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A group of air purifiers are collected together in the Reviewed labs. Credit: Reviewed / Tim Renzi

The Best Air Purifiers of 2024

Recommendations are independently chosen by Reviewed's editors. Purchases made through the links below may earn us and our publishing partners a commission.

A group of air purifiers are collected together in the Reviewed labs. Credit: Reviewed / Tim Renzi

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1
Editor's Choice Product image of Blueair Blue Pure 311i Max
Best Overall

Blueair Blue Pure 311i Max

4.8
Check Price at BlueAir

Exceptionally good at clearing particles and quiet as a breeze, this HEPA air purifier is an awesome pick to place anywhere around the home. Read More

Pros

  • Excellent particle filtering
  • Extremely quiet
  • Simple controls and app
  • Washable prefilter

Cons

  • Unimpressive VOC filtering
2
Editor's Choice Product image of Winix 5500-2
Best Value

Winix 5500-2

4.8
Check Price at Amazon

Cleans the air with a true HEPA filter, carbon filter, and plasma technology. It has intuitive controls and extras like a sleep mode and timer. Read More

Pros

  • Easy to move
  • Easy to change filters

Cons

  • None that we could find
3
Editor's Choice Product image of Blueair DustMagnet 5410i
Best for Smoke

Blueair DustMagnet 5410i

4.9
Check Price at Blueair

The Blueair Dustmagnet has exceptional particle filtering performance and even makes for a nice end table Read More

Pros

  • Exceptional particle removal
  • Quiet
  • Alexa and Google Home integration

Cons

  • Lower density filter
4
Editor's Choice Product image of LG PuriCare AeroTower U9CV1C
Best for Large Rooms

LG PuriCare AeroTower U9CV1C

4.7
Check Price at Best Buy

LG's PuriCare AeroTower combines a HEPA-rated air purifier with a ductless room fan, and adds an elegant design. Read More

Pros

  • HEPA rated
  • Good for large spaces
  • Includes a ductless room fan

Cons

  • Appearance might not suit all tastes
  • Requires unobstructed air flow
5
Editor's Choice Product image of Coway Airmega Icon
Best HEPA

Coway Airmega Icon

4.6
Check Price at Coway

This air purifier works well to remove particles, VOCs, and more from the air. It also doubles as an indoor air quality monitor. Read More

Pros

  • Attractive design
  • Good features
  • Works well

Cons

  • Large
  • Heavy to move
  • Hard-to-clean fabric cover
  • Best Overall Blueair Blue Pure 311i Max
  • Best Value Winix 5500-2
  • Best for Smoke Blueair DustMagnet 5410i
  • Best for Large Rooms LG PuriCare AeroTower U9CV1C
  • Best HEPA Coway Airmega Icon
  • Best Smart Features Dyson Purifier Humidify+Cool PH04
  • Best Washable Prefilter Coway Airmega 250S
  • Best For Bedrooms Levoit Vital 200S
  • Best for Allergies Levoit Core 300
  • Best for Dust Medify MA-50
  • Best Air Distribution Coway Airmega Aim
  • Best Value HEPA PuroAir 240
  • Best for Mold Honeywell PowerPlus HEPA
  • How We Tested Air Purifiers
  • What You Should Know Before Buying an Air Purifier
  • More Articles You May Enjoy

We spend most of our time indoors, and the air quality in our homes and offices can be surprisingly poor. Smoke, allergy-causing pollen and dust mites, viruses and bacteria, and common household chemicals all add to indoor air pollution. The best air purifiers improve indoor air quality by removing these pollutants.

After extensive testing, the Blueair Blue Pure 311i (available at BlueAir) is the overall best air purifier, combining multiple filters to remove particles and chemicals. For a value-packed HEPA purifier, the Winix 5500-2 (available at Amazon) is a top performer with low operating costs.

However, if you need an air purifier for a specific use case, keep reading—we've tested all these just for you.

A rounded air purifier filter sits on the floor in a residence.
Credit: Reviewed / Dave Ellerby

The Blue Pure 311i's prefilter is easy to remove and wash.

