Air purifiers: 8 to consider

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Air purifiers can help filter allergens, pollutants, and irritants from the air and improve air quality. Air purifiers often use a filter, electrostatic, or UV light-emitting technology to remove particles from the air.

Air purifiers help remove particles from indoor air. The particles they can remove include:

Air filters are typically effective in a single room or area of the house. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states that, although air purifiers can reduce indoor air pollution, they cannot remove all the particles from the air.

Air purifiers can help improve the quality of the air. There are three types of filters available:

The EPA says that an air purifier should come with a clean air delivery rate (CADR) — a higher rate indicate the purifier's ability to filter larger areas or rooms.

Other health experts state that electric air purifiers, such as electrostatic and UV light-emitting purifiers, create ozone gas. In addition to these types, ionizers and hydroxyl generators also produce ozone gas. The specialists warn that these types of filters can create potentially hazardous indoor air pollution.

The Environmental Working Group states that people should use a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter to prevent air filters from emitting ozone.

Air purifiers can reduce harmful particles, such as allergens and certain gases, indoors.

The EPA states that a person should look for the following types of filters based on their needs. For example, to help remove allergens and larger particles, individuals should look for a purifier with a HEPA filter. And to reduce gases or fine particles, such as smoke, people should look for an activated carbon filter.

Learn more about the best air filters for smoke.

In a 2021 review of studies, researchers looked at scientific evidence related to the effectiveness of air purifiers. They found limited evidence on the efficacy of air purifiers, with the investigated studies suggesting that portable air purifiers improved indoor air quality by between 22.6 and 92%.

Additionally, some of the research in this review found that air purifiers improved blood pressure, respiration, and pregnancy outcomes. However, the scientists note that the studies they examined showed inconsistent findings.

Medical News Today chooses products that meet the following criteria:

The following are some air purifiers that can help filter pollutants and allergens from the air.

Please note that the writer of this article has not tried these products. All information presented is purely research-based and correct at the time of publication.

Medical News Today follows a strict product selection and vetting process. Learn more here.

MEDIFY Air offers a three-stage filter that captures large, medium, and small particles. The filters include:

The purifier has a CADR of 330, meaning it can filter the air in a medium-large area. The company claims it can filter up to 840 sq ft in 30 minutes.

People can also turn the product's ionizer on and off as they wish.

The MEDIFY Air MA-40 also has the following features:

The company offers a lifetime warranty and service if a person changes the filters every 3,000 hours or every 6 months with MEDIFY filters.

Positive reviews listed on the MEDIFY website comment on an immediate effect and product efficiency.

Some negative comments mention the noise and the need to manually turn on the device.

The Mila uses certified HEPA filtration and activated carbon to clean the air. The company says this purifier has a CADR of 477 per hour and can filter the air in a room within 30 minutes.

The Mila automatically activates and filters the air using eight sensors. This filter can help with smoke, allergens, bacteria, viruses, and other small particles.

People can order filters as and when they need them or by subscription.

Mila offers a 1-year limited warranty for manufacturing defects.

Some positive reviews on the MILA website mention the product's efficiency and relative affordability compared with other brands.

There are limited negative comments on the website. However, one user comments that the MILA is not very effective at clearing odors. Another review states that the company could improve the functionality of its app.

The Oransi Max Air Purifier uses a HEPA filter and active carbon to remove allergens, viruses, and other particles and some odors from the air.

The company states that this purifier is suitable for smaller spaces such as bedrooms and offices and can clean the air in rooms sized up to 600 sq ft. The machine is also lightweight and portable, removes mild smoke odors, and has a CADR of 217.

Oransi also offers a 60-day return policy and a 10-year warranty on all products.

Positive reviews mention that this air purifier is very effective and some customers noted it helped improve allergies.

However, some people said the filters were expensive and it was loud even on its lowest setting.

According to the manufacturer, The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America certifies this purifier as suitable for people with asthma and allergies. This device can filter up rooms of up to 1,070 sq ft with a CADR of up to 316.

RabbitAir states that this device is very quiet with long lasting filters. The purifier can remove particles 0.3 microns in size at 99.7% efficiency and particles less than 0.1 microns in size at 99% efficiency.

The device also features five layers that can capture particles such as dust mites, mold, fungi, and pollen. People can choose from a variety of customer filters when ordering the A3.

Additionally, RabbitAir offers a 5-year warranty and year-round technical support.

Positive reviews on the RabbitAir website mention that the product works, particularly for asthma and allergies.

One reviewer mentions that they had difficulty setting it up and using the model.

Learn about the best air purifiers for asthma.

This air purifier has a HEPA filter and can filter the air in a 700 sq ft room within 30 minutes. Alen offers a subscription service for their filters, where the company sends a new filter every 9 months for a reduced price.

