Best Air Purifier
The average American spends about 87% of their time indoors, and nearly 70% of that time in their own home. Keeping the windows open helps let in fresh air, but it only does so much. If you want the air quality in your home to be as high as possible, consider investing in an air purifier.
The Top 5 Air Purifiers
When you think about air purifiers you may think of them as only necessary in certain applications. In a chemical laboratory, for example, where harmful substances need to be controlled. The reality is, however, that even the air in your home may contain potentially harmful substances. If someone in your family suffers from asthma or other breathing difficulties, this can be a serious health matter.
Even if you don’t notice the effects of poor air quality, you and your family could be breathing in a wide variety of indoor contaminants ranging from dust and cigarette smoke to pet dander, allergens, and even harmful bacteria. The more time you spend breathing that air, the more you’re at risk.
Air purifiers remove pollutants from the air, making it safer and healthier for your family to breathe. There are different types of air purifiers and they come in all shapes and sizes. By doing a little research and surveying the available options, you can easily find the air purifier that works best for your family.
Here are the best 5 air purifiers on the market:
BlueAir Blue Pure 211+ Air Purifier
Award: Best Overall
Whether you’re looking for an air purifier for a small home or simply a large room, this model gets the job done while operating quietly and efficiently.
If you’re going to invest in an air purifier, you want to know it will get the job done. The BlueAir Blue Pure 211+ Air Purifier is a powerful purifier that works quickly to achieve and maintain low particulate levels, even in large spaces. Featuring an advanced Swedish design, this purifier removes over 99% of airborne pollutants including viruses, dust, mold, pollen, pet dander, bacteria, and more.
In addition to purifying the air, the BlueAir Blue Pure 211+ Air Purifier removes odors using an activated carbon filter. This includes gasses, pet odors, cooking odors, and even volatile organic compounds (VOCs). This purifier is made with a pre-filter that comes with an attractive fabric design that can be machine-washed for quick cleaning and the energy consumption of the unit is very low – only 30-61w.
The BlueAir Blue Pure 211+ Air Purifier is an attractive and effective air purifier that gets results. Best of all, it is incredibly quiet and energy efficient.
Pros:
- Low energy consumption
- Advanced Swedish design with pre-filter
- Very quiet operation (<31 decibels)
Cons:
- Limited options for programming
- Filter isn’t HEPA certified
Specs:
- Price: $300
- Efficacy: 99% airborne pollutants
- Filter Type: Washable
- Power Use: 30-60 watt
Coway AP-1512 Mighty Air Purifier
Award: Best Value
This powerful air purifier features a 4-stage filtration system including a pre-filter and True HEPA filter to remove 99.97% of airborne pollutants.
Air purifiers can be expensive, so you need to find a model that fits within your budget but still meets your needs. The Coway AP-1512 Mighty Air Purifier is an excellent choice because it is moderately priced but offers a variety of features and benefits you’d normally find in much more expensive models. This unit features 4-stage filtration consisting of a pre-filter, deodorization filter, a True HEPA filter, and a vital ion filter to capture and reduce airborne particles by up to 99.97%.
The BlueAir Blue Pure 211+ Air Purifier has a pollution sensor that communicates the indoor air quality in real time, using brightly colored LEDs to keep you up to date. You can also program the unit using the built-in timer. Choose from three fan speeds or set the unit to automatically change the fan speed depending on the level of indoor air quality.
In addition to being highly effective, the BlueAir Blue Pure 211+ Air Purifier is very quiet and efficient. It operates under 54 decibels and at a maximum of 77 watts.
Pros:
- 4-stage filtration including HEPA filter
- Communicates indoor air quality
- Low power consumption, quiet operation
Cons:
- Not ideal for large spaces (over 361 feet)
Specs:
- Price: $200
- Efficacy: 99.97% airborne pollutants
- Filter Type: True HEPA
- Power Use: 77 watt
Levoit Core 300 Air Purifier
Award: Best for Small Spaces
If you’re looking for an air purifier for a specific room in your house, the Levoit Core 300 Air Purifier is an excellent choice. Affordably priced under $100 and equipped with a True HEPA filter, this model traps up to 99.97 of fine airborne particles and controls odor with an activated carbon filter. Plus, it has a small, streamlined design that fits well with most décor.
The BlueAir Blue Pure 211+ Air Purifier offers an ultra-long service life, increasing the value. This model is one of the most silent air purifiers on the market, running at under 24 decibels, and it is Energy Star-verified as well. With Vortexair Technology, you’ll enjoy crisp, clean air in areas up to 219 square feet.
For an affordable but effective air purifier for small spaces, we recommend the BlueAir Blue Pure 211+ Air Purifier. Powerful but small and silent, this is a great pick.
Pros:
- Affordably priced under $100
- Removes 99.97% airborne pollutants
- Nearly silent operation, under 24 decibels
Cons:
- Not ideal for larger spaces (over 200 square feet)
Specs:
- Price: $100
- Efficacy: 99.97 airborne pollutants
- Filter Type: True HEPA
- Power Use: 60 Hz
Honeywell Home HPA300 Air Purifier
Award: Best for Large Spaces
Choose from 3 cleaning levels to remove airborne particles and circulate the air in even large spaces with this powerful air purifier.
