The best air purifiers will sift out traffic fumes, pollen, pet hair, and other pollutants from the air you breathe, making for a healthier living space. We've rounded up the top models on the market at the moment, including options for both large and small rooms, those on a budget, and those who want their machine to cool the air in addition to purifying it.
Airborne pollutants are an issue indoors, coming into our homes from traffic and other outdoor sources or generated inside by our furniture and our cooking tools. Air purifiers can be a good solution. They work by using a fan to suck in air, drawing it through high-efficiency particulate arrest (HEPA) filters to trap particles, before recirculating the particle-free air back into the room.
We've tested a selection of the best air purifiers, from the expensive to the more affordable. Our tester used each of them over the course of a week, to assess how well they actually cleaned the air, as well as the value-for-money they offered, their design, and how quiet (or not) they were. You'll find models from many of the leading air purifier brands below, including Dyson, Homedics, and Philips.
How we tested the best air purifiers
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We didn’t just read the specs from the manufacturers. We carried out our own tests to establish the best air purifier for each kind of home. While testing the purifiers we looked at a few different factors, including:
- How well they purified the air: Our tests used the high-end industrial air quality meter, the Met One Instruments Model 804 Handheld Particle Counter. With this, we tested the room’s initial air quality, tested it again after the air purifier had been used at its top setting for an hour, then compared the two sets of results to establish how well the air had been cleaned. We focused on the PM10 and PM2.5 figures because these are the ones the World Health Organization uses as benchmarks of air quality. These are particles measuring no more than 10 microns and no more than 2.5 microns respectively.
- Noise: Were the air purifiers on our list quiet enough not to notice, or did they interrupt our daily activities?
- Value-for-money: Were the priciest machines worth the extra money, or did more affordable options work as well?
- Style: We also assessed how well the below air purifiers would fit decor-wise in a home, sharing whether we thought it was stylish enough to fit.
- Ease-of-use: Finally, our tester looked at how easy each machine was to set up and operate on a daily basis, because overly complicated technology isn't ideal.
The best air purifiers as reviewed by our experts
Our pick for the best air purifier overall, the MeacoClean CA-HEPA 76x5 is the smallest air purifier we tested to boast an air-quality sensor and smart controls. There’s a control panel and display on top, plus colored lights to give a visual indication of air quality - and the machine’s companion app adds remote control, air-quality tracking, scheduling, and even voice control to the offering.
A smart air purifier, it’s also compact and affordable. It’s not, however, all that beautiful. However, the design is subtle enough to blend in well with your home. What it lacks in looks it makes up for in performance: this model tested well, effectively cleaning the air in a 30m² room. Its three-layer filter includes HEPA and activated charcoal to catch microscopic particles and gases. The filter will, however, need replacing every six months, so that’s an additional cost to bear in mind. Overall, the Meaco is hard to fault, as it's compact, affordable, has great smart controls, and will help you work towards living in a cleaner, healthier and more sustainable home.
See our full MeacoClean CA-HEPA 76x5 Wi-Fi air purifier review
Stylish and easy to set up, the Dyson Formaldehyde air purifier is off to a good start. But the best home air purifiers need to do more than look good. You might not be aware of the damaging effects of formaldehyde; the pungent gas is often emitted from furniture (including new sofas and wood-based products). The Dyson Purifier Hot + Cool Formaldehyde is very aware of it though, working to capture this potentially harmful gas (called HCHO), as well as ultra-fine dust and allergens and VOCs (volatile organic compounds), from particulates down to the size of 0.1 microns. To get the very best out of the machine, download the Dyson Link app, which will help you to monitor your air quality as you use it; as well as gauge your current air quality, (which can range from good to very poor) the app can tell you how many of each particulate (be it a PM10 or a PM2.5) or harmful gas is in the air.
This model really worked a treat in testing - we had just bought a new coffee table and watched as the air quality decreased after building it. But, after just a few minutes of the Dyson machine being on, the Formaldehyde had worked its magic, and we achieved 'very good' air quality within minutes. The same applied to an aerosol deodorant; within a minute of spraying, the Dyson had quickly transformed the air quality from 'poor' back to 'good'. Dyson claims that it has made its new Formaldehyde machine 20% quieter than previous models but, while we agree that it is quiet on the lowest power level (just some gentle background noise), but turn it up to maximum and it's a little noisier than we'd like - we struggled to hear the TV over it. As well as the purifying qualities, the Dyson also acts as a dual-purpose appliance, helping heat and cool your home too. We found the cooling setting not to be particularly useful - there was no noticeable change in the temperature on a hot day, even at the top level. However, the heating setting was fantastic - it helped a cold room to feel lovely and toasty on a chilly December afternoon.
