9 of the best air purifiers, according to experts

Whether you live in a city, near wildfires, or in an area with a high pollen count, these air cleaners have the features that experts recommend.
By Leah Stodart and Caitlin McCormack  on 
All products featured here are independently selected by our editors and writers. If you buy something through links on our site, Mashable may earn an affiliate commission.

Overview

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Best for a desktop

LEVOIT Air Purifier

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Best high-end pick

Dyson Pure Hot+Cool

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Best for the budget

GermGuardian 3-in-1

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Best portable purifier

LG PuriCare Mini Air Purifier

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Best for filtering bacteria and pollen

Instant HEPA Air Purifier

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We know taking deep breaths is calming and all, and we don't want to freak you out — but those big gulps of untreated air can contain a lot of allergens, not to mention harmful contaminants and irritants.

For one thing, pollen season is getting worse every year. (If your allergies seem more annoying than usual lately, it's not your imagination.) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) notes that warmer temperatures and increased carbon dioxide levels have caused plants to produce more allergenic pollen in larger quantities.

Combined with worsening levels of smog and other fine-particle air pollution amid increased natural gas use, a rise in car usage, and the now-annual wildfires that burn through the West, it's no wonder air purifiers (or air cleaners, as they're sometimes called) have made their way onto lists of must-have home appliances.

What are the benefits of air purifiers?

Air purifiers provide both preventative benefits by helping you avoid long-term exposure to dirty air, and by treating ailments such as asthma and allergies. 

“We all know that horrifying feeling when you see the dirty filter of an air purifier to realize what we’ve been breathing into our lungs and bloodstream all these years,” says Dr. Zhang Yan, Founder and CEO of air purification company Airdog. She holds dozens of patents and launched the first ionic air purifiers in the North American market in 2017.

She says that eliminating harmful airborne particles is the best way to cope with allergies and other respiratory issues — and there may be no better way to trap pain-in-the-ass irritants and increase air quality than by using an air purifier.

Do air purifiers help with seasonal allergies? 

“Allergies are caused by high levels of allergens in the air that cause reactions in people with particular sensitivities to these particles,” says Zhang. These include things like dust, pollen, spores, hair, dandruff, bacteria, and smoke. “Air purifiers have been proven to remove all of these particles from the air,” she notes. 

Dr. Shradha Agarwal, allergist and immunologist at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York says that reducing or eliminating exposures to allergens in your environment is key to reducing allergy symptoms. She says that many people with pet or pollen allergies ask about the effectiveness of an air purifier for allergies in reducing their symptoms, and says that getting the right unit is key. 

“An air purifier is a device that is designed to remove or neutralize contaminants that a standard air filter cannot. In some cases air cleaners are helpful, but in others are ineffective. In some cases they can actually irritate a person’s airway if they release ions and produce ozone, and are not recommended for people with lung disease,” she says.

Do air purifiers help with asthma? 

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states that high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters can remove up to 99.97% of dust, pollen, and any other airborne particles with a size of 0.3 microns. Agarwal says that the exact magnitude of the effects of an air filter for asthma is not well established, but reviews of several studies have demonstrated a positive benefit (aka reduced symptoms) after prolonged periods of use.  

“As an allergist/immunologist, we typically recommend a room air cleaner with a high HEPA filter that can be regularly replaced.” She recommends placing devices three to five feet from the ground in an unobstructed area of the problem room.

What do air purifiers filter out?

Air filters can remove things like dust, pollen, spores, hair, dandruff, bacteria, and smoke particles from the air. Any air purifier worth its salt should remove up to 99.9% of airborne particles with a size of 0.3 microns.

“You will be able to notice the difference in air quality right away,” says Zhang. “The air smells and feels cleaner. If you live in a dusty environment or have pets or have allergies, after using an air purifier you will wonder how you ever survived without one.”

What are the best air purifiers?

When it comes to weeding out the best air purifiers, experts agree on a comparing a few key considerations: 

  • Frequency and cost to replace filters. Agarwal says this should be done every 3 months. Zhang recommends looking for models with washable filters. 

  • MERV rating. The minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV) rating measures the effectiveness of the air filter. Agarwal says that filters with higher MERV ratings capture smaller particulars.

  • CADR (clean air delivery rate) reflects, in cubic feet per minute, the volume of clean air that an air purifier produces at its highest speed setting. Agarwal says that the higher the CADR, the faster and more efficient the device is, and that room air cleaners with HEPA filters often achieve the highest CADR. 

  • Room size. Ensure the air purifier you’re considering is rated for the size of your space. 

  • Noise level. You want to reap the benefits of your air purifier without losing sleep. Agarwal says that some models have the option of a sleep setting or a quiet fan.

  • Warranty. Opt for models with at least a one year warranty to help protect your investment. 

With the above in mind, we scoured the internet to find the models with the best customer reviews and separated them by price. Whether you need something small and portable or you're in the market for an air purifier that can handle the whole house, we've got you covered.

