According to the EPA Americans spend almost 90% of their time indoors. +Indoor air pollutants are typically 2 to 5 times higher than they are outside.
You may be skeptical about air purifiers and wonder if they are just another snake oil product falsely promising improved health. If that’s the case, I suggest watching one in action. Some air purifiers are so effective that you can literally see the particles sucked up. It will make you incredulous to consider what you’ve been inhaling without even realizing it. It also would be worthwhile to ask around about other people’s experiences with air purifiers.
Individuals with asthma, allergies, or pets often rave about air purifiers. They come to rely on this products to purify their air in order to breathe easier in their own homes. But I understand if you need the endorsement of an expert before you are willing to buy one for yourself.
According to the American Lung Association, air pollution limits the growth of lungs in children. Most medical professionals will agree that an air purifier won’t eliminate conditions like allergies or asthma but they can certainly lessen your symptoms. The way I see it, it’s worth a try, right?
If you’re wondering how an air purifier works, I’ll do my best to explain the process. A fan sucks in surrounding air forcing it through multiple filters which catch all sorts of particles before pushing the now clean air back out. This creates results which can be particularly helpful in basements where ventilation is sometimes less than ideal.
An air purifier can also combat dust from construction projects (anyone else finishing their basements?). Additionally, it improves indoor air quality by reducing the amount of particles in the air from pets, smoke, dust, or pollen. Some can even eliminate unsavory smells like garlic or fish. Hence, air purifiers make life so much more comfortable for anyone sensitive to odors or suffering from allergies or asthma.
What to Look for in An Air Purifier
There are several things you should look for when shopping for an air purifier.
High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter. First and foremost, you’ll want to make sure you get one with a HEPA filter, especially if you have allergies. Why is this important? Well, HEPA filters trap nearly all airborne pollutants such as dust, mold, pollen, and pet dander which aggravate allergies. They are especially designed to capture these particles and mitigate allergies or asthma.
Clean Air Delivery Rate. Next, do some research to discover the Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR). This indicates how fast the unit cleans air; high numbers mean swift results. Sometimes you’ll see multiple rates since the CADR varies depending on the selected mode and what type of pollutant is in the air.
Size. As always, make sure you select an air purifier that will fit into your living area AND is suitable for the size of the room you intend to put it in. Manufacturers will typically included this information on the packaging, and we’ve consolidated that information for you below to make your shopping experience easy.
Top Air Purifiers
| Product | Features |
|---|---|
LEVOIT Air Purifier  | |
Toshiba Smart WiFi Air Purifier | |
RENPHO Air Purifier | |
BISSELL MYair Purifier | |
Blueair Blue Pure Air Purifier | |
Medify Air Purifier  | |
Germ Guardian Air Purifier | |
Winix 5300-2 Air Purifier | |
Hamilton Beach TrueAir Purifier  | |
Airfree P1000 Air Purifier |
LEVOIT Air Purifier
You’ll notice a big difference in your air quality with this purifier! It filters the air 5 times an hour, which means that every 12 minutes it will take in air from all directions. Not only is it efficient and powerful, but it’s also compact enough to fit into any space. You can’t go wrong with this option!
Dimensions: 8.7″ x 8.7″ x 16.25″
Intended Room Size: 219 square feet
CADR: 135+ CFM
Why You’ll Love It:
- When on “Silent Mode” it operates exceptionally quietly and turns off display lights
- Energy Star Verified, FCC certified, ETL listed, and CA PROP 65 certified
- Filters are less expensive than other brands
Toshiba Smart WiFi Air Purifier
In addition to a stylish appearance, this purifier from Toshiba offers significant benefits to your home. It effectively purifies the air and simultaneously sanitizes surrounding surfaces. But the best part is that you can control it from your smart phone! You will not be disappointed with this purifier.
Dimensions: 25.4″ x 33.02″ x 26.57″
Intended Room Size: 222 square feet
CADR: 145 (dust), 228 (pollen), and 143 (smoke)
Why You’ll Love It:
- Compatible with the Alexa App so you can control it through voice control. Alexa will even remind you when it’s time to replace the filter!
- A UV light eradicates airborne viruses
- Includes a HEPA filter
- Energy Star certified
RENPHO Air Purifier
As one of the most affordable options on our list, the RENPHO is an excellent option if you just want to try out a purifier. Although it’s cheaper, it is still highly rated and will do everything you’d expect. You can even choose from three fan speeds and set up a timer to save money and energy. This purifier will get the job done!
Dimensions: 8.5″ x 8.5″ x 14.25″
Intended Room Size: 240 square feet
CADR: 100 CFM
Why You’ll Love It:
- Simple to setup and operate
- Night light feature
- Affordable
BISSELL MYair Purifier
Bissell isn’t just a vacuum brand. As a brand we all know and trust, BISSELL again delivers an exceptional product with this purifier and carbon filter. Like most purifiers, this one comes with a filter change indicator, sleep mode, night light, and adjustable fan speeds. But unlike other purifiers, the BISSELL is compact enough to fit in smaller spaces in your home, such as the kitchen countertop. Overall it is an excellent choice!
