The world of air purifiers can be confusing, but the bottom line is that the best units can improve your quality of life. At Gadget Guru, we’ve been testing air purifiers for many years, and we continuously evaluate the latest hardware, along with their accompanying mobile apps. We’ve checked out the biggest air purifiers, smaller tabletop models, loud units, quiet ones, and everything in between. You can trust us to guide you to the right air purifier for your needs.
Why Choose an Air Purifier?
The EPA has reported that the typical air quality indoors (where we spend about 90 percent of our time) is much worse than it is outside, with some airborne pollutants two to five times more concentrated in the home than outdoors. Among the pollutants frequently found indoors include combustion byproducts, pet dander, mold, pesticides, ozone, natural gasses like radon, and the all-encompassing category of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which include everything from formaldehyde to trichloroethylene to chloroform. (These gasses can be 10 times higher indoors than outdoors.)
Our Top Picks for Air Purifiers
- NuWave OxyPure Smart Air Purifier: Best for large rooms
- Jya Fjord Pro: Best for large rooms, runner-up
- Blueair Blue Pure 311i Max: Best for mid-sized rooms
- Coway Airmega 150: Best for smaller rooms
- Wyze Air Purifier: Best for bargain hunters
- Morento HY4866-WF Air Purifier: Best for bargain hunters, runner-up
- Coway Airmega Icon: Most attractive air purifier
Room size is an essential consideration when choosing an air purifier.
What to Look for When Shopping for an Air Purifier
Here’s a guide to some of the key operational features in the air purifier category. You might also want to check out our buyers’ guide to stand-alone air-quality monitors, which can keep you informed of the quality of air inside your home. Since most air purifiers are best deployed in a single room, you can easily move a less-expensive air quality monitor from room to room to track the quality of all the indoor air you breathe.
- Room size supported
- Filter type
- Loudness
- Pollutant levels reported in app
Questions and Answers About Air Purifiers
Do I really need an air purifier in my home? In recent years, the EPA has reported that the typical air quality indoors (where we spend about 90 percent of our time) is much worse than it is outside, with some airborne pollutants two to five times more concentrated in the home than outdoors.
What kind of airborne pollutants are present in home? Among the pollutants frequently found indoors include combustion byproducts, pet dander, mold, pesticides, ozone, natural gasses like radon, and the all-encompassing category of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which include everything from formaldehyde to trichloroethylene to chloroform. (These gasses can be 10 times higher indoors than outdoors.)
Do air purifiers protect you from pollutants and viruses? The experts (including the EPA) say that HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filters are effective at reducing airborne contaminants of all types—including viruses—but are careful to note that on their own they are not enough to protect you from viruses and bacteria, and that you should still practice the standard battery of safeguards even if you have a great purifier on hand.
What is CADR? Clean Air Delivery Rate, a standard developed by the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers, is represented as a series of figures that express how much air a purifier can clean in a set amount of time. Separate ratings are included for smoke, pollen, and dust.
A HEPA filter is essential for effective air purification.
Other Notable Air Purifiers We’ve Reviewed
We’ve evaluated many other air purifiers. If none of our top picks check all the boxes for you, take a look at these other products. We’ve also listed some air purifiers that you should avoid.
