A sleep mask can help you fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer, but it’s important that you find the right sleep mask for your needs. From weighted, cooling sleep masks to compact masks intended for travel, you’ll have plenty of options to choose from. These masks can be ideal if you need to sleep during the day, want to be able to doze on the plane, or need to fall asleep at night when your partner’s still reading in bed.
But sleep masks aren’t all made the same, so you’ll need to find the mask that has the right design, features the right materials, and offers the performance that works best for you. Read on to learn about the many benefits of sleep masks, what you should look for when choosing the right mask for your needs, and our top picks of the best sleep masks.
Our Top Picks: Summary
- Best Overall Sleep Mask: MZOO Contoured Sleep Mask
- Best Value Sleep Mask: OriHea Breathable Eye Mask
- Best Sleep Mask for Side Sleepers: Mavogel Cotton Sleep Eye Mask
- Best Silk Sleep Mask: Jersey Slumber Silk Sleep Mask
- Best Weighted Sleep Mask: IMAK Compression Pain Relief Mask
- Best Travel Sleep Mask: Unimi Sleep Mask
The Best Sleep Masks: Our Top Picks
Best Overall: MZOO Contoured Sleep Mask
MZOO Contoured Sleep Mask
3D eye cups with memory foam provide total darkness with no pressure on your eyes.
Why We Picked It
The Mzoo Sleep Mask’s construction makes it comfortable, durable, and versatile. Made of a low-rebound memory foam, this mask is soft and comfortable, and thanks to the wide and deep eye space, it won’t create any pressure on your eyes. The quality behind this mask’s construction contributes to its performance. It is constructed with heat-bonded technology, rather than glue, which makes it durable, and the quality fabric used will not bleed into or stain your sheets. A fully adjustable buckle strap fits any head size without catching your hair.
The result is a comfortable mask that will help you to sleep, but that can also be used for yoga or travel, too. The mask is paired with two earplugs, a travel pouch, and a gift bag, giving you everything you need to fall asleep even in a loud, bright environment.
Keep in Mind
Because of the 3D design that keeps the mask from pressing on your eyes, it can feel bulky at first. With a little time, you’ll adjust to the feel of the mask, and memory foam makes the mask comfortable and soft.
In a Nutshell
- 3D construction keeps the mask off of your eyes so it doesn’t create eye pressure
- Quality construction, including memory foam and heat-bonded technology, makes this mask durable
- Includes mask, two earplugs, travel bag, and gift bag
Best Value: OriHea Sleep Mask
OriHea Sleep Mask
Soft and adjustable, the OriHea is comfortable and affordable.
Why We Picked It
The OriHea Sleep Mask’s design combines comfort with functionality. The 3D contouring around the eyes relieves eye pressure, and this mask also features a nose piece that can be adjusted to completely block out light. It’s made of a premium memory foam and a soft silk lining for all-night comfort. The adjustable Velcro strap allows for a custom fit. While the OriHea sleep mask combines these useful features, it does so at a highly affordable price, making it our pick for best value.
Keep in Mind
This mask can give off a slight odor when it’s brand-new, but this will dissipate if you let the mask air out or place the mask out in the sun for a few hours.
In a Nutshell
- 3D contoured design relieves eye pressure
- Nose piece is adjustable so the mask can fully seal out all light
- Memory foam makes for a soft, comfortable mask
Best for Side Sleepers: Mavogel Cotton Sleep Eye Mask
Mavogel Cotton Sleep Eye Mask
An ergonomic design with triangular side wings make this sleep mask comfortable for laying on your side.
Why We Picked It
The Mavogel Cotton Sleep Eye Mask’s ergonomic design makes it a comfortable option for side sleepers. This mask features soft cotton triangle wings on the sides, which relieve pressure around the eyes and the face. These wings aren’t bulky, so they accommodate side sleepers. Additionally, the nose piece is made of a flexible, bendable cartilage, so you can customize its fit to your nose for increased comfort. Five-layer breathable fabric construction adds comfort, and the adjustable strap fits heads with a 19” to 29” circumference.