Dimensions: 8.27″ x 8.27″ x 12.2″
Intended Room Size: 100 square feet
CADR: 30 CFM
Why You’ll Love It:
- 3-in-1 filter so you only need to replace one filter
- One of the smallest purifiers on this list
- Durable and sure to last a long time
Blueair Blue Pure 411 Air Purifier
Blueair created this air purifier with energy efficiency in mind! In fact, it only consumes 1.5-10 watts of energy while running. I love that the filters are all recyclable and washable For these reasons this purifier earned best in class energy performance with Energy Star.
Dimensions: 8″ x 8″ x 16″
Intended Room Size: 100-175 square feet
CADR: 105 CFM
Why You’ll Love It:
- Well-designed to facilitate high airflow but minimum noise
- Reasonably priced
- Works great!
Medify Air MA-15 Air Purifier
This new model from Medify was just released earlier this year. Already reviewers agree that improves the air quality in your home is a great value. It employs a higher grade of HEPA filters which are proven to remove 99.9% of particles. You’ll breathe better with this unit!
Dimensions: 7.5″ x 7.5″ x 12.2″
Intended Room Size: 330 square feet
CADR: 150 CFM
Why You’ll Love It:
- Includes a HEPA filter which lasts 2500 hours and is easy to change
- Child safety lock
- Lightweight
Germ Guardian
The clever title of this air purifier says it all: it’s a germ guardian! In addition to removing smoke, odors, and allergens like pollen, this product is also equipped to kill airborne viruses with a UV light sanitizer. If you suffer from allergies or asthma, this air purifier will be a game changer thanks to the HEPA filter!
Dimensions: 9″ x 5.5″ x 22″
Intended Room Size: 167 square feet
CADR: 108 (smoke), 125 (pollen), 118 (dust)
Why You’ll Love It:
- Quiet when running
- Gets rid of undesirable odors from pets, smoke, or food
- Reasonably priced
Winix 5300-2 Air Purifier
As one of the pricier options on our list, this air purifier from Winix was made to please anyone experiencing poor air quality in their home. While it has proven to be ultra-powerful, it is also energy efficient and uses minimal wattage as it runs. All in all this is an excellent choice and won’t disappoint!
Dimensions: 14.9″ x 7.8″ x 23.6″
Intended Room Size: 360 square feet
CADR: 35.31 (sleep mode), 70.64 (low mode), 91.82 (medium mode), 123.60 (high mode), 240.14 (turbo mode)
Why You’ll Love It:
- Comes with 4 stage filtration system including a true HEPA filter
- An LED indicates changes in air quality
- Auto Mode will readjust the fan speed when needed
- Energy Star certified
Hamilton Beach TrueAir Purifier
One feature that I like about this model is that users can switch between several modes depending on their preferences: whisper clean, medium, and quick clean. This gives you control over how loud and powerful it is, which is useful if you want it to run at night but wake easily or if you want it to quickly purify the air in your living space after preparing a strong-smelling meal. Your home will feel fresh and clean thanks to this Hamilton Beach air purifier.
Dimensions: 8.5″ x 6″ x 13.54″
Intended Room Size: 160 square feet
CADR: Not provided
Why You’ll Love It:
- Easy to clean the HEPA filter with a vacuum
- Small, attractive design that will fit anywhere
- You can set it up on its side or upright
- Filter never needs to be replaced
Airfree P1000 Filterless Air Purifier
Although the Airfree is the most expensive air purifier on our list, you know what they say: you get what you pay for! In the long run you’ll actually save money on filter replacements since this is a filterless air purifier. And notice that not only is this product the smallest unit on our list, but it also has the largest recommended room size by far. So if you’re willing to spend over $200 to get a top of the line product, go with this one.
Dimensions: 8.4″ x 8.4″ x 10.4″
Intended Room Size: 450 square feet
CADR: Not provided
Why You’ll Love It:
- Low energy consumption since it doesn’t use fans
- Doesn’t require a filter
- Awarded design
After reading through this list of air purifiers, I hope you’ve been able to land on one that will meet the needs of your family. Each of these are high-quality products with great ratings online. You’re sure to enjoy the cleaner, fresher air in your home with any of them. Happy shopping!
FAQs
How does an air purifier work?
A fan sucks air in and then pushes it through one or more filters. The filters trap particles of impurities. Then the air comes back out purified. Some purifiers require filters to be replaced. Others have filters that can be washed, and some are filterless.
What are important features in an air purifier?
The type of filter is one feature to look at; HEPA filters are the most effective. An energy efficient unit which is relatively quiet is desirable. It’s also important to look at the capacity/size of the unit. The size of the room or area you want to purify will help determine what size of unit you need.
Is an air purifier just for those with allergies?
An air purifier can be beneficial to anyone. While it is recommended for those with asthma, allergies, or second hand smoke exposure, an air purifier takes out other impurities as well. Clean air is important for everyone to breathe comfortably.
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