Best Overall
Blueair Blue Pure 311i Max
  • Area coverage: 387 to 928 square feet
  • Dimensions: 12 x 12 x 19 inches
  • Color options: Light gray, dark gray, sepia
  • Maximum noise level: 49 decibels
  • Replacement filter: Blue Pure F3MAX replacement filter

The Blue Pure 311i Max is the best air purifier you can buy right now. Its signature super-quiet HEPA filter quietly displaces smoke and particles from the air with amazing efficiency, beating out our previous No. 1 pick, the Blueair DustMagnet 5410i.

The exterior of the Blue Pure 311i is a removable, washable fabric prefilter that traps dander, pet hair, and other larger particles. The interior of the air purifier houses Blueair’s proprietary ultra-quiet HEPA filter and a fan.

Sleep mode further reduces the decibel level of the Blue Pure to a nearly silent whisper, making it a perfect bedroom companion that shouldn’t interfere with sleep.

The Blueair app is also more intuitive than it used to be, giving you control over minor adjustments to the fan level and LED brightness. It also facilitates geo-fencing (a location-based feature that automates the purifier) and offers scheduling features to ensure your indoor air quality will be nice and clean before you get home.

The Blue Pure falls short when removing VOCS, only filtering 70% of the average. If VOCs are your concern, the Dyson PH04 is a better, but more expensive purifier.

Otherwise, this attractive, intuitive, and prefiltered air purifier is the best air purifier for your home. It will trounce wildfire smoke, cigarette smoke, dander, and allergens alike.

Read our full review of the Blueair Blue Pure 311i

Pros

  • Excellent particle filtering

  • Extremely quiet

  • Simple controls and app

  • Washable prefilter

Cons

  • Unimpressive VOC filtering

Buy now at BlueAir

$183.99 from Amazon

$183.99 from Target

$229.99 from Home Depot
A Winix air purifier sits next to a potted plant.
Credit: Reviewed / Timothy Renzi

The Winix is a value pick with a few elite features, like an air quality monitor and strong VOC filtering.

Best Value
Winix 5500-2
  • Area coverage: 360 square feet
  • Dimensions: 15 x 8 x 24 inches
  • Color options: Black
  • Maximum noise level: 57 decibels
  • Replacement filter: Winix 5500-2 filter replacement

The Winix 5500-2 is the best air purifier for those looking for a value option, scoring well for particle and chemical removal, ease of use, and low filter replacement costs. The impressive performance comes from a combination of filters.

A washable prefilter protects the other filters from large items like pet hair. Next, a true HEPA filter captures microscopic particles.

A carbon filter absorbs chemical pollutants, like VOCs from paint and cleaning products, and is washable to extend its life. Finally, the Plasmawave stage produces reactive ions that break down more chemicals.

We love the automatic features like an air sensor that adjusts performance to match the air quality and a light sensor that dims the controls and turns down the fan for sleep mode after dark. The washable filter stages and relatively long filter life keep filter costs low.

Pros

  • Easy to move

  • Easy to change filters

Cons

  • None that we could find

$159.99 from Amazon

$249.99 from Best Buy
The Blueair DustMagnet 5410i sits next to a houseplant.
Credit: Reviewed / Timothy Renzi

Doubling as an attractive side table, the Blueair DustMagnet 5410i has powerful smart features that will help you get the most out of it.

Best for Smoke
Blueair DustMagnet 5410i
  • Area coverage: 356 square feet
  • Dimensions: 26 x 11 x 11 inches
  • Color options: Matte white plastic, gray fabric
  • Maximum noise level: 49 decibels
  • Replacement filter: BLUEAIR DustMagnet 5400 Series ComboFilter

The Blueair DustMagnet 5410i has been at the very top of our list of best air purifiers, before being replaced by its cousin, the Blue Pure 311i Max. Now, we’ve named it as the best air purifier on this list (and on the market) to tackle smoke. With exceptional particle removal, the DustMagnet shows that it’s a strong opponent to smoke particles, pollen, pet dander, or airborne dust.

In lab testing, it cut through particle pollution at an impressive rate. It also combined excellent performance with a thoughtful design. It’s not just an air purifier but also stands out among top-rated air purifiers by doubling as a handy end table.

