Where to Buy masks in France

written by Yupin Tsai October 17, 2022

Also available in: 繁體中文

In an effort to prepare the French public for the much awaited deconfinement on May 11, it has been announced by the French government that wearing of masks on public transportation will be mandatory. Failure to comply with this new regulation will be subject to a fine of 135€. In addition to this, the government has also left the business owners to decide whether or not they would require the wearing of masks inside their own establishments.

At the onset of the spread of Covid-19 in France, masks were very hard to find as the government took control of all supply to save some for the healthcare professionals. Thankfully, France now has a steady supply of masks, both surgical and cloth masks, to be able to open sales to the public.

Most stores like supermarket chains will be able to start selling masks from May 4. In this article, you will find all the information regarding:

– FAQs on buying masks in France
– the supermarkets where masks are available
– how much their masks cost
– what are the purchase limits at every supermarket

4 FAQs on buying masks in France

According to the news outlet Franceinfo：

1. What types of masks can I buy?

You can buy single-use and washable cloth masks.
The cloth mask will have to have a filtering quality. When choosing a cloth mask, make sure to look for these logos which indicate that they have been tested and up to how many washes the cloth mask can be re-used.

2. Where can I buy a mask?

In addition to pharmacies, people in France will also be able to buy masks in major supermarkets such as Carrefour, Casino, Monoprix, Intermarché, Franprix and so on. There is a chance that supply may sell out but more masks will come from May 11.

3. How much does a mask cost?

The government is keeping a close eye on prices of masks. The price of disposable surgical masks cannot exceed 0,95€ per piece.
Washable cloth masks have no price restrictions due to different levels of quality, materials, and number of times they can be washed.

4. How will it be sold?

At present, most supermarkets will put masks by the checkout area to avoid the shortage caused by hoarding.
Although major supermarkets will start selling on May 4, French authorities recommend that people do not rush to buy. The subsequent supply will become more stable going forward.

Buying masks at Major French Supermarkets

We have compiled below some information on mask prices at different French supermarkets. The following information is from the newspaper Le Parisien. Actual prices and regulations may be changed so please only use this information as reference.

Intermarché

Surgical mask: 0,59€/pc; 29,54€/per pack of 50 pieces
Cloth masks: available from mid-May
Priority is currently given to Intermarché members who book online

Carrefour

Surgical mask: available in 5 or 10 pieces; 0,58€/pc
Cloth masks: from 1-3€
There’s a limit of two packs per person

Casino

Surgical mask: 29,54€ / per pack of 50 pieces
Cloth masks: still looking for suppliers
There’s a limit of only one box per person per week

Franprix

Surgical mask: 6.90€/10 pcs; 12,90€/20 pcs; 15,90€/25 pcs; 29,90€/50 pcs
Cloth mask: Currently priced at 2,20 € per piece
Purchases per person will be limited.

Monoprix

Surgical mask: 6,90€/10 pcs; 29,90€/50 pcs
Cloth mask: 4,40€ for a 2-piece set
There’s a limit of 1 box of surgical masks or 2 sets of cloth masks per person.

LECLERC

Surgical mask: about 0,50€-0,60€ per piece
Cloth mask: 2-3€ per piece
There’s a limit of 1 box of surgical masks or 2 sets of cloth masks per person.

LIDL

Surgical mask: 6€/10 pcs; 30€/50 pcs
Cloth mask: unknown
There’s a limit of 1 box of 50 pieces or 2 boxes of 10 pieces per person.

SYSTÈME U

Surgical mask: 5,80€/10 pcs
Cloth mask: 2,72€/piece available in 2-piece and 4-piece sets
There’s a limit of 1 box of 50 pieces or 2 boxes of 10 pieces per person.