N95 vs. KN95 Masks: What Workplaces Need to Know
Short answer: N95 and KN95 masks both filter at least 95% of airborne particles. The difference is certification. N95 respirators are approved in the United States by NIOSH. KN95 masks are made to a Chinese standard. If your workplace is required to provide respirators under OSHA rules, you need NIOSH-approved N95s.
What is an N95 respirator?
An N95 is a filtering facepiece respirator approved by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). The "N" means it is not resistant to oil, and "95" means it filters at least 95% of airborne particles in testing. N95s seal to the face and are used in healthcare, construction, manufacturing and other dusty or hazardous environments.
Genuine N95s have a NIOSH approval number (it starts with "TC-84A") printed on the respirator. You can check that number against the NIOSH Certified Equipment List.
What is a KN95 mask?
A KN95 is made to China's respirator standard. It also targets 95% filtration, and many have ear loops instead of head straps. KN95s are often more comfortable and lower in cost, which makes them popular for everyday use in offices, retail and schools.
N95 vs. KN95 at a glance
| N95 | KN95 | |
|---|---|---|
| Filtration | At least 95% | At least 95% |
| Certifying body | NIOSH (United States) | Chinese national standard |
| Typical fit | Head straps, tight seal | Usually ear loops |
| Accepted for OSHA-required respirator programs | Yes | No |
| Best for | Healthcare, industrial dust, regulated workplaces | General workplace and everyday use |
Which one does your business need?
- Choose N95s if employees work in healthcare, handle hazardous dust, or fall under a written OSHA respiratory protection program. Under OSHA's Respiratory Protection Standard, employees required to wear tight-fitting respirators must be fit tested.
- Choose KN95s for voluntary, everyday protection where a respirator is not required, such as front desks, offices and customer-facing staff.
- Choose 3-ply disposable masks for basic splash and droplet protection when filtration standards are not required.
How to spot counterfeit respirators
- No NIOSH approval number, or a number that does not appear on the Certified Equipment List.
- Ear loops on a product sold as an N95 (approved N95s use head straps).
- Claims of "NIOSH approval" on a KN95.
- Prices that are far below the market.
Every Wabii PPE vendor goes through a 6-step screening process, and we use third-party testing labs to confirm products meet the specifications they claim.
Frequently asked questions
Is a KN95 as good as an N95?
Both target 95% filtration, but only N95s are NIOSH-approved. For workplaces that must provide respirators, use N95s.
How many masks come in a case?
At Wabii PPE, Makrite 9500 N95 masks come in cases of 240 and KN95 masks come in cases of 1,000.
