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If you or a family member have asthma or allergies, your once-controlled asthma symptoms might begin to bubble back to the surface. That’s where the best air purifier for asthma comes in to clean the air and reduce your exposure to environmental triggers like pet dander, airborne microbes, and other allergens.
Best Air Purifier for Asthma
- Levoit Core 300
- Coway Airmega 400
- Blueair Classic 680i
- Levoit LV-H134
- Coway AP-1512HH
- Germguardian AC4300BPTCA
- Alen BreatheSmart Classic
- Honeywell HPA300
- Fellowes 9286201 AeraMax
The 9 Best Air Purifiers for Asthma in 2021
1. Levoit Core 300
Striking the right balance between performance, features, and price isn’t always easy, but Levoit proves to be up to the task with its Core 300 air purifier for allergies. At first glance, you can easily mistake it for a smart speaker with its clean cylindrical design and precise grid pattern.
Aside from the looks, Levoit incorporates three different air filters in its purifier, and each is set to serve a different purpose. For instance, the nylon pre-filter is used to trap large particles like pet dander, dust, and hair.
The second layer that the air has to go through is the True HEPA filter. The abbreviation stands for high-efficiency particulate air, and the filter actually lives up to its name with an efficiency of 99.97%. It can capture particles as small as 0.3 microns, including pollens, bacteria, and viral particles.
The air cycle comes to an end with one final layer of an activated carbon filter. It’s dedicated to getting rid of volatile organic compounds, animal smell, smoke, and other kitchen odors.
Furthermore, the Levoit Core 300 implements the Vortexair technology for stronger airflow. This translates to a wider coverage area of up to 219 square feet, making it an air cleaner suitable for average-sized rooms.
It’s worth noting that the air purifier doesn’t use any UV or ion light throughout its operation. This means you won’t have to worry about some harmful byproducts like the ozone gas or other secondary pollutants finding their way into your home.
Finally, the Levoit Core 3000 offers a sleep mode that reduces the noise level to 24 dB at bedtime. So, you can place the air purifier in your bedroom and not worry about disturbing your night’s sleep.
Pros:
- An affordable price of under $100
- Comes with a 99.97% True HEPA filter
- Sleek design
- Doesn’t produce harmful pollutants
- Silent sleep mode
Cons:
- You only get two years of post-purchase support
2. Coway Airmega 400
If you’re looking for a larger coverage area, Coway has got you covered with its Airmega 400 air purifier. Its powerful motor allows it to cover an area of 1,560 square feet without breaking a sweat, making it the perfect solution for open-plan living areas and large rooms.
The Airmega 400 uses Coway’s signature Max2 filter, which combines the True HEPA and activated carbon filter in one compact package. You get the same 99.97% efficiency and 0.3-micron particles filtration of the True HEPA filter, in addition to the ability to capture 99% of the volatile organic compounds that might linger around and add unwanted odors to your home.
That’s not all; the Max2 filter is also capable of capturing fumes like CH3CHO and NH3, which are among the irritants causing allergies and asthma. You also get a real-time indicator of when your Max2 filter needs to be replaced, giving you a heads up to have a spare filter ready.
The star of the show here is the Airmage 400’s smart capabilities. The filter has a pollution sensor that monitors your indoor air quality and adjusts the fan speed accordingly. To keep you informed about all the changes taking place under the hood, the air purifier comes with a LED ring that changes color according to the level of pollutants in the air.
In addition to the smart mode, you can adjust your purifier’s speed manually to low, medium, and high. At the highest speed, the noise level can get to 43.2 dB as well as at a 22 dB noise level.
Pros:
- A large coverage area of 1,560 sq ft
- Smart mode automatically adjusts the fan speed
- Offers silent sleep mode
- Comes with a 5-year warranty
Cons:
- The air filters are expensive to replace
3. Blueair Classic 680i
If you’re looking for an air purifier that fits seamlessly into your smart home, look no more! The Blueair Classic 680i comes with Wi-Fi connectivity that allows you to control all its basic functionality and navigate through different settings right from your smartphone.
