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The Best Sleep Masks for Getting Some Rest on Your Next Red-Eye

The secret to sleeping on a long flight lies in the power of a great eye mask. 
15 Best Sleep Masks in 2022 for Getting Some Rest on Your Next RedEye

Getting a good night's sleep is hard enough to do at home, let alone while you're hurtling through the clouds. While some frequent fliers are lucky—and talented—enough to doze off before a plane even takes off, others need the help of a sleep mask to ensure they'll catch some in-flight ZZZs. 

The best sleep masks can help travelers adjust to different time zones and reduce the effects of jet lag. Plus, they deliver total darkness, ideal for when your plane neighbor insists on keeping the overhead light on during a red-eye flight—but also for when you find yourself awake at the crack of dawn on your staycation or trying to catch a backseat nap during a road trip.

We tested some of the most highly rated eye masks on the market to see if they lived up to the hype, so you can find your perfect mask match—whether you need a silky, cool cover or something padded to fight headaches. Read on for our picks of the 15 best eye masks that will improve sleep quality and help travelers unwind wherever they're headed. 

This gallery has been updated with new information since its original publish date.

All products and listings featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. If you purchase something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

  • Lunya Washable Silk sleep mask

    Best for: Those looking for a washable option

    The Lunya Washable Silk sleep mask is super soft, plush, and blocks out all the light—and it goes around the ears so is noise reducing as well. Plus, it's washable silk—very important. —Arati Menon, global digital director

    $48 at Lunya

  • Slip Silk Sleepmask

    Best for: Skincare fanatics

    I'm not one of those who conk out on planes before even reaching cruising altitude, rocked to sleep by the constant motion and white noise of flight. It takes a lot of help—think white wine, perhaps a Tylenol PM, earplugs, and definitely a sleep mask for me to slide into slumber. For the latter, I love the Slip Sleep mask. It's 100 percent silk which means in addition to feeling fantastic (and a little fancy), I wake up with fewer face creases and the back of my hair doesn't look like a rat's nest. Plus, it comes in a dozen of really pretty colors—I alternate between the navy and the rose gold. —Rebecca Misner, senior features editor

    $50 at Sephora
    $50 at Slip

  • Ostrichpillow 3D-ergonomic eye mask

    Best for: People who use blackout curtains at home

    This mask's 3D ergonomic design allows it to adapt to my face's features, completely covering my eyes. It's a lot thicker than eye masks I've used in the past; because of that, it blocks out all light—just as much as my blackout curtains do at home. It's ultra-soft, machine washable, and breathable, meaning it doesn't put a lot of pressure on my eyelids to stay shut while I'm unwinding before takeoff. —Meaghan Kenny, associate commerce editor

    $45 at Ostrichpillow
    $45 at Amazon

  • Imak Compression Eye Mask

    Best for: Those prone to headaches

    I love that this eye mask gives you all the benefits of compression—increased circulation, reduced puffiness, and emotional comfort—without feeling too restrictive or weighty. I always wear it for long-haul or red-eye flights when I know my body will be thrown out of whack. If you can believe it, I wake up feeling better than I ever used to with other eye masks.—Megan Spurrell, senior editor

    $15 at Amazon

  • Manta sleep mask

    Best for: Those who are super sensitive to light

    If you are very sensitive to light or need complete darkness to fall asleep and, more importantly, stay asleep, the Manta sleep mask is the perfect solution. It offers 100 percent blackout and has deep eyecups that will not touch your eyelids, meaning you'll have zero pressure on the eyelids or lashes. It even has adjustable eyecups for a completely personalized fit. The mask is made with soft, breathable materials that don’t feel heavy on the face when worn for an extended period. This makes it perfect for those long-haul flights where sleep is key to beating jet lag. A bonus: It's machine washable, too. —Karthika Gupta, contributor

    $35 at Manta Sleep

  • Casper Snoozewear sleep mask

    Best for: Side sleepers

    I'm a side sleeper, which makes finding a comfortable eye mask difficult. Casper's passes the test: It doesn't move around but also isn't too tight, and I don't have any weird indentations on my skin (or creases in my hair) if I wear it for a full night. It's nice on planes, too; the thick front sufficiently blocks out light, so even if the person next to me is reading or watching TV, I can sleep soundly. —Madison Flager, senior commerce editor

    $49 $44 at Casper

  • Jersey Slumber adjustable sleep mask

    Best for: People who prefer an adjustable band

    This sleep mask is made of silk, super lightweight, and the band adjusts easily to accommodate any hairstyle or head size. The things I look forward to most when it comes to traveling is the sleep I’ll get while en route. I’ve had this sleep mask for about a year now and have counted myself lucky to have it with me during delayed connecting flights and long hours spent in the airport. —Paris Wilson, commerce producer

    $9 at Amazon

  • Tempur-Pedic sleep mask

    Best for: Those who love their Tempur-Pedic mattress

    When I couldn't find my usual sleep mask, I borrowed my mom's Tempur-Pedic one for a long flight. I was so impressed with how comfortable and cool it felt on, thanks to the signature Tempur material. It molds to fit to your face, provides total darkness, and stays in place throughout a flight or full night of sleep. —M.K.

