The 9 Best Air Purifiers for Wildfire Smoke

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Wildfire smoke contains fine particulate matter that is hazardous to our health. Air purifiers filter out harmful smoke particulates for cleaner indoor air.

Wildfire smoke consists of harmful gases and fine particles from burning plants and other materials. These extremely small particles are a health concern because they can penetrate deep into the lungs.

Air purifiers help reduce these airborne particle levels with high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters to trap fine particulate matter. Keep reading to learn about the key features to consider when shopping, and then explore the picks for the best air purifiers for wildfire smoke. An in-depth review of the market, thorough product vetting, and the use of expert sources went into assembling the list of top picks.

1. BEST OVERALL: Medify Air MA-40 Air Purifier
2. RUNNER-UP: Levoit LV-PUR131S Smart True HEPA Air Purifier
3. BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Megawise EPI810 Desktop Air Purifier
4. BEST SMART TECH: Bissell air320 Max Smart WiFi Air Purifier
5. BEST FOR SMALL ROOMS: Honeywell AllergenPlus HEPA Tower Air Purifier
6. BEST FOR LARGE ROOMS: Hathaspace HSP003 Smart True HEPA Air Purifier 
7. BEST FOR BEDROOMS: Bissell air220 Air Purifier 
8. BEST FOR TRAVEL: Westinghouse 1804 HEPA Air Purifier
9. ALSO CONSIDER: Hathaspace HSP002 Smart True HEPA Air Purifier

How We Chose the Best Air Purifiers for Wildfire Smoke

The right air purifier can neutralize wildfire smoke particles and tackle many harmful contaminants and chemicals for better air quality in your home. Each of these picks for the best air purifier for wildfire smoke was selected for its filtration efficiency as well as area coverage, noise level, number of operating speeds, and other special features.

We chose the above picks keeping effective filtration in mind; they incorporate HEPA filters, prefilters, or multiple filters in one system. Select systems listed above can help to filter out gases, toxins, smoke, allergens, odor, and other fine particles. Plus, many of these above picks cover areas ranging from 100 to over 1,600 square feet, depending upon the size of the space you want to purify.

We also wanted to choose relatively quiet air purifiers that wouldn’t fill your home with noise; luckily, most systems are made to operate at well under 60 decibels. Select options also come with multiple operation speeds as well as automatic functionality, day and night. Finally, some of these air purifiers are made with LED or glass screens, wheels, or wall-mounting capability to fit in your ideal space.

Our Top Picks

The following recommendations are among the best air purifiers for smoke in their respective categories for clearing toxins and fine airborne particles from the air.

Best Overall

Medify Air MA-40 Air Purifier

Medify Air’s efficient air purifier has a three-stage all-in-one filtering system. The prefilter, H13 HEPA filter, and carbon layer are in one easy-to-change piece and remove most airborne particles. An H13 HEPA filter is a higher-grade filter that takes filtration up a small notch over standard true HEPA filters. Plus, this model comes with a prefilter for added convenience and allergen reduction.

This Energy Star–certified unit cycles airflow in a 420-square-foot room four times an hour and once an hour in a 1,680-square-foot room. The stylish glass display includes controls for the three fan speeds, night-mode setting, timer, child lock, and the optional ionizer.

The optional ionizer uses electrically charged molecules to remove contaminants from the air, which may create some ozone byproduct, a gas that could irritate the lungs. Those who are concerned about ozone can switch the ionizer off. But, bear in mind, this air purifier is California Air Resources Board (CARB) certified, which means it meets CARB’s acceptable ozone emission limits.

Product Specs 

• Filtration: Prefilter, HEPA H13 filter, and activated-carbon filters
• Room size recommendation: 420 to 1,680 square feet
• Noise level: 44.6 decibels

Pros

• High clean air delivery rate (CADR) provides rapid filtration of medium to large rooms; cycles airflow as it works
• Easy-to-use tempered glass touch screen features timer, speed, sleep mode, and child lock
• Filter life of 3,000 hours means it can last several months between changes

Cons

• Comes with a premium price tag, and some have found warranty claims a difficult process

Get the Medify air purifier for wildfire smoke at Amazonor Walmart.

Runner-Up

Levoit LV-PUR131S Smart True HEPA Air Purifier

The Levoit LV-PUR131S smart air purifier offers proficient filtration capability and several convenient features. A cloth prefilter and HEPA filter remove larger pollutants like pet hair, dust, and pollen, while an activated-carbon filter removes volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and harmful odors. According to Levoit, this air purifier functions best in rooms up to 360 square feet, making it ideal for living rooms, offices, and bedrooms.

