Finding the Right Tubing (Hose) for Your CPAP

Finding the right tubing for your CPAP and mask can be challenging. In this post we cover the main characteristics of different tubing options, including a guide to finding tubing options for the most popular CPAP machines.

There are three main dimensions to consider: length, hose diameter, diameter of the connecting ends.

Tubing length

This is the length from where the tubing attaches to your CPAP to the attachment at your mask.

Standard CPAP tubing is usually 6 feet long.

10-foot tubing is available from some manufacturers. It’s even possible to find 4-foot and 8-foot tubing, though it’s much less common.

Factors to consider:

Where is your CPAP? Is it close to your bed on a side table? Could you move it closer? While most people are happy with standard length tubing, you may not be able to keep your CPAP machine close to your bed and require longer tubing.

The longer your tubing, the longer distance the air has to travel from your heated humidifier to your mask. As the air travels through the tubing, it’s temperature drops and it loses moisture, which can also lead to rainout (read more about rainout and how to prevent it here). If you’re affected by cold or dry air, you may want to consider sticking with standard length tubing and see if heated tubing may work for you.

Tubing diameter

Tubing diameter is the inner width of the tubing. The inside of CPAP tubing is smooth, whereas the outside may be ribbed, depending on the type of tubing.

Standard tubing has an inside diameter of 19mm.

 “Slim” or thin tubing has an inside diameter of 15mm.

Tubing diameter affects your CPAP settings

When you are first setting up your CPAP machine, you (or your equipment provider) is asked to select the type of tubing being used. If you switch to different tubing, be sure to update your CPAP settings or contact your equipment provider for assistance.

Much less common is 22mm diameter tubing. Older, less sophisticated CPAP machines benefited from tubing with a larger inner diameter to estimate and control the air pressure at the mask, especially for devices that change pressure (such as a bilevel PAP which has different pressure setting when you breathe in vs out). Today’s machines are much “smarter” and can sense the pressure at the mask with much narrower tubing.

Connectors to the mask and CPAP machine

All CPAP hoses have a 22mm connection cuff and fit onto all CPAP masks.

The connection ports on most CPAP machines (also APAPs, bilevel and other PAP devices, learn more about the differences here) will fit standard 19mm tubing. Many newer machines will also fit 15mm slim or thing tubing. See the guide to tubing and machines below to see which tubing will work with your CPAP machine.

In order to use slim tubing with 15mm inner diameter, you must have a CPAP machine that allows you to change the settings.

Heated hoses are usually specific to one type of CPAP machine. For example, the ResMed ClimateLineAir™ Heated Tube for AirSense 10 and AirCurve10 machines can only be used by with those machines.

Some travel CPAPs will require an adapter for certain types of hosing.

Guide to CPAP Tubing (Hoses)

Name or TypeManufacturerLengthInner DiameterConnector DiameterMachine Compatibility
StandardMany6-foot (most common) also available in 10, 8 & 4-foot lengths19mm22mmMost CPAP machines by most manufacturers.  It’s sometimes referred to as “universal” tubing
SlimLine™ResMed6-foot15mm22mmCompatible with machines that can use a 15mm hose. It is not compatible with a machine that can use only a heated hose.
 
Is not compatible with machines that require a 22mm or heated hose.
ClimateLineAir™ResMed6-foot15mm22mmResMed AirSense™ 10 and AirCurve™ 10
ClimateLine™ResMed6-foot15mm22mmResMed S9™ with H5i™ Climate Control System
ClimateLine Max™ResMed6-foot19mm22mmOnly works with ResMed S9™ with H5i™ Climate Control System
Heated Tubing for DreamStationRespironics6-foot15mm22mmConnects to the DreamStation Heated Humidifier, compatible with all DreamStation Machines.
PR System One Heated Tube for 60 Series MachinesRespironics6-foot15mm22mmPR System One REMStar 60 Series Machines with Heated Humidifier
Pure White ThinRespironics6-foot15mm22mmCompatible with machines that can use a 15mm hose. It is not compatible with a machine that can use only a heated hose.
 
Is not compatible with machines that require a 22mm or heated hose.
Pure White PerformanceRespironics6-foot19mm22mmMost CPAP machines by most manufacturers, including the AirSense™ 10 and AirCurve™ 10 (exception is machine that requires a thin/slim tube or 22mm tube)
ThermoSmart Heated Hose for ICON SeriesFisher & Paykel6-foot19mm22mmOnly works with the Fisher & Paykel ICON Series machines.
SleepStyle Series Thermosmart™ Heated HoseFisher & Paykel6-foot19mm22mmOnly works with the Fisher & Paykel 600 Series machines.

