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Background The effectiveness of cloth face masks to prevent viral spread has not yet been conclusively established. In this meta-analysis, we evaluate their effectiveness in comparison to standard medical/surgical and N95-typed masks against viral spread. Methods We identified literature through a systematic search in three databases and meta-analytically synthesized relevant studies by means of random-effects as well as multilevel modelling. Results Twelve studies comprising k  = 28 effect sizes (N  = 338) were included. Medical/surgical and N95-typed masks outperformed cloth masks, yielding a large effect (g  = 1.40). This effect remained robust when data were grouped according to comparisons with medical/surgical masks (g  = 1.25) and N95-typed masks (g  = 1.29). However, effects were differentiated according to mask fit, indicating reversals of signs when cloth mask effects were compared with ill-fitting medical/surgical and N95-typed masks (g s = −12.50 and − 10.90, respectively). Conclusions Cloth face masks were found to have significantly poorer filtering performance than medical/surgical masks and N95 masks, but only if non-cloth masks were properly fitted. Our results illustrate the necessity of using well-fitting medical/surgical or N95-typed masks to prevent viral spread, although some allowance should be made in circumstances where higher compliance with cloth mask mandates are expected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]