The 10 Best Air Purifiers for Fresh Air, Tested
As consumers become more aware of the airborne pollutants that lurk in their homes, the demand for quality air purifier reviews increases. Technology changes quickly, even in air purifiers that operate on basic principles, so we carefully tested 12 of the most popular models on the market in real-world scenarios to help you find the right one.
Members of the Bob Vila testing team selected a dozen of the best-selling air purifiers available and then tested their abilities to remove dust, pet dander, pollen, smoke, and more. Our goal was to determine whether the purifiers would remove the most common types of household airborne pollutants, so we created test cubicles out of our closets. There, we introduced airborne pollutants and used air-quality monitors to see how quickly the purifiers removed them from the air.
Ahead, learn what features to look for when shopping for an air purifier and discover how the following 10 models earned a spot in our lineup. Find out our tests’ results—pros and cons—before selecting the best air purifier for your home or office.
- BEST OVERALL: Shark HC502 3-in-1 Air Purifier With NanoSeal HEPA
- BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Levoit LAP-C161-WUS Core Mini Air Purifier
- BEST FOR LARGE ROOMS: Alen BreatheSmart 75i True HEPA Air Purifier
- BEST FOR SMALL ROOMS: Molekule Air Mini+ Air Purifier
- BEST FOR KIDS’ ROOMS: Pure Enrichment PureBaby Bear HEPA Air Purifier
- BEST MEDICAL-GRADE: Westinghouse 1701 NCCO Air Purifier
- BEST FOR SMOKE: Coway Airmega Mighty Air Purifier
- BEST CLIMATE CONTROL: Dyson Pure Hot + Cool Link HP02 Air Purifier Heater
- BEST FOR GAS STOVES: AirHood Wired Kitchen Air Cleaner
- ALSO CONSIDER: Clorox Alexa Smart Medium Room True HEPA Air Purifier
How We Tested the Best Air Purifiers
We quickly discovered dozens of manufacturers were marketing air purifiers and we wanted to test the best ones from several categories. We considered brand names like Dyson, Shark, and Westinghouse, which are widely known and well respected. Still, we didn’t automatically eliminate smaller or niche brands if they had highly satisfied customers. We then narrowed our test list to a dozen of the highest-rated models.
For testing, we cleared out a closet and then wiped down the floors, walls, and ceilings to ensure they wouldn’t contribute to the dust in the spaces. We tested each air purifier—one at a time—by placing it in the closet alongside an air-quality monitor. We introduced airborne particulates by shaking dirty rugs over the devices, and then we took air-quality readings every 30 minutes to see how quickly the purifiers eliminated the pollutants.
Our smoke test was pretty smelly—we lit five incense sticks in the closet, gave the smoke a chance to infiltrate the space, and then started the air purifier and took a reading. We closed the door to let the purifier do its thing and continued to take readings every 30 minutes.
In later tests, we installed the air purifiers in a regular New York City apartment with exposure to common household irritants like smoke, outdoor air pollution from open windows, pet dander, and general dust. We also used incense and dust collected from a vacuum bag to test the filter’s ability to remove visible pollutants from the air.
For these air purifier reviews, we scored each product on a scale of 1 to 5, taking into account ease of use, effectiveness, noise, and value. We also took into account the build quality and overall aesthetic appeal of each product. At the end of testing, we added and averaged the scores and used them to determine each air purifier’s stand-out strengths and which one was truly the all-around best.
Our Top Picks
After hours of testing the purifiers through exposure to a range of common household air pollutants, we found that the following air purifiers excelled. While they vary in type, cost, and design, each is well suited for removing airborne pollutants in the home.
During testing, we noted their best and not-so-good features. (But don’t limit yourself to only the models on our list of the best air purifiers; we also constructed a DIY air purifier out of materials and supplies you may already have around the house. Check it out below, too.)
Best Overall
Shark HC502 3-in-1 Air Purifier With NanoSeal HEPA
This Bob Vila Approved product carries our brand’s highest level of recommendation.
Bob Vila Approved recognizes the household and DIY products that impressed us most in our real-world testing and that exemplify core values of the Bob Vila brand, including craftsmanship, innovation, and value for the dollar. Winners of this designation come recommended by our professional review team and are personally approved by Bob Vila.