Why settle for an air purifier that can only handle a small room when you can purify a much larger space for the same price? The Honeywell Home HPA300 Air Purifier is priced under $250 and can be used in spaces up to 465 square feet. This powerful air purifier offers three air cleaning levels plus a Turbo clean setting to remove up to 99.97% of airborne particles like dust, mold, pollen, pet dander, and smoke.
The Honeywell Home HPA300 Air Purifier filters and circulates the air in a large room up to 5 times an hour, helping you and your family breathe easier. In addition to removing airborne particles, this air purify neutralizes odors as well. Plus, it uses True HEPA filters so it’s allergen-friendly.
Pros:
- Removes up to 99.97% airborne particles
- Filters and circulates 5 times per hour
- Neutralizes odors and removes allergens
Cons:
- Not as attractive as some models
- Takes up a significantly amount of floor space
Specs:
- Price: $220
- Efficacy: 99.97 airborne pollutants
- Filter Type: True HEPA
- Power Use: 135 watt max
Austin HealthMate Air Purifier
Award: Best for Odor
Protect your family with the precision and power of this 4-stage air purifier equipped with a 360-degree intake and true medical-grade HEPA filter.
Your family’s health is not something you want to gamble on, so consider investing in a top-of-the-line air purifier like the Austin HealthMate Air Purifier. This model delivers 4-stage filtration to remove sub-micron particles as small as 0.3 microns, including allergens like dust, pet dander, and pollen as well as gasses, chemicals, and VOCs. It reduces asthma attacks and strengthens the immune system.
The Austin HealthMate Air Purifier features a 360-degree intake system and has three speed settings for the fan. It draws air into all sides of the unit, so you can place it just about anywhere in your home, and it is set on casters for easy transport. This model has over 780 cubic inches of activated carbon and zeolite filtration and utilizes a True medical-grade HEPA filter as well.
Whether you’re concerned about asthma, allergies, or general air quality, the Austin HealthMate Air Purifier is just what you need to purify the air in your home and protect your family.
Pros:
- Powerful 4-stage filtration
- True medical-grade HEPA filter
- Choose from 3 speed settings, 360-degree intake
Cons:
- Very expensive compared to other models
- Design could be more attractive
Specs:
- Price: $555
- Efficacy: 99.97% airborne pollutants
- Filter Type: True HEPA
- Power Use: 135 watt max
Do You Need an Air Purifier?
The air you breathe plays a significant role in your health, even if you don’t realize it. Your body is designed for automatic respiration, so breathing isn’t something you have to make a conscious effort to do. You really only become aware of it when breathing becomes more difficult than usual, such as in extreme heat and humidity or when there’s smoke in the air.
Even though you may not be able to see them, the air is full of microscopic particles that present a threat to your health. These particles can trigger asthma attacks and may even contribute to serious health problems like lung disease or mesothelioma. Having an air purifier is the best way to protect yourself and your family from airborne pathogens and other particles.
The Benefits of Air Purifiers
Air quality varies significantly depending on many factors including where you live, the age of your home, and whether someone in your family smokes. Even if there are no obvious issues with the air quality, however, you could still benefit from having an air purifier.
Here are some of the benefits of air purifiers:
- Improved air quality by removing contaminants
- Healthier air by removing common pathogens like bacteria and viruses
- Reduced odor, particularly from smoke or food
- Better control of seasonal allergies by removing allergens from air
- Relief from pet allergies by removing pet dander from air
- Reduced dust buildup in the home, may also help with allergies
The benefits of having an air purifier are obvious, but what isn’t so obvious is the right model for you and your family. Air purifiers come in all shapes and sizes equipped with different technology for different applications. If you don’t know what you’re looking for, you could be easily overwhelmed.
Here’s a quick overview of common types of air purifier:
- HEPA Filter – The most common type of air purifier, these models pass air through a filter (typically made from fiberglass, cotton, or foam) to trap airborne particles. You’ll need to change the filter on a monthly basis for maximum efficacy.
- Ionizer – Both ionizers and ozone generators produce charged particles that essentially neutralize airborne particles by causing them to stick to surfaces instead of floating in the air.
- Electrostatic Filter – These purifiers work by charging particles in the air then collecting them in the machine. You’ll need to wash or replace the collection plate every so often.
- Activated Carbon Filter – These filters are often used in conjunction with other air purification methods to help trap odor and gasses – some even work for volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
- UV Purifier – Ultraviolet light has germicidal properties, so a UV purifier may help remove microbes including bacteria, viruses, and mold.
When shopping for an air purifier, consider the types of indoor pollutants you’re concerned about and choose a model that handles those pollutants well. Think about your ideal budget range and how much space you have for the unit. Answering these questions will help you narrow down your options.
The Bottom Line
You and your family deserve to breathe easy. Unfortunately, that is sometimes easier said than done. If you are concerned about air quality in your home or workspace, it may be worth considering an air purifier. The right air purifier can remove 99% or more of airborne pollutants, keeping your home a safer and healthier space for your family.
To choose the right air purifier for your needs, think about the features that are most important to you and check out the options we’ve recommended above. Good luck!