The 8 Best Air Purifiers to Help You Breathe Easy
Reduce the amount of pollutants, odors, mold, dust, and pet dander circulating in your home with a dedicated air purifier.
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Whether you suffer from seasonal allergies, need to clear your home’s air of smoke and odors, or just want to ensure that you aren’t inhaling unnecessary pollutants, an air purifier is a great investment. An effective air purifier can remove a significant amount of these particulates from your home—some up to 99.97%—and give you the confidence that the air you’re breathing is as close to pure as you’re probably going to get. These machines come in a range of sizes, and usually feature a digital readout so you can monitor exactly how effectively they’re operating.
What to Consider
To ensure that your purifier is working as effectively and efficiently as possible, make sure that it uses a reliable filter system. Look for models that feature a HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) filter. These are designed to allow for air to pass through them relatively easily, while a highly dense filter system captures pollutants and particles in this air, some as small as .3 microns.
It’s worth noting that one of the models we included, the Blueair Blue Pure 211+ does not technically have a HEPA filter, but instead uses an electrostatic filtration system to remove particulates. Despite the fact that it uses a different filter, tests from Wirecutter and Consumer Reports promote its effectiveness as comparable to HEPA models.
To make sure you’re getting an accurate idea of the future costs of your air purifier, make note of how frequently the filters need to be replaced, as well as how much these replacements cost. Some models that have a higher initial cost will actually end up being more affordable in the long run than cheaper models that need more frequent filter replacements.
If you’re planning on your air purifier being a permanent fixture in your home, pay close attention to its appearance and style. It might be worth paying a bit extra for a unit that will match your home decor, or one that has a variety of colors to pick from. To make your purifier disappear into the background of your room even more, look for one that features a manual display shutoff, which will temporarily disable any bright LED displays.
Coway Coway AP-1512HH Mighty
Pros
- Real-time air quality indictator
- Auto-shutoff
Key Specs
- Weight: 12.35 pounds
- Noise: 24.4 to 53.8 dB
- Coverage: 350 square feet
- HEPA Filter: Yes
Available in a black or white color scheme, and with a minimal and modern design, this Coway purifier would be a great choice for those who want a unit that can blend into their existing home decor.
Its four-stage filtration process traps up to 99.97% of allergens, and even removes unpleasant odors from the surrounding air. It also constantly monitors the air quality of your home, and gives you real-time updates via the top-mounted control panel and an easy-to-read color-coded system.
Using its Auto mode, this machine will even automatically adjust its fans based on these updates.
Pros
- Wi-Fi-enabled
- Lightweight design
Key Specs
- Weight: 16.5 pounds
- Noise: 28 dB on low
- Coverage: 360 square feet
- HEPA Filter: Yes
If you’re a tech-savvy homeowner and already have a Smart device like an Alexa, this Winix purifier and its Wi-Fi connectivity could be a convenient option. You can easily monitor the air quality and control your device’s settings and air flow by using voice commands, and even order extra filters by connecting to the Winix Smart app and using Amazon Dash.
Its HEPA filter can capture pollutants as small as .3 microns in size, and the unit itself is powerful enough to cover 360 square feet of space. It is one of the larger models that we included though, so if you’re short on space, you may want to consider a more compact option.
LEVOIT Levoit Core 300
Pros
- Compact size is easy to handle
- 360-degree air intake
- Low price
Cons
- May not be powerful enough for large rooms
Key Specs
- Weight: 8.8 pounds
- Noise: 24 dB
- Coverage: 219 square feet
- HEPA Filter: Yes
If you don’t require your humidifier to cover a large area, this low-cost, compact option could be just what you’re looking for. Even though it may lack the power of larger models, this Levoit purifier is just as effective, with a pure HEPA filter, a pet allergy filter, and also operates at a low 24 dB noise level.
Its cylindrical design and 360-degree air intake makes this a productive and efficient machine, capable of refreshing the air in a 219 square foot space five times per hour. Its low weight of 8.8 pounds also makes it easy to move from room to room.
