Here are some of the criteria we use when testing air purifiers. For more detail, check out the "how we test" section.
• CADR Rate: How many cubic feet of air the purifier can clean per minute?
• Energy efficiency: How much power does an air purifier use?
• Noise level: How loud is the air purifier when it's running?
• Ease of use: Is it simple to set up and operate?
• Cost of replacement filters: What are the long-term costs?
The best air purifiers can make all the difference to improve the quality of your air. Whether you suffer from allergies, have pets, want odor-free air or simply want to remove dust particles, there are many reasons you might need an air purifier.
Trouble is, there are so many different sizes and specs to choose from, it’s difficult to know which air purifier is suitable for your needs and home. That’s why we’ve extensively tried and tested some of the best air purifiers — so you don’t have to.
We looked at their CADR (Clean Air Delivery Rate), which measures the filtration rates across dust, smoke and pollen in a measured space. Then we put the air purifiers to the test in real-world conditions to see how it copes with everyday use.
Our winner was the Blueair Blue Pure 211+ Auto, highly-rated for its efficiency at purifying air in a large room, ease of use and attractive design. However, if you are on a budget, the Clorox Large Room True HEPA Air Purifier did a great job at cleaning the air, despite costing about $100 less.
To help you decide what's suitable for your needs, here are our top picks for the best air purifier to suit every home and budget.
Quick list
The best air purifier overall in our tests, we recommend this model above all others because it gets the job done quickly and efficiently, saves energy and works well in large spaces.
Value: ★★★☆☆
Design: ★★★★☆
Performance: ★★★★★
Ease of use: ★★★★★
This compact air purifier is ideal for rooms up to 320 sq ft. It’s simple to set up and great value for money considering how efficiently it cleans the air.
Value: ★★★★☆
Design: ★★★★☆
Performance: ★★★★☆
Ease of use: ★★★★☆
Small and compact in stature, this air purifier comes with a useful eco setting which will keep energy costs low. It provides a decent clean air delivery rate (CADR) as well.
Value: ★★★★☆
Design: ★★★☆☆
Performance: ★★★★☆
Ease of use: ★★★★★
The perfect option if you're shopping on a budget, but need an air purifier which can handle a large space. While it’s not exactly pretty, it will get the job done.
Value: ★★★★☆
Design: ★★★☆☆
Performance: ★★★★☆
Ease of use: ★★★★☆
This air purifier stands out for featuring “Plasmawave” technology. It creates Hydroxyls to tackle any unwelcome airborne particles. Plus, it comes with a useful remote control to change settings from afar.
Value: ★★★☆☆
Design: ★★★☆☆
Performance: ★★★★☆
Ease of use: ★★★★★
The best air purifier for anyone who wants smart connectivity and remote control via an app. There's a useful LCD screen built into the device itself.
Value: ★★★☆☆
Design: ★★★★★
Performance: ★★★★☆
Ease of use: ★★★★☆
Black Friday Air Purifier Deals
Black Friday deals are in full swing for air purifiers. Right now, you'll find some of the best savings from Amazon, offering up to 50% off their top models. If you're after a purifier and fan combo, this Dyson Purifier Cool TP4B Purifying Fan is now $299 from $443 at Amazon. Or if you want a purifier to handle a large room, this BLUEAIR Air Purifiers for Large Rooms is on sale for $242 from $349 at Amazon.
Other retailers include Walmart and BestBuy, that have incredible savings of up to $250 off. For instance, this Shark - 3-in-1 Max Air Purifier is now priced $199 from $449 at BestBuy. Considering how costly it can be to purchase a top air purifier, these are all significant reductions to grab this Black Friday.
The best air purifiers you can buy today
Best overall
✅ You want a strong air purifier: This air purifier achieved an average CADR of 360 across dust, smoke and pollen — the highest rating of those I tested. This means the Blueair Blue Pure 211+ can handle rooms up to 550 sq ft.
✅ You want ease of use: The Blueair Blue Pure 211+ Auto comes with enough features to suit everyday operation, including three fan speeds, an auto mode and a night mode. It’s very straightforward to operate and not overly-complicated in its design.
✅ You want to customize your air purifier: The skirt on the lower half of this air purifier comes in several colors, including pink, blue, green and gray, so you can customize it to suit your décor or personality.
❌ You’re tight for space: This air purifier measures 20 x 13 x 13 inches and weighs 12.5 pounds, so it's a hefty design which will take up some room. It will be more obvious to the eye at this size as well.
❌ You want a strong night mode: Night mode effectively dims the lights on the unit and slows the fan down to reduce noise, but I found it to be on the weak side, so you might end up running the standard settings to get a satisfactory performance.
❌ You’re conscious of noise: While the Blueair Blue Pure 211+ Auto runs quietly at its lowest setting, it's among the noisiest at its fastest setting. It’s not particularly noisy on the whole, but this is something to be aware of.
The Blueair Blue Pure 211+ Auto will suit most households. It’s a substantial air purifier, and offers first-rate air purification capabilities alongside a premium and simple-to-operate design. There’s enough settings to cover the basics, it's attractive, and can be customized to your liking.
What you need to know: Throughout these tests, one cube-shaped air purifier stood out above the rest. The Blueair Blue Pure 211+ Auto dominated the competition. This medium-sized air purifier will suit rooms up to 550 sq ft. It features an upright cuboid design, with a plastic upper section and a skirt fitted around the base, which acts as a pre-filter and comes in several colors. A HEPASilent filter is included, which uses both a carbon and particle layer. For me, it looked like a futuristic robot, which has a quality appearance compared to the competition. There are three fan speeds on offer as well as an auto function, plus a night mode is included for dimming the lights.
