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The 10 Best Air Purifiers for Every Room in Your House, According to a Microbiologist
Updated on Apr. 18, 2024
Whether it’s allergy season, you’re in wildfire territory or you simply have one too many pets, finding the best air purifier is a must.
“An air purifier removes particles from the air. These particles can be chemical like those that cause odors, biological like pollen or microbiological like bacteria, viruses and fungi,” says Jason “The Germ Guy” Tetro, a microbiologist.
Apart from making the air smell better, air purifiers eliminate harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs), allergens, dust particles, dander and other substances that reduce air quality. No matter the contaminants you’re battling, the best air purifier will do the trick. We chose the following based on price, performance and helpful tips from Tetro.
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Best Overall Air Purifier
Rabbit Air MinusA2
The Rabbit Air MinusA2 has an advanced high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filtration system with six stages of purification and deodorization, which make it one the best air purifier on the market. The filter layers include a charcoal-based activated carbon filter, which is the secret to removing tobacco smoke odor. Because it either stands or mounts on the wall, it’s easy to install it even in a tiny room.
A remote control option makes it easy to clean the air when your hands are full, like during dinner or while watching TV with family. It also traps and reduces pet dander and pet allergens, making it a solid pick for families with fur babies. As a bonus, the display screen features images by Claude Monet, Vincent Van Gogh or even Peanuts characters.
Pros
- Advanced HEPA filtration with six stages of purification and deodorization
- Traps and reduces airborne bacteria, mold spores and particles that carry viruses
- Germ Defense customized filter
- Stands or mounts on the wall
- Covers up to 815 square feet
- Five-year warranty
Cons
- Pricey
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Best Budget Air Purifier
Levoit Compact Air Purifier
The Levoit compact air purifier is designed for a small- or medium-sized spaces—but don’t let the compact size or the low price tag fool you! This air purifier gets rid of dust, mold and pet dander just as well as a larger option. Better yet, it’s certified by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and California Air Resources Board (CARB).
It also has a nightlight so you can find your way to the bathroom in the dark, and is available in a sleek black or pure white. And if you’re looking for something a little bigger, we tested the brand’s 400s model for ourselves.
Pros
- Won’t break the bank
- Has a three-stage HEPA filter and ozone-free filtration
- Noise levels as low as 25 decibels (dB)
- Covers about 258 square feet
- Lightweight at 6.5 pounds
Cons
- Requires replacement filters every six weeks
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Best Mini Air Purifier
Pure Enrichment PureZone
When you’re in the office, are you sick of breathing the stale air? You won’t have to with the super-portable and budget-friendly Pure Enrichment PureZone mini portable air purifier. This little device can sit on your desk either upright or on its side. It contains a HEPA filter layered with carbon to catch funky odors, like your workspace mate’s egg salad sandwich, as well as harmful toxins and germs. Plus, the quiet white noise it produces won’t bother co-workers or family.
Pros
- Compact and weighs just 9.6 ounces
- Has an activated carbon pre-filter and True HEPA filter
- Two-stage filtration system eliminates 99.97% of germs
- USB-powered rechargeable lithium-ion battery
- Cleans the air at 9 cubic feet per minute
- Removable handle
Cons
- Not as strong as other models
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Best Air Purifier for Pets
Shark Pet Air Purifier
If you have a home with pets, that means you have pet dander in the air (yuck). The Shark pet air purifier uses a True HEPA filtration to capture air pollutants. This air purifier is specifically designed to get rid of microscopic pet dander and hair that cause allergies and respiratory problems. An activated carbon filter snatches odors on contact, meaning a fresher-smelling home.
Pros
- Traps 99.98% of large-, small- and micro-sized particles
- Cleans up to 500 square feet
- Control panel displays real time air quality, filter life and fan speed
- Compact and weighs just 6 pounds
- Dimmable lights for minimal sleep interruption
Cons
- No remote control
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Best Air Purifier for Allergies
Hathaspace Smart Air Purifier
The Hathaspace smart air purifier helps keep the air safe by eliminating harmful VOCs. This five-in-one air purifier comes with an easy-to-read touchscreen display. It’s portable and lightweight at only 12 pounds, so it’s simple to move from room-to-room. An auto-mode setting lets the machine sense the air quality and adjust the fan speed to match, so all you have to do is enjoy fresh, clean air.
