Overview

Due to an extreme shortage of medically approved and commercially available personal protective equipment (PPE), WHO and CDC previously recommended that only sick or those caring for sick should wear a mask. They have recently changed guidance. Many experts advocate for public mask use as well as governments.

We provide here a curated list of DIY masks along with links to build pages. We have ranked each design along five dimensions, with 5 stars the best. Less tools and materials are considered better. In some cases a design may call for more materials or tools, but if these are commonly available we will give it a higher rating than a design that has fewer highly specialize tools. Protection is judged on the combination of face seal and filter efficiency and, in some cases, full face protection (for example if a mask is integrated into a face shield).

If you have a design and would like it to be included in this list, please leave a comment below and provide a link to your build page. There is no ‘best’ design because everybody has different materials, tools, skills, time, etc. Only limited designs are acceptable for front line workers or healthy caring for the sick. Many designs are acceptable for use by healthy people in public. In this case we encourage you to learn about the principle of good mask design and get creative!

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1. Filter Materials for DIY Masks
1. Assembling and Using a DIY Mask

U of Florida Health’s Halyard H600 Sewn Masks, Prototypes 1 & 2

University of Florida Health’s Halyard H600 Sewn Mask

Healthcare worker review and build tutorial including fit-test youtube video

U of F filed a patent, but appear to be OK with people making the mask. Specialized Halyard H600 material only found in hospitals but is potentially abundant. Important Note: Their initial claims of “better than N-95” were based on manufacture marketing material related to blocking of bacteria:

“It blocks 99.9% of particulates, making the masks about 4% more effective at blocking particulate material than the N95 masks, according to Bruce Spiess, M.D., a professor of anesthesiology in the UF College of Medicine, who made that calculation based on the manufacturer’s specifications.”

Bacterial filtration efficiency (BFE) is a measure of the effectiveness of a material to filter bacteria 3.0 µm in size, whereas filtration efficiency (FE) is a measure of the effectiveness of a material to filter submicron (median diameter of 0.075 µm) particles of NaCl. Medical masks have a BFE of >95–99% and a >78–87% FE. The N95 respirator has an FE of >95% and a BFE of >>99% [ref].

The manufacturer has released a statement on its website attempting to protect itself from potential liability.

Snorkel Mask Adapter

Snorkel mask filter adapter

This mask is intended for medical staff and not for private individuals. However, if you already own a snorkel mask and can obtain or build a filter, and are not embarrassed to go out in public with it, it’s a good option. Stanford video.

Everymask mask harness

Everymask DIY Mask Harness

This project is a slight upgrade to the “Fix the Mask” design below, as the wire resolves potential issues with seal around nose.

Fix the Mask DIY Surgical Mask Brace

The Surgical Mask Brace

Note: If you have surgical masks please donate them to your local healthcare professionals and inform them of this project. Medically approved/certified masks are in very short supply and need to go to front-line workers first.

3D Printed Breathing Mask with Screw-In Filters V2

3D Printed Breathing Mask with Screw-In Filters V2

Involved and requires substantial time and materials but looks great.

UnityPoint Health Olsen Sewn Mask with Removable Filter

UnityPoint Olsen Face Mask

UnityPoint Health is asking for donations of this mask. Note they are not asking for fully finished masks, as they will add final touches and provide filter material.

RagMask

Ragmask

Very good step-by-step instructions with pictures.

HEPA Vacuum Bag Sewn Mask

HEPA Vacuum Sewn Mask

Due to possibility of materials in HEPA filters like fiberglass or other materials dangerous if inhaled, we recommend a layer of tight weave cotton on the face-side.

The Montana Mask (3D printed)

THE MONTANA MASK

Might want to look into Simolex mask gasket which was identified by the FiredByCorona team.

HK Mask

HK Mask

Multiple patterns/sizes available with good tutorials and videos.

How to Make DIY Face Masks with Air Filters

DIY mask with Air Filters

Tutorial warns about ensuring the filter used is not fiberglass, as this can be dangerous if inhaled. We recommend a single layer of cotton between filter material and face.

Protocol for 3D Printing Masks

PROTOCOL FOR 3D PRINTING MASKS

Very details instructions with multiple size mask files and great reference material.

Simple Respiratory Mask

Simple Respiratory Mask

3D Printed Face Mask

3D Printed Face Mask

Simple 3D print design, minimal post-processing

Sewing Reusable Cloth Masks

Sewing Reusable Cloth Masks

No Sew DIY N95-ish Type Protective Face Mask

No Sew DIY N95 Type Protective Face Mask

Waterproof maxi-pad layer is a critical flaw, otherwise good design with limited tools. Due to potential of harmful substances (like fiberglass) in some HEPA/furnace filters, it’s a good idea to place a layer of tight weave cotton or other known-safe material between your face and the HEPA/furnace filter material.

PET Bottle Mask

PET Bottle Mask

Lots of materials and tools but mostly common and easy to come by. Instructions are in Spanish but very good visual instructions. Creative!

Another bottle respirator design requiring so many tools and materials im not going to bother listing it. This guy is having fun.

Knowm Modified Copper 3D Single-Use Mask

Finished N-95 Substitute Mask

Fast to print and assemble if 3D Printer bed is larger than 8.5in.