Design: This model provides enough settings to cover basic necessities. The three fan speeds offer a decent range, and the auto function means it’s able to self-adjust the speed to suit the quality of the air. As a consequence, this air purifier will only use as much energy as required. The night mode is a useful function, but I did find the power more lackluster than I would have expected on this setting.
Performance
This air purifier scored best for its CADR; achieving 353, 347, and 380 respectively for smoke, dust and pollen. That means it will make quick work of all sizes of airborne particles. It also means it can handle a decent room size of 550 sq ft — making it more than adequate for a large bedroom or living room.
It scored average marks for noise produced, as it was fairly quiet on its lowest setting (35.6db), but on the noisier end of the spectrum at its loudest (60.8db). It was reasonable in terms of electricity consumption as well, using only 0.159 kWh over the course of 24 hours on auto mode. By comparison, the Levoit Core 300 required 0.7 kWh over the same period.
Ease of use: This air purifier is very easy to use with one button to cycle through every setting — although the air quality indicator light is less than obvious with a blue light meaning good, and red meaning bad, and orange somewhere in between. Changing the filters couldn’t be more simple either, just remove the top of the device via the buttons on each side. Changing the filter is one of the 7 ways to get more out of your air purifier.
Value for money: At around $300, this air purifier isn’t the cheapest, but it’s also not the most expensive. The Coway Airmega AP-1512HH by comparison is $200, while the Blueair HealthProtect 7470i will set you back over $450. Replacement filters are $70 though, which is pricey.
Read the full Blueair Blue Pure 211+ Auto review
Best value
✅ You want a compact design: This air purifier features a compact design which is ideal for smaller spaces. Measuring 19 x 10 x 10 inches and weighing 11.6 pounds, it’s portable and easy to store as well.
✅ You want value for money: Priced at $149, this air purifier offers excellent value for money. And, it's very energy-efficient. However, replacement filters are a somewhat pricey $49.
❌ You need something to suit a large room: Despite its name, this air purifier works best in rooms up to 320 sq. ft., so it’s likely unsuitable for larger bedrooms or living rooms.
❌ You want to control it remotely: To cut some corners, this model does not come with a remote control or smart home connectivity, but Clorox offers higher-priced models with these features.
The Clorox Large Room True HEPA Air Purifier is the answer if you need an air purifier at an affordable price. While its CADR readings aren’t as high as others on the list, it’s still more than capable of adequately cleaning up to 320 sq. ft. Plus it offers all of the settings you need, including an auto function.
What you need to know
The Clorox Large Room True HEPA Air Purifier offers a small and effective design, measuring 19 x 10 x 10 inches while suiting rooms up to 320 sq ft. It has a neat and pleasing appearance — looking somewhat like a large battery with a fitted pre-filter skirt and a single button on top.
Design: We liked the Clorox's simple, plain design. On the top is a touchscreen that lets you control all of its functions, and clear indicators for fan settings, automatic operation as well as the current particulate level. A vertical LED bar shows the level of 2.5-micron particulates per cubic meter with six different color-coded levels; green is safe, while maroon means you should probably leave the room. It also has a timer for automatically turning it off, and if the unit is tipped over by a pet or small child, it automatically turns off.
Performance
The Clorox's CADRs of 206, 219 and 232 across smoke, dust and pollen make it well-suited for medium- to largish-sized rooms up to 320 square feet. At its lowest setting, I also found this air purifier to be quiet (41 dB), but it rose to an annoying 58.7 dB at its highest setting. It is very energy-efficient, though, using just 3.6 watts of energy at its lowest setting.
Ease of use: With a touchscreen to control everything, ease of use couldn’t be more obvious. The only thing really missing is a remote control, which would have been handy. The filters are easy to switch out when needed though.
Value for money: This air purifier costs just $149, which makes it pretty great value — although keep in mind filters cost $49, so replacing them could add up over time.
Read the full Clorox Large Room True HEPA Air Purifier review.
Most energy efficient
✅ You care about energy consumption: The Coway Airmega AP-1512HH had the best energy score of all those tested, at just 0.082 kWh over 24 hours. This equates to a cost of just over $3 a year depending on your provider.
✅ You’re stricken for space: With a footprint of just 16.8 x 18.3 x 9.6 inches, this is a compact design which won't take up too much floor space. It has a thin and square build.
✅ You want adequate settings: While it’s a compact design, it’s not lacking in settings. An auto mode is included, so it will self-adjust the fan speed depending on the conditions of the room, and it comes with an eco mode which lets it power off when not required.
❌ You want to move it around: While the design is indeed compact, it’s still plenty heavy enough at 12.3 pounds. The Blueaur Blue Pure 411 Auto weighs just 8.3 pounds by comparison.
❌ You want peace and quiet: This was a noisy air purifier compared to others I tested, measuring 36.8dB on its quietest fan speed and 58.3dB at its loudest. So this isn’t one to get if you intend to work in the background.
❌ You care about costs: While the air purifier itself doesn’t cost a huge amount, the replacement filters will set you back $40 at a time. That’s about 20% of the initial cost.
