$$ price range
Manta Sleep
Total blackout with zero pressure on your eyes
Manta Original Sleep Mask with Adjustable Eye Cups
BlackoutFull
FitAdjustable cups
Blackout without eye pressure
Check price on Amazon(paid link)Sleep Masks
Best Sleep Masks for Total Darkness (2026)
Light is the strongest signal your body clock reads. A mask that genuinely blocks it is the cheapest sleep upgrade there is — as long as it stays comfortable enough to keep on until morning. These picks cover contoured, flat and budget options.
Our picks
$$$ price range
Manta Sleep
Side sleepers and warm sleepers
Manta Pro Sleep Mask
BlackoutFull
Best forSide sleepers
Side-sleeper strap and airflow
Check price on Amazon(paid link)$ price range
Alaska Bear
A soft, flat mask that packs anywhere
Alaska Bear Mulberry Silk Sleep Mask
BlackoutHigh
MaterialMulberry silk
Featherweight silk for travel
Check price on Amazon(paid link)$ price range
Mavogel
Best value blackout mask
Mavogel Cotton Sleep Eye Mask with Adjustable Nose Bridge
BlackoutHigh
MaterialLayered cotton
Nose wire seals out light
Check price on Amazon(paid link)Compare at a glance
| Pick | Best for | Type | Key detail | Price range | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manta Original Sleep Mask with Adjustable Eye Cups | Total blackout with zero pressure on your eyes | Full | Adjustable cups | $$ | Amazon →(paid link) |
| Manta Pro Sleep Mask | Side sleepers and warm sleepers | Full | Side sleepers | $$$ | Amazon →(paid link) |
| Alaska Bear Mulberry Silk Sleep Mask | A soft, flat mask that packs anywhere | High | Mulberry silk | $ | Amazon →(paid link) |
| Mavogel Cotton Sleep Eye Mask with Adjustable Nose Bridge | Best value blackout mask | High | Layered cotton | $ | Amazon →(paid link) |
How to choose
Check the nose gap first
Almost all light leaks in at the bridge of the nose. Contoured eye cups and bendable nose wires fix this; plain flat masks usually don't.
Contoured cups if you have lashes or dry eyes
Cup-style masks leave space in front of your eyes, so nothing presses on your eyelids and you can open your eyes inside the mask. Flat masks are slimmer but sit directly on the lids.
Side sleepers need a slim strap
A thick buckle or wide strap that ends up under your ear will wake you. Look for a flat back strap with the adjustment placed at the back of the head.
Sleep masks: how to pick one you'll actually keep on
Why darkness matters for your body clock, contoured versus flat, side-sleeper fit, and how to keep a mask comfortable.
Read the guideFrequently asked
Do sleep masks actually help you sleep better?+
Darkness is one of the main cues your body clock uses, and light exposure at night suppresses melatonin. A mask that blocks light is a simple way to get that darkness when curtains, streetlights or a daytime sleep schedule are working against you.
What is the best sleep mask for side sleepers?+
Look for a slim, flat strap and cups shaped so nothing digs in when your face is against the pillow. The Manta Pro was designed around exactly this, and a lightweight silk mask like the Alaska Bear is the flat-mask alternative.
Silk, cotton or contoured — which should I pick?+
Silk is the lightest and coolest, and packs smallest for travel. Layered cotton with a nose wire is the cheapest way to get real blackout. Contoured cup masks block the most light and keep pressure off your eyes, at the cost of bulk.
How do I stop a sleep mask sliding off at night?+
Adjust the strap so it is snug but not tight, keep the buckle at the back of your head rather than the side, and prefer a wider strap area where the mask meets your temples.
Editorial review updated September 2026