10 Best Air Purifiers

The best air purifiers can do wonders to relieve those of you who suffer from allergies or asthma. They can remove pollen, dust, pet dander, smoke, mold spores, and other allergens from the air – giving you fresh, clean air to breath.

The best air cleaners contain HEPA filters that capture 99.7% of pollutants as small as 0.3 microns. You should also know how much replacement filters cost, because they can be expensive and you will have to replace them unless you buy one that can be cleaned.

One item to consider when shopping for an air purifier is the clean air delivery rate (CADR) which measures how fast a filter can clean smoke, pollen, and dust and thus determining the suggested size in square feet of the room to be cleaned. A CADR rate over 350 is considered excellent, while anything under 100 is quite poor. Other things to consider include the noise level, number of fan speeds, automatic mode, dust monitor or air quality sensor, and length of warranty.

The more you suffer from breathing problems like allergies or asthma, the more you should invest in your purifier or air filtration machine. The top models sell for around $1000, while there are many cheaper options as well, especially ones designed for a smaller room.

We looked at and rated dozens of models to come up with our list of the top 10 best air purifiers which we review below. At the bottom of this article we also include a comparison chart so you can easily compare one air purifier versus another.


9.4
#1)

IQAir HealthPro Plus Air Purifier

Best Overall Air Purifier
The IQAir HealthPro Plus is our choice for the best air purifier. It is a bit expensive at around $900, but its performance is second to none and for people with allergies it is worth every penny. This IQAir model also won numerous awards and 5-star reviews, including a Consumer’s Digest Best Buy and a 5-star expert review from AllergyBuyersClub.com.

The maximum coverage area for this air filtration unit is 1125 square feet, or 563 square feet for the recommended four air exchanges per hour. It has three different filters – a pre-filter, hyper HEPA filter, and a V5 cell gas and odor filter – which can each be replaced separately. The HEPA filtration is certified to filter 99.5% of particles down to .003 microns – the smallest particles that exist. The filter change indicator light will show green, orange, or red to specify filter life left. It has six different speed settings of which only the top two would really be considered noisy. One great feature not available on many models is the control settings. You can program the machine to turn on and off at certain times and at specific fan speeds.

Despite an annual filter replacement cost of approximately $200, in addition to the asking price, we feel the IQAir New Edition HealthPro Plus is worth the money if you want the best and we highly recommend it unless you truly need a more affordable air purifier.


9.3
#2)

Blueair Classic 605

The $739 Blueair Classic 605 received the highest score from the leading consumer magazine. In terms of performance it is second to the IQAir, but it is superior to the other models of this list with a certified clean air delivery rate (CADR) of 500 cubic feet per minute with 5 air changes per hour in a room size of 775 square feet.

At its heart is a HEPA filter that collects 99.97% of airborne pollutants. There is also a SmokeStop filter you can buy separately which contains a carbon filter to extract smoke and odors. It’s suggested that you replace the filter every six months. Yearly costs will be just a bit above $200 for filter replacement and electricity.

Some other features include Wi-Fi enabled, three fan speeds, timer, and night mode. While the Wi-Fi allows you to use an app or Alexa to control the air purifier, a lot of users have complained that it is difficult to get it to work right. Also on the highest fan setting the Blueair Classic 605 is pretty loud.

Overall we would not hesitate to recommend the Blueair Classic 605 Air Purifier since its positives far exceed the negatives. However, it is expensive, so you might want to consider a cheaper air purifier especially if you have a smaller room you want to use it in.


9.2
#3)

Coway Airmega 300

With a price around half of our top 2 picks, the $389 Coway Airmega 300 is an outstanding performer for the price. It can handle air purifying in a room about 700 square feet to get 4 air exchanges per hour.

It uses a pre-filter and twin Max2 Filters (a combined HEPA and activated carbon filter) which captures and reduces up to 99.97% of particles 0.3 microns in the air, including pollen, pollutants and other allergens; while also reducing more than 99% of volatile organic compounds. The pre-filter is washable, while the Max2 Filter set needs to be replaced yearly at a cost of about $80.

The fan has 5 settings, with 3 speeds, A smart setting lets the Airmega 300 automatically adjust fans speeds based on air quality in the room. On high speed the fan is one of the quietest air purifiers on this list. There is also a timer you can set between 1 to 8 hours.

