How to Wear an N95 Mask: Steps, Seal Check, and Common Mistakes

To wear an N95 respirator correctly, wash your hands, check the respirator for damage, hold it under your chin with the nosepiece up, place the top strap high on the back of your head and the bottom strap below your ears, mold the nose clip, and then do a user seal check every time you put it on. This page follows the NIOSH instructions for disposable respirators and NIOSH’s guidance on user seal checks and shelf life. It is general information, not medical advice, and the instructions that come with your specific respirator take priority.

What you need

• A NIOSH-approved N95 respirator in the make, model and size that fit you. NIOSH advises that if you have used a respirator before that fit you, you use the same make, model and size. To check the markings on a respirator, see how to verify NIOSH-approved N95 masks.
• The manufacturer’s instructions from the box or packaging. NIOSH says to follow them, and they state which seal checks the model supports.
• A bare face where the respirator seals. NIOSH says not to let facial hair, hair, jewelry, glasses, clothing or anything else come between your face and the respirator.
• Clean hands. NIOSH says to wash your hands thoroughly before putting on and taking off a respirator.

An N95 is a sealed, fit-tested filtering facepiece, which is different from a loose-fitting surgical mask. See what an N95 respirator is and what a surgical mask is for the distinction.

How to put on an N95 mask: the steps

These steps are the NIOSH sequence for a respirator with two head straps and a metal nose clip. Your model may differ, so check its instructions.

Before you put it on

1. Wash your hands thoroughly.
2. Inspect the respirator. NIOSH is direct on this point: if it appears damaged, do not use it and replace it with a new one.

Putting it on

3. Hold the respirator in one hand with the nosepiece at your fingertips and the headbands hanging below your hand, so the respirator is cupped in your palm.
4. Hold the respirator under your chin with the nosepiece up.
5. Pull the top strap over your head so it rests high at the back of your head.
6. Pull the bottom strap over your head and position it around your neck, below your ears. NIOSH says not to crisscross the straps.
7. If the respirator has a metal nose clip, place the fingertips of both hands at the top of the clip and slide them down both sides to mold it to the shape of your nose.
8. Do a user seal check (next section).

User seal check: do it every time

NIOSH states that a user seal check should be done every time the respirator is worn. It applies only when a respirator has already been successfully fit tested on you. Not every respirator can be checked both ways, so follow the manufacturer’s instructions for which check to use.

• Positive pressure check: cover the respirator with both hands and exhale gently. The seal is satisfactory if slight positive pressure builds up inside with no sign of outward leakage, such as air on your face along the seal or fogging glasses. If the respirator has an exhalation valve, a positive check may be impossible, so use a negative check.
• Negative pressure check: cover the filter surface with your hands and breathe in. The facepiece should collapse against your face, and you should not feel air passing between your face and the respirator.

If air leaks at the nose, readjust the nosepiece. If it leaks at the edges, readjust the straps along the sides of your head. If you still cannot get a proper seal, NIOSH advises asking for help or trying a different size or model.

Taking it off

9. Do not touch the front of the respirator, which may be contaminated.
10. Pull the bottom strap over the back of your head, then the top strap, without touching the respirator itself.
11. Discard it in a waste container, then wash your hands.

How to use an N95 mask: what can go wrong

• Using a damaged respirator. Replace it; do not wear it.
• Anything between the respirator and your skin. Facial hair, loose hair, jewelry, glasses arms or clothing can break the seal.
• Crisscrossed straps. NIOSH says not to crisscross them.
• Skipping the seal check. It should be done each time you put the respirator on. Leaks at the nose or edges are corrected by readjusting the nosepiece or straps.
• Treating a seal check as a fit test. NIOSH states a user seal check does not have the sensitivity and specificity to replace an OSHA-accepted fit test. Fit testing is covered in respirator fit testing requirements.
• Touching the front when removing it. The front may be contaminated, so handle only the straps.

When to get professional help

• You cannot get a seal. NIOSH says you may need to be fit tested for a different respirator model or size.
• You are required to wear a respirator at work. NIOSH notes that employers must comply with OSHA 29 CFR 1910.134. In the workplace, only wear models that have a successful fit test within the last year. See respiratory protection programs in the laboratory and the respirator medical clearance questionnaire.
• Breathing through a respirator is difficult for you, or you have a health concern. Ask a clinician or your occupational health service; this page cannot assess individual medical suitability.

FAQ

How do I put on an N95 mask?

Wash your hands, check for damage, cup the respirator under your chin with the nosepiece up, pull the top strap high on the back of your head and the bottom strap below your ears without crossing them, mold the nose clip, and do a user seal check. The full sequence is in the steps above.

How do I use an N95 mask?

Use the same make, model and size that fit you, put it on with a seal check every time, keep anything out of the sealing area, and remove it by the straps only, discarding it and washing your hands. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for your model.

Do N95 masks expire?

NIOSH says disposable filtering facepiece respirators such as N95s have a single shelf-life date, and many are five years. The date is usually printed on the packaging, shipping container or user instructions, or listed on the manufacturer’s website. NIOSH does not require an expiration or use-by indicator, and a respirator may not be protective beyond its designated use-by date. Once it passes its shelf life it is no longer considered NIOSH approved, and NIOSH cannot extend it. If there is no date, NIOSH says to contact the manufacturer with the approval number (TC-84A-XXXX), model or part number and lot number; contact details are on the NIOSH Certified Equipment List. For storage, NIOSH points to the original packaging, away from direct sunlight, chemicals such as pesticides and cleaning products, and water; many models are stored under 80% relative humidity.

Where do I buy N95 masks?

This page does not recommend sellers. What it can tell you is how to check that a respirator is genuine: look at the label for the manufacturer name, “NIOSH” in block letters, the TC approval number and the filter designation, and confirm the approval on the NIOSH Certified Equipment List. The steps are in how to verify NIOSH-approved N95 masks.

Sources

• NIOSH, How to Properly Put on and Take off a Disposable Respirator (Publication 2010-133), checked 29 October 2026.
• NIOSH, Filtering Out Confusion: Frequently Asked Questions About Respiratory Protection, User Seal Check, checked 29 October 2026.
• NIOSH, Tips for Managing PPE in Your Stockpile: Understanding Respirator Shelf Life, checked 29 October 2026.