The Best Air Purifiers for Pets, Vetted
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The best air purifier for pets keeps odors and dander at bay so babies of the fur and feather variety and their human companions can breathe easier at home.
According to a recent industry survey, 67 percent of American households—85 million families—have a pet. Unfortunately, these furry and feathered family members can contribute a lot of dander and unpleasant odors to the home. Dander is composed of the tiny, often microscopic, flecks of skin that nearly all pets (cats, dogs, birds, and rodents) constantly shed.
If not regularly cleaned, dander may cause allergic reactions in people who specifically have these triggers. Air purifiers can help reduce or even eliminate those side effects of pet ownership. In this guide, we enlist expert advice to single out the best air purifiers on the market for pet owners along with everything to keep in mind when shopping for these devices.
- BEST OVERALL: Levoit VeSync Core 400S Smart True HEPA Air Purifier
- BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: GermGuardian GG1000 Pluggable UV-C Air Purifier
- UPGRADE PICK: Nuwave OxyPure Smart Air Purifier
- BEST FOR OPEN FLOOR PLANS: Alen BreatheSmart 75i True HEPA Air Purifier
- BEST FOR LARGE ROOMS: Bissell air220 Purifier W/HEPA and Carbon Filters
- BEST FOR SMALL ROOMS: Levoit Core 300S Smart True HEPA Air Purifier
- BEST FOR ALLERGIES: Rabbit Air MinusA2 Ultra Quiet HEPA Air Purifier
- BEST FOR PET HAIR & DANDER: Bissell air400 Air Purifier w/ HEPA & Carbon Filters
- BEST FOR PET ODOR: Levoit LV-H128 Desktop True HEPA Air Purifier
- BEST WITH WASHABLE FILTER: Veva ProHEPA 9000 Premium Air Purifier
How We Chose the Best Air Purifiers for Pets
The right air purifier can cleanse air pollution caused by pet odors, dander, and kitty litter. We selected each of our top picks for their effectiveness, size, noise level, and user-friendliness. But above all, we paid close attention to the filtration.
According to Micah Sherman, a Frontdoor virtual HVAC expert, the best air purifiers for homes with pets come equipped with high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters. “They are the gold standard of air filters,” Sherman says. “Just be sure to change the filters out before they get clogged up.”
Activated-carbon filters are great at removing odors, and ultraviolet (UV) systems use UV light to kill germs, bacteria, and viruses. Sherman also suggests researching “reputable brands,” including Dyson, Honeywell, and Blueair Air, when shopping for a reliable and efficient air purifier for those who share their home with pets. Many of today’s units have multiple layers to their filtration and can remove 99 percent of noxious material from the air.
The best air purifiers for pets run quietly as they work, with the loudest option measuring around 40 decibels. Select machines also have a sleep mode that operates silently through the night. Additional special features may include child locks, color-coded air-quality monitors, auto adjustments based on environmental changes, and washable and reusable filters.
Read a review of the following tested product in our Best Air Purifiers guide:
- Alen BreatheSmart 75i True HEPA Air Purifier
Our Top Picks
Our top picks consist of air purifiers with multiple filtration systems. They can be used in small, medium, or large rooms, and some models also have advanced features.
Best Overall
Levoit VeSync Core 400S Smart True HEPA Air Purifier
The Levoit VeSync Core 400S features an impressive three-stage filtration system that includes an H13-grade HEPA filter to capture microscopic particles like dander in the air. The activated-carbon filter absorbs odors from pets, smoke, and cooking.
The washable preliminary filter traps hair, lint, and—most importantly—pet fur. The air purifier’s capacity makes it versatile for most room sizes, large and small. It can purify the air in an 806-square-foot living room in 24 minutes and a 403-square-foot bedroom in as little as 12 minutes.
The purifier comes with a HEPA filter, three clean-air delivery rates, and an option to program it to turn off after a few hours. It comes with an auto mode that senses airborne contaminants and adjusts the fan speed as necessary.
The LED display can switch off to save energy and create a darker room for sleeping. This air purifier from Levoit is a great all-around solution for cleaner air and emits just 24 decibels of noise when operating—less noise than a whisper makes in a quiet library.
Product Specs
- Type: HEPA filters
- Room size compatibility: 160 to 806 square feet
- Noise level: 24 decibels
Pros
- Works in large living rooms and small to midsize bedrooms and kitchens
- Fast acting; activates and purifies the air in 24 minutes or less
- 3 operating speeds included; suitable for multiple preferences and needs
- Auto adjusting; convenient, hands-free operation; VeSync app sends real-time air-quality updates
Cons
- With a weight of 14.12 pounds, this model has limited portability
- This air purifier is pricier than similar models; replacement filters are also expensive
Get the Levoit VeSync air purifier for pets at Amazon, Staples, or Levoit.