There’s no denying how much the Coway Airmega AP-1512HH looks like an iPod Shuffle, but if you don’t mind that outdated Apple aesthetic, it’s a great air purifier. It offers an adequate CADR, comes with plenty of settings and uses minimal energy. Just keep in mind that it’s a little noisy and that replacement filters aren't cheap.
What you need to know
The Coway Airmega AP-1512HH offers a smaller footprint than those listed so far, measuring 16.8 x 18.3 x 9.6 inches. Don’t mistake this for meaning it’s more portable though, as it still weighs 12.3 pounds — this isn’t easy to lug around despite the included handle. While compact, it will suit rooms of up to 384 sq ft. For me, it's appearance is more in keeping with a hotel or office versus a modern home, but it's performance is worth considering.
Design: There are five different fan speed options to choose from, including useful auto and eco modes. While auto mode allows it to automatically adjust its fan speed depending on the current quality of air, eco mode will switch it to standby if it senses no change in the conditions of the air for a period of time. There’s also a specialized Ionizer option on top, which will disperse negative ions to improve the quality of the air it filters. In addition, there’s a timer for one, four and eight hours, and an indicator to change the carbon and HEPA filters. Lastly, an indicator light shows the current quality of the air. There’s no night mode, but you can dim the lights by holding down the Ionizer button.
Performance:
It achieved a CADR of 247.5, 232.3, 241.3, with a similar performance across smoke, dust and pollen. While this is a little lower than those mentioned above, it’s worth accounting for the size difference, which is why this air purifier features so high on the list.
It was also top of the class for energy consumption, requiring just 0.082 kWh over 24 hours. Taking account of the eco setting as well, air purifiers won’t get much greener. Where it falls down however is noise — it produced 36.8dB on the lowest setting and 58.3dB on its highest, which is pretty surprising considering the size. Having said that, a colleague bought this air purifier for her allergies — and it’s changed her life.
Ease of use: It’s very straightforward to set up and operate, with the buttons on the control panel clearly labeled and responsive. This air purifier makes cheery beeps and chimes as you operate it too, which I found comforting. It’s compact enough to hide it out of sight when required.
Value for money: The air purifier itself will set you back $170 up front, which isn’t bad. Running it will be equally cheap with a very low energy consumption. However, the replacement filters do cost $40 a pop, and will need changing every six months to a year. So this is worth bearing in mind.
Read the full review: Coway Airmega AP-1512HH
Best for large rooms
✅ You need to cover a large space: This air purifier will suit rooms of up to 465 sq ft, which is pretty sizable. And thanks to its CADR scores of 300, 320 and 300 for dust, smoke and pollen respectively, it will filter your air both quickly and effectively.
✅ You want good value for money: Considering its price of $150 and the capacity of 465 sq ft, this air purifier is excellent value for money. Plus the replacement filters only cost around $40, which is good value as well.
✅ You want something easy to use: The touch-based control panel on top of this air purifier is very easy and intuitive to operate. Plus there’s a quick reference guide included to help get you started.
❌ You want an auto mode: This air purifier lacks an auto mode, which means it will stick to whatever fan speed you set it to, rather than adjusting based on the quality of the air. That means you could be using more or less power than is actually necessary.
❌ You want to save on energy: The Honeywell HPA300 consumed a lot of energy during my tests — using 1.002 kWh over 24 hours on the standard setting. This was the highest energy reading I'd seen in these tests, and translates to over $40 a year.
❌ You like peace and quiet: This air purifier is quite a noisy operator, producing some of the loudest decibel readings in my tests on both the lowest and highest settings (41 and 59.6dB).
The Honeywell HPA300 might not be the prettiest to look at, but it’s straightforward to operate and will get the job done. Just keep in mind there’s no auto mode, and it’s not ideal in terms of noise or energy consumption.
What you need to know
The Honeywell HPA300 is a bulky beast of a device that offers strong performance considering its reasonable price. It’s a large oval air purifier with slats all around, measuring 22.3 x 20.0 x 10.8 inches. It’s pretty heavy at 17 pounds, and I found the exposed lip on the base was sharp enough to scratch your legs as you move it. So this is the kind of air purifier you won’t want to move around once you set it down. It suits rooms up to 465 square feet, making it ideal for larger spaces.
Design: Its settings are admittedly limited, offering four different fan speeds (including a turbo mode), as well as a timer for two, four or eight hours. There’s also the option to dim the device for night time operation. Indicators are included to check the three HEPA filters and activated carbon pre-filter within. However, there's no auto mode, which is a shame, so you'll have to manually change the fan speeds.
Performance:
A truly powerful device, the HPA300 scored second to the Blueair Blue Pure 211+ auto on the CADR test. With an average CADR score of 300, 320 and 300, it performed slightly better on dust versus pollen and smoke and would suit rooms of up to 465 sq ft.
However, that performance comes at a price, because it consumed more energy than any other air purifier I tested, at 1.002 kWh over 24 hours, and it was on the noisier end of the spectrum, producing 59.6 dB on its loudest setting. The Blueair HealthProtect 7470i produced just 48dB on its highest fan speed by comparison.
Ease of use: Air purifiers don’t get much easier to use, with a touch-based control panel and a quick reference guide to remind you of the basics. However, setting up this air purifier at first and replacing the HEPA filters when required is admittedly fiddly. I found fitting the front cover back into place to be awkward.
