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You already know cleaning your home is important. It is one of the easiest ways to improve health outcomes. However, there is one place that you may overlook when cleaning: the air.
Our Choice for the Best Air Purifier:
- Coway AP-1512HH Mighty Air Purifier
- Dyson Pure Cool Air Purifier and Tower Fan
- Blueair Blue Pure 211+ Air Purifier
- Blueair Blue Pure 411
- Coway Airmega 200M Air Purifier
According to the EPA (1), indoor air quality is two to five times more polluted than outdoor air. An air purifier can close that gap, but all models are not equal. To ensure you find the best air purifier for your needs, preferences, and budget, here is everything you need to know.
Top 5 Models
1. Coway AP-1512HH Mighty
Simple, sleek, and portable. That is the essence of the Coway AP-1512HH Mighty Air Purifier. This device is perfect for an apartment or single room as it cleans up to 361 square feet.
The Coway Mighty features a four-stage filtration process, including a pre-filter, deodorization filter, true HEPA filter, and vital ionizer. The multi-pronged approach will eliminate 99.97 percent of particles in the air 0.3 microns or larger. It can also tackle unwanted smells, like smoke or organic compounds.
The four distinct stages will give you arguably the best air quality. Whether you want to tackle large particulates like pollen or little ones like bacteria, the Coway Mighty will eliminate it. The fact that the air purifier comes with a timeless appearance is a fortuitous bonus.
The air purifier has a range of smart features, too. That includes three fan speeds, including an automatic mode for hands-free performance. When the sensors do not detect airborne pollutants for 30 minutes, the fan with automatically stop. There is also an indicator that lights up when each filter needs to be replaced.
For its size, the Coway Mighty packs a lot of value into a compact frame. The air purifier comes with a CADR rating of Dust 246 / Pollen 240 / Smoke 233 CFM. Simply put, the Coway Mighty is worth your consideration no matter what your needs are.
Pros:
- Thorough four-stage filtration
- Smart features monitor air quality
- An indicator shows when the filter needs to be replaced
- Includes an eco-friendly mode
- Quietest mode produces 24.4 decibels
- Award-winning pedigree
- Washable pre-filter
- Energy Star certification
- Uses 78 watts at most
Cons:
- Not suitable for whole-house air purification
- Only comes in black and white
2. Dyson Pure Cool
Welcome to the future of air purification. The Dyson Pure Cool TP04 Air Purifier and Tower Fan is one of the best looking and most effective models on the market. Thanks to a HEPA filter, the device captures 99.97 percent of airborne pollutants, including pollen, mold, and allergens.
The Dyson TP04 cleans at 400 square feet each hour. This rate compares favorably to other models on this list, though the price tag is significantly higher. That said, you will still get a bevy of smart features to keep your room spotless and smell-free.
For starters, the air purifier connects to Wi-Fi and the Dyson app for real-time management. You can control the air purifier remotely to ensure optimal cleaning performance. Dyson even lets you create a schedule based around your daily routine and needs.
The Dyson TP04 is also compatible with Alexa. You can use voice controls to turn the fan on or off or update the current settings. That includes changing the multi-functional fan application.
Note that because the Dyson TP04 doubles as a fan, there is no CADR rating. However, the Dyson TP04 does have a maximum airflow that ranges from 77 to 114 gallons per second. That equates to cleaning 920 cubic feet per minute.
No conversation of the best air purifiers is complete without mentioning the Dyson TP04. The device has everything homeowners could ever want or need. Whether you are trying to reduce allergens, improve sleep, or enjoy the ultimate customizable air purifier, the Dyson TP04 delivers on every front.
Pros:
- Doubles as a fan
- Smart features automatically update to current air quality
- Compatible with Alexa
- Lowest setting produces 40 decibels
- Timeless aesthetic
- Wi-Fi connectivity
- Comes with a free Dyson app for monitoring
- Features ten-speed settings, including a night-time mode
- Can oscillate 350 degrees
Cons:
- One of the most expensive air purifiers
- Not suitable for whole-house air purification
3. Blueair Blue Pure 211+
Think about what the best air purifiers should have in them. Expansive coverage. Thorough filtration. Low energy consumption. Odor elimination capacity. The Blueair Blue Pure 211+ has all of these features in spades.
When you consider the risks associated with indoor air quality (3), this air purifier is a true lifeline. While it does not have a true HEPA filter classification, it outperforms HEPA standards in several ways. The air purifier captures 99 percent of pollutants 2.5 microns or larger.
Blueair air purifiers pack an impressive punch, covering 540 square feet with five air changes each hour. That comes with a CADR rating of Smoke 350 / Dust 350 / Pollen 350. This CADR makes it one of the best pound-for-pound air purifiers available.
