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Most of the time, air purifiers come in big sizes to provide you with enough place for the integrated filters and sufficient carbon stock. However, it’s not always that you want a fixed unit, and if that’s the case, check out this list of the best portable air purifiers on the market.
Best Portable Air Purifier
- Germ Guardian GG1000
- TWINKLE BIRDS Car Air Purifier
- KOIOS Air Purifier
- BISSELL 2780A
- LEVOIT LV-H126
- Germ Guardian AC4100
The 6 Best Portable Air Purifiers in 2021
1. Germ Guardian GG1000
Measuring 3.2 x 3 x 7.5 inches and weighing only 11.2 ounces, the Germ Guardian GG1000 is indisputably the most portable air purifier you can get. In fact, it’s so compact that it can fit onto a counter.
This pluggable purifier can cover a room of 56 square feet and clear it from all germs, odors, pet dander, bacteria, as well as fumes. It’s so effective despite its small size thanks to the UV-C light, which enables it to kill viruses, and the Titanium Dioxide eliminates VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds.)
The Germ Guardian GG1000’s filter is a permanent one, which is good news because this means that you won’t be burdened with any replacement costs apart from the UV-C light bulb that needs replacement every 10 to 12 months.
Not to mention, this is one of the most affordable air purifiers on the market, so it gives you incredible value for the money.
However, it’s worth mentioning that the fan speed has only one setting and that there’s no button to switch the unit on or off, so it’s not the most convenient to operate.
Thanks to the one-year warranty that this unit comes with, you can rest assured of the quality and top-notch performance of the GG1000.
Pros:
- Highly portable
- A lot smaller than other options
- Affordable
- Permanent filters
- UV-C technology
Cons:
- No HEPA filter
- A little noisy for some people’s taste
- Doesn’t completely deodorize the room
2. Twinkle Birds Car Air Purifier
For such a small purifier of 4.13 x 1.38 x 1.38-inch dimensions and 1.41-ounce weight, the Twinkle Birds is a very effective unit with a 2.5 PM that gets rid of pet dander and mold spores as well as VOCs like formaldehyde.
All you have to do is simply plug it into your cigarette lighter outlet as it comes with dual USB charging ports. With its ionization technology, it produces around 5 thousand million negative ions for each square foot.
You can be sure that this little purifier will rid you of all allergens, odors, airborne viruses, and bacteria. It doesn’t just cover odors, smoke, and dander, but eliminates them.
However, despite the manufacturers claiming that the air purifier maintains a proper level of ozone not to cause any harm to pets or children still, it’s still a risky option to use an ozone purifier, especially in small and enclosed spaces. So, if you have children or you’re a pet owner, you might want to opt for a more secure choice.
The Twinkle Birds air purifier has a sleek shape with blue crystal LEDs that give it an edge. It comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee and a lifetime warranty.
Pros:
- Gets rid of all unwanted smells
- Comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee
- Dual USB ports for a more convenient experience
Cons:
- Might take some time to start working
- Drains the battery if left plugged with the car off
3. KOIOS Air Purifier
The KOIOS EPI810 is a pretty affordable air purifier that’s also quiet and portable. It measures 7.5 x 6.9 x 6.9 inches and weighs only 2.1 pounds, which is incredibly easy to move around.
Despite its small size, it comes with a bottom-to-top airflow system that takes in the air from 360°. It’s also equipped with a pre-filter for particles larger than 100 microns like pet link and fur, a true HEPA filter to get rid of 0.3-micron particles like spores, pet dander, and dust mites, and an activated carbon filter to get rid of all odors.
It works very well for rooms of around 50 square feet, comes with 2X ACH (Air Changes per Hour), and it’s certified by CARB for ozone mission safety.
In terms of sound and noise levels, the KOIOS operates at 50 dB at the highest fan speed setting, and its fan can work at two different ones. It also comes with a blue night light that’s pretty convenient and a nice addition for a unit of this price and portability.
Pros:
- Quite affordable
- Sleek design
- Adequately quiet
- CARB-certified
- Easy to use
Cons:
- Poor fan speed
- Design isn’t premium
4. BISSELL 2780A
With a coverage area of 100 square feet, the BISSELL 2780A covers a wider area than previous models, which is why it is a little heavier. Still, at only 4.63 pounds and 8.27 x 8.27 x 12.2-inch dimensions, it’s one of the most portable options for an air purifier overall.
