- Covers up to 1,125 sq. ft.
- Uses HyperHEPA filtration
- Powerful odor elimination
- Smart sensors
- Ozone-free technology
- Price under $100
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ranks indoor air pollution as one of the greatest environmental health risks.1 These pollutants include things like dust, pet dander, pollen, mold spores, bacteria, and viruses.
Thankfully, modern air purifiers can help remove myriad irritants from your home. SafeWise reviewed top-rated air purifiers to help you choose the best one for your needs.
Compare the Best Air Purifiers
| Price |
| Max Square Footage |
| True HEPA Filter |
| Learn More |
| IQAir HealthPro Plus | Winix 5500-2 Air Purifier | Levoit LV-H132 Air Purifier | PureZone 3-in-1 Air Purifier | Hamilton Beach TrueAir | GermGuardian AC4825 | Honeywell Allergen Remover | Blue Pure 121 Air Purifier |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| $899.00 | $249.99 | $79.99 | $99.99 | $59.99 | $149.99 | $249.99 | $439.99 |
| 1,125 | 360 | 86 | 200 | 140 | 155 | 465 | 700 |
| ✓ Yes |
✓ Yes |
✓ Yes |
✓ Yes |
X No |
✓ Yes |
✓ Yes |
✓ Yes |
| View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon |
Amazon.com List Price as of 12/16/19 2:09 p.m. MST. (Full disclaimer)
Top 3 Air Purifiers Reviews
IQAir HealthPro Plus Air Purifier
The IQAir HealthPro Plus is ideal for allergy and asthma sufferers. Its HyperHEPA filtration catches particles one hundred times smaller than standard air filters, which means less airborne pollutants flying around your home.
This air purifier has received accolades and top ratings from both experts and customers. On Allergy Buyers Club, 97% of customers give the HealthPro Plus a four- or five-star rating, making it the top recommendation for allergy sufferers. It also received the PTPA (Parent Tested Parent Approved) Seal of Approval.
On the downside, this is the most expensive air purifier on our list, and replacement filters can cost up to $200. But if you battle allergies and want to eliminate pollutants throughout your entire home, this is one of the few purifiers out there that can handle large spaces.
Pros
- Top-rated performance
- Hand-tested manufacturing
- Great warranty
Cons
- Expensive price tag
- Noisy operation
- Large, bulky design
Winix 5500-2 Air Purifier
The Winix 5500-2 costs a little more than other single-room air purifiers, but it has lower costs for replacement filters—so your investment over time is less. Best of all, you get Winix’s proprietary PlasmaWave technology and smart air quality sensors.
PlasmaWave technology works as a permanent filter that breaks down allergens, chemical vapors, and odors without producing any harmful ozone. Plus, smart sensors constantly test the air quality. Just set it to Auto Mode, and when pollutants are detected, the Winix 5500-2 automatically adjusts the settings to filter the air
Unfortunately, the air quality indicator isn’t always reliable. We recommend using a secondary air quality monitor to make sure your readings are as accurate as possible.
Pros
- PlasmaWave technology
- Powerful odor elimination
- Affordable replacemnt filters
Cons
- Short warranty
- Bright display lights
- Unreliable air quality indicator
Levoit LV-H132 Air
This personal air purifier has a stylish design and is portable enough to easily move from room-to-room or from home to office.
It has a three-stage filtration system that includes a True HEPA filter and activated carbon filter. The Levoit air purifier eliminates 99.97% of airborne pollutants including dust, pollen, smoke, and pet dander—making it a favorite among pet owners.
Best of all, it’s a steal for under $100, which isn’t always the case when you’re looking for ozone-free operation.
We also like Levoit’s lifetime customer support and two-year equipment warranty. Definitely register this air purifier so you can take full advantage of the warranty. We’ve found complaints about sticky or non-responsive buttons fairly common.
Pros
- Ozone-free operation
- Lifetime customer support
- Great reviews from pet owners
Cons
- Glitchy buttons
- Loud operation
PureZone 3-in-1 True HEPA Air Purifier
If you’re looking for an air purifier that won’t keep you up all night, the PureZone should be on your list. It has some of the quietest operation we’ve seen, and it comes with a five-year warranty.
