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A great air purifier can make all the difference in your home’s cleanliness, dust levels and, obviously, air quality. Because many air purifiers have a lot of complicated technology that goes into them, it can be difficult to understand which one is best for your home and family. You also may be wondering if air purifiers really work, and the simple answer is, yes.
Many air purifiers use filters, fans and ionic technology to circulate clean air back into the room after it’s been filtered of pollutants. Allergy sufferers and those with asthma will especially benefit from an air purifier as it will eliminate fine particles such as dust, pollen and smoke from the air, making it easier to breathe. Air purifiers are great additions to your kids’ playroom or nursery, as well as other rooms of the house. Plus, many of them are quiet and dark so they won’t disturb your little ones while they sleep.
If you’re thinking of buying an air purifier, we are here to help. You’ll want to take factors such as room size, cost (they can get pricey) and type of filter into consideration when choosing the best option. We rounded up 11 different types of air purifiers for every space, family and need below.
Best Overall: Blueair Blue Pure 411 Air Purifier
Best for Allergies: LEVOIT Air Purifier for Home Allergies and Pets
Best Ionic: OION Technologies S-3000 Permanent Filter Ionic Air Purifier
Best with HEPA Filter: Germ Guardian True HEPA Filter Air Purifier
Best with No Filter: Airfree Iris 3000
Best Affordable: Honeywell Air Purifier
Best for Small Rooms: Molekule Mini Air Purifier
Best for Large Rooms: Coway Airmega 400 Smart Air Purifier
Best Smart Device: LEVOIT Smart WiFi Air Purifier for Home
Best Portable: hOmeLabs Air Purifier
Best Hybrid: Dyson Pure Hot + Cool Link Air Purifier
1 of 11 Image Credits: Amazon
Best Overall
Blueair Blue Pure 411 Air Purifier
This air purifier captures 99 percent of common airborne pollutants and features a washable pre-filter that can be changed to match any decor. It’s designed for small to medium sized rooms between 100–175 sq. ft. It uses less energy than many others and is quiet, so you’ll hardly notice that it’s there.
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Best for Allergies
LEVOIT Air Purifier for Home Allergies and Pets
This air purifier can cover a 215 sq. ft. distance and has three unique filters that work together to clean the air. You can customize the filter based on your needs — there’s even a pet allergy filter that removes pet dander and odors from the air.
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Best Ionic
OION Technologies S-3000 Permanent Filter Ionic Air Purifier
This purifier works with negative ions that remove airborne pollutants. Plus, it’s virtually silent and has an optional night light, making it a great addition to a nursery
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Best with HEPA Filter
Germ Guardian True HEPA Filter Air Purifier
This air purifier uses a High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter to remove dust mites, pet dander, pollen, smoke, mold and bacteria from the air. It also filters out odors and has three customizable settings that can be used with rooms up to 167 sq.ft.
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Best with No Filter
Airfree Iris 3000
This purifier is great for low-maintenance homes as you never have to clean or replace a filter. Airfree applies the same concept as boiling water by using heat to destroy microorganisms in the air, and because it doesn’t use filters or fans, it has a very low energy consumption. It also features an adjustable night light that comes in different colors.
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Best Affordable
Honeywell Air Purifier
It’s no secret that air purifiers can get pretty expensive. This one from Honeywell is under $100 and is perfect for small rooms. It features a HEPA filter and turns over the air up to five times in one hour. It’s great for a kid’s room.
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Best for Small Rooms
Molekule Mini Air Purifier
This air purifier is small, but mighty. It destroys allergens, mold, bacteria, viruses and airborne chemicals using Photo Electrochemical Oxidation that breaks down pollutants and circulates clean air back into the room. It can also be connected to your home’s wifi and controlled via smart device.
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Best for Large Rooms
Coway Airmega 400 Smart Air Purifier
This air purifier can accommodate room sizes up to 1,560 sq. ft. It will clean the air twice in one hour and has a sensor that lets you know the air quality in real time. The smart technology automatically adjusts the purifier’s fan speed depending on the pollutants in the room.
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Best Smart Device
LEVOIT Smart WiFi Air Purifier for Home
This device connects to your home's wifi, smart device, phone or tablet so you can put it on a schedule even when you’re not home. It’s also voice control compatible with devices like Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. You can even check your home’s air quality via the VeSync app.
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Best Portable
hOmeLabs Air Purifier
A three-stage filter system that includes a pre-filter, HEPA and activated carbon filter works to clean 99.97 percent of pollutants from the air. This air purifier is suitable for rooms up to 194 sq. ft. and other small spaces, especially because the device itself is relatively small at just 12.8 inches in height and 7.87 inches in diameter.
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Best Hybrid
Dyson Pure Hot + Cool Link Air Purifier
This air purifier works double duty as a heater or fan while cleaning the air at the same time. The purifier has 360-degree oscillation or can be directed to one spot. The heating option is great as a personal heater or to heat a room evenly. It comes with a handy remote control and timer, too.
