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Best eye masks for a quality night's sleep
The best eye masks can help to block out light for a more comfortable and undisturbed sleep.
Whether you're a light sleeper or regularly travel, we've tested the best velvet and silk eye masks, and more materials, from brands including Boots, Drowsy, Manta, Slip and more.
Our test rates every sleep mask on their light-blocking ability, as well as how comfortable and secure they feel. the best eye masks get it dark while being light and comfy on your face.
Two Best Buy choices were named the best eye masks for sleeping, and two Great Value picks at less than £15. Sweet dreams!
How our tests find you the best
Light blocking
Don't let a sliver of sun spoil your beauty sleep. Our panel rates how well each mask blocks out light.
We also test...
Comfort and fit, so you can find the eye mask that helps, rather than hinders, your ability to sleep.
The best eye masks for sleep
Only logged-in Which? members can view the eye mask test results below.
Join Which? to get instant access to our test results and Best Buy recommendations below.
| Eye mask | Price | Score | Light blocking | Comfort | Fit | Adjustable head strap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 95% | ||||||
| 95% | ||||||
| 83% | ||||||
| 79% | ||||||
| 77% | ||||||
| 71% | ||||||
| 68% |
Date tested: October 2023. Page last checked: January 2025. We are not able to show every retailer and cheaper prices may be available.
The eye masks we tested
All the eye masks we tested are listed in alphabetical order below.
Only logged-in Which? members can view the best eye masks from our tests.
Join Which? to get instant access to our test results and Best Buy recommendations below.
Boots Mulberry Silk Eye Mask
Material Silk outer fabric, polyester filling
Need to know Handwash only
Drowsy Silk Sleep Mask
Material Mulberry silk
Need to know Handwash only, adjustable head strap with hook-and-loop fastener, available in 16 colours
Elizabeth Scarlett Honey Bee Eye Mask
Available from Elizabeth Scarlett (£25)
Material Cotton velvet front, polyester velvet back
Need to know Spot-clean only, lavender scented, storage pouch included, available in six colours
Halos Blackout Memory Foam Sleep Mask
Material Memory foam
Need to know Handwash only, memory foam, adjustable head strap, storage pouch included
For an even comfier sleep, see our pick of the best pillows, best ear plugs for sleeping and best travel pillows
Manta Sleep Mask
Material Modal fabric eye cups, polycotton head strap
Need to know Machine washable in mesh bag (included) at 30°C, adjustable head strap with hook-and-loop fastener, adjustable eye cups
Mavogel Cotton Sleep Eye Mask
Material Cotton
Need to know Handwash in cold water, adjustable strap, flexible nose bridge, storage pouch included, available in two colours
Slip Silk Sleep Mask
Material Mulberry silk
Need to know Handwash only, available in 22 colours
Soap & Glory The Rest Assured Sleep Mask
Material Polyester
Need to know Handwash only, adjustable head strap
William Morris At Home Velvet Eye Mask
Material Velvet
Need to know Wipe clean only, lavender scented
How we test eye masks for sleep
We choose the best-selling eye masks available at UK retailers and recruit a panel of testers to try them out.
We pick a variety of materials, including silk eye masks and velvet sleep masks, and get a diverse panel of testers to rate every single eye mask we test - not just one or two each.
Which? pays for all the products we test. No brand can buy their way into our testing.
We regularly revisit the sleep masks on sale to see if any new ones warrant testing and, when we find them, we do.
Each eye mask is rated on the following:
- Light blocking Our testers rate how effective each eye mask is at blocking out light. The best achieve a total blackout effect and the worst let light leak in.
- Comfort Our testers assess how comfortable each eye mask feels. They consider how the material feels against their skin and how much pressure the mask applies.
- Fit When our testers try on each eye mask, they rate how secure it feels and whether there's an adjustable head strap to achieve the perfect fit.
Find out more about how Which? is not influenced by product manufacturers or retailers and how your support helps us to stay editorially independent.
Do eye masks work?
We all have a restless night's sleep now and then. But if you're constantly struggling, do eye masks help you sleep?
The short answer is yes. Blocking out light when you're trying to sleep supports your body's natural circadian system.
Part of this system is the production of melatonin, which helps you fall and stay asleep. If you're exposed to light at night, the production of this hormone is suppressed.
But the evidence isn't always clear-cut. For instance, in a 2022 study by Cardiff University, participants reported that wearing an eye mask didn't affect their sleep quality compared with not wearing one. This seems to contradict the claim that masks work as a sleep aid.
Yet when participants were given memory and alertness tests on days following the nights of sleeping with an eye mask, they performed better than when they hadn't been wearing one the night before.