Best Bang for the Buck
GermGuardian GG1000 Pluggable UV-C Air Purifier
The GermGuardian GG1000 pluggable air purifier is a small but powerful appliance that filters odors and kills off viruses and germs. With the ability to plug into any household 120-volt outlet, this compact air purifier can fit in tight spaces where pet odors hang in the air, like near the litter box. It eliminates unwanted odors by drawing air through the purifier and killing the germs, mold, and bacteria that cause odors.
Unlike some budget models that come with just one or two filters, the GermGuardian GG1000 features UV light that kills bacteria and viruses such as Covid-19 when the virus particles pass through the purifier. Although the GermGuardian GG1000 cannot filter out particulate matter like pollens or dander, with its compact size—just 7.5 inches tall by 3 inches wide by 4 inches deep—and reasonable price, it’s an excellent choice for combating pet odors.
Product Specs
- Type: UV air purifier
- Room size compatibility: Up to 300 square feet
- Noise level: 42 decibels
Pros
- Inexpensive option compared to similar air purifiers on the market
- Compact and portable; won’t take up space and is easy to maneuver
- Compatible with any home outlet; can be moved from room to room if needed
- Controls odors and removes mold, germs, and bacteria from the air
Cons
- Cannot filter all airborne particles like other comparable models can
- Made for small spaces only; not suitable for use in large rooms or spaces
Get the GermGuardian air purifier for pets at Amazon, The Home Depot, or Guardian Technologies.
Upgrade Pick
Nuwave OxyPure Smart Air Purifier
Even though the Nuwave OxyPure air purifier is pricier than some, its multifiltration system is a game changer, especially since 80 percent of the system has a 20-year lifespan. The stainless steel prefilter collects large particles like pollen and pet hair.
The powerful five-filter unit effectively traps particulate pollutants as small as 0.09 microns. It also features an ozone-removal filter and a HEPA/activated-carbon filter that traps particles like allergens, dander, household fumes, and odors. Both of these filters are washable and reusable.
The OxyPure features a programmable air-quality monitor that can adjust operating speeds when it detects different levels of pollutants in the air. As an added benefit, users can remotely monitor and control the purifier from anywhere in their home via a WiFi–enabled smart device.
This energy-efficient purifier will effectively treat rooms up to 515 square feet, so it is a good choice for family rooms, recreation rooms, and kitchen/dining room combos.
Product Specs
- Type: HEPA filters and activated-carbon filter
- Room size compatibility: 515 square feet
- Noise level: Whisper to turbo (exact decibels unspecified)
Pros
- 5-filter unit; removes pollen, pet hair, allergens, fumes, odors, and more
- Filters are washable and reusable; cuts the cost of replacement filters
- Powers on when poor air quality is detected; runs at top speed till quality improves
Cons
- With a weight of 30 pounds, this air purifier is fairly heavy, limiting portability
- Expensive compared to similar air purifiers available on the market
Get the Nuwave air purifier for pets at Amazon, Lowe’s, Walmart, or Nuwave.
Best For Open Floor Plans
Alen BreatheSmart 75i True HEPA Air Purifier
Say goodbye to airborne pet dander and allergens with the Alen BreatheSmart air purifier that can clean and freshen the air in spacious rooms with open floor plans. It features a medical-grade H13 HEPA filter that’s designed to capture up to 99.99 percent of airborne particulates over 0.1 microns. It excels at trapping dander, dust, mold, and germs.
Best of all, you may not even know it’s running. The Alen BreatheSmart produces just 49 decibels of sound when operating at its highest setting—comparable to moderate rainfall. It produces just 29 decibels on low, or about the same level of noise you’d expect to hear in a quiet library.
The BreatheSmart is a top option for homes with open-concept plans, such as great rooms that feature combo kitchen/dining/living areas. It can freshen the air at a rate of up to 350 cubic feet per minute (CFM) on Turbo mode. It fully refreshes the air in a 1,300-square-foot space every 30 minutes, so dander, fur, and other airborne pollutants don’t stand a chance.
The BreatheSmart also features set-it-and-forget-it capabilities as it comes with an air sensor that keeps the machine running at low speed when the air is fresh but automatically revs up when the sensor detects the presence of pollutants, so your home stays fresh without the need to adjust the air purifier manually.
As a bonus, the air purifier also comes with an Alen Air app that buyers can download and use to control the purifier and monitor air quality over time. Intuitive, easy-to-see LED colors let users see at a glance the current quality of air in the room.
For pet lovers who value air freshness as much as they love their furry friends, the Alen BreatheSmart is a top option for keeping spacious floor plans fresh.
What Our Tester Says: Glenda Taylor, Bob Vila staff writer and product tester, had this to say about the air purifier: “The Alen BreatheSmart was a top performer in our hands-on tests. It removed airborne particulates in short order, and it also got rid of smoke smells. This powerful machine is well suited to homes with one or more active pets.”