Keep in Mind
This mask can create some pressure against your eyes because it doesn’t have a 3D design, but its soft material construction helps to minimize this pressure.
In a Nutshell
- Ergonomic design with side wings doesn’t add bulk, making it ideal for side sleepers
- Bendable nose piece allows for a tailored fit
- Five-layer breathable construction adds comfort throughout the night
Best Silk: Jersey Slumber Silk Sleep Mask
Jersey Slumber Silk Sleep Mask
Lightweight, soft, and highly adjustable.
Why We Picked It
The Jersey Slumber Silk Sleep Mask is made of 100% Mulberry silk, which is the highest quality silk available in the world. Mulberry silk is known for being soft and smooth, and it brings these desirable qualities to this sleep mask. Because the silk is also breathable and naturally hypoallergenic, it makes an ideal choice for this mask.
The mask is designed for comfort and its adjustable strap accommodates any adult head size. The design helps to minimize eye pressure, helping you to sleep comfortably.
Keep in Mind
Some purchasers have found that when the strap is adjusted to be secure, it pulls the mask and puts extra pressure on the eyes. You may need to experiment with different strap tightnesses to find the strap length that makes the mask comfortable and secure.
In a Nutshell
- Made of 100% high-quality soft Mulberry silk
- Adjustable strap allows for a customized fit
- Mask is naturally breathable and hypoallergenic
Best Weighted: IMAK Compression Pain Relief Mask
IMAK Compression Pain Relief Mask
Massaging ergoBeads provide gentle pressure to relieve tension.
Why We Picked It
Combining pain relief and comfort, the IMAK Compression Pain Relief Mask offers a soothing and relaxing experience that can help you to sleep. An orthopedic surgeon designed this mask to relieve the pain associated with migraine and tension headaches, eyestrain, and sinus issues. The mask is filled with ergoBeads which provide gentle pressure and massage around the eyes for pain and tension relief. Because the eye area features a 3D design, the beads do not put pressure directly on the eyes.
In addition to the benefits of the weight, this mask also blocks out light to help you fall asleep and stay asleep. You can put it in the freezer and use it chilled to relieve inflammation or tired eyes, too.
Keep in Mind
When using this mask frozen, the cooling effects only last for a short while. Consider buying two masks so that you can alternate wearing one while the other is in the freezer for longer cooling comfort.
In a Nutshell
- ergoBeads offer weight and compression to relieve the pain of headaches, eyestrain, and more
- Mask can be frozen for cooling comfort without becoming stiff and unpliable
- Thanks to the stitching in the eye area, the mask doesn’t create pressure on the eyes
Best Travel: Unimi Sleep Mask
Unimi Sleep Mask
A great combination of 3D contouring, breathability, and packability.
Why We Picked It
The Unimi Sleep Mask features a unique design to enhance both comfort and performance. The 3D contoured eye space has a wider and deeper design than you’ll find in similar masks, so the mask won’t create pressure on your eyes or rub your eyelids. The nose section is also designed to prevent any light from getting in under the mask, creating a total blackout effect that is ideal for trying to sleep on planes or trains.
This mask is also highly comfortable to wear. It’s two-layer construction of memory foam and elastic polyester make it soft and flexible, while the soft, adjustable Velcro strap adds security without being uncomfortable.
Keep in Mind
Some purchasers find that if they sleep on their backs, they can feel the pressure of the Velcro strap against their heads. You may need to experiment with different strap positions and pillows to find the right fit.
In a Nutshell
- 3D contoured eyes with wider, deeper designs relieve eye pressure and promote comfort
- Nose section is designed to create a total blackout effect without creating nose pressure
- Two-layer memory foam and elastic polyester construction make the mask soft and comfortable
How We Chose the Best Sleep Masks
When choosing the best sleep masks, we considered multiple qualities to evaluate the masks’ performance, value, and overall quality.