Our Ratings: Overall 4.5/5; Ease of Use 5/5; Effectiveness 5/5; Noise 4/5; Value 4/5
Product Specs
- Dimensions: 29.52 inches tall by 12.59 inches in diameter
- Remote control? Yes
- Functions: Air purifying, fan, heating, oscillating
What We Like
- Unit features a heating element for warm purified air
- Digital readout shows the overall freshness of the air in the room
- Comes with a remote control and oscillates for better coverage
What We Don’t Like
- The purifier is relatively loud when operated on the highest power level
The Shark three-in-one air purifier offers three distinct functions: purified air, heated air, and purified fan breeze. Other perks include a remote control and an oscillating feature. We tested the HC502 model, which is designed for rooms up to 1,000 square feet and features a base plate that helps stabilize the unit and reduce the risk of tipping. In our tests, it cleared particulates in just 30 minutes and a large amount of smoke in just 60 minutes. To test its ability to clear particulates, we shook a dirty rug above it, and once our air-quality monitor registered the dirty air, we turned on the Shark and closed the closet door. At our first 30-minute check, the air quality in the test closet had already dropped to safe levels. Impressive. To test the Shark’s prowess for clearing smoke and odors, we filled a closet full of incense smoke. We turned on the Shark and let it run for 30 minutes before checking it again. At the 30-minute mark, the levels were still elevated but only slightly. At our second 30-minute check, the levels were back in the safe zone, and the smell had significantly improved. The only downside we found is that it generated 59 decibels of noise on High, comparable to the sound of riding in a car going 60 miles per hour. On Low, it registered a whisper-quiet 28 decibels, perfectly reasonable at any time. This powerhouse of a purifier can help any home maintain safe—and fresh—air quality.
Read our full review: Shark Air Purifier with NanoSeal HEPA
Get the Shark air purifier at Amazon, The Home Depot, or Shark.
Best Bang For The Buck
Levoit LAP-C161-WUS Core Mini Air Purifier
Our Ratings: Overall 4/5; Ease of Use 4/5; Effectiveness 3/5; Noise 5/5; Value 3/5
Product Specs
- Dimensions: 10.4 inches tall by 6.5 inches in diameter
- Remote control? No
- Functions: Air purifying, essential oil infusion
What We Like
- One of the quietest models we tested on High and on Low
- Removes airborne particulates in rooms up to 178 square feet
- Compact design makes it possible to put on a shelf or dresser
What We Don’t Like
- Takes more time than larger models to freshen the air
For those looking to freshen the air in small rooms—up to 178 square feet—there’s no need to spend a lot on an air purifier. The Levoit Core Mini removes airborne particulates in addition to smells and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and it does it at an affordable price point. Like other Levoit models, this purifier is relatively quiet—generating just 20 decibels on Low and about 42 decibels on High. We didn’t find the noise distracting on either level, as it sounded much like a soothing hum. In our pollutant tests, the Levoit took a bit longer than other models to clean the air, which isn’t surprising because it’s a compact machine. It took nearly 1.5 hours to clear the airborne particles from our shaken rug in the test closet, and it took 2 hours to eliminate the smoky smell from our incense test. However, our smoke test was aggressive. Users would rarely, if ever, run into a situation where a small room got that smoky. Given time, the Levoit personal air purifier gets the job done. It’s not suitable for use in larger rooms because it is just not that powerful, but if it’s run continuously in a small space, such as a nursery, bedroom, or home office, it should keep the air at a fresh level.
Read our full review: Levoit Core Mini Air Purifier
Get the Levoit air purifier at Amazon, Walmart, or Levoit.
Best For Large Rooms
Alen BreatheSmart 75i True HEPA Air Purifier
Our Ratings: Overall 4/5; Ease of Use 3/5; Effectiveness 5/5; Noise 4/5; Value 4/5
Product Specs
- Dimensions: 27 inches tall by 19 inches wide by 12 inches deep
- Remote control? No
- Functions: Air purifying
What We Like
- Powerful enough to clean the air in rooms up to 1,300 square feet
- Color-coded lights to see the air quality in the room at a glance
- Features an ionizer mode that’s certified as safe and effective by the California Air Resources Board (CARB)
What We Don’t Like
- Features wheels for rolling, but rolling is awkward due to handle location
- The front panel was loose and kept falling off
The Alen BreatheSmart air purifier is a beefy machine all the way around. It is the heaviest model we tested (at 27 pounds), and its dense high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter is more than 2.5 inches thick. It aced both the airborne particulate and the smoke test, reducing the offending pollutants to safe levels on both tests by the first 30-minute check. We figured this was primarily due to the extensive power of the BreatheSmart, which is designed for large rooms up to 1,300 square feet. To add to its cleaning power, this air purifier comes with an ionizer mode that emits negatively charged ions that adhere to particulates in the air, making them heavy, so they fall to the floor. (Check out the What to Consider section below for more information.) We liked its LED air-quality indicator that registers green for safe air, orange for fair, red for poor, and purple for bad. If we selected Auto mode, the BreatheSmart increased and decreased power as needed to clear the air. Soundwise, the BreatheSmart is in the middle of the road. It generated 47 decibels on High and 29 decibels on Low. As we tested, we also noticed a few design downsides. It comes with wheels on the back for easy rolling, but the handle is also on the back, making it awkward to tip and roll. Plus the front panel kept falling off if we so much as brushed against it. Even with those minor downsides, the BreathSmart is a great option for those who need serious air freshening.