This purifier has three operating speeds and runs at a quiet 27 decibels on the lowest setting. An air-quality sensor automatically adjusts the operating speed in response to higher or lower air particulate content. The Energy Star–rated unit works by voice command with the Vesync app via Alexa or Google Home Assistant. The Vesync app comes with over 10 advanced features, including direct control, scheduled air purifying, air-quality display, cleaning modes, and filter life.

Product Specs 

• Filtration: Prefilter and true HEPA filter
• Room size recommendation: 360 square feet
• Noise level: 27 to 52 decibels

Pros

• Smart connectivity allows monitoring and control via phone, plus the potential for voice control
• The touch-screen panel on the device itself allows real-time air-quality monitoring
• Relatively compact size and sleek design means it fits easily in different rooms

Cons

• Quality control seems inconsistent

Get the Levoit air purifier for wildfire smoke at Amazon, The Home Depot, or Target.

Best Bang for the Buck

Megawise EPI810 Desktop Air Purifier

A high-performance air cleaner often comes with a premium price tag and may be overkill in some situations. For those who want air filtration that works effectively in small spaces like home offices, bedrooms, and dorms, the compact Megawise is the answer.

Despite the small size and low price, this is a true HEPA filter with both prefiltering and a separate charcoal filter to combat smoke, smells, pet odors, and dander. Coverage is between 250 and 968 square feet, though it is at its most efficient at the lower end of that range. Operation is via a simple push button, and a 12-volt brushless motor keeps energy consumption low. The decorative night-light can be turned off if not required. The light weight and a universal power adapter for 100 to 240 volts make it great for travel, too.

Product Specs 

• Filtration: Prefilter, activated-carbon filter, and HEPA filter
• Room size recommendation: 250 to 968 square feet
• Noise level: 32 decibels

Pros

• A compact and highly portable air purifier at a budget-friendly price
• Easy push-button operation providing 3 levels of filtration with 360 degree coverage
• Brushless motor minimizes energy consumption and runs at a maximum 32 decibels

Cons

• We didn’t find many complaints, but durability can be an issue

Get the Megawise air purifier for wildfire smoke at Amazon.

Best Smart Tech

Bissell air320 Max Smart WiFi Air Purifier

The Bissell air purifier uses three-stage filtration, including a cloth prefilter, HEPA filter, and activated-carbon filter to remove smoke, VOCs, odors, dust, and other large contaminants from the air. Bissell states that this model filters 366 square feet at 4.8 times per hour. The smart purifier monitors the air quality to automatically adjust speed when pollutant levels change, maintaining air quality as you sleep.

The Bissell smart air purifier includes five air-cleaning settings, and while a decibel rating isn’t provided, the manufacturer calls it “library quiet.” An automated night mode dims the LEDs on the unit. The Bissell air320 includes elevated legs for easier cleaning beneath the unit, with convenient front panel filter access.

Product Specs 

• Filtration: Prefilter, HEPA filter, and activated-carbon filter
• Room size recommendation: 366 square feet
• Noise level: Library quiet (see description)

Pros

• Wi-Fi connectivity offers convenient monitoring and control via smartphone app
• 5 speed CirQulate System will adjust itself automatically to manage air quality
• Intuitive top-mounted controls plus easy front panel access for filter changing

Cons

• It’s relatively expensive, quite heavy, and the appearance may not suit some decors
• No decibel level listed on manufacturer’s website

Get the Bissell air320 air purifier for wildfire smoke at Amazon,Lowe’s, or Target.

Best For Small Rooms

Honeywell AllergenPlus HEPA Tower Air Purifier

The Honeywell AllergenPlus has been specifically designed to remove pollutants like wildfire smoke in smaller rooms. While coverage might seem low at just 75 square feet, that figure is deceptive because Honeywell uses a filtration rate of 4.8 changes per hour. If we calculate the volume based on a single change per hour, which many competitors do, the equivalent figure would be 360 square feet.

Three fan speeds are provided, accessed from an easy-to-use backlit knob on top of the device. There are also useful LED filter-change indicators. Prefilters should be changed every 3 months, but the HEPA filter can run for a full year. Energy Star qualification ensures minimal impact on utility bills.