Even at its highest fan setting, the DustMagnet is one of the quietest air purifiers we’ve tested. In night mode, the sound is barely above a whisper, so swapping out your bedside table for this air purifier won’t disturb your sleep.

Chemical absorption was the only area where the DustMagnet fell short, with lower-than-average performance at removing VOCs.

The DustMagnet uses a HEPASilent filter. HEPASilent refers to the low noise levels we measured. The filter is less dense than most HEPA filters, so it doesn’t need a noisy, powerful fan to create airflow. Despite the lower density filter, the DustMagnet uses an ingenious workaround to compensate. An electrostatic filter clumps particles together, making them easier to trap with the HEPASilent filter.

As well as being the best air purifier for smoke, the Dust Magnet includes useful smart features that monitor air quality and filter life and work with voice assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant. The purifier monitors indoor air quality and usage to identify when it’s time to replace the filter, helping you get more from your device and spend less.

Read our full review of the Blue Air DustMagnet 5410i

Pros

  • Exceptional particle removal

  • Quiet

  • Alexa and Google Home integration

Cons

  • Lower density filter

Buy now at Blueair

Buy now at Amazon

$566.95 from Walmart
A closer view of the LG Puricare, in front of a blue armchair and next to a TV on a stand against a brick wall.
Credit: Reviewed / David Ellerby

The LG PuriCare AeroTower’s unique shape, tall stature, and overall weight can make it a hassle to move from room to room.

Best for Large Rooms
LG PuriCare AeroTower U9CV1C
  • Area coverage: 818 square feet
  • Dimensions: 44 x 11 x 11 inches
  • Color options: Silver, beige
  • Maximum noise level: 50 decibels
  • Replacement filter: LG PuriCare Aerotower filter replacement

The LG PuriCare AeroTower is a HEPA-rated air purifier for large rooms, and its rotating, ductless fan makes it ideal for circulating clean air around open spaces. It performed well for both particle and chemical filtering in our lab tests. The flexible functions, automated controls, and smart features placed it near the top of our rankings.

Unlike most air purifiers, the Aerotower is a tall, tapering, column. It resembles a skyscraper near LG’s head office. Although the appearance may not suit all tastes, that extra height has a function.

Air purifiers rely on unobstructed airflow to work at their best. The top two-thirds of the tower is a ductless fan with adjustable rotation, flow rate, and flow patterns. This creates excellent air circulation.

The AeroTower’s design means that you’re getting two products in one, a ductless room fan and an air purifier. It also has one of the largest square footage ratings we’ve tested. If you like the looks and larger rooms, go for this elegant LG.

Read our full review of the LG PuriCare AeroTower

Pros

  • HEPA rated

  • Good for large spaces

  • Includes a ductless room fan

Cons

  • Appearance might not suit all tastes

  • Requires unobstructed air flow

$384.99 from Best Buy

$498.00 from Home Depot
The attractively designed Coway Airmega Icon sits next to a couch.
Credit: Reviewed / Timothy Renzi

With a fresh design that doesn't scream "I'm an air purifier," the Coway Airmega Icon won't look so out of place in your living room.

Best HEPA
Coway Airmega Icon
  • Area coverage: 649 square feet
  • Dimensions: 21 x 9 x 22 inches
  • Color options: Beige
  • Maximum noise level: 50 decibels
  • Replacement filter: Coway Airmega Icon filter replacement

In lab tests, the Icon’s HEPA filter displayed outstanding performance for removing particles and chemicals. It also has sophisticated air quality and light sensing. It runs in a quiet, low-energy mode at night or if the air quality is good. It will even charge your phone.

We also think that the Coway Airmega Icon may be the best-looking air purifier we’ve tested. Admittedly, that’s a low bar, but with the legs and fabric treatment, this is as stylish as air purifiers get. It looks more like a mid-century end table than a typical air purifier.

The extensive area coverage makes this a good choice for large rooms or open-plan homes, as well. Cleaning the fabric cover is a potential downside, but if you want style and efficiency, the Icon is a sound choice.