The company states that each filter can last 12 months with 24-hour use and has a CADR of 225.

Alen offers a lifetime warranty on the BreatheSmart FLEX True Hepa Air Purifier if a person registers the product and signs up for a filter subscription.

Positive reviews mention the efficacy of the product and ease of ordering.

Some negative comments state that the product does not work for odor control and did not include instructions in the packaging. Some users also state that the device did not work for them.

The Coway Airmega 150 uses a HEPA filter which the manufacturers claim captures 99.9% of particles, including bacteria, mold, viruses, and pollen.

This is best suited to smaller rooms and can filter the air in rooms up to 214 sq ft.

The HEPA filter has a life expectancy of 12 months, and the CADR is 138 for smoke, 161 for dust, and 219 for pollen.

This air purifier comes in three colors: white, sage green, and peony pink.

Coway offers a 3-year limited warranty and motor and electrical parts. However, users need to register their purifier to get this.

Positive reviews on the Coway website mention the unit is easy to use, efficient, and quiet.

Some negative comments mention a plastic smell, a loud motor, and poor customer service.

Read our Coway air purifier review.

This model from Winix has several smart features including a sleep mode. It automatically detects light and will activate its sleep mode in low light conditions. The smart sensors also detect air quality and adjust fan speed as appropriate.

It features a True HEPA filter as well as a washable AOC carbon filter and a washable pre-filter. It alerts users when the filter needs replacing. Typically, its filters can last up to 12 months.

Winix claims this model holds verification from AHAM Verifide for 360 sq ft rooms. The company does not list the CADR for this model.

The Winix 5550-2 is backed by a 2-year warranty.

There are no reviews available to view on the Winix website regarding this product.

BlueAir states this purifier has a range of independent verifications, including:

It writes this purifier is suitable for large workshops, studios, or offices. It can remove dust, pollen, mold, dander, bacteria, and viruses. It can also filter dust mite matter, VOCs, smoke, and odors.

It operates quietly, which may be suitable for workspaces.

The Pro M can filter the air in a 387 sq ft room in around 13 minutes. On higher settings, it can filter the air of a 1,857 sq ft room in 1 hour. On the highest setting, it can move 330 square ft or air per minute.

The CADR is 350 for pollen, 285 for dust, and 250 for smoke.

People can have regular filter shipments in deliveries every 3, 6, or 9 months.

It has up to 5 years of warranty coverage when a person registers their air purifier online. People can also test this purifier for 60 days.

Positive reviews write that the Pro M has helped people with chronic conditions improve their breathing and reduced allergy symptoms. However, some critical reviews state that the filter emits a burning smell, and others did not find it to be very effective.

Read our BlueAir review.

This model from Levoit allows users to sync the device to their smartphone using an app. Here, they can control the settings, view air quality information, check the filter life, and set timers.

It uses true HEPA filtration and can function in rooms up to 403 sq ft.

It has a CADR of 260. However, the manufacturers do not estimate the lifespan of the filter.

It comes with a 2-year limited warranty, free shipping, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Positive reviews on the Levoit website mention it is effective, easy to set up, and the app is simple to use.

One negative comment claims that the fan speed does not operate quickly enough for optimum air quality. Other reviewers mention a delay in shipping and an unusual smell after a few hours of use.

Below, we compare all the air purifiers in this article.

When purchasing an air purifier, people may wish to consider the following factors:

Air filters cannot stop the root cause of air pollutants in the home. For example, some air filters may help remove the smell of mold, but they will not eliminate the problem. Individuals will need to remove the source of the pollutants and improve air quality.

The EPA suggests taking the following steps to improve air quality:

Below, we answer some frequently asked questions about air purifiers.

There is some evidence to suggest air purifiers do work. For example, a 2022 study investigated the efficacy of air purifiers inside classrooms. The researchers found they were effective in reducing indoor air pollution.

Air purifiers can be an effective way to clean the air in someone's immediate environment. People should ensure they get an air purifier suitable for the size of the room they will use it in and that it filters the particles or gases they wish to reduce in their home, such as VOCs, dust, pollen, or pet dander.

Online reviews often mention that air purifiers help reduce allergy symptoms, but individual experiences will vary. If a person is unsure whether to invest in an air purifier, they may wish to choose a manufacturer that offers a trial period and free returns.

Some of the downsides of an air purifier are that they:

According to the EPA, air purifiers may help to:

Some research suggests they may also improve sleep quality.

Air purifiers can help filter the air and remove allergens and pollutants. HEPA filters and activated carbon are suitable options for eliminating allergens and gases from the air. People should also consider the length of warranty and CADR a manufacturer offers.