Respirator guide
N95 vs KN95
- NIOSH-certified (US, 42 CFR 84)
- OSHA APF = 10
- Accepted for US workplace use
- ≥95% non-oil particulate filtration
- China standard GB2626
- No OSHA APF (not NIOSH-approved)
- Not accepted for US occupational use
- ≥95% particulate filtration (as tested)
The core difference: certification
Both are designed to capture about 95% of airborne particulates. The difference is who certified them and to what standard. An N95 is tested and approved by NIOSH in the United States. A KN95 is manufactured to China’s GB2626 standard and is not NIOSH-approved.
Why it matters for US workplaces
OSHA’s respiratory-protection standard (29 CFR 1910.134) is built around NIOSH-approved respirators. Because a KN95 is not NIOSH-approved, it has no OSHA assigned protection factor and cannot be used to meet workplace respiratory-protection requirements. An N95, as a half-mask air-purifying respirator, carries an APF of 10. Counterfeit KN95s have also been a widespread problem, which is another reason US employers rely on the NIOSH approval label.
Bottom line
For personal, non-occupational use either may be fine. For any OSHA-covered workplace, use a NIOSH-approved N95 (or higher). See the N95 APF guide and check whether an N95 is adequate for your exposure with the calculator. Reference only — verify with a qualified professional.
Is a KN95 the same as an N95?
They filter similarly (about 95% of particulates), but they are certified to different standards. N95 is certified by NIOSH in the United States (42 CFR 84); KN95 is certified to China’s GB2626 standard. For US occupational use, only a NIOSH-approved respirator such as an N95 has a recognized OSHA assigned protection factor.
Can I use a KN95 for OSHA workplace compliance?
No. OSHA 29 CFR 1910.134 recognizes NIOSH-approved respirators. A KN95 is not NIOSH-approved, so it has no OSHA assigned protection factor and cannot be used to satisfy workplace respiratory-protection requirements — even though it may be acceptable for personal, non-occupational use.
What is the APF of an N95?
An N95 is a half-mask air-purifying respirator with an OSHA assigned protection factor of 10. A KN95 has no OSHA APF because it is not NIOSH-approved.