Product Specs 

• Filtration: Activated-carbon prefilter and HEPA filter
• Room size recommendation: 75 square feet
• Noise level: Not provided

Pros

• High-quality device providing very efficient air purification for small rooms
• Compact and portable with straightforward manual controls and clear filter-change indicators
• Energy Star qualified with long-life HEPA filter to further reduce running costs

Cons

• No noise level listed on manufacturer website; some owners feel it’s a little noisy at the highest setting

Get the Honeywell air purifier for wildfire smoke at Amazon or Walmart.

Best for Large Rooms

Hathaspace HSP003 Smart True HEPA Air Purifier

Those wanting to provide clean air for extra-large rooms at home or in business and commercial premises will want to consider this air purifier from Hathaspace, a company that specializes in high-end HEPA filtration. Instead of single filters found on most competitor models, this model uses dual filtration and, as a result, can tackle spaces of up to 2,800 square feet.

Not surprisingly, this is quite a large unit, but wheels make it easy to move around. It’s also straightforward to operate thanks to clear touch panel controls. Among these is a timer, sleep mode, and auto mode that will automatically adjust fan speed for maximum efficiency while also displaying air quality in real time.

Product Specs 

• Filtration: A prefilter, dual H13 HEPA filters, and an activated-carbon filter
• Room size recommendation: 2,800 square feet
• Noise level: 38.5 to 65.1 decibels

Pros

• Impressive dual-filter model providing clean air for large rooms and commercial spaces
• Auto mode adjusts fan speed automatically and provides real-time readout of air quality
• Certified by Energy Star, Electrical Testing Laboratories (ETL) for safety, and CARB

Cons

• Fault reports are rare, but it is bulky, comparatively loud, and very expensive

Get the Hathaspace HSP003 air purifier for wildfire smoke at Amazon.

Best for Bedrooms

Bissell air220 Air Purifier

The Bissell air220 purifier looks like a stylish furniture piece; its four legs and rounded corners give it a midcentury modern aesthetic. The soft-touch dial is easy to use and doesn’t detract from this machine’s sleek design, so it won’t be an eyesore in a bedroom. The easy-access front filter hatch and discreet cord wrap add function to its attractive form.

A prefilter, true HEPA filter, and activated-carbon filter keep the air clean and odor-free. A color-coded air-quality indicator monitors and responds to air quality in the room in real time. When the air quality drops, the fan speed adjusts accordingly. This unit has five speeds, including a quiet mode and auto-dimming display for nighttime.

This Bissell air purifier is recommended for up to 259 square feet with an air changing rate of 4.8 times per hour, so at peak efficiency it is best suited to modest-size rooms like bedrooms. It could be used in large spaces with a lower filtration rate. Decibels are not provided, though Bissell calls the sound level “Whisper.”

Product Specs 

• Filtration: Prefilter, a H13 HEPA filter, and activated-carbon filter
• Room size recommendation: 259 square feet
• Noise level: Whisper (see description)

Pros

• High-quality 3-stage filtration from a well-known and trusted brand
• 5 operation speeds with CirQulate System for automatic air-quality management and feedback
• Filter changing is very easy via the fold-out front panel

Cons

• Fault reports are negligible, but it is quite a large unit and relatively pricey

Get the Bissell air220 air purifier for wildfire smoke at Amazon, Lowe’s, or Walmart.

Best for Travel

Westinghouse 1804 HEPA Air Purifier

Weighing in at only 2 pounds, this compact portable air purifier is well suited for travel. It measures 6.3 inches long by 6.3 inches wide by 3.5 inches tall and has a stylish leather carrying handle. The rechargeable battery lasts for 8 hours on a single charge, so there’s no cord to worry about.

Despite its small size, this purifier has a three-stage filtering system, which includes an oxygen generator, true HEPA filter, and nanoconfined catalytic oxidation (NCCO) reactor. The NCCO feature uses active oxygen to destroy pollutants like bacteria and viruses. Two fan speeds provide efficient filtration in spaces under 100 square feet, such as cars, sleeper cars, and hotel rooms.

Product Specs 

• Filtration: Prefilter, HEPA, and NCCO reactor
• Room size recommendation: 100 square feet
• Noise level: 34 decibels (lowest volume)

Pros

• Highly portable, personal device uses 3-stage filtration including patented NCCO technology
• Weighs 2 pounds with a leather carrying strap for easy transportation
• Rechargeable lithium-ion battery provides a runtime of up to 8 hours

Cons

• There are some breakdown reports, and there are more affordable alternatives, although they are less stylish

Get the Westinghouse air purifier for wildfire smoke at Amazonor Walmart.

Also Consider

Hathaspace HSP002 Smart True HEPA Air Purifier