But that silence comes at a price—the fan is pretty weak. Even though it claims to cover up to 200 square feet, we think it’s a little too weak to be effective. This air purifier is a better bet for a desk area or other personal space.
Hamilton Beach TrueAir Compact Pet Air Purifier
No matter how much you love your fur-babies, they can still make you sniffle and sneeze. Get rid of pet dander with this little air purifier from Hamilton Beach.
It’s the cheapest purifier on our list at $59.99, but it doesn’t use True HEPA or carbon filters. But if you’ve got a furry friend that tickles your nose and scratches your eyes, this air purifier is worth trying out.
GermGuardian AC4825 3-in-1 Air Purifier
Eliminate smells from smoke, pets, and other air pollutants with the GermGuardian air purifier. It’s also rated to remove irritants like dust and mold from the air.
We like the three-year warranty, but found reports from customers who experienced a burning smell during operation. Faulty curcuit boards seem to be the culprit, so we’re watching to see if the company does anything to eliminate the potential risk of fire.
Honeywell True HEPA Allergen Remover
This air purifier is designed to target and take out allergens. It covers everything from dust and pet dander to pollen, viruses, bacteria, fungi, and gasses.
But you might trade your allergies for stinky air. Customers complain about an unpleasant odor that comes from the Honeywell Allergen Remover.
Blue Pure 121 Air Purifier
The Blue Pure air purifier will take out airborne pollutants without spiking your power bill. Designed for efficient energy consumption, this large purifier can cover up to 700 square feet.
Even though it comes with a higher price tag than most (just over $400), it uses washable pre-filters. That cuts down on your replacement costs over time.
Things to Consider in an Air Purifier
Buying an air purifier seems pretty straightforward, but depending on whether you need it to address health problems (like asthma) or to relieve allergies, the type you decide to take home makes a difference. Make sure you put your dollars where they’ll do the most good by reviewing these important air purifier questions.
What size of air purifier do I need?
Because air purifiers come in so many different sizes, you need to consider which room or area you want it to cover. To make it easy to find the right air purifier, we broke them into three categories.
Personal Air Purifiers: Air purifiers that cover an area smaller than 200 square feet and can be used in small rooms, in an office, or at a desk.
Room Air Purifiers: Air purifiers that cover more than 200 square feet but less than 600 square feet. These can be used in larger rooms and common living spaces.
Home Air Purifiers: Air purifiers that cover more than 600 square feet. Because apartments or single levels of a home can be 600–1,000 square feet, we determined that this size of air purifier could cover the needs of an entire home.
What kinds of filters should I look for?
The type of filter in an air purifier impacts how well it does its job and how long it will last. Filters also impact the level of maintenance and ongoing costs over time. All the purifiers on our list have a main (HEPA) filter, a pre-filter, and a secondary filter. This combination provides maximum benefit for removing harmful air particles, pollutants, and odor.
True HEPA Filter: This is the gold standard of air purifier filters, and it’s recommended by the EPA, the American Lung Association, and the American Academy of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology.
HEPA-Grade Filter: These filters mimic True HEPA filter, but don’t meet the same standards. They tend to have shorter lifespans, which means more replacements.
Pre-Filter: This is the air purifier’s first line of defense, and it acts like a bodyguard for the main filter. These filters catch larger airborne pollutants that would clog up the HEPA filter, like pet hair.
Secondary Filter: These filters help extend the lifespan of the main filter and are often made of carbon or charcoal to fight odors and capture gases too small for the HEPA filter to grab.
What extra features are available?
Extras can help make your air purifier more convenient or multipurpose. Some, like permanent washable filters, can also save you money over the lifespan of your air purifier. We’ve identified some of the most common features you may want from an air purifier.
- Remote control
- Multiple fan speeds
- Filter change indicator
- Air quality sensor
- Washable filters
- Programmable timer
- Night-light
- Light dimmer
- Eco mode for energy efficiency
- Handles to make moving easier
- Wheels for mobility
Does it matter how loud the air purifier is?