If you don’t want to spend the money it takes to buy our top two choices, but want still want an air purifier that works well in large rooms then you should absolutely consider buying the Coway Airmega 300.


9.2
#4)

Oransi OVHM80 V-HEPA Max Air Purifier

Another strong performer with a price tag of $479 is the Oransi OVHM80 V-HEPA Max Air Purifier. The OVHM80 will purify 600 square feet of space by using its four-stage air filtration system to eliminate dust, pollen, smoke, pet dander, mold spores, and odor. Those stages include a washable pre-filter, high-efficiency HEPA filter, activated carbon filter, and ozone-safe ionizer. The three filters should be replaced each year at a cost of about $90.

Electronic controls including an programmable timer, automatic purification, and four fan speeds give you plenty of control over how the machine runs. It is also quiet with a whisper quiet max noise of just 53 decibels

The Oransi OVHM80 is one of the best air purifiers under $500 and when combined with its performance it makes for a decent value. It is a great choice for anyone with allergies or those of you looking to eliminate smoke and odors.


9.1
#5)

Blueair Blue Pure 211+

Best Value Air Purifier
The Blueair Blue Pure 211+ might just be the best value air purifier you can buy with a price of $250. It can exchange the air four times in a room up to 650 square feet.

The Blue Pure 211+ uses a machine washable fabric pre-filter and a particle filter with activated carbon. This filter technology will capture 99% of air pollutants, which while good is not as good as some of the more expensive HEPA filters. A replacement filter will cost about $80 and needs to replaced every six months which means running costs will be a bit less than $200 per year with electricity added.

It has 3 fan speeds, but lacks some functions and displays like a timer or filter life remaining. On the plus side it is pretty small with dimensions of just 21″ x 13″ x 13″.

Overall if you need a more affordable air purifier for medium to large sized rooms then the Blue Pure 211+ is an excellent choice.


9
#6)

Coway AP-1512HH Mighty Air Purifier

Best Air Purifier Under $200
Relatively new, the Coway AP-1512HH Mighty Air Purifier is the best air purifier under $200 with a pice of about $161. Several sites have selected it as the best air purifier for most people. It can handle rooms up to 500 square feet with ease with CADR scores of 246 for dust, 233 for smoke, and 240 for pollen.

This compact model, just 18.3″ x 16.8″ x 9.6″, features a four-stage filtration system which includes a washable pre-filter, a carbon filter to remove odors, a true HEPA filter, and Vital ION technology ionization system. The HEPA filter lasts up to one year, while the carbon filter lasts up to 6 months and both can be replaced for about $50.

Other features include Auto mode, 3 fan speeds, onboard timer, filter replacement indicator, and more. On its lowest speed setting, it is among the quietest air purifiers at just 24.4 dB. While its max dB is 54 on high.

Overall the Coway AP-1512HH is ideal for treating asthma, allergies, odor & chemical sensitivity, and removing airborne germs in medium sized rooms. If you are looking for a cheap air purifier you should consider this one first, because you won’t find a better performer with a lower price.


8.9
#7)

Honeywell HPA300

The $214 Honeywell HPA300 was once rated as a Best Buy by the leading consumer magazine. With a price under $250, the HPA300 provides a good value for any air purifier. You won’t find a cheaper model that scores better CADR ratings of 320 for dust, and 300 for smoke and pollen.

This air purifier is capable of removing allergens, dust, and odors from rooms up to 465 square feet. It includes 3 HEPA filters plus a carbon pre-filter which all need to be replaced yearly at a cost of about $75. It features electronic controls with a programmable timer and 3 speed settings. At 65 dB on max speed, it is a bit noisy, while even on lower settings it is not totally silent.

For those of you looking for an affordable air purifier we feel you should consider the Honeywell HPA300. There are models that purify slightly better or can handle a larger space, but they cost a lot more; and there are models that are cheaper, but do not perform nearly as well as this unit.


8.7
#8)

Winix 5500-2

The $156 Winix 5500-2 Air Purifier is our second choice for the best air cleaner under $200. The 5500-2 is capable of cleaning a 360 square foot space with its 3-stage HEPA filtration system. It uses an advanced odor control carbon filter, true HEPA filter, and PlasmaWave technology which is designed to eliminate airborne pathogens. It is recommended you replace the filters yearly at a cost of about $62.

