Which Full Face CPAP Mask Is Right for You? F20 vs F30i vs F40 vs AirTouch F20
Which Full Face CPAP Mask Is Right for You? F20 vs F30i vs F40 vs AirTouch F20
There's no single best full face mask — there's the best one for your face, your sleep and your problem. Red marks, leaks, claustrophobia, a restless night or sensitive skin each point to a different mask. Here's how to find yours.
Jump to what matters to you.
Who a full face mask is really for.
A full face mask covers your nose and mouth, so you can breathe through either and your therapy keeps working. That makes it the natural choice for three groups of people: mouth breathers, people who wake with a dry mouth because their lips part in sleep; people who get congested often, from allergies, colds or a deviated septum; and people on higher pressures, who sometimes find full face masks more comfortable than nasal ones.
Full face masks have a reputation for being big and claustrophobic. That was fair ten years ago. It isn't now. The four masks in this guide range from the familiar over-the-nose design to ultra-compact masks that sit under the nose and leave your eyes and the bridge of your nose completely clear.
That variety is the point of this guide. Choosing a mask by its reviews, or because it's the one a friend uses, is how people end up with a mask that's perfectly good but wrong for them. A better approach is to start with your problem — what's actually bothering you, or what you're worried will bother you — and work back to the design that solves it.
The four masks we're comparing
All four are ResMed full face masks, all connect to standard CPAP tubing and work with any CPAP machine, and all are widely used in the UK. They differ in two ways that matter more than anything else: where the cushion seals on your face, and where the tube connects. Get those two right for you and most other problems follow.
Two questions sort all four masks.
Where does it seal, and where does the tube go? Find the box that sounds like you.
On a phone, swipe sideways to see the whole map.
The four masks compared.
The differences that change how a mask feels at 3am, in one table.
| AirFit F20 | AirTouch F20 | AirFit F30i | AirFit F40 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Where it seals | Over the nose bridge | Over the nose bridge | Under the nose | Under the nose |
| Cushion | InfinitySeal silicone | Memory foam | Silicone | Silicone |
| Tube connects | Front | Front | Top of the head | Front, short tube |
| Field of vision | Frame in lower view | Frame in lower view | Clear — glasses OK | Clear — glasses OK |
| Cushion sizes | S, M, L · For Her variant | S, M, L | Four sizes | Includes Small Wide |
| Cushion care | Wash daily | Wipe only — never wash | Wash daily | Wash daily |
| Magnetic clips | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Best for | A forgiving seal; first full face mask | Sensitive skin; red marks from silicone | Restless and side sleepers | Glasses, reading, claustrophobia |
On a phone, swipe the table sideways to see all four masks.
Two things the table can't show. First, fit beats features: the right size of a mask that's "wrong on paper" will outperform the wrong size of the perfect one. Second, faces vary enormously. A mask that's ideal for one person's nose shape leaks on another's. Use this guide to narrow the choice to one or two, then let fit decide.
What's bothering you? Here's where to look.
| If this sounds like you… | Look at | Read |
|---|---|---|
| Red marks or soreness on the bridge of your nose | F30i, F40 — or AirTouch F20 | Problem 1 |
| You wear glasses, read in bed or feel closed in | F40, F30i | Problem 2 |
| You toss and turn, sleep on your side, or the hose pulls the mask | F30i | Problem 3 |
| Your current mask leaks however you fit it | F20 | Problem 4 |
| Silicone irritates your skin | AirTouch F20 | Problem 5 |
| It's your first full face mask and you want the safe choice | F20 | Problem 6 |
| You or your partner have a pacemaker or other implant | Speak to your clinic first | Safety |
Red marks and a sore bridge of the nose.
A red line across the top of your nose that's still there at lunchtime. Tenderness when you put your glasses on. In bad cases, skin that starts to break down.
Precautions first
Loosen the straps. Most nose-bridge marks are tension marks. Refit lying down with the machine running, and tighten only until the leak stops.
Check the size. A cushion that's too small for you sits on the bridge rather than around it. A fitting template — see the sizing section — takes two minutes.
Replace a worn cushion. A tired cushion forces you to tighten harder for the same seal. Silicone cushions typically last one to three months.
See your clinic if skin breaks or blisters. That's beyond comfort, and it may mean the mask design itself is wrong for you.
