Take a deep breath—if you can. Many of the things we do to keep energy costs down, such as fixing drafty doors and leaky windows, can also seal in pesky pollutants and irritants. Most people who buy air purifiers do so in hopes of easing asthma or allergies. But despite product claims, there's little definitive medical evidence that best air purifiers help to relieve respiratory symptoms.
Improving indoor air quality starts with minimizing pollutant sources such as cigarette smoke or dust and pet dander. We test how well a room air purifier removes dust and smoke from an enclosed space, how it performs at high and low speeds, and how quiet it is.
Related guide to your air purifiers:
best large room air purifiers
best air purifiers for office
best air purifiers for bedroom
best air purifiers for allergies and asthma
best air purifiers for pets
best air purifiers for smoke
best air purifiers for mold
best air purifiers for dust
The very best portable models we tested were effective at cleaning the air of dust, smoke, and pollen at their highest and lowest speed. The worst models weren't terribly effective at any speed.
Before you resort to buying an air purifier, try some simple steps to reduce indoor air irritants, including:
Vacuum often and thoroughly with a vacuum with HEPA filtration.
Ban smoking indoors.
Maintain your heating and cooling equipment and change air filters regularly.
Minimize use of candles and wood fires.
Use exhaust fans in kitchen, bath, and laundry areas.
Don't store chemicals, solvents, glues, or pesticides near your living quarters.
If pollen or related allergies keep you from opening windows, run your air conditioner or forced-air cooling system with a clean air filter.
The Pros and Cons
Pros: They’re portable—most room air purifiers weigh from 10 to 20 pounds, have a handle, and stand on the floor or on a table, while heavier models might have wheels.
Many have a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter, which can capture ultrafine particles. Keep in mind: Most HEPA filters need to be replaced annually, an expense that might approach the cost of the air cleaner, but a few models are now available with cleanable HEPA filters.
Cons: Portable models that use either electrostatic-precipitator or ionizer technology could produce some ozone, a lung irritant.
Dedicated ozone generators, a subcategory of room models, produce large amounts of ozone by design. According to manufacturers, that is to reduce allergens such as dust, smoke, pollen, germs, and mold. Ozone, however, is a serious health concern, prompting the State of California to ban the sale of ozone generators (and other air purifiers that emit more than 50 parts per billion of ozone) from the general market.
Other common questions:
air filter types
how to know if you have dust mites
Can You Run an Air Purifier All the Time
Do air purifiers use a lot of energy
Do air purifiers remove pollen
Do air purifiers remove dust
Do air purifiers get rid of dust mites
Do air purifiers cool down a room
Do air purifiers work for allergies
Do air purifiers work for viruses
Do air purifiers help with smoke
Do air purifiers work for mold
Do I need air purifier
Best ways to clean air
How to clean air filter
Do air purifiers get rid of pet hair and pet dander
Do air purifiers dry out the air
Do air purifiers remove odor
The reviews of air purifiers can also be found in:
Rabbit air minusa2 review
Rabbit air biogs 2.0 review
Levoit LV-H132 review
Levoit LV-H133 review
Levoit LV-H126 review
Levoit LV-PUR131 review
Honeywell HPA300 review
Honeywell HPA200 review
Honeywell HPA100 review
Honeywell HPA060 review
Honeywell HPA160 review
Honeywell HPA250B review
Honeywell HPA600B review
Winix WAC9500 review
Winix 5500-2 review
Winix 5300-2 review
Coway AP-1512HH review
Airmega 400S review
Airmega 300S review
Germguardian cdap5500bca review
Germguardian cdap4500bca review
Germguardian ac5000e review
Germguardian ac5300b review
Germguardian ac5250pt review
Germguardian ac4825e review
Germguardian ac4300bptca review
Germguardian ac5350b review
Germguardian ac4100 review
Iqair GC Multigas review
Iqair Healthpro Plus review
Iqair Healthpro compact review
Iqair Atem review
Blueair classic 605 review
Blueair classic 405 review
Blueair Sense review
Blue Pure 411 review
Blueair classic 205 review
Blueair classic 203 slim review
Blueair classic 480i review
Blueair pro m review
Blueair pro l review
Blueair pro xl review
Blue Pure 211 review
Blue Pure 121 review
Find us in Breathe Quality
Improving indoor air quality starts with minimizing pollutant sources such as cigarette smoke or dust and pet dander. We test how well a room air purifier removes dust and smoke from an enclosed space, how it performs at high and low speeds, and how quiet it is.