Read our full review of the Coway Airmega Icon

Pros

  • Attractive design

  • Good features

  • Works well

Cons

  • Large

  • Heavy to move

  • Hard-to-clean fabric cover

Buy now at Coway

$478.27 from Amazon
Credit: Reviewed / Dyson
Best Smart Features
Dyson Purifier Humidify+Cool PH04
  • Area coverage: 360 square feet
  • Dimensions: 36 x 12 x 11 inches
  • Color options: nickel/gold, white/gold
  • Maximum noise level: 52 decibels
  • Replacement filter: Dyson PH04 filter replacement

The Dyson PH04 is a multi-function device with a fan, air purifier, and humidifier. If humidity is too low, dust levels increase, and dry air irritates the nose and throat, meaning humidity control and air purification are closely linked.

Even so, the PH04 is a specialized product and its high-powered sensors make for a high price tag. We highly recommend it if you’re concerned about chemical pollution and have a living space with low humidity.

The Dyson PH04 is one of the best air purifiers we’ve tested for general VOC removal but it falls short on particle removal. Many air purifiers monitor dust particle levels, but the PH04 also tracks VOCs, including formaldehyde, using high-quality air sensors.

The PH04 is one of the only air purifiers we’ve tested with a filter stage designed to break down formaldehyde. Formaldehyde and other VOCs have many sources, like paints, particleboard, and cleaning products. (We didn’t specifically test the formaldehyde filter. We draw the line at filling our lab with toxic gas!)

We named the Dyson PH04 the best smart air purifier because its app setup is extremely easy, and it has smart home integration. It’s also the most sophisticated air quality sensing of any air purifier we've tested.

As well as white/gold the PH04 comes in nickel/gold.

Read our full review of the Dyson PH04

Pros

  • Excellent at neutralizing VOCs

  • HEPA filter

  • Humidifier function as a bonus

Cons

  • Below average for removing particulates

  • Expensive in the market

$849.00 from Amazon

$849.99 from Best Buy

$849.00 from Abt

$849.99 from Walmart
Credit: Reviewed / David Ellerby
Best Washable Prefilter
Coway Airmega 250S
  • Area coverage: 930 square feet
  • Dimensions: 8.3 x 18.5 x 19.7 inches
  • Color options: Warm gray
  • Maximum noise level: 22 decibels
  • Replacement filter: Coway Airmega 250S replacement filter

If you’ve got a dog, cat, or, say, a hamster running around your house, the Coway Airmega 250s is one of the best air purifiers for pets out there. During home testing, with dogs and cats in residence, a washable prefilter stopped pet hair from getting to the more delicate HEPA filter stage. The primary filter is a single, easy-to-remove unit. The first layer is activated carbon for VOCs, with the HEPA stage last. This is smart as it keeps the HEPA filter as protected as possible from larger dust particles.

Separate filter indicators for the pre- and primary filters are a unique feature of the purifiers we’ve tested. Sure enough, in a pet-hair-rich environment, the prefilter check came on within a few days.

The particle filtering performance of this purifier is exceptionally good. Note that the manufacturers have also specifically had the Airmega range tested for effectiveness in filtering SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. VOC filtering with the active carbon filter was a little less impressive, rating about average for the air purifiers we’ve tested.

The combination of air quality and light sensors makes for highly efficient running while in Auto mode. For lower air quality, the fan mode is automatically increased.

One thing we don’t love: the IoCare app. We found that the app won’t open after installation unless you grant permissions to make and manage phone calls and access files on your device. For an air purifier, is this really necessary?

Instead, you can purchase the non-app-integrated version, which offers the same everything minus Wi-Fi access.

Pros

  • Economical to run

  • Excellent particle filtering

Cons

  • Concerns over app security

$385.58 from Amazon
A squared air purifier in white and black sits on the floor next to a guitar.
Credit: Reviewed / Dave Ellerby

Made for bedrooms, the Vital 200S monitors sunlight and goes quiet at night, to keep from interfering with your sleep.

Best For Bedrooms
Levoit Vital 200S
  • Area coverage: 380 square feet
  • Dimensions: 16 x 9 x 20 inches
  • Color options: White/gray
  • Maximum noise level: 54 decibels
  • Replacement filter: Vital 200S replacement filter

The Levoit Vital 200S’ adaptive night mode makes it the best air purifier for a bedroom. Its automatic mode relies on air quality and light sensors. It adjusts fan speed for spikes of pollutants and quiets down at night to interfere less with your sleep.