If you were hoping for a more modern design, the Coway AP-1512HH Mighty Air Purifier is aesthetically pleasing AF. The design is as clean as the air it pushes out and will blend right in with any home's contemporary decor. 

Called "mighty" for a reason, this puppy features a four-stage filtration system with a 99.7% HEPA efficiency rating (in a space up to 361 square feet). It also comes equipped with an energy-saving "Eco Mode," which will turn its fan off when it detects 10 minutes of good air quality levels, then on again after 30 minutes or when it senses any sort of air pollution.

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When our family was looking for an air purifier a couple of years ago, we did a ton of research to find one that wasn’t all hype. Based on Consumer Reports testing and recommendations, the size of our home, and our budget, we ultimately settled on the Blueair 211+ Auto Air Purifier Large Room and love it. It's seen us through a couple of dusty renovations and keeps smells from three dogs and two kids non-existent. I don't love how big and bulky it is compared to some of the other models on our list, but the results more than make up for it. In its normal operating mode it’s virtually silent, but when it needs to kick the fans up a notch in lower-quality air conditions (like when something on the stove is burning) you can hear it working. It has a Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) of 353 and has been independently evaluated for safety standards and third-party tested for performance.

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If you don't want a large, intrusive rectangular air filter sitting out of place in your otherwise color-coordinated room, the Blueair Blue Pure 311 Air Purifier is a good alternative. The fabric pre-filter that covers it doesn't just look and feel nice (and comes in different colorways), it works to remove larger particles from the air and has an activated carbon layer to absorb unpleasant smells. It's washable and interchangeable, so you can switch it up occasionally if you'd like, but you don't need to invest in more than one.

The air purifier itself is also very effective — at its high setting, it completely circulates the air in a room of 388 square feet every 12.5 minutes. Its intuitive auto mode means you don't have to bother adjusting settings to the level called for. Just turn it on and breathe deep.

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For smaller rooms or offices, you might not need a massive cleaner that sits on the floor — but that doesn't mean a mini one is your only other option. The LEVOIT LV-H132 Air Purifier is one of the sleekest little guys on the market, and though it's small enough to sit on a desk, its cleaning capacity is massive. 

LEVOIT states that the three-stage filtration system kills 99.7% of dust, pollen, and pet dander, including particles as small as .3 microns. It's also 100% ozone free — this basically means that it does not use UV or ions, which produce trace amounts of measurable ozone.

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Moving on to the big guns: Dyson is highly visible in the vacuum market (and even the hair styling market), but its contribution to the world of air purifiers is just as impactful. The Dyson Pure Hot+Cool is truly ahead of its time, using bladeless Air Multiplier tech to circulate 99.97 percent pollutant-free air through the room. Dirty air is pulled in, sent through multiple diffusers and a HEPA filter, then pushed back out to give the room serious airflow. The hollow design may look complicated, but the Dyson air purifier is one of the simplest devices to use on the list.

A mini LCD screen on the front shows you the current status of your air, and the Dyson app gives detailed info on the quality of the air outside and the type of pollutants most affecting your home. If the app senses that polluted air increases in your home at a certain time of day, you can set timed cleaning schedules just as you would with a robot vacuum.

The effortless peace of mind is enough justification on its own, but the cooling fan and heater addition make it a year-round favorite. So yeah, you're paying nearly $500, but you're getting the best-of-the-best quality and three appliances in one.

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The name "GermGuardian" may seem corny, but it's literally what this thing can do for a room—and it’s priced well for buyers on a budget at less than $100. The HEPA filter captures 99.7 percent of allergens like household dust, pet dander, mold spores, and plant pollens, even as small as .3 microns. For rooms that need heavy-duty cleaning, the UV-C light technology sanitizes air by working with Titanium Dioxide to kill airborne bacteria, viruses, germs, and mold spores.

Not only is it cleaning the air by trapping particles you can't even see, but it's making it smell better, too. The filter battles odors like cigarette smoke, litter boxes, or overly-smelly furnaces to provide a fresher feel every time you walk into the room. Though it sits on the floor, it's slim enough to be tucked in a corner, in between furniture, or somewhere else out of the way.

The GermGaurdian isn't the quietest thing in the world on its highest setting, but if you're anything like us, that white noise could actually be great for drowning out city noise, neighborhood lawnmowers, and more. 

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Go ahead and throw out that little evergreen-shaped air freshener dangling from your rearview mirror: LG's new PuriCare Mini will do a much better job deodorizing your car.

Released in mid-2020, this ultra-portable, dual-fan air purifier features a 3,600mAh battery that lasts for up to 8 hours on a single charge (in Low Mode) and charges with a USB cable. At just 1.2 pounds, it's no heavier than a water bottle — you can easily stash it in a purse or backpack for use in a hotel, on a plane, or at the office. (There's a built-in leather wrist strap that makes it easy to carry.)