Tubing Options by CPAP Machine

MachineCompatible Tubing
ResMed AirSense™ 10 and AirCurve™ 10Standard, SlimLine™, ClimateLineAir™, Pure White Thin, Pure White Performance
ResMed S9™ with H5i™ Climate Control SystemStandard, SlimLine™, ClimateLine™, ClimateLine Max™, Pure White Thin, Pure White Performance,
Respironics DreamStationStandard, Heated Tubing for DreamStation, Pure White Thin, Pure White Performance, SlimLine™
Respironics  PR System OnePR System One Heated Tube for 60 Series Machines, Pure White Performance, SlimLine™,
Fisher & Paykel IconStandard, ThermoSmart Heated Hose for ICON Series
Fisher & Paykel 600Standard , SleepStyle Series Thermosmart™ Heated Hose

Is it time to order replacement CPAP tubing?

Shop for CPAP tubing

Other posts you may find interesting:

Comments

  1. thanh tri nguyen Reply

    what hose should i buy to fit with my old ZZZ PaP.
    Thank you

  2. Craig Reply

    Why is my pressure very noticabley lower with an 8 ft hose vs a 6 ft?

    • Chris Reply

      Pressure is a function of volume (Pi x radius squared x length.). 8 x 19 x19 x 3.414 = 42.2 cubic inches. 6x19x19x3.414= 31.64 cu in. 42.2 / 31.64 = 1.33 times larger. For the same feeling of pressure you’d have to use Boyd’s Law – the bigger the volume the lower the pressure.

  3. eddie Reply

    The air has longer ways to travel with the longer hose, so you would lose pressure.

  4. Andrew Reply

    I have new hoses. I know the ends are 19 mm but I don’t know how to determine the size of the hose. Are there markings?

  5. robert j. wall Reply

    will heated hose fit my system one phillips cpap that only comes with regular hose but has heated humidifier

  6. Greg Reply

    I have a resmed airsense 10 elite and I need to conneyigg th to a Phillipps respironics dreamwear mask. The connectors don’t fit. Any ideas?

  7. Dionisio Cuevas Reply

    I am working on a project. Is it possible to buy slimline tubing by the foot? I am looking for 100′ to craft with. Thanks

  8. Michele Bond Reply

    What tubing do we use for the Fisher & Paykel mask ? The Res med heated air curve tube does not fit the mask we were given ?

  9. High Rated Gabru Reply

    Nice info. Keep writing!!

  10. Jess Reply

    Will a heated hose fit my ResMed AirSense 10?

  11. Mx. Nathan Tamar Pautz Reply

    I am browsing online and looking at the Fisher and Paykel Full Face masks Flexifit #431and #432. The #432 is an updated version of the #431. The instructions for both masks say to use only silicone tubing, not PVC tubing, which causes faster wear and tear. Where do you get silicone tubing? I don’t
    see it online. My current tubing is 10,’ probably PVC.

  12. Darren Smith Reply

    What is the difference between clear, standard hoses and “black-out” dark grey hoses? Is one better than the other?

  13. JL Reply

    I am unable to get my hose disconnected for cleaning, I’m not strong enough to press the arrows to remove – Any helpful tips?

    • Ken Reply

      You might try a pair of pliers opened to their widest setting. There are different shapes of pliers, you would need something like slip-joint or Channel-Lock (water-pump) pliers. If they don’t reach the tabs maybe you could stick a small pad on the outside of each tab that the pliers could reach.
      It may be that sticking pads on the outside of the tabs would give you enough leverage that you could press them with your fingers.

  14. basketball stars Reply

    After reading the article, I have chosen the right type of Tubing for myself.

  15. Rachel B Santoleri Reply

    Is there a reel for the hose? I am always tripping on it.

  16. Rachel B Santoleri Reply

    Help me to stop from tripping on the hose. Do you sell reels for the hose?

  17. bloxd io Reply

    I agree with your point. I can purchase 10-foot tubing easily in any shops and I also often use these tubes.

  18. wordle Reply

    I love that! They are specifically what I need! I appreciate you sharing these amazing and fulfilling experiences with me and with all of you.

  19. Best Cricket id Provider Reply

    Salutations, This post contains some really helpful suggestions. The biggest transformations come from the smallest adjustments.
    I appreciate you sharing so much!

Leave a Reply to Ken Cancel reply