Product Specs
- Type: Medical-grade HEPA filtration
- Room size compatibility: Up to 1,300 square feet
- Noise level: Whisper (25 decibels A) to Turbo (49 decibels A)
Pros
- Effectively cleans the air (including pet smells and dander) in rooms up to 1,300 square feet
- Easily monitor air quality with intuitive color-coded LED lights
- Automatic air-cleaning adjustment powers up when pollutants are detected
Cons
- Issues with a loose front panel that fell off frequently
Get the Alen air purifier for pets at Amazon, Lowe’s, or The Home Depot.
Best for Large Rooms
Bissell air220 Purifier w/ HEPA and Carbon Filters
The Bissell air220 purifier’s three-layer filtration system, which includes a fabric prefilter, a HEPA filter, and an activated-carbon filter, can remove more than 99 percent of airborne particles as small as 0.3 microns from a 1,252-square-foot room.
The manufacturer’s CirQulate System monitors and provides colored-coded air-quality feedback and then adjusts to the appropriate fan speed. The Bissell air220 purifier will refresh all the air in the room within an hour and will eliminate pet dander and odors, smoke, dust, pollen, hair, and general household odors.
The filters are easily accessible from the front of the machine, so the appliance can rest directly against a wall and out of the way of foot traffic. A rear cord storage and concealment feature keep the cord out of the way.
An automated feature on this smart air purifier will set the fan to whisper-quiet operation and dim the display to create a peaceful environment for sleeping people and pets. As a bonus, its stylish design, with a midcentury exterior and retro wire stand, can fit into just about any home’s interior theme.
Product Specs
- Type: HEPA filters and activated-carbon filters
- Room size compatibility: 1,252 square feet
- Noise level: Whisper (decibel measure unspecified)
Pros
- 3-layer filtration system tackles the most common air pollutants and allergens
- Removes 99 percent of airborne dust and other particles from a home’s air
- Color-coded air-quality monitor allows users to see their home’s air quality at any time
- Compact design; great for rooms that are tight on space
Cons
- Not Wi-Fi compatible; limited portability and quite heavy; does not have wheels
Get the Bissell air220 air purifier for pets at Amazon or Lowe’s.
Best for Small Rooms
Levoit Core 300S Smart True HEPA Air Purifier
A smaller air filter intended for smaller spaces, the Levoit Core 300S can provide air purification five times an hour in a bedroom or studio-size apartment. It features an H13 True HEPA filter and an activated-carbon filter to trap 99.97 percent of fine particulate matter, like pet dander and allergens as tiny as 0.3 microns.
At its quietest, this air purifier’s noise level is only 24 decibels, making it suitable for bedroom use or in nurseries. A compact model, the Levoit Core 300S is an effective, affordable solution to removing mold, pollen, dust, and pet dander from small rooms and home offices.
Product Specs
- Type: HEPA and activated-carbon filter
- Room size compatibility: 219 square feet
- Noise level: 24 to 48 decibels
Pros
- Affordable option compared to similar air purifiers on the market
- Works fast; begins purifying the air in less than an hour
- Lightweight and portable; can be moved from room to room as needed
- Compact design; suitable for small spaces like offices, nurseries, and bedrooms
Cons
- This model does not include replacement filters, which must be purchased separately
Get the Levoit Core 300S air purifier for pets at Amazon.
Best for Allergies
Rabbit Air MinusA2 Ultra Quiet HEPA Air Purifier
Allergy sufferers needing relief from airborne pet contaminants can look to the Rabbit Air MinusA2 air purifier, which comes with a HEPA filter plus six filtration stages. This Rabbit Air model cleans the air of up to 99.97 percent of pet contaminants and other airborne pollutants twice an hour in rooms as large as 815 square feet.
The six filtration stages include a washable prefilter that traps dust and large particles and a medium filter that traps contaminants up to 0.1 microns. It also features a BioGS HEPA filter that traps particles as small as 0.3 microns, a customizable filter (choose from pet allergy, germ defense, or toxin absorber), an activated-charcoal filter for odor removal, and a negative-ion generator.
The unit operates at no more than 51.3 decibels and boasts a light-activated sleep mode. Users can choose from six decorative panels to give air purification an artistic flair.
Product Specs
- Type: HEPA filter and activated-charcoal filter
- Room size compatibility: 815 square feet
- Noise level: 25.6 to 51.3 decibels
Pros
- 6 filtration stages, removing allergens, germs, toxins, and odors from air
- Clears 99 percent of airborne particles; a great choice for those with intense allergies
- Comes with sleep mode, making it ideal for bedrooms and nurseries
- 1 HEPA filter, 1 prefilter, and an activated-carbon filter included
Cons
- Expensive price point compared to similar air purifiers for pets
- Some users report manufacturing defects with the models they received