The Vital offers strong filtration and swappable filters for different use cases. These include a toxin filter that delivers a 34% improvement over the standard filter at eliminating chemicals from the air and a pet odor filter.

The device also has handy app controls and a cleanable prefilter for dander and other large particles, making it a perfect choice for homes with pets.

Our only real qualm about the Vital 200S is that it is visually quite basic and might not match more design-focused homes.

Regardless of aesthetic concerns, with filtration performance in the top 10 of any air purifier we’ve seen, a smaller footprint, and smart features that ensure it won’t interfere with your sleep, the Levoit Vital 200S is one of the best out there—especially for bedrooms.

Read our full review of the Levoit Vital 200S

Pros

  • Low noise

  • Monitors and responds to changing air quality

  • Washable prefilter

  • Smart features

Cons

  • May clash with your décor

$189.99 from Amazon
The front of the Levoit Core 300 air purifier stood up on a floor.
Credit: Reviewed / David Ellerby

A lack of air quality sensors is a trade-off for the inexpensive cost of the filter.

Best for Allergies
Levoit Core 300
  • Coverage area: 219 square feet
  • Dimensions: 9 x 9 x 14 inches
  • Color options: Cream white, black
  • Maximum noise level: 50 decibels
  • Replacement filter: Standard, Pet filter, Toxin filter

Affordably priced, the Levoit Core 300 is a capable air filter that commits to advanced filtration without the high-end (and costly) sensors that you’ll see in more expensive systems. It’s also nearly silent in sleep mode, making it a sensible pick for a bedroom.

The Levoit has a rounded, tubular build with a perforated bottom plate and a simple illuminated control menu on top.

Its HEPA filter will trap major allergens like pollen, mold spores, or pet dander. It's also a versatile choice with different filter options to tailor it to your specific needs.

The Core 300’s filter is a three-in-one design that includes a prefilter, an activated carbon filter, and a HEPA filter. This combined system ranks among the best we’ve tested. The system is also customizable, offering alternative filter types that help with different use cases. These are a pet filter that will help eliminate dander and other allergens and a toxin filter built to handle VOCs, formaldehyde, and other harmful chemicals.

Without an air quality sensor, the Core 300 does not support automatic mode, which could be an issue for some. But before you discount the Core for lack of tech features, be aware that most systems that include an air quality sensor will cost you.

While the 300 might not have the advanced digital bells and whistles that some competitors have, it’s an excellent air purifier for the money, especially given its ability to adapt to different use cases with alternative filter types.

Whether you’re looking for an air purifier to fight allergies, eliminate chemical fumes in a new home, or filter wildfire smoke, the Levoit Core 300 will do you good.

Read our full review of the Levoit Core 300

Pros

  • Simple to use

  • Quiet sleep mode

  • Alternate HEPA, pet allergy, and chemical filters

Cons

  • No air quality sensor

Buy now at Amazon

$99.99 from Best Buy

$99.99 from Target

$99.98 from Walmart
An air purifier stands on a carpet
Credit: Reviewed / David Ellerby

The Medify’s filters are rated HEPA 13, a high-efficiency type often used in medical facilities that are effective at removing the aerosols that spread SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID.

Best for Dust
Medify MA-50
  • Area coverage: 1,100 square feet
  • Dimensions: 8 x 8 x 21 inches
  • Color options: Black, white, silver
  • Maximum noise level: 56 decibels
  • Replacement filter: Medify MA-50 filter replacement

The Medify MA-50 is a powerful air purifier with true HEPA filtration, and that’s why we think it’s one of the best air purifiers for dust. Its efficient design utilizes a central fan that pulls air through filters on all four sides, maximizing its filtering capacity and ably trapping dust particles.

Medify’s filters are rated HEPA 13, a high-efficiency type often used in medical facilities. The HEPA filters can remove the aerosols that spread SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19).

High-quality filters are expensive, so the annual filter replacement costs are high. The better the filter, the more it blocks airflow. This calls for a powerful fan, meaning an intrusive noise level at higher settings.

