We Tested 61 Air Purifiers, and These 11 Are the Best for Pet Owners

Best Overall

Winix 4-Stage True HEPA Air Purifier

$250
$146 at Amazon


$160 at Wayfair


$160 at Target

Pet hair proved to be a challenge for many of the air purifiers we tested, but the Winix 5500-2 Air Purifier stood out for its ability to seemingly suck in pet hair as we spread it throughout our space. After running it for 30 minutes, the air purifier’s fine mesh pre-filter was full of hair. But the air purifier filters more than just pet hair: On its highest setting, it was able to reduce PM2.5 (tiny particles that are 2.5 microns or less in diameter) by 80% to 82% and volatile organic compounds (VOCs)—such as room sprays—by over 86% to 88% in 30 minutes. From dander to odors, this air purifier can tackle anything your furry friend brings into your home.

The magic is in the four stages of filtration, starting with the washable fine mesh pre-filter that acts as the first line of defense against large airborne particles like pet hair. Next, air moves through the washable carbon filter to absorb VOCs and odors before making its way to the true HEPA filter, which traps airborne particles as small as 0.003 microns. Finally, the Plasmawave technology releases ions into the air, which attach to air pollutants and break them down. 

This air purifier is Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) Verifide at 360 square feet, which means it has undergone testing to verify its CADR (clean air delivery rates) and claimed room size. The manufacturer claims can clean rooms up to 1,740 square feet in one hour, which makes sense given how effective it was in our 728-square-foot room in just 30 minutes. 

It also comes with several advanced features, including a remote control, an LED light that reports air quality in real time, and an auto mode that adjusts the fan speed based on the air quality reading. We think it’s a great option for light sleepers, as it operates quietly and has a sleep mode that turns on once the room has darkened, running at an energy-efficient level until it detects light. It also comes with a filter indicator light, though Winix suggests changing the carbon and HEPA filters once per year at minimum, bringing your annual filter costs to $80.

After six months of running this model 24/7, we found the air to be much crisper and cleaner. Overall, this is a great option for larger rooms or open floor plans, and given its size, it’s relatively energy efficient. Assuming you run it 24 hours per day 365 days a year, we estimate this Energy Star-certified model to have an annual energy cost of $79.67 (based on the average cost of energy consumption in the U.S., $0.16 per kilowatt-hour). While this quantity is above the $53.72 median of those we tested, it's not bad relative to its size. Just keep in mind that this air purifier is not the most sleek nor the most discreet, so it might not be the best fit for a smaller room.

Dimensions: 15 x 8.2 x 23.6 inches | Weight: 14.8 pounds | Room Size: 360 square feet | CADR: 246 CFM for pollen, 243 CFM for dust, 232 CFM for smoke | Certifications: Energy Star, AHAM Verifide, UL Listed