The secret is advanced Swedish filter technology. Each of the air purifiers can trap bacteria, dander, and pollen as well as the minuscule particles like viruses that a HEPA filter cannot. Plus, the pre-filter is machine washable and comes with an indicator when it needs to be replaced.
This Blueair air purifier will well-equipped to any handle room in the house. The compact design fits snuggly in any open area. Meanwhile, the lowest speed produces only 31 decibels, which is the equivalent of a whisper.
The outstanding design also extends to Blueair's efficiency. The air purifier has Energy Star certification, using no more than 60 watts while active. Additionally, the entire device uses a single button interface, and AHAM independently confirmed the CADR rating.
The only components that may earn your ire are the filter replacements and lack of smart features. The filter needs to be replaced every six months, which costs $50 each time. Additionally, the device comes with the apps, voice controls, or Wi-Fi connectivity that you can find on Dyson air purifiers. That said, if you want a reliable air purifier with world-class filtration, the Blueair Blue Pure 211+ is worth a look.
Pros:
- Robust 540 square feet of cleaning capacity
- Industry-leading five air changes per hour
- AHAM Verifide
- Energy Star certification
- Impressive CADR rating
- Single-button design
- Smart features for filter replacement
- Respectable five-year warranty, including 60-day free returns
- Free shipping
- Lowest setting produces 31 decibels
Cons:
- No Wi-Fi connectivity
- No on/off timer
- Filter replacements are $50 every six months
4. Blueair Blue Pure 411
The Blueair Blue Pure 411 is small but mighty. Weighing in at three pounds and standing 16.7 inches tall, the air purifier can cover 161 square feet. AHAM also independently confirmed the CADR rating of Smoke 105 / Pollen 120 / Dust 120.
If these numbers do not seem large, remember that the Blueair Blue Pure 411 is for a desk or small room. In that regard, the air purifier handily outpaces its competition from PureZone and Levoit. Most notable are the five air changes each hour, which is the gold standard in the industry.
Like Blueair's best air purifiers, the device features a multi-part filtration process that captures 99 percent of pollutants 2.5 microns or larger. That includes an activated carbon filter that eliminates gases and odors. If there is any knock on the device, it is that the intermediate filter is only average.
Blueair air purifiers clean the air with the utmost precision and hyper-efficiency. This model comes with Energy Star certification and uses no more than ten watts. Plus, you can recycle the filters.
Perhaps the most impressive feature is the near-silent performance. It only produces 17 decibels, which is less than a whisper. Here is the bottom line: this Blueair air purifier is perfect for small and medium rooms, regardless of your objectives.
Pros:
- Intakes air at 360 degrees
- Remove odors
- Highly affordable
- Lowest setting only produces 17 decibels
- Energy Star certification
- Single-button design
- Easy-to-change filters
- Uses ten watts at most
Cons:
- No timing features
- No Wi-Fi connectivity
- The intermediate filter is average
5. Coway Airmega 200M
Coway is one of the global leaders in the indoor climate. The company has produced innovative appliances that are best in class for design and function. One of the high watermarks in the catalog is the Coway Airmega 200M Air Purifier.
There are plenty of similarities between the Coway Airmega 200M and the Coway Mighty. Both models cover 361 square feet and are highly portable at 15.4 ounces. They also have identical CADR ratings of Dust 246 / Pollen 240 / Smoke 233 CFM.
The Coway Airmega 200M and Coway Mighty even have the same four-stage filtration system. That includes a pre-filter, deodorization filter, true HEPA filter, and an ionizer. The bipolar device at the end is essential to removing undesirable odors, whether they come from pets, pollutants, or people.
Anyone that looks at the specs for the Coway Airmega 200M and mixes it up with the Coway Mighty would be forgiven. The two air purifiers are essentially identical down to the price. One distinction is that the Coway Mighty is more widely available than its counterpart.
Another distinguishable difference is appearance. The Coway Airmega 200M comes with a distinctive mesh exterior that streamlines airflow circulation. Additionally, the Coway Airmega 200M is not currently compatible with Wi-Fi or app control.
There is a lot to love about this air purifier. The Coway Airmega 200M is one of the best values and may earn your undying affection. Make sure to place it in a room with high foot traffic and kick back as the purifier works its magic.
Pros:
- Thorough four-stage filtration
- Smart features monitor air quality and filter replacement
- Includes an eco-friendly mode
- Quietest mode produces 24.4 decibels
- Three fan options for the ultimate personalization
- Washable pre-filter
- Energy Star certification
- Highly portable at 15.4 ounces
Cons:
- Not suitable for whole-house air purification
- Routine filter replacements required
- Does not connect with Wi-Fi or app
Buyers Guide
How Does an Air Purifier Work?
