Written from firsthand experience with a deviated septum and checked against clinical sources. We make Ventriq Nasal Strips, so we are always upfront that a strip relieves symptoms rather than fixing the structural problem. Read our methodology or our editorial policy.
Our number one pick for wide or flat noses: the Ventriq Sleep Nasal Strips. Placed low, where a broader nose has the most give, the band reaches down onto the nostril sides and the adhesive holds through a full night of turning over.
Yes, nasal strips work on wide and flat noses, but only if the strip is long enough to reach the soft sides of your nostrils and the band still has some spring once it is pressed down. On a broad nose a short strip can finish on top of the nose, nowhere near the nasal valve it is meant to lift. On a flat nose with a low bridge the band barely bends when you apply it, so it stores less spring and pulls with less force. Our number one pick is Ventriq Sleep, which comes in one size and suits many wider noses when placed low. If it stops short of your nostril sides, a sized strip like Breathe Right Original Large is the honest alternative.
Why Wide and Flat Noses Are Harder to Fit
Every external nasal strip does the same job. It sticks to the lateral nasal wall, the soft outer side of each nostril, and its spring band tries to straighten itself, which pulls that wall outward. That opens the nasal valve, the narrowest point of your airway, about one to two centimetres inside the nostril. Published ENT research on external dilation shows valve area can increase by up to 30% in some people.
Two things can go wrong on a wider or flatter nose.
- The strip is too short. On a broad nose the distance from one nostril side, over the top and down to the other side is longer. A strip sized for an average nose can end with its pads still sitting on the firmer upper part of the nose. The band then has nothing soft to lift, and you feel tape rather than airflow.
- The band is not bent enough. A spring band only pulls because it is curved over your nose and wants to flatten out. A low, flat bridge means less curve, so less stored force. The strip can stick perfectly and still do very little.
Neither of those means strips are not for you. It means the size and placement matter more than the brand name on the box.
My Own Rugby Nose
I played rugby for over ten years and my nose was broken more than once. Noses that take that kind of punishment rarely stay the shape they started. Mine sits differently on one side, and my septum is deviated badly enough that a Consultant Otolaryngologist in Dublin recommended septorhinoplasty. I deferred the surgery so I could keep playing, and I built Ventriq because I needed a drug free way to breathe at night.
That experience taught me that a strip has to suit the nose it is on, not the nose in the advert. If you also have a structural problem, our guide to the best nasal strips for a deviated septum covers that side of it.
The Best Nasal Strips for Wide or Flat Noses, Ranked
1. Ventriq Sleep Nasal Strips: our number one pick
Ventriq Sleep is the one I make and the one I use. For a broader nose the thing that matters is where the pads land, and placed low on the nose, just above the flare of the nostrils, the strip reaches down onto the soft sidewalls on many wider noses. The adhesive is gentle and hypoallergenic and is made to hold through a full night, which helps on a flatter nose where there is more surface for the edges to catch on a pillow. Thirty strips cost EUR 20, about EUR 0.67 a night, with no medication in them.
The honest limit is the same one I gave in our small noses guide: Ventriq comes in one size. If the pads finish on top of your nose rather than on the sides of your nostrils, it is too short for you, and a larger strip is the right call.
2. Breathe Right Original Large
This is the most widely available sized option for a bigger or broader nose. Breathe Right sells its Original strip in Large as well as Small/Medium, and you will find it in most pharmacies in Ireland and the UK. The extra length is exactly what a wide nose needs. The Original band is moderate, so on a very flat nose some people find it a little light. Breathe Right Extra Strength has a stiffer band but comes in one size. For more on how the two brands compare, read Ventriq vs Breathe Right.
3. Ventriq Sport for training
If you want a strip for training rather than sleep, Ventriq Sport has a stiffer band and a stronger adhesive. On a flatter nose that extra stiffness helps make up for the lower curve. It is also one size, so the same placement rule applies. I would not use it as a nightly sleep strip, because a firm band over eight hours is more than most skin needs.