It’s also compatible with Amazon Alexa, making it even easier to change settings on the fly, as all you need to do is say the magic words, and the air purifier can respond to your voice commands.
What makes the Blueair Classic 680i even more enticing is the fact that it’s endorsed by the Swedish Asthma and Allergy Association, which falls under the umbrella of the European Academy of Allergy. This is such a big deal, as the air purifier is backed by data that proves its effectiveness in improving allergies and preventing you from experiencing an asthma attack.
When it comes to the air filtration system, the Blueair Classic 680i comes with a true HEPA filter and an additional SmokeStop filter that uses activated carbon. These dual-protection filters can be used for up to 6 months before they need replacement, making the air purifier more economical to operate.
In terms of coverage area, the air cleaner works across an area of 698 square feet, making it suitable for the kitchen and other larger rooms. When operating at full speed, the Blueair Classic 680i is comparable to a floor fan. The noise level of 62 dB is the same as an office fan’s white background noise. On the other hand, sleep mode can go as quiet as 32 dB.
Pros:
- The True HEPA removes pollutants, mold spores, and dust particles as small as 0.3 microns
- Comes with four wheels for easier transportation
- Offers Wi-Fi capabilities
- Suitable for rooms with an area of around 700 sq ft
Cons:
- Bulky footprint
- Doesn't have a sensor to give you insight into the quality of your indoor air
4. Levoit LV-H134
There’s something undeniably special about the Levoit Core 300’s sleek design that makes it fit anywhere at your house without feeling out of place. If you’re a fan of the design but want a more powerful air purifier for larger areas, Levoit hears you loud and clear and delivers just that with the LV-H134 model.
It comes in a white cylindrical form factor with all the LEDs and buttons sitting on the top for ease of accessibility. In just 30 minutes, the Levoit LV-H134 can filter 1,170 square feet rooms, while 710 square feet rooms take only 18 minutes.
Furthermore, the air filtration system follows Levoit’s air purification standards. The pre-filter layer captures large particles like dust and pet dander, while the True HEPA filter does a better job with fine particles like mold spores, dust mites, and other microscopic allergens.
Just like the Coway Airmega 400, the Levoit LV-H134 has an accurate laser sensor that detects minute particles floating in the air. This way, your air cleaner can detect your indoor pollutants load and adjust its operation accordingly.
You also get an LED indicator at the top that shines in different colors depending on the level of particles in the air. It can be updated as fast as every 30 seconds, giving you real-time data as your air purifier kicks into action and your room becomes cleaner.
Pros:
- Comes with a sensor that detects air particles load
- Covers areas of 1,170 sq ft
- The True HEPA filter captures microscopic asthma triggers like mold spores
- Sleek design
Cons:
- Can be a bit noisy with a sound intensity of around 54 dB
5. Coway AP-1512HH
If you had an iPod Nano back in the day, just imagine the same design but on steroids! This is exactly what the Coway AP-1512HH looks like with its white central ring and square design. The grid and the other guts of the air purifier are hidden in the back, keeping a clean front profile that blends nicely anywhere in your home.
Here, you get a four-stage air purification system. By now, you should be familiar with how the pre-filters, deodorization activated carbon filters, and True HEPA filters operate. These are the standard seen in many types of air purifiers, including those for allergies and asthma.
The Coway AP-1512HH adds a fourth layer that uses ionic technology. Through electrostatic charges, the filter can trap some of the tiniest particles that went past the previous three layers. Some people have health concerns about this technology, so it’s nice to hear that you can turn it off if you choose to.
Furthermore, the top part of the air purifier houses LED indicators for quick glance at the status of your room air, in addition to all the buttons needed to control its different modes and settings. You can set timers, change speed, and activate the auto mode with just a tap of a button.