Considering that some of the best air purifiers cost as much as a new computer, it is worth taking a moment to cover how they work. Most models use filtration. Thanks to a system of internal fans, an air purifier circulates air in your home through a filter that removes unwanted airborne particles.
Manufacturers typically make filters out of fiberglass, mesh, or paper. The material is porous enough for air to pass through, but dense enough to snag larger particles like dust, pollen, pet dander, and mold spores. Depending on the quality of your air filter, you can expect it to remove upwards of 99.97 percent of unwanted pollutants.
How Much Does an Air Purifier Cost?
Find the best air purifier is one thing. Having it fit into your budget is another ball game. The price will vary greatly depending on the model. There are portable air purifiers that go in your living room or open spaces while some models attach to your HVAC system.
The most affordable air purifiers cost around $75 to $100. Units that attach to your HVAC system and clean the air for the entire house retail closer to $125 to $175. If you want the best of the best, you can expect to pay upwards of $800.
What is a HEPA Filter?
If you're looking for an air purifier, you are going to come across the phrase "HEPA filters" time and again. HEPA, which stands for High-Efficiency Particulate Air, is the highest standard for air filtration. While there are different types of HEPA filters, the most widely used term is a “true HEPA filter.”
A true HEPA filter removes 99.97 percent of airborne pollutants that are 0.3 microns or larger. A micron is one-millionth of a meter, which is roughly the size of a speck of fine clay. The 0.3-micron threshold is significant because that is the smallest particle size that can enter your lungs.
If you purchase a true HEPA filter, you will have one of the best air purifiers money can buy. The filtration system is world-class when removing toxic contaminants and minimizing respiratory problems. The filter needs routine replacement, though, and does not remove odors like some of the higher-end air purifiers with carbon filters.
Note that some companies will use the phrase HEPA-like or HEPA-type on their products. These are not the same as an authentic HEPA filter. Often, the companies are trying to market an air purifier as superior to its actual quality.
What Will and Won't a HEPA Filter Trap?
The magic number for a true HEPA filter is 0.3 microns. Any airborne pollutants smaller than that will effectively pass through the mesh filtration system. Knowing the size of different particles can help you decide whether a true HEPA filter is right for you, or if you want a more intensive model.
- Dust - 0.001 to 40 microns
- Bacteria - 0.3 to 60 microns
- Human and pet hair - 40 to 300 microns
- Mold spores - 10 to 30 microns
- Pet dander - 0.5 to 100 microns
- Pollen - 10 to 1,000 microns
- Smoke - 0.01 to 0.1 microns
- Viruses - 0.005 to 0.3 microns
The true HEPA filter will catch most of these ultra-fine particles through direct impact. When the particles hit the fibrous paper, they stick due to inertia. The screens also use interception and diffusion. These processes allow the air purifier to catch some air pollution that is smaller than the 0.3-micron threshold.
What are the Different Types?
HEPA Filters
True HEPA filters are the gold standard when it comes to fibrous filtration systems. They meet the highest standards for efficiency and air purification, according to the United States Department of Energy(1). If you purchase an air purifier with a HEPA filter, you will notice a discernible difference in overall home air quality.
Activated Carbon Filters
Activated carbon filters are the central component of carbon filtering. The material uses adsorption to remove air pollution and other impurities from the air. When the air passes through the carbon filter, the particles in the fluid become trapped inside the substrate's pore structure.
Manufacturers use carbon filtering to filter odors and gas from the air. Most activated carbon filters can get rid of particles 0.5 to 50 microns in size.
Ozone Generation and Ionization
Air purifiers with ozone generation and ionization capacities use similar mechanisms to clean the air. The devices remove electrons from internal particles to give them a positive or negative charge. Conversely, airborne particles, like pet hair or mold spores, have no charge.
When the charged particle nears a neutral pollutant, they attract. The newly formed particle is too heavy to stay in the air. The matter drops to the ground and attaches itself to the room. Note that this process does not eliminate or collect airborne pollutants.
UV Light Technology
Some of the best air purifiers use UV light to amplify air purification. This process is especially useful for targeting bacteria and viruses. The UV rays are so intense that they cause cellular or genetic damage to the germs, causing them to die.
UV light technology is best as the last stage of a filtration system. Without filters ahead, there would be too many particles for the light. Therefore, most air purifiers will include a HEPA or carbon filter before the UV stage.
Photo Electrochemical Oxidation (PECO)
PECO is the least common mechanism in air filtration. That is not because it's ineffective. Instead, it is expensive proprietary technology.