Unfortunately, the Medify has no VOC filter, so it's not much use for trapping chemicals.

Designed for large rooms, the MA-50 is best suited for an open-plan home or office. Medify also has a range of air purifiers with the same HEPA filtration rating but for small spaces.

These are the Medify MA-40, MA-25, and MA14. We didn’t test the smaller units directly, but their similar filter design should give equivalent high performance.

Read our full review of the Medify MA-50

Pros

  • Excellent HEPA filter

  • Large coverage area

  • Powerful fans

Cons

  • Expensive filters

  • Noisy at higher settings

Buy now at Amazon

$292.93 from Home Depot

$247.26 from Walmart
Credit: Reviewed / David Ellerby
Best Air Distribution
Coway Airmega Aim
  • Area coverage: 246 square feet
  • Dimensions: 18 x 20 x 8 inches
  • Color options: White / gray
  • Maximum noise level: 56 decibels
  • Replacement filter: Airmega Aim Filter

The Coway Airmega Aim is a two-in-one air purifier and fan that delivers targeted, HEPA-purified air.

This Airmega Aim creates a cooling draft that oscillates, directing the air throughout your space. It’s a great pick for a desk fan and purifier hybrid.

If air purifiers are installed in inopportune locations, they can fail to cycle enough air. With such a powerful fan, the Airmega Aim circumvents this issue, passing a substantial amount of air through its filter and thereby ensuring it gets cleaned.

This Coway air purifier also includes an air quality sensor. This sensor facilitates automatic mode, in which the Aim adjusts its fan speed based on real-time pollution levels in your space.

The Airmega does have a major blindspot. With such a powerful fan involved, this HEPA filter is considerably louder than others in our guide. Because of this, the Aim might not be suitable for sleeping.

While it won’t beat out some of our top picks for filtering power, the Aim’s two-in-one functionality should make it more than capable enough to find a place in homes and offices. Overall, the Aim is a brilliant combo unit for clean, cool air.

Read our full review of the Coway Airmega Aim

Pros

  • Simple design

  • Doubles as an oscillating fan

  • Inexpensive filters

Cons

  • Relatively noisy

  • No washable prefilter (vacuum only)

Buy now at Coway

$110.50 from Amazon
A black air purifier stands aside a gray couch and on a brown wood floor
Credit: Reviewed / David Ellerby

The Puro Air 240 air purifier offers excellent filtration based on its HEPA 14 filter. Bonus: It's affordable!

Best Value HEPA
PuroAir 240
  • Area coverage: 1,115 square feet
  • Dimensions: 10.63 x 10.63 x 28 inches
  • Color options: Black
  • Maximum noise level: 62 decibels
  • Replacement filter: Genuine Puro Air 240 Replacement HEPA 14 Filter

The Puro Air 240 is an excellent choice for anyone with particle-based allergies (pollen, pet dander, mold) or who has issues with smoke pollution.

When it comes to its filter, the HEPA is rated H14—this is the top end for HEPA ratings. An H14 filter is rated to stop at least 99.995% of 0.3 micron particles; for comparison an H13 filter is rated to stop at least 99.95% of 0.3 micron particles. In practical terms the difference is tiny and most people wouldn't notice a difference. Each filter stops nearly all pollution particles, but the H14 rating is more about peace of mind than real-world performance.

The manufacturers don't give a clean air delivery rate (CADR) rating, just a square footage it can clean, at 1,115 square feet, which makes it difficult to compare to other products. Room size recommendations are also usually based on CADR. Based on our own smoke clearance measurements for purifiers with a known smoke CADR, this unit likely has a smoke CADR in the 150 to 200 cfm range. This would line up with a capacity to change the air once per hour in the 1,115-square-foot area rating given by the manufacturer. This works well if you live in an open-plan apartment, but if your house is divided into conventional rooms with limited air exchange between them, you won't get that level of coverage. Based on our lab tests and CADR estimates, this purifier would be a better choice for a typical living room or bedroom.

The purifier has an air quality sensor (particles only, not VOCs) and can be left in Auto mode. This mode adjusts fan speed to the air quality level. Auto mode is a great feature as it means you can set the purifier running and never have to adjust the controls yourself. There's also a sleep mode that switches the purifier to the lowest fan setting and dims the lights on the control panel.

