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The best air purifiers of 2024
Let these genius machines rid your home of allergens, pollutants and pathogens. Just breathe!
Experts often recommend putting an air purifier in your bedroom, especially if you have allergies or asthma. But that's not all an air purifier can help with. Got cooking odors in your kitchen? Air purifiers can eliminate those. Do you live in a wildfire-prone area or other smoky, industrial environment? A well placed air purifier can combat air pollution and other airborne nasties as well. Installing an air purifier can make you and your family less likely to get sick by capturing airborne viral pathogens, and in general keep the air inside your home from getting stale — or worse, permeated with dust particles, pollen, pet dander and various pollutants.
Coway Airmega AP-1512HH True HEPA Air Purifier
Coway Airmega 200M True HEPA Air Purifier
Coway Airmega 400(G) Smart Air Purifier
Winix 5500-2 Air Cleaner with Plasma Wave Technology
Blueair Blue 311 Auto Air Purifier
Blueair Blue Pure 211+ Auto Air Purifier
Levoit Core 400S
Mila Air Purifier with The Big Sneeze filter
We've tested several air purifiers over the years, and we've scoured Amazon to find the top reviewed models as well. Most on this list have washable filters or require an occasional filter replacement, so they require some maintenance. Here are the top picks for the best air purifiers of 2024! Psst, these make great gifts too.
Filtration system: HEPA | Maximum room size: 1,748 square feet | Noise level: 53.8 decibels
The stellar unit's 4-stage filtration system captures and reduces up to 99.97% of particles, including volatile organic compounds as well as pollen and pollutants. Its pre-filter is washable, its True HEPA filter is replaceable, and its usefulness to you is invaluable.
Lest you have any doubt as to the 1512HH's popularity: More than 20,000 Amazon reviewers have bestowed five-star raves. “This is incredible,” one of them said. “How did I ever live without it before? The auto mode really works! We have an open-floor-plan 1,600-square-foot home. This sucker had apparently cleaned all the air in my house from the far corner of my room. My husband will go to the other end of the house to vape, and the purifier will detect him and speed up right away. We no longer come home to a house smelling like what we've been cooking.”
- Reduces up to 99.97% of particles
- Washable and replaceable filter
- Some reviewers reported loud noise
- Unpopular design
Filtration system: HEPA and activated carbon | Maximum room size: 361 square feet | Noise level: Not specified, reviewers say it's noisy
Attention, studio and dorm-room dwellers: The 200M can accommodate small spaces up to 361 square feet and has a four-stage filtration system as well as brightly colored LEDs that serve as an air quality indicator.
If your aesthetic runs more retro than contemporary, the Airmega 200M's got your name on it. It has all of the same performance features as the AP-1512HH (above), but the design isn't as sleek or modern. Still it’s great for smaller spaces. One happy customer reports, "The ability to turn off the bright LED light is a great feature for use in the bedroom." Now you can sleep tight and breathe easy.
- Good for small spaces
- Retro design
- Not meant for bigger spaces
Filtration system: HEPA and carbon activated | Maximum room size: 1,560 square feet | Noise level: 22 decibels
Conversely, for those with larger coverage areas and open floor plans, we recommend this beast (it doesn't have the word mega in its name for nothing!). It works with spaces up to 1,560 square feet, and it cleans the air at least twice an hour.
The 400(G)'s Max2 air filter system, which combines both an activated carbon filter plus a True HEPA filter, is able to capture and reduce 99.97% of the small particles in a home's air (think dust, pollen and harmful volatile compounds). This model features five fan settings and an LED ring display light that changes color depending on the indoor air quality.
“I purchased this for the sole purpose of allergies. Starting the day after I turned it on, I have not sneezed one time, and the allergies have basically gone away. I cannot believe how much better I feel,” wrote one shopper. “If it weren’t for the indicator lights, you wouldn’t even know it was running.... On medium fan speed you can barely hear it, and on high speed you can hear it but it’s much quieter than a standard fan running in the house.”
- Reduces up to 99.97% of small particles
- Five settings
- Changes color based on air quality
- Not for small spaces
- Expensive
Filtration system: HEPA and activated carbon | Maximum room size: 360 square feet | Noise level: Not specified
With a three-stage filtration system and plasma wave tech, this sleek model will refresh your breathing space and look good doing it.
This Winix winner captures not just dust and pollen, but also pet dander, particulate matter in smoke, mold spores, household odors and other irritants. Perfect for medium to large room sizes, it works especially well in kitchens and living rooms. It has a washable carbon filter type and a 99.97% True HEPA filter, plus it utilizes Winix's Plasma Wave technology.
"This purifier definitely packs some power!" raved a five-star review. "On full blast it is pretty loud, can be heard from across the house, but not so bad that you can't sleep in the same room with it. Night mode and lower modes are great, really limit sound. There are two big gaps at the sides of the cover which allows it to pull in dust balls, carpet fibers, stray scraps of toilet paper from a shoe, or any other random larger thing that might get dragged into the room."
Note: This is $50 off right now for Walmart Holiday Deals.
- Washable filter
- Gets pet dander and mold spores
- Can be loud
Filtration system: HEPA | Maximum room size: 1,862 square feet | Noise level: 23 decibels
Have yourself a hygge and healthy 2024! Those who value form and function equally are sure to love this number. Its Scandinavian-modern good looks match its impressive airflow performance.