If you want a small, affordable, and easy-to-use air purifier for a single room then look no further. At a fraction of the cost of the bigger models, the Blueair Blue Pure 411 performed well during testing. The obvious drawback is its size, meaning it’s only designed to clean air in a single 15m² room. Should that be what you’re looking for, however, it’s good-looking and compact and you can even make it colorful with a range of fabric pre-filters to cover the bottom half.
Its three-layer filtration includes Blueair HEPASilent, a quieter way to remove tiny particles. There are no air-quality sensors or smart controls included in this model; while we didn’t miss the app option, the lack of sensor meant there was no automatic mode. That said, setting this up is simple enough - you just tap a button to select from three power levels (high power filters the air faster but is also louder). In most homes, the low setting should suffice. This is the best air purifier for those on a budget.
See our full Blueair Blue Pure 411 air purifier review
There’s no getting around the fact that the Philips AC3033/30 Air Purifier Series 3000i is both large and pricey but, that being said, it looks great and the filter should last for years. The top setting is loud but, thanks to its air quality sensor, you can put it on auto mode and it will work away as quietly as possible (dependent on the air it’s cleaning). Like the Meaco, this air purifier has touch controls and a display on top, plus colored lights to give a quick visual indication of air quality. And, again, you can use the app in multiple ways - as a remote control, to track air quality, and for scheduling your purifier's working times.
Its three-layer filter includes HEPA and activated charcoal, to catch microscopic particles and gases. The filter life is 'up to 36 months', which, if you read between the lines, means a big saving on replacement filter cartridges. The Philips performed well during testing, and is designed to clean the air in a 32m² area: that’s two good-sized rooms. Large it might be, but this stylish model is also low maintenance and simple to use, which is why it makes our list of the best air purifiers.
See our full Philips AC3033/30 Air Purifier Series 3000i air purifier review
If you're in need of an air purifier specifically for pet allergies, look no further than this model from Homedics. As well as the usual HEPA filters, this air purifier also includes two PetPlus odor filters so it’s a great choice if you have several animals, especially long-haired ones. It also has a carbon pre-filter, which will also help to get rid of any fur or hair from your pets that might irritate your eyes, nose, and mouth.
Granted, this isn’t the best-looking air purifier, but it’s tall and narrow in design and therefore fairly discreet. It's also fairly lightweight at 5.5kg. The Homedics air purifier will filter a room up to 17.5 square meters, so it's ideal for an average-sized room and removes 99.97% of airborne allergens. One drawback is that it can be fairly noisy at 60dB, but at a lower speed it's much more manageable.
With its tall, grey, curvy five-sided shape and unusual leather-style handles, the AEG AX9 600 air purifier’s design is one you'll either love or hate. This was the largest air purifier we tested, but its room-cleaning capacity was the same as the more discreet-looking Philips at 32m².
Its controls are divisive too: the app is excellent but the AEG’s touch panel doesn’t display air quality. Instead, it indicates this using colored lights. The panel allows you to select from nine levels of power, but - as ever - the smart setting is best, as it means the machine is quiet most of the time. Although, as noise levels go, the AEG is relatively quiet.
The filtration system has an interesting feature - each of its five stages of filtration can be customized using one of three cartridges, prioritizing pollen, odor, or general work. The AEG performed well during testing, but we marked it down a little for its size and quirky structure. However, if you love the look of it, it won’t disappoint. It's an effective air purifier with a striking design, which would go with any kind of decor.
See our full AEG AX9 600 Connected air purifier review
This Swedish design - the Blueair Blue Pure Fan - purifies the air at any time of the year but is especially useful in the summer. The floor-standing design is stylish and, while filtration isn’t as good as dedicated air purifiers, it’s an excellent fan and it does a good job of cleaning the air in the room too. This is a model that’s well worth considering if you need a fan and suffer from hayfever or summer allergies when the doors and windows are open; it’ll clean the air in a 24m² room pretty well.