On the outside, you'll find an LED smart display that shows you the air quality in real time, though you can also control its airflow, keep tabs on air quality history, and monitor its filter and battery life via Bluetooth using the PuriCare Mini app.

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This Levoit air purifier comes from one of the best brands in the field — and it’s been specifically developed as an air purifier for pet hair and dander. The H13-Grade True HEPA filter, made from non-woven fabric, is more effective than other pre-filters at capturing pet fur, hair, and dander. It also has a specific pet lock button so your dog or cat won’t accidentally shut it off when they go to investigate the new addition to the house. 

While the filters are replaceable (not reusable), this air purifier makes it easy to stay on top of replacements, with a check filter that indicates when it’s time for a new one (typically every six to eight months). We also love the sleep mode and timer that allows you to tone down the noise while keeping the filter going. 

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Air purifier on the floor of a kitchen while three people walk around

Instant HEPA Air Purifier

Best for filtering bacteria and pollen

Instant's air purifier is quite the heavy hitter when it comes to filtering pollen during allergy season, bacteria, and even protecting against dangerous smoke and mold spores. This air purifier has a three-in-one filtration system that includes a HEPA-13 filter, activated carbon to reduce odors, and an antimicrobial coating to help prevent bacterial growth.

Perfect for all kinds of rooms, it comes in three sizes: the Instant Large Air Purifier, Instant Medium Air Purifier, and the Instant Small Air Purifier. Although it may be hard to tell when to change the filter, Instant's shift from the kitchen to air purifying is definitely helping us breathe a little easier.

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How we tested

While we haven't hands-on tested all of these air purifiers, our writer is head over heels for the Blueair 211+ Auto Air Purifier which they’ve owned for a couple of years. Beyond that, we put forth hours of careful research to find a variety of quality air purifiers and specifically sought out options that met expert recommendations and catered to different use cases.

First, we prioritized air purifiers from well-known brands to come up with a list of options that are widely regarded to be dependable and well-made, with customer service and warranties to match. We then narrowed down the field by focusing on items that were well-rated and had no glaring issues with their functionality (at least not that we could find among a large portion of user reviews). Each of the air purifiers on this list has hundreds, if not thousands, of air purifier reviews—a generally reliable sign that the product is often in stock and available for purchase.

To ensure a varied range of options for different types of air filtration needs, there were a number of factors that we took into consideration while researching air purifiers, including:

  • Frequency and cost to replace filters — The expert we spoke with recommends replacing the filter every three months. The costs can really add up over the year depending on the model you choose. To eliminate this concern, we also looked for models with washable filters. 

  • Room size — We wanted to include options for shoppers looking to clean the air in a variety of different room sizes. Generally speaking, the bigger the room the bigger the purifier you’ll need — which increases the cost. By choosing an air purifier rated for the size of your space, you can ensure you’re hitting the sweet spot of efficiency and price point.

  • Clean air delivery rate, or CADR — This reflects, in cubic feet per minute, the volume of clean air that an air purifier produces at its highest speed setting. The higher the CADR, the faster and more efficient the device is. 

  • Noise level — Finally, because you want to reap the benefits of your air purifier without losing sleep, we prioritized models with low decibel ratings. Even better were models that have the option of a sleep setting, or quiet fan.

Frequently Asked Questions


A good question. We'll let the EPA take it from here: "Increasing ventilation with outdoor air and air filtration [are] important components of a larger strategy" to minimize risk of contracting COVID-19, they say. But despite preliminary data from hospitals showing possible benefits, there has yet to be a definitive answer as to air purifiers' efficacy in prevention. The EPA concurs: "When used properly, air purifiers can help reduce airborne contaminants including viruses in a home or confined space. However, by itself, a portable air cleaner is not enough to protect people from COVID-19." (Emphasis theirs.)

As Wirecutter reported, the issue lies in whether or not air purifiers' HEPA filters are capable of capturing the virus before it infects you — as of spring 2022, we don't know for sure. (Although that may be beside the point, considering experts still don't know how much of the virus is needed for airborne transmission in an enclosed environment, especially given its ever-evolving variants.)

For now, the best way to avoid catching COVID-19 is to keep following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines to wash your hands often, wear a mask in public settings, disinfect frequently touched surfaces, and social distance when possible.

Leah Stodart
Leah Stodart
Senior Shopping Reporter

Leah Stodart is a Philadelphia-based Senior Shopping Reporter at Mashable where she covers essential home tech like vacuums and TVs as well as sustainable swaps and travel. Her ever-growing experience in these categories comes in clutch when making recommendations on how to spend your money during shopping holidays like Black Friday, which Leah has been covering for Mashable since 2017.

Leah graduated from Penn State University in 2016 with dual degrees in Sociology and Media Studies. When she's not writing about shopping (or shopping online for herself), she's almost definitely watching a horror movie, "RuPaul's Drag Race," or "The Office." You can follow her on X at @notleah or email her at [email protected].


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