Pros
- 1-year warranty
- Single button control
Cons
- Expensive
- Heavier than most
- Noisier than similar models
Key Specs
- Weight: 13 pounds
- Noise: 31-56 dB
- Coverage: 540 square feet
- HEPA Filter: No
If you’re looking to use your purifier in a large room—up to 540 square feet—this Blueair model and its 3-step filtration system could be a perfect fit.
In addition to its washable fabric pre-filter that captures large particles before they enter the unit, this option also uses an activated coconut carbon filter to trap odors from pets, cooking, and smoking. It's also simple to operate, and uses just a single button to power on, as well as switch between different fan modes.
Although this model is louder than most, its wide coverage and powerful fan could make it worth a little extra noise.
Pure Enrichment Pure Enrichment PureZone Mini
Pros
- Can be used vertically or horizontally
- 12-hour runtime
Cons
- Not practical for large spaces
Key Specs
- Weight: 9.6 ounces
- Noise: N/A
- Coverage: 54 square feet
- HEPA Filter: Yes
The compact size and removable handle of this model makes it ideal for those looking for a portable purifier. Whether you’re planning on moving it from room to room, or bringing it with you on vacation, its .6-pound weight and 2.7-inch footprint allow you to move it around with practically no effort.
The rechargeable battery makes it even more portable, and the USB-C port allows for a decent amount of flexibility when it needs to be charged up. A single charge will last for up to 2.5 hours on high, although the small size only makes it effective for spaces up to 54 square feet.
Pros
- Color-coded LED readout
- Large space coverage
Cons
- Expensive
- Large size may not be ideal for some users
Key Specs
- Weight: 22.2 pounds
- Noise: N/A
- Coverage: 1,200 square feet
- HEPA Filter: Yes
This Shark model uses six micro-fans to process air through its filter, allowing it to capture 99.98% of dust, allergens, and particles in an area up to 1,200 square feet in size.
Although this model is larger than most of the options on our list, it’s still relatively narrow at 8.9 inches, which makes it a bit less intrusive if you place it near a wall or piece of furniture. This slim footprint, combined with its 32-inch height might pose a tipping hazard if you have small children or rambunctious pets, though, so keep that in mind.
Pros
- Can be completely dimmed for bedroom use
- Filter replacement indicator
- Child lock
Cons
- Expensive
- Bulky size
Key Specs
- Weight: 32 pounds
- Noise: 70 dB at max power
- Coverage: 2,500 square feet every 30 minutes
- HEPA Filter: Yes
If you need to tackle large spaces that have serious purification needs, this Medify machine could be just the ticket. It’s designed with maximum productivity in mind, and can clear a 3,700-square-foot room in 1 hour, or a 2,500-square-foot space in just 30 minutes.
This would be a great choice for anyone with spaces that are especially smoky, or areas with a lot of activity like classrooms or offices. Even though its large size and weight is more than most options, the wheeled base makes it easy to transport from room to room.
Pros
- Efficient operation
- Sleek design
- App compatible
Cons
- Extremely expensive
- Heavy weight
Key Specs
- Weight: 50 pounds
- Noise: 35-67 dB
- Coverage: 750 square feet and above
- HEPA Filter: Yes
If money’s no object and your top priority is having the best of the best, this Swiss-engineered Aeris machine could be just what you’re looking for. Its 3-in-1 filter system removes 99.95% of pollutants and particles as small as .1 microns, and Aeris claims that it completes this process three times faster than most of the competition.
This model can also connect to your phone for app compatibility, allowing you to control it from anywhere in the world. Even though it does have a fairly large footprint, the muted, minimal look helps it blend into a modern home easier than other purifiers.
Alex Rennie is a freelance writer who specializes in the Home Improvement, DIY, and Tool space. As a former residential and commercial carpenter, Alex uses his hands-on experience to write practical buying guides, how-to articles, and product reviews. His work has also appeared in Business Insider's Insider Picks, and before his writing career, he was a full-time carpenter living in New York City. There, he worked as part of a team designing, building, and installing large furniture pieces, as well as performing a variety of home repair and maintenance projects. Alex currently lives in Los Angeles, CA, and spends his free time exploring the beaches and mountains with his fiancé and their dog Louie.
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