The Pure 311 is recommended for medium and smaller rooms, which makes it a great choice for bedrooms, kitchens, home offices and studio apartments. It eliminates odors and 99.97% of airborne pollutants, including viruses and fine particles from wildfires. In addition, it has a washable pre-filter cover and is available in five colors (colors other than dark gray are sold separately).
“I bought this air purifier before taking on a home remodel/addition project in anticipation of increased dust,” said one reviewer. “In addition, I have cats and dogs in the house, so figured it would be useful in general. After some thorough research on purifiers, I went with Blueair and am happy I did!”
- For medium and small rooms
- Comes in five colors
- Not for big spaces
Filtration system: HEPA | Maximum room size: 2,640 square feet | Noise level: 23 decibels
Kind of a big brother to the 311 (above), the 211+ is designed for larger spaces like living rooms and supersized studios.
Just like its smaller sibling, the 211+'s washable fabric pre-filter is available in five colors (only dark gray is included). “This thing is easy on the eyes. Very straightforward setup: You plug it in, click a button and go on with your day,” raved an Amazon reviewer. “We have this in our bedroom, and within four hours there was a very noticeable difference in air quality.... As you walk from the living room into the bedroom, the odors disappear, it smells clean, almost sterile, and it feels like you’re breathing pure O2 out of an oxygen tank. We no longer wake up with stuffy noses.”
- Comes in five colors
- Straightforward setup
- Not for small spaces
Filtration system: HEPA and activated carbon | Maximum room size: 1,980 square feet | Noise level: 24 decibels
Want an air purifier with some smart features? Here ya go. You can connect the Core 400S to Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant via Wi-Fi and control it via voice command.
We like to think that the S in 400S stands for "smart." The Levoit app acts as a remote control for this model, whether you’re home or away. You can also create target schedules for it to run at certain times. Most importantly, its three-stage True HEPA filtration system can capture larger particles and smaller particles, of even fewer microns, alike.
“This is a healing machine!” raved one Amazon shopper. “This thing has eliminated our allergies and asthma symptoms. We keep the unit in the center of the house in the kitchen/dinette area. And this is able to clean our entire home of pet and cigarette smells within an hour on Speed 4.... It’s rated for a space of 403 square feet, but it has no problem covering much larger spaces.”
- Has smart connection and a remote control
- Captures a large percentage of particles
- Not for those who want something simple
Filtration system: HEPA | Maximum room size: 920 square feet | Noise level: 24 decibels
If you’re looking for an air purifier that's customized just for you, then the Mila is your best bet, as you can get a version that’s specific to you and your family's needs (allergies, new baby, etc).
Mila's Basic Breather filter is for those with straightforward air-purification needs. If you're a pet owner, you can opt for a model with the Critter Cuddler filter, which zeroes in on odor and pet hair and fuzz. Suffer from allergies? Go for the Big Sneeze, which is outfitted with medical-grade filters designed to fight common allergens like pollen and dander. It's smart, too, with app connectivity that lets you control the machine remotely and in real time. It's also one of the quietest with controls to set the noise level.
“Connecting to the app is very simple,” said a reviewer who gave it five-stars. “The app and the filter itself give you updates on how your air is looking, and it definitely responds quickly to any changes in the environment. Last night, I fried some chicken for dinner, and the air quality index rating shot up on the filter. It immediately started working overtime to get the air cleared of any of the pollutants put off by frying.”
For a more in-depth review of the Mila, you can check out Engadget’s take on it here.
- Customizable for your needs
- Smart connectivity
- Quiet
- Can be confusing if you want something simple
Factors to consider when choosing an air purifier
Filtration system: This is the system that runs the particles inside the air purifier and circulates clean air. The different types of filtration systems are HEPA, activated carbon, UV and ionic. HEPA (which stands for high-efficiency particulate air filter) is a mechanical air filter that can remove 99.7% of particles from a room. Activated carbon filters remove gasses. UV filters use UV light to capture the air particles. And ionic filters use negative ions to remove particles in the air, which can help with odors.
Room size: Many air purifiers are meant for small spaces or large spaces. Consider where you're going to put the air purifier before purchasing one to make sure you're getting something that meets your needs.
Noise level: All of these devices will emit some noise, and some will be quieter than others. Having your air purifier on the max or highest setting might give more noise than the lowest setting.
Air purifier FAQs
How do air purifiers work?
Air purifiers are devices that have filters and fans that pull in airborne particles and push out circulated clean air back into the room. This is done continuously to prevent any pollution and control fresh air within a space.
Are there different types of air purifiers?
There are multiple different types of air purifiers, which usually depend on the filters used. Some air purifiers include HEPA, activated carbon, UV and ionic. Some of these devices need to stay in one space and one room, but there are portable air purifiers that come move where you need them to go.
Which filter type is best for an air purifier?
Air purifier filters include HEPA, activated carbon, UV and ionic. Some air purifiers come with replacement filters so you can switch out as needed. One isn't better than another—HEPA purifiers, however, are the most common.
Does an air purifier help with wildfire smoke?
Air purifiers can help with wildfire smoke, but make sure you're purchasing one that specifically mentions that (like the Blueair 311 Auto Air Purifier mentioned above) if that's something you need from your device. If you're worried about wildfire smoke, consider getting an air purifier that has an air-quality monitor or an air-quality sensor.
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The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