    $29 at Amazon
    $29 at Tempur-Pedic

  • Sound Oasis Glo to Sleep Advanced Sleep Therapy Mask

    Best for: The tech-obsessed

    A hit at 2020’s Consumer Electronics Show—an annual showcase of the latest technology—this eye mask does much more than just block light. With a simple push of a button, users can activate calming red or blue lights that appear on the inside of the eye mask (and are undetectable to those around you). You can opt to have the lights slowly dim or to have them pulse and dim; both settings are designed to help lull you to sleep. Plush foam around the eye area and an adjustable Velcro strap ensure total light blockage, making it ideal for snoozing on the plane when the lights are on. —Juliet Izon, contributor

    $40 at Amazon
    $40 at Sound Oasis

  • Brooklinen Mulberry Silk eye mask

    Best for: Those who run warm when they sleep

    Brooklinen sheets make you unreasonably excited to go to sleep, and the brand’s eye mask is no different. Made from a luxurious charmeuse weave, the mask is extremely breathable and stays cool all flight long, making it the best sleep mask for those who prefer to sleep in the bare minimum. 

    $29 $23 at Brooklinen

  • Gravity Weighted Sleep Mask

    Best for: People who sleep with a weighted blanket

    Like sleeping with a heavy blanket no matter what the temperature is, a little bit of pressure can feel comforting and help you sleep—so why not give your eyes the same luxury? This weighted sleep mask, made by luxury weighted blanket brand Gravity, uses a pound of evenly distributed glass beads covered in a cozy faux cashmere to lull you into a restful sleep.

    $40 at Gravity

  • Mzoo contoured sleep mask

    Best for: Frequent red-eye fliers

    For those who don't love the feeling of something over their eyelids, but need help shutting out ambient light, Mzoo's contoured sleep mask strikes just the right balance. The memory foam mask has raised sections over your eyeballs but lies flat around the nose and eyebrows to block out light. There's an adjustable head strap for additional comfort, too. The mask comes with earplugs and a travel pouch to keep them in, and has an impressive 8,500-plus five-star reviews on Amazon.

    $29 $23 at Amazon

  • Asutra Silk Eye Pillow

    Best for: Those who are always lighting candles

    Asutra’s Silk Eye Pillow is one of the most calming options for nervous travelers. It’s infused with organic lavender buds to create a soothing atmosphere, no matter how chaotic your surroundings may be. Lavender is also known to relieve tension and headaches, two things that tend to go hand in hand during a stressful journey.

    $22 at Asutra
    $20 at Target

  • Nidra Deep Rest Eye Mask

    Best for: Anyone who needs total darkness to sleep

    If a single beam of light filtering through a crack in your hotel’s blackout shades will wake you up, the Nidra Deep Rest Eye Mask will be your sleep savior. Made from a lightweight foam, the molded eye cups avoid putting pressure on your eyes while also contouring flat around your nose to block out all light. The soft elastic straps adjust to fit any size head, and the velcro fastener stays securely shut, preventing tangles in your hair.

    $22 $18 at Amazon

  • Morihata Binchotan Eye Mask

    Best for: Long-haul business warriors 

    This rejuvenating eye mask is infused with a premium Japanese activated charcoal that is said to reduce puffiness and diminish signs of fatigue. It’s softly padded with a glossy satin front and an additional strip of fabric that gently contours around the nose and eyes to block out light and ease you into sleep.

    $28 at Amazon
Caroline Morse Teel has traveled to seven continents, jumped out of planes, and bungeed off bridges—all in the pursuit of a good story. Caroline is an experienced travel writer whose work has been featured in Lonely Planet, USA Today, The Boston Globe, Business Insider, TripAdvisor, Yahoo, SmarterTravel, and more. Follow... Read more
Meaghan Kenny is the commerce editor at Condé Nast Traveler, where she covers shopping content including fashion, beauty, luggage, and travel accessories. She leads projects including Traveler's annual Luggage Week and tentpole events like Amazon Prime Day. Before taking on this role, she was Traveler's editorial assistant and has been... Read more
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