Value for money: Ultimately, at $150, this air purifier is a good value for the money up front, and the replacement filters are also a good price at $40. However, it’s worth keeping the cost of energy in mind to run this machine to get that amazing performance. You could end up paying back for it over time with regular use.
Read the full review: Honeywell HPA300
Best for small rooms
✅ You want a remote control: A remote control is included with this air purifier, so you can adjust its fan speeds, activate the auto mode and power it on and off from afar.
✅ You want unique technology: This air purifier features “Plasmawave” technology. The premise behind this is that it creates hydroxyls that easily attach to other molecules to neutralize the air faster.
✅ You want washable filters: Both the pre-filter and carbon filter layers on this model are washable, which means you can extend the lifespan, however the HEPA filter layer is not, so you will still need to buy replacements when necessary.
❌ You want to save money: While this air purifier comes with an average price tag, the replacement filters are $80 per set. So this will soon mount up the costs.
❌ You want an attractive air purifier: The design for the Winix 5500-2 is rather large and plain, with a plastic finish. It will not be in keeping with those who care about aesthetics.
❌ You care about background noise: This air purifier gets rather loud on its highest fan speed, measuring 59.8dB in my tests. It’s not so bad on its lowest setting, but the added noise when it’s working at its hardest may not suit some.
The Winix 5500-2 is more about practicality than looks. It comes with a handy remote control, so you don’t have to get up each time you want to switch it on or off, and there are enough settings to suit all kinds of needs, including a unique ‘Plasmawave’ function. It may not look the prettiest, but it offers a decent CADR and a user-friendly design.
What you need to know
The Winix 5500-2 likely won’t win any beauty contests with its appearance, measuring 23.6 x 15 x 8.2 inches with a black plain casing and vents scored across its front. But, in my opinion, it's more likely to blend in with your décor than drawer the eye, which is no bad thing. Plus, it’s still a strong performer, achieving a decent CADR across the board and featuring a design which is very accessible. And if you love unusual tech, the “Plasmawave” technology is sure to raise a few eyebrows. It suits rooms up to 360 sqft.
Design: The Winix 5500-2 comes with several settings, including an auto setting, a night mode and four fan speeds as well as an air quality indicator. There’s also a timer with one, four or eight hour options. The air quality indicator shines blue for good, amber for fair and red for poor, and when the auto function is selected it will adjust its fan speed accordingly. The remote control lets you adjust the fan speed from afar, however you can’t select the Plasmawave function, timer or night mode. This air purifier comes with a pre-filter and carbon filter layer, both of which are washable, and a HEPA filter. It’s worth flagging that it’s quite a heavy design, weighing 15 pounds, so you won't want to move it often.
Performance:
In terms of CADR, this air purifier scored 232, 243 and 246 for smoke, dust and pollen. This puts it amongst some of the top performers of those I tested, especially for pollen. It was also the runner up for energy consumption, requiring only 0.105 kWh over 24 hours — so it won’t cost an arm and a leg to run.
Noise was admittedly a little hit and miss; it was fairly quiet on its lowest setting at 35.3dB, however it reached 59.8dB at maximum, which was second only to the Blueair Blue Pure 211+ Auto at 60.8dB. In terms of the Plasmawave technology, I didn’t notice any specific change to the air purifier when it was activated. But, with such high CADRs, it does question its necessity.
Ease of use: This air purifier is very straightforward to use, made all the easier by the useful remote control. I didn’t even have to refer to the manual during testing. The filters just snap into place when they require replacing as well.
Value for money: The air purifier itself comes with an MSRP of $249, but you can often find it on sale for $159. This makes it reasonably priced, especially if you get it on sale. Running it is pretty cheap too because of the low energy consumption. However, with replacement filters costing $80, it could cost more in the long run.
Read the full review: Winnix 5500-2
Best smart air purifier
✅ You want a good performer: This air purifier scored 270, 275, 280 for its CADR with smoke dust and pollen respectfully. This puts it in the higher end of the spectrum for those I tested.
✅ You want more data and features: This air purifier provides plenty of data on its LCD screen, including the local temperature, filter lifetime remaining, and the relative humidity of the room. Plus, it offers smart connectivity so you can control it remotely.
✅ You want a quiet operator: The Blueair HealthProtect 7470i scored well for noise produced, reaching only 35.3 dB on its lowest setting and 48dB on its highest. The night mode helps reduce noise and light in the dark as well.
❌ You have a budget: This is one of the more expensive air purifiers I’ve tested, with an MSRP of over $750, although it can often be found on sale at around $500. Replacement filters will set you back $90 as well.
❌ You care about energy consumption: While it’s not as bad as others I tested, the Blueair HealthProtect 7470i still consumed 0.241 kWh over 24 hours, which is more than average. So all that extra data does take its toll.
❌ You want a portable air purifier: At 27.6 pounds, you’re not going to want to move this air purifier around often. While it does come with a pair of wheels to help with the task, it’s still cumbersome to shift to a new location.
Blueair’s HealthProtect 7470i has all the technological bells and whistles anyone could ever want, including smart connectivity and extensive data on the air quality. It also provides an impressive performance when it comes to air purification, and is quiet in use, making it ideal for those who need to concentrate. However, for all of this it’s quite an expensive and heavy device.