4. Internal dilators: Mute Large
Internal dilators sidestep the outside shape of your nose completely. Mute comes in Small, Medium and Large, with a trial pack of all three, and the Large is the one most people with wide nostrils end up in. The trade off is comfort: something sitting inside the nostril takes getting used to, and it can work loose overnight. Our guide to internal vs external nasal dilators lays out both sides.
Worth skipping
Cheap own brand strips with no size on the pack. They tend to be short, the band is often light, and on a wide or flat nose that is the worst combination.
| Option | Sizes | Band | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ventriq Sleep | One size | Moderate, overnight | Wider noses where the pads reach the nostril sides when placed low |
| Breathe Right Original | Small/Medium, Large | Moderate | Noses too broad for a one size strip |
| Ventriq Sport | One size | Firm | Training on a flatter nose |
| Mute | S, M, L | Internal | Wide nostrils where no strip reaches |
How to Place a Strip on a Wide or Flat Nose
- Clean and dry first. Wash off any moisturiser or sunscreen. A broad nose gives the adhesive more area to bond, but only on bare skin.
- Go low. The nose is widest and softest just above the nostril flare. Placing the strip there gives the pads the best chance of reaching the sidewalls.
- Curve it before you stick it. Gently bend the strip over a finger so it already follows the shape of your nose, then lay the centre down first.
- Press the ends down the sides. Smooth each pad down and outward, not straight across, so the ends follow the curve of the nostril.
- Check in the mirror. Each pad should sit on the soft part you can feel move when you breathe in hard. If both ends are on the firm upper nose, you need a longer strip.
For more on matching a strip to your nose, see how to choose the right nasal strip for your nose shape.
Signs the Strip Is Too Short or Too Weak
- The pads finish on the top of your nose and never touch the nostril sides.
- You feel the tape pulling but notice no change when you breathe in.
- The band lies almost flat once pressed down.
- Your nostrils still pinch inward when you sniff hard with the strip on.
If that sounds like you, move up to a longer sized strip or try an internal dilator. And keep expectations honest. A strip opens the nasal valve while you wear it. It does not straighten a deviated septum, shrink swollen turbinates or treat sleep apnoea. If you snore loudly and wake tired, speak to your GP. For the snoring side, see the best nasal strips for snoring.
The Bottom Line
On a wide or flat nose, length and spring decide whether a strip works. Try Ventriq Sleep first, our number one pick, placed low and curved to your nose before you press it down. If the pads still stop short of your nostril sides, Breathe Right Original Large or a Mute Large will suit you better, and that is a better outcome than a strip that sticks but does nothing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do nasal strips work on wide noses?
Yes, if the strip is long enough. Each pad has to sit on the soft side of a nostril so the band can lift the nasal valve. If the pads finish on top of the nose, the strip will stick but give little extra airflow.
Do nasal strips work on flat noses?
They can, but a low bridge means the band bends less when applied, so it pulls with less force. Placing the strip low, curving it before you apply it and choosing a band with enough stiffness all help.
Does Ventriq make a large size nasal strip?
No. Ventriq Sleep and Ventriq Sport both come in one size. Placed low they fit many wider noses, but if the pads do not reach the nostril sides, a larger strip such as Breathe Right Original Large will work better.
Should I use a stronger strip if I have a flat nose?
For training, a firmer band like Ventriq Sport can make up for the lower curve. For sleep, a moderate overnight band is usually more comfortable over eight hours, so get the placement right before reaching for more strength.
Are internal dilators better for wide nostrils?
They avoid the outside shape of the nose entirely, and Mute comes in a Large size. The trade off is that they sit inside the nostril, which some people never find comfortable, and they can slip out during sleep.
Can a broken nose change which strip fits?
It can. Old breaks often leave the nose wider, flatter or uneven across the middle, so the strip may sit differently on each side. Place it low, check both pads reach soft skin, and talk to an ENT specialist about the structure itself.
If strips have done nothing for your broader nose in the past, it was probably the fit rather than the idea. Try Ventriq Sleep Nasal Strips, place them low and curved, and see how your first night feels.