However, one drawback of this model for us is the fact that there’s no air quality sensor and no app, which means you're not entirely aware of how the machine is working once it's on. But to its credit, this means that the controls are simple and the machine as a whole is easy to use. Overall, this is a stylish fan that purifies the air as it blows, making it perfect for the warm months. Perhaps the best air purifier for the summer, if you're looking for a machine that can do two things at once.
See our full Blueair Blue Pure Purifying Fan review
If you're after an air purifier for a large room or space, the Honeywell AirGenius 5 Air Purifier is a great option. It’ll purify the air of a 112-square-meter room, so could be. an investment if you have a larger home.
While the filters on some models need to be regularly replaced with new ones, the Honeywell models are washable, meaning there’s no extra expense further down the line, which is why it's also a great air purifier for keeping maintenance costs low. This model has five-speed settings, including a clever seasonal allergen and germ-reduction option. There's also a handy night light. The Honeywell promises to catch up to 99.9% of microscopic particles as small as 0.3 microns - including dust, smoke, and pet particles, and it's effective at doing just that. The best air purifier for a big space.
If you only need to purify a small room and don’t want to shell out too much money, then the Dimplex HEPA DXAPV3N air purifier is a good entry-level choice and our best air purifier choice for a smaller space. It’s a very compact design and will easily fit on a bedside table (as well as a corner of a room). Plus, it looks super-stylish, too, with a chic white and blue design that should go with most home decor.
The model purifies the air in a 28-square-meter room and is quiet even on the highest setting at just 50dB, which we loved. Granted its performance isn’t as efficient or effective as others on the market, but it does the basics well and there are no unnecessary bells and whistles. Lightweight and compact, take this wherever it’s needed in the home - we'd especially recommend it as part of your kitchen cleaning routine, or other small rooms in the home, such as an office or a child's room.
If you're looking for a discreet and lightweight air purifier that will do its job with little fuss, the Levoit LV-H128 Air Purifier could be the one for you. We were impressed with the lack of noise (reaching only 25dB) made by this model, despite having impressive results. The Levoit LV-H128 has three modes; Low, High, and Sleep. In Sleep mode, there is no noise at all, while Low has a subtle sound with no unpleasant rattling and High is slightly noisier, without being too intrusive. The design is attractive and modern, meaning it won't look out of place on a mantlepiece or side table. This model is recommended for purifying a 120-square-meter room - any bigger might minimize the effects. This purifier, like all models in the Levoit range, is ozone-free.
The Levoit LV-H128 also boasts an unusual feature - an aroma pad where the user can add essential oils. The idea is to add 2-3 drops of essential oils to the pad, and the air passing through will then flood the space with the chosen scent. Our tester found that you need to add more drops frequently to retain any fragrance and that, while this was an attractive feature, other benefits - such as the discreet noise levels and stylish design - were what made this product one of the best air purifiers on the market.
For those who are investing in an air purifier with their health front of mind, the Molekule AirMini + is a safe choice, as this brand uses photoelectrochemical oxidation (PECO) for purifying, by altering airborne pollutants at a chemical level.
This product comes recommended by smart home technology expert and co-founder of The Ambient (opens in new tab), James Stables, who has been testing and reviewing home tech for the past 15 years. "The Molekule is excellent from a Covid/germs point of view and is a really stylish brand," he told w&h. "In fact, lab tests carried out on the product suggest that the AirMini+ is capable of destroying the Covid-19 virus by over 99% in just one hour, as well as inactivating the H1N1 flu virus by up to 99.99% "In these strange times that we're living through, it's worth mentioning that Molekule machines are cleared by the FDA for the destruction of bacteria and viruses."
The flagship product from the brand is the Molekule Air Pro, but the Molekule AirMini is half the price, while still offering fantastic air filtration. This nifty device is attractive too, with a sleek, minimalist design that will look at home alongside most decor. This product is ideal for spaces up to 23 square meters.
What do I need to consider before buying an air purifier?
There are a few things to think about before purchasing to ensure you are getting the best air purifier for you and your home. Think about:
- The size of the room: What size room do you want to use it in? There’s no point putting a design that purifies the air in a 15-square-meter room in an open-plan kitchen-diner that’s twice that size, as it just won’t be effective. Plus, do you want to move it around? If so, perhaps choose a lightweight option.