Which mask helps
If precautions haven't solved it, the most effective change is a mask that doesn't touch the nose bridge at all. Both the AirFit F30i and the AirFit F40 seal under the nose, and ResMed describes the F30i's under-the-nose design as eliminating red marks and discomfort on the nasal bridge. If you like how the F20 seals and only the bridge is the problem, the AirTouch F20's memory foam cushion spreads pressure more gently than silicone.
You wear glasses, read in bed, or feel closed in.
You like to read or watch TV before sleep and can't with the mask on. Or the moment the mask covers your face, you feel trapped and want it off.
What you're suffering
Traditional full face masks put a frame across your nose and into the lower part of your vision. For some people that's a minor annoyance — you take your glasses off, put the mask on and go to sleep. For others it's the whole problem: the mask means the end of reading in bed, and the feeling of something across the face triggers a sense of being shut in that makes settling impossible.
Why it happens
Claustrophobia with CPAP is common and entirely understandable. It's partly about what's in your field of view, partly about the sensation of pressure across the face, and partly about the airflow itself. Masks that sit over the bridge of the nose touch more of the face and occupy more of the view.
Precautions first
Practise while awake. Wear the mask for twenty minutes while watching television, with the machine running. Getting used to the sensation without also trying to fall asleep takes away much of its power.
Use the ramp feature, if your machine has one, so pressure builds gently as you fall asleep.
Hold the mask to your face before putting the headgear on for the first few nights, so you're in control of it.
Our guide on feeling trapped in your mask covers the full set of techniques.
Which mask helps
Both under-the-nose masks were designed with this in mind. ResMed says the F30i's design gives "visual freedom so patients can read or wear glasses in bed", and describes the F40's low profile as letting you wear glasses to read or watch TV. Of the two, the F40 is the more minimal, with a short tube at the front; the F30i moves the tube out of the way entirely, over your head.
You toss and turn, and the hose pulls your mask off.
You roll over and the tube tugs the mask sideways. You wake to a hiss of air. You've woken up tangled in the hose more than once.
Precautions first
Route the hose above you. Running the tube up over the headboard, or using a simple hook, means it hangs down to you rather than trailing across the bed. Many people find this alone transforms their nights.
Fit the mask lying on your side, in the position you actually sleep in, rather than sitting up.
Use a swivel elbow properly. Check yours turns freely. A stiff elbow transfers every movement straight to the cushion.
Try a CPAP pillow, shaped with cut-outs so the mask isn't pushed by the pillow when you're on your side.
Which mask helps
The AirFit F30i is the mask built for this. Its tube connects on top of your head, so there's no hose at the front of your face to snag, and ResMed designed it to give freedom to sleep in many positions. It also has a quick-release elbow, so you can disconnect for a bathroom trip without taking the mask off.
Your mask leaks, however you fit it.
Air hissing past your cheeks. Blowing into your eyes. Leak figures in your app that never settle. You've loosened, tightened and refitted, and it still leaks.
What you're suffering
Persistent leaks wreck sleep. They're noisy, they dry out your eyes and mouth, and they reduce the pressure actually reaching your airway — so even on the nights you sleep, therapy may be working less well than it should. Your partner probably hears them too.
Why it happens
Most leaks have an equipment cause before they have a mask-design cause. A worn cushion, stretched headgear, or a size that's slightly wrong will leak on any mask. Over-tightening, ironically, makes leaks worse by creasing the cushion. Only once those are ruled out is it worth concluding the design doesn't suit your face.
Precautions first
Replace the cushion if it's past one to three months, or soft, sticky or cloudy.
Check the headgear. Straps that have lost their stretch can't hold even a new cushion. Headgear lasts around six months.
Loosen, then refit lying down with the machine running, tightening only until the leak stops.
Check the size with a fitting template. A cushion one size out leaks at the corners.
Read your data. A leak that has risen gradually over weeks points to wear; our guide to reading your CPAP data explains the patterns.
Which mask helps
If you've done all of that and still can't get a seal, the AirFit F20 is the mask most often recommended. ResMed designed its InfinitySeal cushion to "fit everyone, tolerate misfitting and accommodate patient movement" — in other words, to keep sealing when the fit isn't perfect and when you move. It's the forgiving choice for faces that other masks struggle with.
Silicone irritates your skin.
Redness where the cushion sits, sore patches on the cheeks, or skin that feels raw by morning — even with a mask that fits and isn't over-tightened.