Related guide to your air purifiers:
best large room air purifiers
best air purifiers for office
best air purifiers for bedroom
best air purifiers for allergies and asthma
best air purifiers for pets
best air purifiers for smoke
best air purifiers for mold
best air purifiers for dust
The very best portable models we tested were effective at cleaning the air of dust, smoke, and pollen at their highest and lowest speed. The worst models weren't terribly effective at any speed.
Before you resort to buying an air purifier, try some simple steps to reduce indoor air irritants, including:
Vacuum often and thoroughly with a vacuum with HEPA filtration.
Ban smoking indoors.
Maintain your heating and cooling equipment and change air filters regularly.
Minimize use of candles and wood fires.
Use exhaust fans in kitchen, bath, and laundry areas.
Don't store chemicals, solvents, glues, or pesticides near your living quarters.
If pollen or related allergies keep you from opening windows, run your air conditioner or forced-air cooling system with a clean air filter.
The Pros and Cons
Pros: They’re portable—most room air purifiers weigh from 10 to 20 pounds, have a handle, and stand on the floor or on a table, while heavier models might have wheels.
Many have a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter, which can capture ultrafine particles. Keep in mind: Most HEPA filters need to be replaced annually, an expense that might approach the cost of the air cleaner, but a few models are now available with cleanable HEPA filters.
Cons: Portable models that use either electrostatic-precipitator or ionizer technology could produce some ozone, a lung irritant.
Dedicated ozone generators, a subcategory of room models, produce large amounts of ozone by design. According to manufacturers, that is to reduce allergens such as dust, smoke, pollen, germs, and mold. Ozone, however, is a serious health concern, prompting the State of California to ban the sale of ozone generators (and other air purifiers that emit more than 50 parts per billion of ozone) from the general market.
Other common questions:
air filter types
how to know if you have dust mites
Can You Run an Air Purifier All the Time
Do air purifiers use a lot of energy
Do air purifiers remove pollen
Do air purifiers remove dust
Do air purifiers get rid of dust mites
Do air purifiers cool down a room
Do air purifiers work for allergies
Do air purifiers work for viruses
Do air purifiers help with smoke
Do air purifiers work for mold
Do I need air purifier
Best ways to clean air
How to clean air filter
Do air purifiers get rid of pet hair and pet dander
Do air purifiers dry out the air
Do air purifiers remove odor
The reviews of air purifiers can also be found in:
Rabbit air minusa2 review
Rabbit air biogs 2.0 review
Levoit LV-H132 review
Levoit LV-H133 review
Levoit LV-H126 review
Levoit LV-PUR131 review
Honeywell HPA300 review
Honeywell HPA200 review
Honeywell HPA100 review
Honeywell HPA060 review
Honeywell HPA160 review
Honeywell HPA250B review
Honeywell HPA600B review
Winix WAC9500 review
Winix 5500-2 review
Winix 5300-2 review
Coway AP-1512HH review
Airmega 400S review
Airmega 300S review
Germguardian cdap5500bca review
Germguardian cdap4500bca review
Germguardian ac5000e review
Germguardian ac5300b review
Germguardian ac5250pt review
Germguardian ac4825e review
Germguardian ac4300bptca review
Germguardian ac5350b review
Germguardian ac4100 review
Iqair GC Multigas review
Iqair Healthpro Plus review
Iqair Healthpro compact review
Iqair Atem review
Blueair classic 605 review
Blueair classic 405 review
Blueair Sense review
Blue Pure 411 review
Blueair classic 205 review
Blueair classic 203 slim review
Blueair classic 480i review
Blueair pro m review
Blueair pro l review
Blueair pro xl review
Blue Pure 211 review
Blue Pure 121 review
Find us in Breathe Quality
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