What you need to know
The Blueair HealthProtect 7470i offers a very modern and sleek design, with a white casing measuring 27.2 x 11.8 x 11.8 inches. In my opinion, it looks like it's straight out of a science fiction film. It’s the heaviest air purifier I’ve tested, weighing 27.6 pounds — so it’s not the one for you if you’re after something portable, despite the built-in wheels to help with this. I found it overwhelming and cumbersome to move around. It comes with an abundance of features, including smart connectivity, which allows you to monitor and control it via your phone, and would suit rooms of up to 418 sq ft.
Design: This air purifier comes with three default fan speeds, although the app will give you access to more, as well as an auto and night mode. It’s got an LCD screen on top of the device that gives you up-to-date information on what it’s sensing including the local temperature, filter lifetime remaining, and the relative humidity of the room. Plus, with two lights on the front — one representing gas pollutants and the other for larger particles — this air purifier has the clearest indicator of air quality I’ve seen and it's quite satisfying to watch it change in real time. It comes with a unique HEPASilent Ultrafilter as well as a “GermShield” mode that claims to activate when it’s in a “germ-prone environment”.
Performance:
With a CADR of 270, 275 and 280 across smoke, dust and pollen, this air purifier is a strong performer which will suit rooms of up to 418 sq ft. It would perhaps suit those who struggle with pollen allergies the most due to its excelled performance in this field.
Even though it is the quietest of the bunch at just 48dB on its highest setting, it’s also worth mentioning that it tends to use more energy than other devices at 0.241 kWh in 24 hours, so all that data comes at a cost. The app does improve the overall performance though in terms of better accessibility and additional settings — one feature solely possible through its app is the capability to dim all the lights while keeping the fan at a particular setting.
Ease of use: This air purifier offers more information than most, so the monitor on top will take some getting used to. However, it’s fairly intuitive to operate, and the filter is easy to change. The app itself is also very simple to use and every feature is conveniently located on one page. Its quick to navigate and deduce the current conditions of the room across different PM sizes.
Value for money: This is no doubt an expensive air purifier — at over $750 MSRP, it’s more than twice the price of the current winner. And the replacement filters aren’t exactly cheap either at $90. However, it is a very good air purifier, which provides more information than you can get from most. Value for money depends on how much you value that information.
Read the full review: Blueair HealthProtect 7470i
Best compact air purifier
✅ You want a compact yet powerful air purifier to cover mid-large rooms. It also exceeded the recommended 650sq ft max per room during our tests.
✅ You want a long lasting filter. It comes with a NeverChange filter that lasts for 5 years, based on 12 hours use (on max power), per day.
✅ You want intuitive features, settings and easy-to-understand, real-time readings. It comes with a LED ring light that changes from Blue (good air quality) to Red (poor air quality), and other useful features.
❌ You have a lot of stairs or need to carry it around often. Despite only weighing in at 7.2 lbs, it is fairly heavy, and it lacks a carry handle.
❌ The remote control is available at an extra cost, so bear that in mind.
The Shark NeverChange air purifier may not have all the bells and whistles, but it gave impressive results with the air quality, offers useful data, and is relatively quiet. It's ideal if you don't have much floor space, or if you want something that is an attractive size.
What's more, you won't need to worry about replacing the main filter anytime soon, with its promise of five years. Which makes it value for money in the long-term.
What you need to know
The Shark NeverChange air purifier is an attractive, countertop machine that measures in at 10.7 x 9.3 x 14.9 inches, and can sit nicely on a side table. It can cover extra-large areas—up to 1400 sq. ft.and has Odor Neutralizing technology to get rid of lingering smells.
Perhaps, the main highlight is the NeverChange filter that promises a lifespan of five years — if used at max speed for 12 hours a day in a 300 sq ft room. And while it weighs only 7.2lb, it would benefit from a carry handle for moving around the home. It comes with five speeds — but Auto Mode is recommended to “ensure clean air confidence” and for optimal filter life.
Design:
With its circular design, the Shark NeverChange air purifier comes with a number of user-friendly features. It comes with touch controls on the top where you can manually adjust the fan speed, and five settings that range from quiet to maximum. There’s an Air Info button that allows you to switch between the air purification display options. There’s an attractive ring light on the front to understand your air quality (blue for good, red for poor), and a Dust Filter Life button. Plus, a handy child lock, which is ideal if you were using it in a nursery.
Performance:
Despite the Shark NeverChange air purifier's compact size, it impressed us with its top performance in several, mid-large rooms, exceeding the 650sq ft max recommended room size. When used in high-traffic rooms, such as the kitchen/dining areas, it took about an hour to reach 99-100% air quality, whilst on Auto Mode, it was consistent in the high 90s range.
This air purifier scored a good CADR; achieving 164, 193, and 178 respectively for smoke, dust and pollen. Essentially, making quick work of removing various airborne particles. It also means it can handle a decent room size of 1400 sq ft — making it adequate for a mid-large bedroom or living room.
In fact, the only time the air quality dropped out of the ‘Good’, blue light ring status was during cooking, when it turned to orange. But once the power automatically ramped up, the blue status ring returned.
In terms of noise, my decibel meter App recorded the lowest setting at 38 dB(a) —measured in line with a ‘quiet rural area’. In the highest power setting it recorded 62 dB(a), which is similar to normal conversation, but you wouldn’t want it on Max power overnight, unless you really had to. You can also turn the LED displays off completely, which is great for eliminating blue light in the bedroom.
Ease of use: This air purifier comes with handy instructions, which are downloadable via a QR Code. All of the touch controls are fairly intuitive to operate, and easy to follow. It's quick to deduce the current conditions of the room, especially in Auto Mode. It’s compact size and attractive appearance, makes it less of an eyesore in the room. However, it is is fairly heavy, and could benefit from a handle to carry around the home easily.