Pros:
- Manageable noise level between 24.4 dB to 53.8 dB
- A four-stage air purification system
- Features a sensor that measures the load of air particles
- Comes with indicators for the filters’ status and surrounding air quality
Cons:
- Uses ionic technology; however, it can be turned off
6. Germguardian AC4300BPTCA
As the brand name implies, the Germguardian AC4300BPTCA doesn’t just settle at cleaning the air from particles; it uses UV-C light to kill airborne viruses and bacteria.
The air cycle starts with a pre-filter and charcoal filter layers that are meant to capture large smoke particles, pet dander, and volatile organic odors. The True HEPA filter comes next with its fine apertures that capture particles as small as 0.3 microns like dust mites, pollen grains, and pet dander. Add this to the UV-C light, and you’ve got yourself a complete air purification system.
It’s also worth mentioning that the filters are all coated by an antimicrobial agent that prevents the overgrowth of mold, bacteria, and mildew. This ensures that your filter itself never turns into a colony for all the allergens it’s trying to take out of the air.
Furthermore, Germguardian’s tower design allows it to deliver better air circulation. It can clean the air up to four times per hour in rooms with an area of 153 square feet. Also, the compact base design makes it suitable for small rooms, as it won’t take much space.
Finally, the air purifier for allergies comes with a clean air delivery rate (CADR) of 99 for smoke, 107 for dust, and 116 for pollen grains. Such ratings are proof that the air purifier went through rigorous testing and lives up to Germguradian’s claims.
Pros:
- Budget-friendly
- Covers an area of 153 sq ft
- Uses UV-C to kill airborne viruses like staph, influenza, rhinovirus
- Tower design delivers an efficient air circulation
- Comes with a silent sleep mode
Cons:
- Limited coverage area
7. Alen BreatheSmart Classic
We’ve got yet another air purifier with a massive coverage area to take over your large bedrooms, basement, and open-plan living room. The Alen BreatheSmart Classic can complete two air cleaning cycles per hour for areas of 1,150 square feet.
Another unique feature that Alen BreatheSmart implements in its Classic air purifier for allergies is the silent sleep mode. You might be puzzled right now, as almost all the models we’ve reviewed so far comes with this feature.
However, the approach is quite different here, as the air purifier produces pink noise while in sleep mode. This type of noise cancels out the low-frequency background sounds that make it hard to sleep when you’re in a perfectly noise-free environment.
Aside from that, the air filtration aspect is familiar. The pre-filter acts like a barrier for the large pet dander, hair, fur, and other bulky particles.
This is followed by the True HEPA filter that is responsible for reducing asthma symptoms thanks to the way it captures microscopic allergens like mold spores and fine dust particles. Also, the BreatheSmart removes irritating odors for a comprehensive air cleaning cycle.
It’s worth noting that the air purifier for allergies is designed by former NASA airflow engineers. If this isn’t enough indicator for the quality and precision that have been put in the production, Alen BreatheSmart gives you a lifetime warranty to ensure you get the most out of your investment.
Pros:
- Covers large rooms and open areas
- Comes with an air quality sensor and LED indicators
- Offers four different fan speeds
- Implements advanced WhisperMax technology for a quiet night’s sleep
Cons:
- Relatively expensive
8. Honeywell HPA300
Honeywell offers considerable coverage area upgrades with every new iteration of its best-selling air purifier for allergies. Look how far the company has come, as the HPA100 was only limited to 125 square feet, while the newer HPA300 is capable of covering an area of 465 square feet, which is especially impressive given its compact footprint.
Furthermore, based on the March 2018 Cascade Survey Research that collected the professional opinion of allergists, another fancy way to say allergy doctor, 69% of them recommends Honeywell as their first portable air purifier choice.
This comes thanks to its high air cleaning rate. For instance, the HPA300 completes five air purification cycles per hour, which adds up to a whopping 120 cycles per day.
Honeywell also implements True HEPA filters with an efficiency of 99.97% for particles as small as 0.3 microns. By now, this is exactly what you’d expect from an air purifier for allergies, so Honeywell decided not to stop here. The HPA300 comes with a Turbo Clean mode that pushes the efficiency to 99.99% for certain airborne spores, bacteria, and viruses.