This air purifier isn’t the most affordable one on the list, either. Still, it comes with a 3-in-1 filtration system that comprises a pre-filter, an activated carbon filter, and a HEPA filter type that gathers up to 99.7% of 0.3-micron particles, including dust, pollen, smoke, and dander.
Moreover, this air purifier comes with a sleep mode that reduces noise levels down to 30 dB, while the highest fan speed setting operates at 46 dB.
There’s also a night light feature that is perfect for users who want to use their air purifier for a good night’s sleep when combined with the sleep mode. What’s more, there’s a timer setting that you can set to turn off the air purifier automatically after 1, 4, or 8 hours.
Finally, the BISSELL 2780A comes with an LED indicator that notifies you when it’s time for a filter replacement.
Pros:
- 3-in-1 air purifier with true HEPA filter
- LED night light
- Convenient to use with a timer mode
- Very portable and lightweight
Cons:
- Airflow rate is a bit low
- 1-year limited warranty
5. LEVOIT LV-H126
LEVOIT is a well-known name in the world of air purifiers, and the LV-H126 is good enough evidence why. This affordable air purifier measures 10.5 x 6.8 x 7.9 inches and weighs only 5.59 pounds.
It makes sense that such a compact unit wouldn’t suit very large areas, and that’s why the LV-H126 has a coverage area of 161 square feet. Still, it does a very good job at purifying the air in that area thanks to the true HEPA filter capable of capturing 0.3-micron particles with a 99.97% rate.
Also, it completely eliminates odors in the room, thanks to the granular carbon filter combined with the charcoal foam filter. Moreover, a pre-filter with a mesh layer traps larger particles to prevent them from deteriorating the other filters’ efficiency and extending the main filter’s lifespan.
Not to mention, the filters last around 6 to 8 months, which means that you won’t have to make frequent replacements.
Its 2X ACH means that you’ll be getting fresh air around the room every 30 minutes, which ensures that you’ll always get clean air with no cigarette smoke, fumes, odors, dust, pollen, or dander.
At 32 dB and 40 dB on the highest level, the LEVOIT LV-H126 is also a tranquil unit, and its filters are very affordable, so you don’t have to worry about long-term running costs.
Pros:
- Improved over the older versions
- Highly mobile thanks to its small size
- Easy operation
- Filters are really easy to replace
- 2-year warranty
Cons:
- Doesn’t come with a power or filter indicator
- Lacks electronic features
- Doesn’t work very well with smoke
6. Germ Guardian AC4100
Slightly lighter than the LEVOIT LV-H126, the AC4100 weighs 5.15 pounds and measures 7.5 x 6.5 x 11 inches, making it a bit more portable and a tad pricier.
This 4-in-1 air purifier definitely beats the typical one or two filtration stages that most air purifiers at its price range come with. That’s why it’s an excellent choice for removing dust particles, pollen, and other allergens, thanks to the HEPA filter.
It also comes with a filter of carbon that eliminates odors and a UV light filter to get rid of bacteria. So, nothing is missing when it comes to improving the air quality around the house.
And the best part is that its UV is optional, so if you have reservations about its possibly harmful side effects, you can simply turn it off.
Moreover, needing only one filter replacement per year means that its running costs are minimal. And while it’s affordable and compact, it can still freshen up the air in a room size of 78 square feet.
As for the noise levels, they don’t surpass the 53 dB mark, so you’ll be getting an affordable, convenient, effective, and quiet air purifier all in one.
Pros:
- Effective air filtration system
- UV-C light for air sterilization
- Energy-saving
- Cost-efficient in terms of filter changes
Cons:
- Doesn’t monitor air quality
- Lacks smart features
- Doesn’t suit large spaces
Choosing a Portable Air Purifier
When looking for a portable air purifier that you can easily transport from one room to another, you can’t let portability distract you from other important factors. In this section, I’ll go over the most important aspects that affect how effective your air purifier is.
Size and Weight
One of the first things you should consider when buying an air purifier is the size of the unit, and the fact that it should be proportionate to the size of the room in which you’ll be placing it.