Value for money: The Shark NeverChange air purifier is reasonably priced at $299, which is not bad, considering you the filter last for five years. However, if you need to replace filters at any time, this will set you back at $90 each. However, it is a good air purifier, that exceeds expectations, and provides useful, real-time information.
Read the full review: Shark NeverChange air purifier.
Best App control
✅ You want a powerful yet stylish air purifier that looks great in any room - without being an eyesore.
✅ You want a great, user-friendly App that communicates important information in easily digestible messages and data delivery charts.
✅ You want fast operation and a variety of seven filters to choose from, depending on your specific requirements. These offer different levels of filtration for various types of airborne particles.
❌ You want a super quiet operation when the machine is running on high.
The Mila Air Purifier is a powerful, fast performer and ideal if you don't have much floor space. If you care about aesthetics, its stylish design can suit any room.
We were particularly impressed by the App control, that offers real-time, informative reports. Plus, you can easily swap out filters to tailor your needs, which makes it more efficient to get the job done well.
What you need to know
The Mila air purifier is a cute-looking machine that measures in at 12 x 12 x 15 inches. Easy to set up, it has a handy LCD display screen, remote control and a very good app. It gives you plenty of relevant information and options without overwhelming you, too. It comes with a medical-grade 'Overreactor' H14 HEPA and carbon filter to take care of nasty, airborne pollutants.
Perhaps, the main highlight is the wide range of filters available. Mila offers seven interchangeable filters that you can easily swap out to suit your specific 'breathing' needs — and with quirky names too! For instance, The Rookie Parent, for little ones or The Basic Breather - for daily needs.
Design:
With its stylish/curvy design, the Mila air purifier looks far from your boring appliance. It's compact in size, has a white and black 'wavy' body, and supported by wooden legs. All of which makes it more visually pleasing. It also comes with a number of user-friendly features, such as a full color, LCD screen on the top of the unit that gives you all the important information you need at a quick glance.
Best of all, it can suit any room without looking like an eyesore.
Performance:
Despite its small appearance, the Mila Air Purifier put in the work to give an impressive performance. During out tests it gave a clean air delivery rate (CADR) of 447 square meters per hour. When used in larger rooms, that run time gets extended.
The only criticism is that we found the noise level when running on high, a bit too noisy - but this was only when the air was well over 120 on the air quality index (AQI). So if you have poor air quality, you're likely to hear it. Fortunately, you can engage the Quiet Mode to keep fan noise under control until you leave the room.
Essentially, the Mila air purifier made quick work of removing various airborne particles. What's even more impressive is the Mila’s air quality readings lined up almost exactly with the air quality readings from our Alexa air quality sensor. Another notable touch is that a room presence sensor detects when a human is in the room. This will then stay quieter, compared to when someone leaves the room.
Read the full review: Mila air purifier.
How to choose the best air purifier
If you’re buying an air purifier, there are several factors to consider. First, you want one which is simple to operate, with enough fan speeds to suit your needs. You also need one which will suit you space and work effectively — take a look at the suggested room size and CADR figures for guidance. Generally speaking, the higher the CADR, the better, although it may not be necessary if you’re purifying a small room. It’s also useful if your air purifier can display the live quality of the air, and adjust automatically to it — that way you don’t have to keep changing the settings yourself. Night modes are handy as well if you intend to use the appliance as you sleep.
“Choose an air purifier capable of changing the air in your room five times per hour," says Andy Liu, the general manager at Blueair. "To get the correct size, determine the square footage of your room. If this is your first air purifier, we recommend starting with the room you sleep in, where your family spends the most time, or if you cook a lot, perhaps your kitchen.
"Look at the CADR (Clean Air Delivery Rate), which is an industry standard that tests how much air can be cleaned and how fast clean air can be delivered. We recommend an air purifier certified by the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM Verified with the highest possible CADR). In addition to performance, other considerations when picking an air purifier may be energy efficiency, quietness, and design.”
Filter types
In general, you'll want to look for a purifier that uses a true high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter.
Government agencies and professional groups, including the EPA and the American Lung Association, recommend True HEPA filters as the standard for air purification. These filters trap 99.97% of particles that are at least 0.3 microns in size.
Some devices have HEPA-type filters, which work similarly but aren't held to the same performance standards. The IQAir HealthPro Plus uses a HyperHEPA filter, which is believed to capture even smaller particles than a True HEPA filter.
Your purifier will likely also come with a pre-filter (some you can clean, some you have to toss after a few months) that catches the big stuff like pet fur and human hair before it reaches the main filter.
Some devices have additional filters, like carbon or charcoal filters, that trap the petroleum-based gases known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Carbon filters also act as natural deodorizers, which makes them suited for the kitchen, too.
Noise levels
Air-purifier noise levels range from nearly silent to steady humming, like an AC unit. Depending on the fan speed you're using and where you're placing your purifier, you may prefer a quieter device.
Many of us aren’t aware of the added costs when running an air purifier. Firstly, you should consider the cost of replacement filters, then there’s the energy needed to power the appliance on a regular basis. In terms of the filter replacement, some models are fitted with filters which can last for years, but can be very expensive to replace. Whereas others can be cheaper, but a replacement is needed much more often. To calculate the actual cost, you need to balance out the frequency of changing the filter with the cost per filter. OneLife’s new air purifier never needs its filter replaced if you really want to save!