San Francisco start-up Molekule developed PECO as a way to purify the air on a molecular level, hence the company name. A Molekule air purifier traps pollutants that are 1,000 times smaller than what a traditional HEPA filter can collect. Furthermore, a Molekule air purifier actively destroys mold and bacteria, while a HEPA filter cannot.
PECO involves two stages. First, the air passes through a pre-filter that collects larger particles, like dust and pollen. The airflow then proceeds a photoelectrochemical oxidation filter where the Molekule air purifier zaps the remaining airborne particles before circulating it back into the home.
Features in the Best Air Purifiers
"Which is the best air purifier?" That is the all-important question. The boring but truthful answer is that it depends.
The best air purifiers depend on your needs and preferences. You can buy the most powerful model, but it may not be ideal if you have a one-bedroom or studio apartment. When it comes to finding the best air purifier, here are a couple of features to check out first.
Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR)
The clean air delivery rate, also known as CADR, measures how effectively air purifiers clean the air. The measurement calculates the removal of certain particulates in cubic feet per minute. Put another way: a CADR rating will tell you how quickly an air purifier can clean your room.
CADR uses smoke, dust, and pollen particles to establish a rating. Each component is a different size, with smoke being as small as 0.01 microns and pollen being as large as 1,000 microns. A perfect rating is 450 Smoke / 400 Dust / 450 Pollen with a score in the upper 300s being more than respectable.
Understanding the power of an air purifier requires also knowing the ACH or Air Changes per Hour. The ACH indicates how frequently air purifiers recirculate air into a room. Industry experts recommend turnovers of five times each hour. Using the CADR and ACH, you can determine how many square feet the air purifier will clean in a given hour.
The CADR is an invention of AHAM (Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers). This organization provides independent evaluations to ensure safety and accuracy among the industry's best air purifiers. If you do one thing before buying an air purifier, make sure you check the CADR rating.
Size
Size isn't everything. Powerful air purifiers will cover thousands of square feet each hour. If your room is 1,000 square feet and the air purifier handles 1,500 cfm, it will not clean the air better than an air purifier that manages 1,000 cfm.
The critical detail is how many square feet are in your room or house. You can find this figure by measuring the width and length of each room and multiplying the sum by the number of floors. Here is a guide to air purifier size based on total space:
- Small air purifier: 300 square feet or less
- Medium air purifier: 300 to 700 square feet
- Large air purifier: 700 to 1,900 square feet
- Whole-house air purifier: 1,900 square feet or more
Knowing the total square feet in your room or house will guide your purchase process. For instance, you wouldn't buy an air purifier with 300 square feet of coverage, if you want to clean a two-bedroom apartment. The same goes for buying whole-house air purifiers for a studio or single room.
Filter Type
Your goals for how to clean the air will dictate your choice of filter. Most filters do a decent job of trapping large particles, such as pollen and mold. However, if you want to target particles smaller than 0.3 microns, like viruses, bacteria, and odors, you will likely need a multi-stage filtering system.
For instance, carbon filters use absorption to trap the unwanted smells that regular filters cannot. If you live with a pet or smoker, you will notice a real difference between carbon and non-carbon products. The same applies to germs. Additional components, such as a UV light, are the best way to kill harmful microbes that slip through the most stringent fiber filters.
AHAM Mark
Take a moment and look for the AHAM Verifide mark on your prospective air purifiers. The phrase means AHAM independently tested and approved the device. While the program is voluntary, most reputable brands opt to get this seal of approval.
AHAM makes it easy for you to find the right air purifier. The Verifide mark ensures a certain caliber and quality thanks to the organization's third-party laboratory testing. From there, you can use the AHAM directory to search models based on the manufacturer, brand, room, size, and CADR rating.
The Bottom Line
So, which air purifier is best? Again, that depends. If you want a straightforward and reliable experience, the best option is probably a Blueair Blue Pure 211+. If you crave a smart and personalizable device, the Dyson TP04 has your name on it.
For our money, the Coway AP-1512HH Mighty Air Purifier is the ultimate air purifier. While it may not clean the air for the whole house, it excels in every other area. The air purifier comes with automatic and smart features, multiple airflow controls, and an easy-to-use interface.
Most importantly, it has one of the best filtrations available. The four-step system ensures that your room will be free of any unwanted particles and odors. What truly pushes the Coway Mighty to the top of our list is its greater availability than the Coway Airmega 200M.
If you want to improve your air quality, make sure to check out the Coway Mighty. Whether you are removing allergens or second-hand smoke, the air purifier delivers time and again with consistent and thorough performance. Plus, the Coway Mighty is one of the most affordable air purifiers on our list.