Precautions first
Rinse the cushion thoroughly. Wash it daily in warm water with a mild, unscented soap and rinse until there's no residue. Antibacterial and scented washing-up liquids are frequent culprits.
Wash your face before bed, and moisturise in the morning. Creams applied at night end up on the cushion.
Loosen the straps. Less pressure, less irritation.
See your GP or clinic if skin breaks, blisters, or you suspect an allergy.
Which mask helps
The AirTouch F20 replaces silicone with a memory foam cushion that moulds to your face rather than pressing into it. It's the standard answer for people whose skin doesn't tolerate silicone. Because it shares the F20's frame, existing F20 users can often try a memory foam cushion without buying a whole new mask.
There's one important trade-off: memory foam must never be washed or soaked — water destroys it. Wipe it with a damp cloth only, and expect to replace it about monthly, more often than silicone.
It's your first full face mask, and you want the safe choice.
You're moving from a nasal mask because you breathe through your mouth, or starting CPAP and your clinic has suggested full face. You don't yet know what you'll like.
Why it's hard to choose
Before you've slept in a full face mask, you can't know whether you'll mind something on your nose bridge, whether the tube will bother you, or whether silicone suits your skin. Every specialist feature in this guide answers a problem you may never have.
Precautions first
Ask your clinic what they'd recommend for your face, especially if they fitted your current mask — they've seen it on you.
Measure before you buy. A fitting template from the manufacturer takes two minutes and avoids most first-mask disappointments.
Give it two weeks. Any new mask feels strange for the first few nights. Judge it on week two, not night one — unless it's painful.
Watch for your problem. If something does bother you in those two weeks, it'll usually match one of the problems above — and that tells you which mask to try next.
Which mask helps
The AirFit F20 is the sensible starting point for most people: a well-established design with a forgiving InfinitySeal cushion, three sizes on one frame, and a For Her variant. If it turns out the bridge of your nose objects, the F30i or F40 are the natural next step; if your skin does, the AirTouch F20 uses the same frame.
Magnets and implanted medical devices.
This is the one precaution in this guide that's about safety rather than comfort. All four masks use magnetic clips on the headgear.
Getting the size right.
ResMed publishes printable fitting templates for its masks. Print at 100% scale with no page scaling, or the measurements will be wrong — and use the metric version if there's a choice. Measure with a relaxed jaw, not a clenched one.
A cushion that's slightly too large usually needs over-tightening to seal, which brings marks and leaks. A slightly smaller one often seals better with less tension.
AirFit F20: three cushion sizes clip into the same frame, plus a For Her variant. AirFit F30i: four cushion sizes, and the frame is sized separately — ResMed advises trying a smaller frame if it falls back over your head, and a larger one if it falls forward. AirFit F40: sizes include a Small Wide, where "Wide" refers to width, not length — so it isn't interchangeable with a Small.
If your current cushion fitted well, the size is printed on it. Order the same — unless you've noticed marks or leaks, in which case re-measure first.
Parts and running costs.
The mask is a one-off. The cushion, headgear and frame are what you'll buy for years. Worth knowing before you choose.
| Part | Typical replacement | Available for |
|---|---|---|
| Cushion — silicone | Every 1–3 months | F20 (genuine) · F20 (compatible) · F40 |
| Cushion — memory foam | About monthly | AirTouch F20 |
| Headgear | Around every 6 months | F20 / AirTouch F20 · F30i |
| Frame | Every 6–12 months, or if cracked | F20 / AirTouch F20 · F30i · F40 (genuine) · F40 (compatible) |
| Elbow | Every 6–12 months, or if stiff or cracked | F20 · F30i |
Two practical points. The AirFit F20 and AirTouch F20 share a frame, so if you switch between silicone and memory foam, you only change the cushion. And compatible parts — made to fit but not by ResMed — are available for some masks at lower cost; they do the same job, but fitting a non-original part may affect any remaining manufacturer warranty, so check if that matters to you.
Our replacement schedule covers every part in detail.
How to give a new mask a fair trial.
Plenty of people give up on the right mask after one bad night. A little structure stops that happening.
Expect the first three nights to feel strange
Every new mask feels odd at first, even a better one. It touches your face in different places, the airflow feels different, and your body notices the change. That's adjustment, not failure. Unless a mask is genuinely painful, judge it on how the second week feels, not the first night.