You should also take energy consumption into account. Some of the best air purifiers in our list are Energy Star Certified and these generally will save money in the long term. Bear in mind that different speeds and settings will affect how much energy it uses though.
If an air purifier is designed to reach a large room and it uses a powerful fan to do so, it is likely to consume more energy than a smaller model, although efficiency can vary. One setting worth looking out for is an ‘Eco mode’ — this should save on energy use and makes the product more sustainable in operation.
Extra features
Some features are more nice-to-have extras than absolute requirements. In general, pricier purifiers come with more features, such as filter indicator lights, dimmable lights and programmable timers.
Only one of the devices we recommend (the Winix 5500-2) comes with a remote control, but we're not convinced that this adds a lot of value to the machine.
Also tested
While reviewing some of the best air purifiers on the market, we needed to be selective as to what meets our criteria, to determine whether it will make our top list.
Unfortunately, not every air purifier we tested made the cut, despite doing a decent job. And while we put plenty through extensive testing, here are a couple that didn't quite make the cut.
How we tested the best air purifiers
In order to come up with a list of the best air purifiers, we first researched a number of models on other reviews sites and online retailers to identify some of the more popular models. We then narrowed our list down to 10 air purifiers that we decided to test for this roundup. Testing involved two steps: Lab tests and in-home tests.
Laboratory testing
We compared the CADR of each air purifier to get an accurate representation of the performance. If a CADR rating was not supplied by the manufacturer, we sent it off to a lab to get our own rating — we used SGS IBR Laboratories for this test. The lab calculated the CADR for each pollutant by using the AHAM AC-1 testing method.
This involves sealing the air purifier into a dedicated test chamber and then administering tobacco smoke, dust or pollen particulate into the atmosphere at a controlled rate. Each particle test would be conducted two times — once with the air purifier switched on and once where it’s powered off. The natural decay rate from external elements, such as gravity, can then be accounted for and subtracted from the air purifier’s performance to give a final accurate reading. Electronic particle-counting devices are used to monitor the condition of the air quality, breaking down what sizes of particles remain in the atmosphere, as well as how frequent they are.
Smoke, dust and pollen all represent alternate particle sizes and can help assess where the air purifier may excel or struggle. Smoke represents the smaller particles, accounting for 0.09-1.0 microns, while dust sits in the middle, from 0.5-3.0 microns. And pollen has a larger particle size of 0.5-11.0 microns.
The room size recommendation is based on the smoke readings from the CADR test. According to AHAM Verifide: ‘The Room Size in square feet is calculated based on the removal of at least 80 percent of smoke particles in a steady-state room environment, assuming one air change per hour with complete mixing in the room.’
This is a widely recognized testing protocol for air purifiers, and one of the few ways with which you can compare performance. For those brands that already provided a CADR, we checked they had the certificate to prove it. That way, we made sure each device got the same treatment. It should be noted that though a device may have a low CADR score, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s a bad air purifier. But, this does mean it will struggle in larger rooms.
In-home testing
We then conducted a home test separately to compare the design and ease of use of each air purifier in a real world environment. For energy, we hooked up each device to an electricity usage monitor and ran it for a full 24 hours. To figure out the noise output, we used a decibel meter and ran the purifiers at a set distance of three feet away on both the lowest and highest possible fan settings. We also took an ambient room reading to make sure that the fan noise was not being overpowered by the outside world.
We considered all kinds of factors as part of these in-house tests, from the length of the cord to the plug, to whether the model oscillates. The overall set up and the clarity of the manuals was taken into account as well. With all of this, we were able to create a scoring system to summarize the overall experience. Once all these scores were totted up, we got the average ratings that you see above.
CADR explained
The effectiveness of an air purifier can be measured by the CADR (Clean air delivery rate). This number reveals its performance depending on a particular room size. The higher the number, the better it is at clearing airborne particles and the more effective it is at cleaning a larger space too.
The numbers translate to how many cubic feet of air the purifier can clean per minute. The standard goal is to clean a full room’s worth of air in 15 minutes. So, for instance, a 300-square-foot room would need an air purifier with a CADR of 200 or so, assuming ceilings were 10 feet high and any doors and windows were closed.
Some air purifiers come with different CADRs for smoke, pollen and dust, so you can see which it is most effective for. Not every purifier is tested using the CADR rating system, but real-life reviews can give you a sense of a device's effectiveness if a rating isn't available.
Here are the minimum CADR ratings the Environmental Protection Agency recommends by room size:
Air purifiers compared
Here's a quick look at the performance numbers of all the air purifiers on this page, showing their recommended room size, noise levels when operating, power consumption, and CADR rates for smoke, dust, and pollen.
Tips for keeping your air clean
If you suffer from allergies, or don't have access to an air purifier, there are other things you can do to reduce dust in your home. Things such as dusting regularly, or vacuuming with one of the best vacuum cleaners can help.
It's also recommended to wash your bedding every two weeks, remove footwear at the front door to prevent you from bringing dust around the home and invest in a 'waterhog' mat to catch dust.
If you want to know the quality of your air, it's always worth investing in a smart air quality monitor. Such monitors gives you detailed reports about a room's air quality as well as trigger automations, based on a 100-point scale.
Frequently asked questions
Is an air purifier actually worth it?