This Winix air cleaner includes electronic controls with an auto mode, air quality sensor, and 4 fan speeds. Also, while there is a sleep mode, there is no programmable timer. CADR ratings for the Winix 5500-2 are also a bit lower than higher rated units on this list with scores of 243 for dust, 232 for smoke, and 246 for pollen.

Overall the Winix 5500-2 is a decent air purifier, however, we recommend spending a few more dollars to get either the Honeywell HPA300 or the Coway AP-1512HH if you are looking for a model around $200.


8.1
#9)

Germ Guardian AC4300BPTCA

Best Air Purifier Under $100
If you are searching for an air purifier that does not cost over $100, then the $85 Germ Guardian AC4300BPTCA might just be for you. However, with that cheaper cost comes a much weaker performance with CADR ratings of 107 for dust, 116 for pollen, and 99 for smoke. That means for 4 air exchanges an hour the room size must be 155 square feet or less.

The AC4300BPTCA uses a combination filter – True HEPA filter that captures 99.97% of allergens as small as .3 microns and a pre-filter/activated carbon filter that captures odors from cooking, pets and smoking. This filter can be replaced for just $22 around every 6-8 months. It also has a UV C light that helps kill airborne viruses.

Overall the Germ Guardian AC4300BPTCA is cheap and works pretty well at filtering the air, however it only works in a small room up to 155 square feet.


7.9
#10)

GermGuardian AC4100

The best travel-size air purifier is the $55 GermGuardian AC4100. This small table-top unit is capable of cleaning air in a room up to 120 square feet with its 3-stage filtration system that is similar to the AC4300BPTCA. The HEPA filter lasts up to 8 months and has a replacement cost of $22, while the UV light will last up to one year and can be replaced for $15.

The GermGuardian AC4100 has a rotary dial with 3 speed settings that are all very quiet. You can place it horizontally or vertically on a tabletop to suit your space.

This cheap air purifier will blend into the decor in a small room or office, however it is lacking in overall performance and is especially weak in odor control.


Best Air Purifier Comparison Chart

Air Purifier Rating Best Price Manufacturer Suggested
Room Size (Sq Ft)
Recommended Room Size
(4 Air Changes Per Hour)
CADR
Dust
CADR
Smoke
CADR
Pollen
Filter Type Number of
Filters to Change
Fan
Speeds
Min – Max Noise (dB) Air Flow
(CFM)
IQAir HealthPro Plus 9.4 $899.00 1125 563 NA NA NA HEPA, Carbon, Pre-Filter 3 6 25 – 69 dB 300
Blueair Classic 605 9.3 $739.00 775 968 640 500 500 HEPA 1 3 32 – 60 dB 640
Coway Airmega 300 9.2 $389.00 1256 694 260 260 260 HEPA, Carbon, Pre-Filter 1 4 22 – 52 dB 340
Oransi OVHM80 9.2 $479.00 600 459 330 330 330 HEPA, Carbon, Ionizer, Pre-Filter 3 4 34 – 53 dB 350
Blueair Blue Pure 211+ 9.1 $249.99 540 650 350 350 350 Particle/Carbon, Pre-Filter 2 3 31 – 56 dB 350
Coway AP-1512HH 9 $161.00 326 502 246 233 240 HEPA, Carbon, Ionizer, Pre-Filter 2 3 24.4 – 54 dB 268
Honeywell HPA300 8.9 $213.48 465 465 320 300 300 HEPA (3), Carbon Pre-Filter 4 4 65 dB 300
Winix 5500-2 8.7 $157.89 360 360 243 232 246 HEPA, Carbon, Pre-Filter, PlasmaWave (Germ Treatment) 2 4 28 – 55 dB 246
Germ Guardian AC4300BPTCA 8.1 $84.99 155 135 100 80 105 HEPA, Carbon/Pre-Filter, UV Light 2 3 40 – 55 dB 105
GermGuardian AC4100 7.9 $54.82 120 100 66 50 76 HEPA/Carbon, UV Light 1 3 34 – 53 dB 76

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