The Differences between KN95 and N95 Masks - DMB Supply

N95 vs KN95 Masks: What's the Difference? (2026 Update)

Updated October 2026. N95 and KN95 masks look alike, but they are certified under different systems. Here is what the difference means when you are choosing a mask this winter.

The short answer

  • N95 is a US rating. N95 respirators are tested and approved by NIOSH, part of the CDC, and you can verify each approved model on the NIOSH Certified Equipment List.
  • KN95 is a rating under a Chinese standard (GB 2626). NIOSH does not approve KN95s. The CDC groups them as "international filtering facepiece respirators."

How the CDC compares them

In its respirator and mask performance table, the CDC lists NIOSH Approved filtering facepiece respirators (like N95s) at greater than 95% filtration with "best" manufacturing quality. International respirators (like KN95s) are listed at greater than 80% filtration with "variable" manufacturing quality, because quality is not checked the same way. Both are designed to fit tightly.

The CDC's mask guidance ranks NIOSH Approved respirators such as N95s as the most protective, then international respirators such as KN95s, then surgical masks and cloth masks.

Fit: straps vs ear loops

Many KN95s use ear loops, while N95s use straps that go around the head. Straps make it easier to get a tight seal. For wildfire smoke, the EPA advises choosing a NIOSH Approved respirator with two head straps and avoiding masks with ear loops.

How to tell if an N95 is real

  • "NIOSH" should be printed on the mask, along with the manufacturer name, model number and an approval number that starts with TC-84A.
  • Look up the approval number on the NIOSH Certified Equipment List.
  • Be wary of listings that call a KN95 "NIOSH approved" or "FDA approved N95."

Which should I choose?

If you want a mask with a verifiable US approval, choose a NIOSH Approved N95 that fits you well and has no exhalation valve. We carry the ACI model 3120 surgical N95: NIOSH Approved (TC-84A-9318), ASTM F1862 Level 3, made in the USA, in a pouch of 10 or a box of 50. Browse all N95 masks.

For winter tips, read Best N95 masks for winter cold and flu season.

Sources: CDC/NIOSH, Respirators and Mask Types and Performance; CDC, Masks and Respiratory Viruses Prevention; NIOSH Certified Equipment List; EPA, Protect Yourself From Wildfire Smoke and Ash.

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