At its price point, this is a very affordable air purifier with H14 filtration and an automatic mode, but beware the costly filters that are recommended to change every three months.

Pros

  • Excellent value

  • Good performance

  • Auto mode

  • Simple controls

Cons

  • Expensive to run if filters are replaced every 3 months

Buy now at Amazon
Credit: Reviewed / Honeywell
Best for Mold
Honeywell PowerPlus HEPA
  • Area coverage: 200 square feet
  • Dimensions: 14 x 9 x 15 inches
  • Color options: Black
  • Maximum noise level: 60 decibels
  • Replacement filter: Honeywell PowerPlus True HEPA filter replacement

The Honeywell PowerPlus True HEPA is a solid performer at VOC and particle removal. There’s also an optional extra carbon filter to increase VOC removal. Mold allergies are triggered by a combination of mold spores and the chemical VOCs that molds release. The Honeywell has balanced particle and VOC removal that solves both of these mold-related problems.

The particle filters are HEPA, although the manufacturer doesn’t give the exact rating of the filters. The large filter allows for a high air filtering capacity but is expensive to replace.

The air quality sensor triggers automatic mode, changing the fan level to match the air quality conditions, but this is one of the noisier purifiers we tested. Though the light is dimmable, you’ll need to turn down the fan at night to sleep.

Pros

  • Large filtering capacity

  • Automatic mode

Cons

  • Bulky design

  • Noisy at higher settings

$172.25 from Walmart

How We Tested Air Purifiers

The Tester

Hi, I’m Dave Ellerby, chief scientist in the Reviewed labs. I got my Ph.D. from the University of Leeds in 2000 and my Bachelor of Science from the University of Manchester in 1997.

I oversee our lab testing, develop tests for new products, and update tests to ensure accuracy and meaningfulness. Pollen allergies in the spring and the year-round aroma of two large Bernese Mountain dogs make me particularly interested in indoor air quality.

The Tests

An air purifier stands in front of an air tight room
Credit: Reviewed / David Ellerby

We built an airtight chamber in our lab in order to measure how quickly each air purifier could remove particles and volatile organics compounds (VOCs) from the air.

In our lab, we tested how well air purifiers could remove dust, smoke, and VOCs from an enclosed space. They are also rated on noise and display light levels, ease of setup and use, their looks, and annual filter cost. The top-rated air purifiers made this list.

We tested how quickly the purifiers remove smoke particles and volatile organics compounds (VOCs) from an airtight chamber in our lab.

Each purifier is placed in the chamber and turned to its maximum fan setting. If extra filter mechanisms are available, we switch those on. We record changes in particle and VOC levels, measuring the air cleaning rate for each purifier.

For particles, we focus on those smaller than 10 microns, as they’re small enough to make it into your lungs.

We assess how easy it is to set up the purifier and change the filter, noting how many settings and filter stages it has. We also determine the annual cost of replacing filters.

Finally, the air purifiers go home with the tester to see if fan noise and display lights affected sleeping, conversation, and TV viewing. This also allows us to see how they look in a domestic setting.

What You Should Know Before Buying an Air Purifier

Which is the best air purifier for you will depend on the size of your space, air quality concerns, and automation features.

When choosing an air purifier, focus on your main air quality concerns. If you suffer from allergies, are concerned about airborne viruses and bacteria, or encounter wildfire smoke, you need a particle filter. Particle filters don’t remove chemicals, though. To tackle these, your air purifier will need an activated carbon filter or other chemical removal stage.

For the tiniest particulate matter, like smoke and virus-carrying aerosols, you need a high-efficiency particle (HEPA) filter.

How Do Air Purifiers Work?

We burnt incense near the Blueair Blue Pure 311i purifier to test whether it would sense the smoke and turn its fans on.

The heart of most air purifiers is a fan that pulls room air through the filters and returns filtered fresh air to the room.

All the air purifiers we tested had a particle filtering stage. Many had extra filter mechanisms to tackle chemical pollution, viruses, and bacteria.