No Sew T-Shirt Mask for Men with Beards

No Sew T-Shirt Mask for Men with Beards

Addition of paper towel for moisture absorption is good idea for this design. If HEPA filter material is available, insertion between t-shirt layers combined with better nose seal would greatly increase filtration efficacy. Due to potential of harmful substances (like fiberglass) in some HEPA filters, it’s a good ideal to place a layer of cotton or other known-safe material between your face and the HEPA filter material.

No-Sew Pleated Face Mask with Handkerchief

No-Sew Pleated Face Mask with Handkerchief and Hair Tie

Here is good video tutorial of this design.

Fired by Corona 2.0

Fired By Corona 2.0 Mask

DIY Cloth Face Mask

DIY Cloth Face Mask

Detailed but wordy build instructions.

Cut T-Shirt Mask

No sew cloth mask

A simplified variation of the Simple Respiratory Mask.

Paper Towel & Plastic Shield Mask

Paper Towel & Plastic Shield Mask

Many materials but all common. Common tools.
Is paper towel effective at blocking viruses?

Joann’s Fabric Mask

Joann’s Fabric Mask

Common materials if you already sew. While these masks are not for personal protection from virus, at a population level they make a difference by preventing droplet spread.

Beth’s Fast Fabric Mask

Beth Gordon Fast Fabric Mask

A good video tutorial (to the point and clear) on how to make fabric sewn masks quickly. While these masks are not for personal protection from virus, at a population level they make a difference by preventing droplet spread.

Knowm Modified Copper 3D Respirator

Finished respirator

Heat-welding requires soldering iron, which is rare tool for many. Disinfection requires leaving mask for prolonged periods to dry.

Sewn Mask for Hard of Hearing

DIY mask for hard of hearing

No instructions or build page provided but not hard to figure out. Great mask idea for those needing to interact with individuals who are hard of hearing and need to see lips moving. “your mask protects me, my mask protects you”

DIY Bra Mask

DIY Bra Face Mask

Two masks per bra and comes in multiple sizes A, B, C, D! leave it to the french. Incognito sunglasses and hat recommended when wearing this.

Tissue Paper Mask

Fabriquer un masque de protection par le Pr Garin

Novice Bottle Head Gas Mask

Plastic bottle full face shield and air filter

Advanced Bottle Head Gas Mask

Advanced Bottle Head Gas Mask

Did you know that creativity reduces stress?

DIY Filter Materials

What Are The Best Materials for Making DIY Masks?

Standardized Synthesis of Face Masks as a Harm Reduction Strategy in Times of PPEShortage – COVID-19

If you cannot find special-purpose filter fabric, you can still make a reasonably effective mask. You must strike a balance between high filter efficiency (keep virus out) and low pressure (keep you breathing). If you have a new hepa filter material, this is ideal. Multiple layers of dense cotton will work. Soaking the outermost layer in a concentrated salt solution and allowing to dry may increase effectiveness against virus through de-activation. (see referenced paper below)

Household material effectiveness for masks

If you use, for example, a vacuum cleaner bag then it will have high efficiency at filtering particles but you may not be able to breath, provided your mask has a good seal–this renders the mask useless. Achieving high particle filtration while maintaining breathability is a hard problem without specialized materials. However, outside of a hospital setting, some protection is better than no protection.

If you are not planning on using the mask in a clinical setting or you are not in close proximity to an infected individual, you do not need to risk contracting the virus by going shopping for filter materials if you have something that is ‘good enough’ in your home already. If you are under state, county or city orders to shelter in place…don’t go shopping.

To achieve “N95 compliance”, in addition to a really good face seal, a MERV 13 or higher filter material can be used.

“Medical masks and N95 respirator are widely used to protect against airborne diseases such as tuberculosis, SARS, MERS, avian and swine flues, and the recent emerging coronavirus (COVID-19). The filtration layer of these masks is made of meltblown (MB) PP (polypropylene) nonwoven electret – electrostatically charged media”…[read more]

Assembling and Using a Mask

Thanks to Creativation over at Reddit for this thorough guidance. [go to

1. Disinfect working surfaces and surfaces hands will touch.
2. Ensure clean/sterile materials. Disinfect as necessary.
3. Disinfect hands with hand sanitizer or wash with soap and water.
4. Assemble mask / face covering.
5. Keep mask from touching potentially contaminated surfaces or objects prior to usage.

Upon returning back from a non-safe zone with a mask:

1. When removing mask avoid touching surfaces on the mask/covering that are likely to be contaminated and avoid inadvertently letting the mask touch otherwise “sterile” surfaces / objects.
2. Handle the used mask in a working zone that can be disinfected after usage.
3. Disinfect the mask in this zone or where possible place directly into a washing machine and wash with detergent. If disinfection is not immediately possible then place the mask in a plastic sealable sack until possible.
4. Disinfect the working zone.
5. Disinfect any surfaces in and around one’s safe zone that were touched while entering back into the safe zone.
6. Disinfect hands with hand sanitizer or wash with soap and water.

Please see this page for more up-to-date information on precautions for mask assembly and use.