Pros
- Captures 99.9% of particles down to 0.3 microns
- Honeycomb activated-carbon filter absorbs odors, smoke and VOCs
- Light indications for air quality
- Covers up to 1,500 square feet
- Has a remote and built-in anion ionizer
- Two-year warranty
Cons
- No filter reset indicator
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Best Air Purifier for Smoke
Blueair Blue Pure
If there are wildfires in your area, or if smoke drifts to your location, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends using an air purifier, especially if you suffer from heart disease, asthma or other respiratory conditions. The Blueair Blue Pure air purifier is effective at removing smoke particulate, thanks to its three-stage filtration system which includes a carbon filter to absorb odors—a must-have when it comes to eliminating wildfire smoke. However, it also comes in handy if you do a lot of cooking.
We tested the Blueair for ourselves and were thoroughly impressed. “In fact, it minimized the smoke so much that my smoke detector didn’t go off once, which is a massive win in my book,” writes our tester. “By the time I had finished eating dinner, the air was smoke-free and smell-free, which made cooking highly odorous foods, like onions and fish, possible in my tiny kitchen.”
Pros
- Removes at least 99.97 % of airborne particles as small as 0.1 micron
- Can be controlled via a smartphone app
- Cleans 540 square feet room in about 12 and a half minutes
- Low settings are whisper-quiet
- Made of recycled materials
- Energy Star rated
Cons
- Filters aren’t reusable
- Pricey
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Best Air Purifier for Basement
SilverOnyx Air Purifier
The SilverOnyx air purifier is the best air purifier if you have mold, a common problem in basements. The five levels of filtration include a ultraviolet (UV) light sanitizer, which is extremely effective at destroying airborne mold spores. This basement air purifier helps get rid of that dreaded musty smell by eliminating mold spores, dust, pet hair and other pollutants in a 500-square-foot space.
Pros
- Captures up to 99.97% of airborne contaminants
- Uses a certified True HEPA H13 filter
- Five adjustable speeds
- Easy-to-use push button display
- Pre–filter captures larger particles
- Compact and weighs just 4 pounds
Cons
- High setting can be pretty noisy
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Best HEPA Air Purifier
Coway Airmega Air Purifier
You spend a significant amount of time in your bedroom breathing while you sleep, so shouldn’t you be breathing in clean air? The Coway Airmega air purifier quietly removes air contaminants in up to 361 square feet of space. It includes a timer that lets you schedule hours of operation, so you can set it and forget it before you go to bed. There’s also an option to turn off the display lights so they don’t disturb your sleep.
Pros
- Four-stage filtration system, including deodorization and True HEPA filters
- Real-time air quality monitor
- Filter replacement indicator
- Silent operation
- Easy to clean
- Eco mode conserves energy
Cons
- Only covers up to 361 feet
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Most Quiet Air Purifier
Winix PlasmaWave Air Purifier
The Winix PlasmaWave air purifier is our favorite pick for a living room or bedroom, because it cleans using its patented whisper-quiet PlasmaWave technology instead of ionizing technology. Ionizers attract allergens, but this process can create harmful ozone. This ozone-free air purifier kills toxic contaminants, bacteria and viruses.
Improve indoor air quality and keep your family healthy and safe without waking them throughout the night, thanks to a noise level of just 27.8 dB. A sleep mode for silent nighttime operation means zero loud humming—even when it’s working on overdrive. Its Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) says it covers up to 360 square feet, so not the largest, but will definitely come in handy as a bedroom pick.
Pros
- Near-silent 27.8 dB operation
- PlasmaWave acts as a permanent filter
- Darkness triggers sleep mode for silent operation
- Covers up to 360 square feet
- Includes a remote control
- Auto mode adjusts the fan to filter the air as needed
Cons
- Light-emitting diode (LED) lights only turn off in sleep mode
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Best Air Purifier for Bathroom
Germ Guardian Pluggable Small Air Purifier