Finally, the HPA comes with some bells and whistles as well, like a filter change indicator, responsive touch controls, the ability to dim the LEDs on the control panel while in sleep mode, and a 5-year warranty.
Pros:
- Recommended by doctors
- Features a high-efficiency Turbo Clean mode
- Offers a 5-year warranty
- Indicators for when the True HEPA filter needs to be changed
Cons:
- Relatively noisy, compared to other air purifiers
9. Fellowes 9286201 AeraMax
We’ll wrap up our list with yet another asthma and allergy-friendly air purifier, and this time around, the Fellowes 9286201 AeraMax is certified by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA). This shows how Fellowes built its air purifier from the ground up to reduce asthma symptoms, instead of just tweaking its generic purifier design and call it a day!
In terms of design, I totally dig the all-black design, sitting on a sleek stand that makes the whole thing look more like a router. You get touch controls for all the air purifier’s modes and settings on the side, making everything just one tap away.
Furthermore, the AeraMax has some tricks under its sleeves, like the PlasmaTrue technology, which uses an ionized field to remove tiny airborne asthma triggers. The Aera+ mode is another welcome addition. It’s quite similar to the Turbo Clean mode we’ve seen in the Honeywell HPA300, as it boosts the filtration efficiency to pick even more particles.
When it comes to the coverage area, the air purifier shines in rooms between 300 to 500 square feet. In such settings, it can use its AeraSmart sensor to adjust its fan speed according to the level of air pollution in the surroundings.
Pros:
- Suitable for medium-sized rooms between 300-500 sq ft
- Certified by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America
- Comes in a sleek, all-black design
- Easily accessible buttons to change the air purifier’s modes on the fly
Cons:
- Quite pricey for its coverage area
How to Choose an Air Purifier for Asthma
Choosing the best air purifier for asthma isn’t as easy as it sounds, as there are plenty of models to choose from. We’ve broken down some of the key factors to keep in mind while getting ready for the allergy season, so let’s jump right into what makes or breaks the air cleaners dedicated to capturing allergens.
Coverage Area
This is probably the first spec that people check before considering an air purifier for allergies and asthma. You want to make sure that the model you pick is specifically tailored for the space where you plan to place it.
It’s worth mentioning that the air purifier’s overall footprint is inversely related to its coverage area. In other words, powerful air purifiers covering expansive areas need powerful motors to operate at such a large scale. Such motors aren’t usually small, so make sure you have enough available space to place your shiny new air purifier for allergies.
Type of Air Filters
Not all air purifiers operate using the same mechanism. Some even integrate multiple filter technologies to boost their efficiency and capture more airborne particles.
HEPA
I’d bet you’ve seen the term HEPA floating around somewhere as this filter technology has plenty of applications. The whole premise is to create a high-efficiency, cost-effective filter that removes as many air particles as possible without hurting your wallet when it’s time for a replacement.
A True HEPA filter can capture airborne particles as small as 0.3 microns like dust mite, mold spores, and bacteria at an efficiency of about 99.97%, which is quite impressive.
Ionic
Ionic technology uses charged metal plates to attract airborne particles. This ionized field can pick some allergens that went past the other physical barriers in the way of airflow. This technology has the advantage of not requiring frequent filter replacements, as all you need to do is to remove the metal housing and wash it, then you’re all good to go.
However, throughout the air purification process, harmful ozone gas might be produced, which raises some health concerns and makes manufacturers search for more innovative ways to implement such technologies while maintaining your safety.
UV
UV rays can also be used in asthma air purifiers to kill any microbes captured by the other filtering layers. The type of radiation used for this purpose is UV-C, which is the most dangerous one. We’ve seen air purifiers adding more insulating layers to ensure there’s no radiation leakage, in addition to including a switch to turn it off if you choose to.