Fit it properly, once, then leave it alone
Start with every strap loose. Put the mask on lying down, in your usual sleeping position, with the machine running. Tighten evenly, a little at a time, and stop as soon as the leak stops — even if it feels looser than your old mask. Then resist the urge to fiddle. Constant readjusting in the night is one of the main reasons new masks seem worse than they are.
Change one thing at a time
If you switch mask, try a new humidity setting and start using a chin strap in the same week, you won't know which change helped or which one caused a new problem. Change the mask, give it a week, then adjust anything else.
Let your data help you decide
Your machine records leak and usage every night. If the new mask's leak settles lower than your old one's, and you're keeping it on for longer, it's working — even if it still feels unfamiliar. If leak is high every night after the first week despite careful fitting, the size or the design may be wrong for you. Our guide to reading your CPAP data explains what to look for.
Keep your old mask for now
Don't throw your previous mask away until the new one has earned its place. It's useful as a fallback on a bad night, and — if you normally use a nasal mask — a full face mask kept in the drawer is a good standby for nights when a cold blocks your nose.
Tell your clinic
If your mask was supplied or fitted by your sleep service, let them know you've changed. They can check how the new mask is affecting your therapy at your next review, and they may have suggestions if it isn't quite right.
Five things people believe about full face masks.
Quick answers on choosing a full face mask.
What is the difference between the AirFit F20 and F30i?
The AirFit F20 seals over the bridge of the nose with a tube connecting at the front, and its InfinitySeal cushion is designed to tolerate misfit and movement. The AirFit F30i seals under the nose and connects the tube on top of your head, leaving the nose bridge and your view clear. The F20 suits people who want a forgiving seal; the F30i suits restless sleepers and people who get marks on the nose bridge.
Is the AirFit F40 better than the F20?
Neither is better for everyone. The F40 is ultra-compact and rests under the nose, so it suits people who wear glasses, read in bed or feel closed in. The F20 seals over the nose bridge and is designed to keep sealing when the fit isn't perfect. Choose by your problem, then let fit decide.
Which full face mask is best for side sleepers?
The AirFit F30i is designed for it: the tube connects on top of your head, so there's no hose at the front to pull the mask when you turn. Whatever mask you use, fitting it lying on your side and routing the hose above the bed both help.
Can I wear glasses with a full face CPAP mask?
Yes, with an under-the-nose design. ResMed describes both the AirFit F30i and the AirFit F40 as letting you wear glasses to read or watch TV in bed, because neither sits on the bridge of your nose.
Can I use an AirTouch F20 cushion on my AirFit F20 mask?
The AirFit F20 and AirTouch F20 share the same frame, and their cushions are widely sold as interchangeable, so F20 users can switch between silicone and memory foam by changing the cushion. If you're unsure about your specific mask, contact us before ordering.
Do full face CPAP masks have magnets?
The AirFit F20, AirTouch F20, AirFit F30i and AirFit F40 all use magnetic headgear clips. If you or anyone sharing your bed has a pacemaker or another implanted medical device, speak to your doctor and device manufacturer first. Non-magnetic versions exist of some masks, including the F20 and F30i.
How do I know what size full face mask I need?
Use the manufacturer's printable fitting template, printed at 100% scale, and measure with a relaxed jaw. If you're between sizes, smaller often seals better with less tension. If you're replacing a mask that fitted well, the size is printed on the cushion.
More UK-specific CPAP guidance.
This guide is general information, not medical advice. Mask suitability depends on your face, your prescribed pressure and your clinical needs. Speak to your sleep clinic before changing mask type, and follow the user guide supplied with your mask. Never adjust your prescribed pressure settings yourself.
All four masks in this guide contain magnets in the headgear clips. Magnets may interfere with implanted medical devices and metallic implants — if you or anyone sharing your bed has one, consult your doctor and device manufacturer before use, and follow the separation distance in the mask's safety information. See your GP or clinic if skin under your mask breaks, blisters or doesn't recover between nights.
AirFit™, AirTouch™, InfinitySeal™, QuietAir™ and ResMed™ are trademarks of ResMed Ltd. Compatible replacement parts are not manufactured, endorsed by, or affiliated with ResMed Ltd; ResMed names are used only to identify compatibility. Product features described are taken from the manufacturer's published information at the time of writing.