Get the Alen air purifier at Amazon, The Home Depot, or Alen.
Best for Small Rooms
Molekule Air Mini+ Air Purifier
Our Ratings: Overall 4.5/5; Ease of Use 5/5; Effectiveness 4/5; Noise 5/5; Value 3/5
Product Specs
- Dimensions: 12 inches tall by 8.26 inches in diameter
- Remote control? Yes, through app
- Functions: Air purifying, Wi-Fi connectivity
What We Like
- Outer filter layers capture larger particles and slow VOCs
- Inner photoelectrochemical oxidation (PECO) filters remove pollutants as small as 0.3 microns, including black mold and viruses
- Handle and lightweight design make it easy to move around
- App displays current and past air quality for monitoring changes
What We Don’t Like
- More expensive than similarly performing products
- Replacement filters are also pricey at about $100 each without a subscription
Designed for spaces up to 250 square feet, the Molekule Air Mini+ air purifier is compact and has a minimalist design, so it easily blends in with a variety of decor. The Air Mini+ provides three layers of protection from pollutants: a True HEPA filter, a carbon layer, and PECO technology, which effectively eliminates viruses and bacteria. The AirMini+ is also CARB certified. The Air Mini+ performed well in all of our tests involving smoke and dust, including clearing particles from the contents of a vacuum bag. When cooking over high heat produced a lot of smoke in an apartment, the Air Mini+ was able to clear the air in 10 to 15 minutes. We also found that it’s exceptionally quiet on its slowest setting at 39 decibels. This small room air purifier also offers remote control via a connected Bluetooth app. The app helpfully displays insight into current and past air quality. We found it interesting and helpful to be able to review the previous day’s air quality to identify ways to improve it. This purifier looks great, is easy to transport thanks to its small size and handle, and, most importantly, does its job well.
Get the Molekule air purifier at Amazon, Staples, or Molekule.
Best For Kids' Room
Pure Enrichment PureBaby Bear HEPA Air Purifier
Our Ratings: Overall 3.5/5; Ease of Use 5/5; Effectiveness 2/5; Noise 3/5; Value 3/5
Product Specs
- Dimensions: 14.6 inches tall by 11.1 inches wide by 8.7 inches deep
- Remote control? No
- Functions: Air purifying, night-light
What We Like
- Blends well into nursery or child room decor
- Features an ultraviolet light in addition to activated-carbon and HEPA filters
- Select from 7 night-light colors, or set the machine to scroll through all colors
What We Don’t Like
- Purifier does not have tip-over protection, so it should be placed out of children’s reach
We were charmed by the PureBaby Bear that adds a whimsical element to the rooms of little ones. Plus, it comes with a four-stage filter: an activated-carbon prefilter, a HEPA filter, an antibacterial filter, and an ultraviolet light for killing germs. It also features a night-light in a range of adjustable colors. As adorable as this air purifier is, it still means business when cleaning the air. In our tests, the PureBaby Bear eliminated enough particles in the air within 30 minutes to bring the freshness level into the safe zone. It took a bit longer with the smoke and odors—1.5 hours—but it’s quite a bit smaller than most purifier models, so that’s understandable. The PureBaby Bear purifier is small enough to sit on a shelf or nightstand and is designed to treat rooms up to 263 square feet. While it comes with an auto shutoff and features a child-lock button, it doesn’t have tip-over protection, which is something we feel would be valuable in a model made to go in a child’s room. All in all, this is a delightful air purifier. It generated 42 decibels when we ran it on High and just 20 decibels on Low. The sound is soothing, and some may find it does double duty as white noise for helping children get to sleep. <