulation text. |
| Classification | Class I (general controls). Exempt from premarket notification (subpart E of part 807), subject to the limitations in 880.9. | The classification attaches to the device type described in the regulation, not to the brand name. |
| Uses the regulation lists | To cover and protect wounds, hold together the skin edges of a wound, support an injured part of the body, or secure objects to the skin. | What a given Band-Aid Brand product is for is stated on that product's own label and instructions. |
| Who owns the name | Nobody. It is a descriptive term used across makers. | Listed on Kenvue's brands page (kenvue.com/brands, read 2026-11-01). |
| Pad and disinfectant | The regulation says the bandage may include a pad of surgical dressing without a disinfectant. | Whether a particular product has a pad or an antibacterial feature is a property of that product, shown on its pack. |
| Curad vs Band-Aid | Curad is another brand of adhesive bandage. Its site (copyright Medline Industries, LP) lists Truly Ouchless, Performance Series, Basic Bandages, QuickStop!, Soothe & Cool and Naturals, and lists Antibacterial Bandages under Performance Series. | Band-Aid and Curad are brand against brand within the same product group: both are adhesive bandages sold under different names. |
| On a supply order or list | Write the generic term, "adhesive bandage", and copy the specification printed on the product label. | A brand name alone names a product line, not a specification, so pair it with the label details if you need that exact product. |
| When to use each term | Use "bandage" (or "adhesive bandage") when you mean the product type, in lists and documents and when comparing brands. | Use "Band-Aid" when you mean that brand's product specifically. |
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Common questions
Common questions about Bandage (generic term) vs Band-Aid (brand name)
Is a Band-Aid the same as a bandage?
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A Band-Aid is a brand of adhesive bandage. "Bandage" is the generic name; 21 CFR 880.5240 describes the adhesive bandage as a strip of fabric or plastic coated on one side with an adhesive, which may include a pad of surgical dressing without a disinfectant.
What is the difference between bandages and Bandaid?
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Bandages is the general name for the product type. Band-Aid (written Band-Aid Brand by its maker) is a brand name, and Kenvue lists it under Wound care on its brands page.
Is Curad the same as Band-Aid?
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They are different brands of the same kind of product. Curad's site, copyright Medline Industries, LP, lists adhesive bandage lines such as Performance Series and Basic Bandages, and Band-Aid Brand is listed by Kenvue.
How does the FDA classify an adhesive bandage?
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Under 21 CFR 880.5240 it is Class I (general controls) and exempt from premarket notification, subject to the limitations in 880.9.
Is a bandage the same as a dressing?
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No. See the separate comparison of dressing vs bandage for how the FDA defines each.
Going deeper