While air purifiers are designed to neutralize and sanitize air pollution, its performance and worth depends on the model you own. Not all air purifiers are suited to remove every allergen, so it's important to check the product description for a clean air delivery rate (CADR). The higher the CADR, the most effective it is of trapping airborne particles. Similarly, air purifiers with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter is a good indicator of having a high CADR. In any case, air purifiers are much more effective than houseplants when it comes to cleaning your air.
If you find an air purifier with a proven performance in terms of CADR and its suited to the allergens you want removing, you've got the best chance of it making a difference to your home environment. However, if you want to see the actual impact your air purifier is making, you can always opt for a model which displays live data, either on the air purifier or on your phone, such as the Blueair HealthProtect 7470i.
What exactly do air purifiers do?
If you want to know how do air purifiers work, essentially each utilizes a powerful fan that sucks in air to go through one or more filters (HEPA). These filters trap and neutralize particles and pollutants as air passes over them before the air is recirculated. Some air purifiers also have ultraviolet filters and use light to destroy smaller molecules such as mold and bacteria.
If you want to go above and beyond, also check out our tips for reducing allergens in your home. Plus, here are 9 ways to fight allergy season.
Should I get a smart air purifier?
Some modern air purifiers, such as the Blueair Health Protect 7470i, can be connected to the Wi-Fi and linked to an app on your smartphone. In doing this, you can control the air purifier remotely, including changing the fan speed or setting a schedule. For some air purifiers, the app will also breakdown the quality of the air and let you monitor it more precisely.
This can give you a much better understanding of what’s in your air and you can see the effect the air purifier is having on it too. Using the Dyson air purifier app for instance, you can see the different levels of particulate matter as well as any volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and nitrogen dioxide. This is usually displayed in a chart form so you can see where there’s been an increase in any air impurities.
This can be a useful feature to have, particularly if you want to better understand your air and want to source where your allergies are coming from. It’s also nice to see the evidence that the air purifier is making a difference.
Some apps will even display what the air is like outside as well, so you know not to leave when the pollen count is high or the general air quality is low.
How do I know if I need an air purifier?
Air purifiers are purchased predominantly by those who suffer from allergies in their home. Depending on the specific allergy and its severity, this can cause all kinds of symptoms, from sneezing, to a blocked nose, to struggling to breathe. It can contribute to difficulties when sleeping at night as a consequence.
Air purifiers can help reduce dust, pollen and pet dander from the air. Some claim to filter viruses from the atmosphere too, which can be a prime selling point if you’re wary of airborne diseases at home. If the air purifier has a carbon filter, which most do nowadays, it can actively deodorize as it works as well. So, it’s a useful purchase should your kitchen smell from residual cooking.
You don’t need to suffer from allergies to take advantage of an air purifier though. Air purifiers can improve the air quality at home in general, reducing the level of pollutants you breathe.
In fact, according to The White House: ‘Cleaner indoor air improves cognition and productivity, reduces the spread of other airborne diseases, protects against outdoor air pollutants such as smog and wildfire smoke, and decreases the number of environmental triggers for conditions like asthma and allergies.’ So whether you suffer from allergies or not, an air purifier can help to improve conditions at home.
Should I use an air purifier at night?
Whether you’re awake or asleep, the quality of the air you breathe will impact how you feel. It’s for this reason that running your air purifier at night is just as valuable as during the day. In fact, some will buy an air purifier for the sole purpose of nightly use. This is because our allergies can become more of a nuisance as we sleep — waking us up with itchy throats or blocked noses. With disturbed sleep, this can impact how we feel the following day as well.
Air purifiers are often placed in a corner of the bedroom to run quietly at night while we sleep. You’ll find many models will come with a night mode for this exact purpose. When activated, this setting will lower the fan speed and reduce the noise output, so you can sleep through its operation while still reaping the benefits of clean air. Any lights on the control panel will often dim to help you sleep soundly as well.
Just remember, using an air purifier through the night will require more energy consumption, so this will increase the running costs. Make sure you opt for an Energy Star certified model to keep your bills at a minimum. If your air purifier is working hard at night to clean your air, avoid leaving windows and doors open as well — otherwise, this is counterproductive. Alternate between the two, and only open windows when the pollution levels are low.
Can you use an air purifier with the windows open?
Air purifiers work most effectively when the windows are closed. By closing the windows, outside pollutants are kept out and won’t affect the effectiveness of the air purifier — helping to extend the life of the HEPA filter.
If you need to ventilate your room, Smart Air recommends opening your windows for 15-20 minutes to allow the air in the room to be refreshed. Once the doors and windows are closed the air quality will quickly return to the safe range when the purifier is in use. If you’re concerned about the quality of your air, you can purchase an air quality monitor to measure your indoor PM2.5 levels.
Will an air purifier remove odors?
An air purifier will clean the air and remove odors, unlike candles and scents that mask the smell. The best air purifiers to remove smells use activated carbon filters to eliminate substances that include gases, chemical toxins and odors.
Other types of filters, such as HEPA filters, are less effective in removing odors than they are in eliminating pollution particles.
Will an air purifier remove dust?
Similarly, an air purifier can help to remove active dust particles in the air, thus, reducing the amount of dust in your living space. This is because air purifiers are designed to capture and trap dust particles via its filter.
High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters are widely known for their effectiveness in capturing small particles. According to experts, such filters are capable of removing up to 99.97% of particles as small as 0.3 microns in size.