Some air purifiers can sound like a jet taking off. If you plan to use your purifier near the TV or a napping baby, quiet operation is a top priority. While most of the air purifiers out there will claim to be quiet—or to have a quiet mode—you really can’t tell until you try it yourself. We’ve also gotten reports that most air purifiers get noisier over time.
If using a purifier while you sleep is important, consider finding one with a special sleep mode, or ask the company for specific information about the number of decibels for each fan speed and air cleaning mode. Some companies include this information in products specs, but most do not, which means you need to make a call or engage in some online chat.
What kind of maintenance is required?
Unfortunately, you can’t just plug and play with an air purifier. To keep it operating at top performance, you need to regularly clean and replace the filters. Depending on the types of filters your air purifier uses and environmental factors like the number of pets in your home, you may need to change filters more often than recommended by the manufacturer.
We found recommendations that ranged from every three months to once per year for changing filters. And different types of filters have different lifespans. Carbon filters may last six months, while the pre-filter only lasts for three months. You can find the typical life of all the filters included with your air purifier in the product specs or user manual.
What extra costs should I be prepared for?
An air purifier costs you more than the initial purchase price. Things to consider include the type and number of filters you need to change out and the electricity used. Make sure you understand the ongoing costs of your air purifier before purchase. Some use expensive filters that can cost you hundreds of dollars per year.
If electricity costs are a concern, look for an air purifier that has an “eco” mode or other setting that lets it use less power. According to Energy Star, the average room air purifier can use around 550 kwh of electricity per year—more than some newer refrigerators. To combat this, find an air purifier with an Energy Star rating. Energy Star certified air purifiers are 40% more efficient than non-certified models.2
Home Air Quality FAQs
Air quality is important for the health of everyone in your home, but an air purifier can’t fight every threat. Read below to find more ways to keep your family safe from other common airborne dangers.
Au Naturel Air Purification
If you can’t afford an air purifier for every room, or if you simply have a green thumb that needs exercising, why not try out these plants that are known for their natural air-filtering qualities? And if you’re doubting the air-cleaning effectiveness of a houseplant, rest easy in the knowledge that even NASA has approved the flora and fauna we recommend below.*
Spider Plant
For people constantly fighting an irritated throat or nose, this easy-to-grow plant could be your salvation. Spider Plants help rid the air of formaldehyde, which can cause those symptoms.
Florist’s Chrysanthemum
In addition to bright flowers, chrysanthemums take care of five nasty chemicals that pollute our air, including ammonia. Ammonia exposure can lead to coughing, sore throat, and eye irritation.
Variegated Snake Plant
Add an exotic flavor to any room, and knock benzene out of the air at the same time. A snake plant can help save you from side effects like headaches, eye irritation, and drowsiness.
Boston Fern
Brighten and purify your home with a Boston fern. This common houseplant is known to help filter out xylene, which can cause mouth and throat irritation, headache, and dizziness.
*Some of the plants listed may be harmful to cats or dogs, so make sure they’re safe before taking them into a home with pets.
Find More Ways to Combat Household Threats
Related Buyers Guides and Resources
Our Approach
We looked at twenty different air purifiers to find our top ten. We spent more than fifteen hours comparing the pros and cons of each air purifier, from the types of filters used to how noisy each was. We consulted expert reviews and combed through hundreds of customer evaluations. We looked at the needs of allergy and asthma sufferers as well as pet owners. We also considered industry standards from the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers and interest groups related to air quality for people suffering from respiratory problems.
- 15+ Hours Researched
- 20 Products Considered
- 500+ Customer Reviews
- 8 Coffees Consumed
Sources:
1. Environmental Protection Agency, “Guide to Air Cleaners in the Home”
2. Energy Star, “Energy Star Certified Products, Air Purifiers”
Disclaimer
Amazon.com list price as of 12/16/19 2:09 p.m. MST. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. Safewise.com utilizes paid Amazon links.
Certain content that appears on this site comes from Amazon. This content is provided “as is” and is subject to change or removal at any time.
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