Material
A mask’s material affects its comfort, feel, and how well it works. We looked for materials that were soft and breathable, which is important when you’ll be wearing a mask all night long. We also looked for materials that are comfortable, like pressure-relieving memory foam or soft silk, which make it easier to fall asleep and keep you comfortable throughout the night.
Adjustability
A good, comfortable fit is important for any sleep mask, and adjustability plays an important role in that fit. The sleep masks that we’ve included above all have adjustable straps that allow you to choose the ideal tension for a good fit. With plenty of adjustability, a mask is less likely to shift around and disturb your sleep.
Weight
We also considered how the weight of a mask would affect its performance. Lightweight masks are often great choices because it’s easy to forget that you’re wearing them, but weighted masks also offer tension and pain relief properties, too, in addition to their ability to help you fall to sleep by blocking out the light.
Price
We selected masks that are not only affordable, but that also offer good value for their price. Many of these factors, like the material used in a mask, affect its price. We also looked for masks that would last for years to come and found that often times, the more expensive the mask, the longer it will last.
Shape
We carefully considered how each mask’s shape would affect both its performance and your comfort. Many of these masks feature designs that help to block out all of the light, including adjustable or extended nose areas so that no light seeps in under your eyes. Many of these masks also have a 3D design to the eye areas to help relieve pressure and improve comfort so you can relax and fall asleep.
What are the Benefits of a Sleep Mask?
Sleep masks offer many benefits, and they’re a great option for anyone who wants to fall asleep and stay asleep more easily.
- Blocking excessive light: If you’ve ever tried to fall asleep when your roommate was still up, after working the night shift, or on a busy setting like a train in the middle of the day, you know how light can keep you up. Sleep masks block it out so you can sleep anytime, anywhere.
- Calming your mind: The act of putting on a sleep mask can calm your mind and remind your body that it’s time to go to sleep. A mask encourages you to keep your eyes shut and relax, since there’s nothing to see when you open your eyes anyway.
- Easier to sleep while traveling: Need to catch some z’s while on the plane or the train? A sleep mask makes it easier to nap even in settings that aren’t conducive to sleep.
- Eye protection while sleeping: Sleep masks can also help to protect your eyes as you sleep, acting as a barrier or providing your eyes with soothing, cooling comfort.
What to Consider When Choosing a Sleep Mask
When choosing the sleep mask that’s right for you, it can be helpful to consider the different elements that go into a mask’s fit, comfort, and overall performance. Think about the following features when evaluating a sleep mask.
Material
A sleep mask will be pressed against your face all night, and ideally you won’t think about the fact that you’re wearing a mask. Some materials, like silk, are very soft and naturally hypoallergenic. Cotton is another popular material, because of its soft and breathable qualities.
Adjustable Strap
The more that you can customize the fit of a mask, the better the results you’ll have, especially if you sleep on your side. Look for a strap that is wider so that it won’t dig into your head. A Velcro strap is easy to adjust, but some people with longer hair find it gets caught up in their hair during the night. A strap with a sliding adjustment is another option, and it doesn’t have the bulk of a Velcro strap.
Eyecups
Raised, hollow eyecups with a 3D design relieve pressure on your eyes. Some people find this design more comfortable, but make sure that the eyecups are generously sized and spaced appropriately.
Weight
If you’re looking for a mask to help you sleep, a lightweight mask is ideal, since it’s easy to forget you’re wearing it. Weighted masks have benefits, too, and they can help with pain and muscle tension relief.
Durability & Cleaning
Most sleep masks need to be washed by hand and air dried to retain their shape. A mask’s durability is important, especially if you plan to use the mask every night. Look for a mask that has quality construction to ensure that it will last.
Related Resources
Finding a great sleep mask can help you to fall asleep faster, but that’s only one part of the puzzle. The following resources can also help you to get a better quality night’s sleep.