- Design: Some air purifiers are much more modern and aesthetically pleasing than others. Plus, assess the size and weight of the air purifier too it needs to fit neatly into your space.
- Extra features: Finally, pay attention to extra features - such as voice-activated controls, air-quality data via your smartphone, and even heating and cooling functions—and decide whether these functions will make your life easier or are unnecessary additions that you’d rather not pay more for.
- A HEPA air purifier: Almost all of the best air purifiers use high-efficiency particulate arresting (HEPA) filters to trap dust particles and other pollutants. They do not produce any ozone (something we want to avoid, as it can be harmful to our health), so it's important to make sure you purchase a HEPA air purifier. Models that are described as ‘ionizing air purifiers’ use an electric charge and do produce ozone, so do take this into consideration when buying.
What do air purifiers actually do?
You might be wondering exactly how air purifiers work. They operate much like fans but, rather than simply circulating air, they pull it in and move it through a series of filters that collect (or trap) different sizes of airborne particles, before recirculating the air. The air pollution particles - everything from dust to microscopic particles such as smoke, pollen, odors, and germs - are then trapped in the layers of the filter cartridge, reducing the pollutants in your home. And if you're wondering how to clean your air purifier, it's worth noting that even with the best air purifier, over time (and with use) these filters require maintenance, if they’re not reusable or washable, they’ll need replacing fairly regularly for the air purifier to continue to function efficiently.
Most air purifiers recirculate the air discreetly, so there’s no cooling breeze like that of a fan. However, you can buy air purifiers that have extra cooling functions, which are useful for the hotter summer months - we've included two above. It's also worth noting that in the air purifiers vs dehumidifiers debate, dehumidifiers are more useful for ridding your home of winter condensation than an air purifier.
Air purifiers vary in how they filter and purify your air though. Some air purifiers are small and simple - you just turn them on to your chosen setting and leave them to clean the air in your room. Others are known as ‘smart’; they contain a sensor that measures air quality in order to choose their own setting accordingly, and can also be connected to an app on your phone so you can control them remotely. Additionally, these apps usually allow you to keep track of air quality ups and downs. The best air purifier for you depends on personal preference, but it's worth noting that smart purifiers tend to be more expensive.
What is the CADR and why is it so important?
When choosing the best air purifier for your home, the other main consideration is how much air each model can filter. After all, one of the main air purifier benefits is that it rids your space of harmful pollutants. In order to measure how much air each model can filter, it is necessary to take a look at its Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) (opens in new tab). Measured in cubic meters per hour (m³/h), it refers to the volume of air that an air purifier can clean in the space of an hour. If you want really clean air, the gold standard is for all the air in the room to be cleaned five times an hour.
"CADR Or Clean Air Delivery Rate is a performance matric develop by AHAM (Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers) to show the relative performance of a room air cleaners’ ability to pull dust, smoke and spores out of the air," Tony Abate (opens in new tab), a certified indoor environmentalist as designated by the Indoor Air Quality Association and the American Air Quality Council, told us.
"It gives the consumer an important scale to determine the devices performance and tested to an independent standardized test method. There are CADR ratings for dust, spores, smoke, and very recently AHAM released ANSI AHAM AC-5 which is a test for micro-organism reduction in a space."
It might help to dig out your tape measure. If, for example, your room measures 16m² (the room’s length multiplied by the width) and your ceiling is 2.5m high then you have a volume of 16x2.5 = 40m³ of air. To clean it five times an hour you need a CADR that’s five times that number, so at least 200m³/h. Look for a higher CADR if you want clean air in larger rooms and open-plan spaces. If this is a technical spec too far, don’t worry - we’ve done the maths for you in the reviews above.
Are HEPA air purifiers better?
Many of the air purifiers on our list have HEPA filters, but what does this actually mean? HEPA stands for high-efficiency particulate air and is a vital component for an air purifier, as Abate concludes. "HEPA filters allow for very small range particles to be captured to a high efficiency," he explains. "When considering a viral-sized particle, HEPA is the only filter that can capture something that small. This is why they are often used in healthcare settings.
"For enhanced protection, especially on very small particles, HEPA is the best choice, especially if combined with an active technology such as bi-polar air ionization as well."