Some purifiers include an air quality monitor that automatically adjusts fan speed to match the pollution levels in your home. This keeps down energy and filter use.

What is a HEPA Filter?

High-efficiency particulate air filters (HEPA filters) are rated by how efficiently they remove particles down to 0.3 microns.

HEPA filters have a number rating from H10 to H14; the higher, the better. H10 and H11 filters are sometimes described as “True HEPA,” and H13 and H14 filters as “Medical Grade.”

HEPA filters stop smoke. Even though many viruses and bacteria are smaller than 0.3 microns, they’re spread in larger liquid droplets called aerosols. HEPA filters trap these and limit the spread of airborne bacteria and viruses, including COVID-19.

HEPA filters aren’t just for tiny particles, they trap everything larger than 0.3 microns. So if you have allergies, HEPA will help out with larger particles like pollen, mold spores, and pet dander too. This means HEPA air purifiers are a perfect choice if you’re concerned about any type of airborne particle.

Be careful in your choice, as some filter manufacturers use the terms “HEPA like” or “HEPA type.” These are marketing terms that don’t clearly define filter quality.

If you’re investing in a HEPA filter, also look for a purifier with a prefilter. These trap larger items, like pet hair, before they get to your other filter stages. There’s no point paying for a HEPA filter if it gets clogged with cat hair!

Room Size and Clean Air Delivery Rating (CADR rating)

Most air purifiers list a coverage area in square feet. For reference, a typical living room or master bedroom is in the 200 to 300 square foot range, while small rooms like bathrooms have considerably less square footage.

Get an air purifier that is the right size for your room. If it’s too small or tucked behind other furniture, it won’t filter the air effectively. If it’s too large, you’re paying for fan power and a filter area you don’t need.

Some manufacturers also report CADR. As explained by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), this shows how efficiently the air purifier removes pollutants.

If available, the CADR is a more direct performance guide than recommended area coverage. Choose a CADR value that’s about two-thirds of your room’s square footage.

Removing Airborne Particles

An incense stick burns on a small plate next to an air purifier, smoke rises, a hand holds an air quality monitor that displays data about the air.
Credit: Reviewed / Timothy Renzi

We tested each air purifier's ability to handle smoke and other particles.

Airborne particles come in a range of sizes. Allergens like pollen and mold spores are relatively large at 10 to 100 microns. If you’re allergic to these, you may not need the highest-performance filters.

Most other problem particles are much smaller. Pet dander and dust mite allergens are in the 10-micron and less range. Smoke and the aerosol droplets created when you cough and sneeze that spread bacteria and viruses are even smaller, at 1 micron or less.

Most hairs are about 70 microns thick, so you can’t see most of the smaller particles. To stop smoke, bacteria, and viruses, get a HEPA filter.

Removing Chemical Air Pollution

A small cup of rubbing alcohol sits next to a bottle of rubbing alcohol on a desk; next to the desk a hand holds an air quality monitor over an air purifier.
Credit: Reviewed / Timothy Renzi

Chemicals and VOCs can be major health concerns, we conducted lab tests to gather data on how each air purifier handled them.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are major chemical pollutants released by paint, plastics, cleaning products, hair spray, and glue. Nitrogen dioxide comes from burning fossil fuels, and although traffic fumes are a major source, it can make its way into your home.

Nitrogen dioxide and some VOCs have negative health impacts.

Particle filters don’t remove airborne chemicals. If you’re worried about chemical pollutants, ensure your purifier has carbon filters or other mechanisms specifically designed to trap or neutralize them.

Meet the testers

Dr. Dave Ellerby

Dr. Dave Ellerby

Chief Scientist

Dave Ellerby has a Ph.D. from the University of Leeds and a B.Sc. from the University of Manchester. He has 25+ years of experience designing tests and analyzing data.

See all of Dr. Dave Ellerby's reviews
Gabriel Morgan

Gabriel Morgan

Staff Writer, Home

Gabriel Morgan is a staff writer on Reviewed's home team, where he covers consumer education topics such as earthquake preparedness, radon in the home, and concerns about health and wellness in product design. He also writes product reviews and how-to articles on appliances, smart home technology, and goods for the home.

See all of Gabriel Morgan's reviews

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