One of the most helpful numbers to help you make this decision is the CADR (Clean Air Delivery Rate). This number indicates how many cubic feet per minute an air purifier can clean. A good average is that the CADR number should be two-thirds of the room size in square feet. So, if you need an air purifier that’s capable of cleaning a 90-square foot room, then you should get it with a 60 CADR.
Most of the time, you won’t be able to find a portable air purifier with a high CADR number because they won’t be big enough to provide that. In short, there’s a trade-off between ease of cleaning and portability.
Filters
The air filtration system is an essential part of your air purifier, and that’s why you have to make sure you get a unit with an effective one. Usually, they consist of a pre-filter, a carbon filter, and a HEPA filter.
The pre-filter does the basic job of catching the larger particles to make the job of filtration easier for the other filters and maintain their efficiency.
The other essential filter is the activated carbon filter, which is the one responsible for removing chemicals from the air and eliminating any odors. Bear in mind; there are two types of carbon filters: treated and untreated.
Treated carbon comes with some additives that give it more reactive or adsorptive characteristics, which makes it more effective but also more detectable if you are sensitive to smells or chemicals.
As for HEPA filters, these are the ones that work on capturing and trapping 99.97% of airborne particles of a 0.3-micron size. However, if you want effective performance, you should get a true HEPA filter. This is because these are the ones able to catch all pollen, dander, dust, and mold spores. So, if you’re a pet owner, you can’t make do without one of those.
However, keep in mind that even a HEPA filter can’t get rid of VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds), for which you’ll need a carbon filter.
Some models might come with UV-C technology to kill bacteria and germs. Also, some models are equipped with ionization technology, which sends out negatively-charged ions to stick to airborne particles, which get pulled into the air purifier’s internal positively-charged plate. However, there’s a lot of controversy regarding these technologies as they might release ozone, which could damage lung tissues.
Construction
Since you’ll be moving the unit around a lot, you should get one with solid construction. This means that you should look for metal or at least high-quality plastic and steer away from glue or fiberglass components as those can cause irritations.
Noise Level
Portable air purifiers are small ones, which is why you should get a unit that doesn’t make too much noise. The average is around 40 dB, but there are some models that focus on quietness, whose noise levels would range between 25 to 40 dB, while others can get as loud as 60 dB on the highest setting.
Maintenance and Long-term Costs
Air purifiers need regular maintenance because if their filters get dirty, their performance deteriorates. It’s super helpful to get a unit that notifies you with an indicator when it’s time for cleaning or buying replacement filters.
Another important aspect to consider is how much you’ll be paying for replacement filters and maintenance. These costs can pile up and become quite hefty, so make sure your model has affordable filters for replacement, even if its upfront price isn’t the lowest. An Energy Star-certified unit would also help cut down expenses by optimizing energy consumption and saving you some money.
Do Portable Air Purifiers Really Work?
You might think that the size of an air purifier is the determinant as to whether or not it does an effective job when it comes to air purification, but that’s not the case. It’s actually all about the proportion between the room’s size and the cleaning power of the air purifier.
The ACH and CADR numbers will definitely help you judge whether or not a certain air purifier suits the room in question. As long as you keep the numbers in proportion, your portable air purifier would be as potent as it could be.
Final Thoughts
Now that we’re done with our reviews on the best portable air purifiers, we hope that you’ve finalized your buying decision, or at least got a step closer. If you’re still not sure, here’s a quick recap:
If you’re looking for the most portable air purifier on the market and portability is your one and only concern, you should definitely opt for the Germ Guardian GG1000. This air purifier weighs only 11.2 ounces yet covers a space of 56 square feet. It comes with many technologies, including UV and its filter is permanent, so it leaves no space for any complaints!
However, you might need an option with a true HEPA filter, in which case you might want to opt for the KOIOS air purifier. Not only is that one affordable, but it also comes with a sleek design, runs quietly, and is CARB-certified. Of course, weighing only 2 pounds, it’s still quite portable and comes with a decent coverage area.
Finally, the Twinkle Bird would be an amazing choice if you’re looking for an air purifier for your car, a studio, or for a very small room. Despite its compact size, it comes with ionization technology to ensure that you aren’t left with any airborne particles or allergens uncaptured.
Additional Reading