Activated Carbon
Finally, activated carbon filters usually secure a spot in the multi-stage air purifiers that combine different filter technologies to boost their efficiency. Once carbon becomes chemically “activated,” it shows a higher absorptive capacity of different odors, volatile organic compounds, and smoke.
This helps improve your indoor air quality, especially that we’re spending more time at home now.
Noise Level
Generally speaking, air purifiers are quiet while operating even at high speeds. A better way to imagine the noise level you’re signing up for is to compare it to the white noise of an office fan. This shouldn’t be intrusive by any means, and your brain will quickly adjust and cancel out the background humming.
Furthermore, most allergies and asthma air purifiers come with a dedicated sleep mode that cuts down the noise level even further. This ensures your bedroom has fresh, clean air at night without any disturbances to your sleep.
Portability
If you’re planning to move your air purifier a lot between different rooms, make sure you consider its size and weight before finalizing your purchase decision. Some models are as big as smart speakers, making them easily slip anywhere without any hassles.
Even some of the bulkier models don’t completely throw portability out of the window. We’ve seen many manufacturers adding wheels to make it easier to take your air purifier from one room to another.
Warranty
An air purifier is one of those devices that you expect to buy and then forget all about. As long as your current purifier is getting the job done, you won’t think about a spec upgrade. For example, whenever a new smartphone with a shiny new spec sheet hits the market, it renders the older models obsolete, but this isn’t the case here.
So, post-purchase support should be high on your list when buying a purifier. Some models offer lifetime warranty, while others offer warranty only on certain parts. Whenever you’re torn apart between two similar models, the warranty situation might be the decisive factor for your purchase.
Energy Efficiency
Being a relatively smaller device, air purifiers won’t have a great toll on your monthly electricity bills. On average, they run at around 200 watts, which means you can have them operating in the background all day and your bills won’t skyrocket.
It’s worth noting that many models have an automatic mode, allowing the purifier to alternate between different speeds depending on the load of pollutants in the air. Once everything is in good shape, these purifiers can switch to a power-saving mode to reduce energy consumption.
How Can Air Purifiers Help With Asthma and Allergies?
Since there is no definitive treatment for allergies and asthma, all you need to do is avoid what triggers the symptoms of your condition. Here comes the role of purifiers as they clean the air of microscopic allergens that can irritate your respiratory passages.
You might think, I keep my house clean all the time, so how can allergens find their way in? Let us give you some examples. If you have a pet at home, dander can be a real issue. Furthermore, bacteria and fungi flourish in the moist spots of your house and produce air-borne spores.
Also, the spring season yields tons of pollen grains that can slip through an open window, especially if you live near a park. This shows that allergens can go unnoticed, and having an air purifier constantly getting rid of them helps decrease the incidence of asthma or allergy attacks.
Final Words
The question that lingers in many people’s heads is, does an air purifier help with allergies? Experts from the AAFA believe allergies and asthma prevention yields a better quality of life compared to symptomatic treatment once you experience an asthma attack. Here comes the role of air cleaners that capture allergens and prevent them from getting into your lungs.
By now, you should have a solid idea about which model suits your needs, but if you still can’t decide, we'll help you pick the best air purifier for asthma once and for all.
Suppose you’re looking for an air purifier with a compact footprint, and you don’t mind a relatively limited coverage area. In that case, the Levoit Core 300, the Honeywell HPA300, and the Fellowes 9286201 AeraMax are great options to consider.
On the other hand, powerful air purifiers are needed to cover large rooms, open-plan living areas, and basements. So, here comes the Coway Airmega 400, the Levoit LV-H134, and the Alen BreatheSmart Classic.
Furthermore, the Alexa-enabled Blueair Classic 680i comes with built-in Wi-Fi capabilities and fits seamlessly in your smart home setup, allowing you to execute basic tasks with just your voice.
Finally, if you’re looking for a multi-stage air purifier that uses ionic and UV-C technologies, you can pick between the Coway AP-1512HH and the Germguardian AC4300BPTCA.
Additional Reading
