The best air purifiers efficiently remove harmful and irritating contaminants from the air. They cleanse the air in your home or office of allergens such as pollen, pet dander, and dust, and they can also remove dangerous toxins and microbes from the air like bacteria, viruses, mold, and even smoke. Air purifiers are a great benefit to those with sensitivities to such impurities, and they can make any room smell better remove odors from the air caused by pets, cooking, or mildew.
After reviewing dozens of air purifiers we have identified the best for cleansing the air in your home or office. While studying the benefits and drawbacks of each air purifier we considered factors such as filtration methods, cleansing capacity, and user interface to choose our top picks, and then we compiled a detailed rundown on many more great air purifiers for you to consider.
When all of our examinations were said and done, we chose the Colzer 142C Air Purifier as our overall top pick. We think it has the best combination of capability, functionality, and filtration methods, making it the ideal choice for most homeowners and office workers.
In This Article
The 5 Top-Rated Air Purifiers
| Editor's Picks | Brand | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Best Air Purifier Overall | Colzer 142C Air Purifier | 5.0 |
| Best UV Air Purifier | Pure Enrichment PureZone Air Purifier | 4.7 |
| Best Budget Air Purifier | HAUEA Portable Air Purifier | 4.9 |
| Best Air Purifier for Small Spaces | Renpho HEPA Air Purifier | 4.8 |
| Best Air Purifier for Large Spaces | Colzer BKJ-33 Air Purifier | 4.8 |
*Ratings are from Amazon at the time of publication and can change
Best Air Purifier Overall: Colzer 142C Air Purifier
The Colzer 142C Air Purifier is a powerful and convenient device dressed in a highly-efficient, well-designed package. While air cleaning capability was surely at the forefront of its construction, the incredible user interface and compact dimensions are a sure sign that the customer experience was an integral component in its creation. Put simply– it works like a dream and is very easy to use.
Weighing in at less than ten pounds and measuring at a maneuverable 13″ by 6.7″ by 20″, this air purifier can be moved from room to room with ease, and it’ll look great no matter where you put it. The sleek design is capped off with an easy-to-use interface that features a bright LCD screen and a colorful air quality indicator display. Automatic, sleep, and timed modes enable you to set the purifier to your exact specifications, as do the three selectable fan speeds.
That convenient design carries over to the inside where a single composite filter does all of the heavy-duty cleaning. This filter combines a fine HEPA filter with an activated carbon filter to capture minute particles and trap smoke and other foul odors. This highly capable filter’s all-in-one design means that it is easy to replace when the filter change indicator informs you that it’s time for a new one. It also has a practical air quality indicator light and a filter change notification light.
Colzer 142C Air Purifier Key Features:
- Covers over 550 square feet
- Quiet 29-decibel sleep mode
- Composite filter
- Intelligent air quality sensor
Best UV Air Purifier: Pure Enrichment PureZone Air Purifier
There’s no denying the germ-killing power of UV-C light, and the Pure Enrichment PureZone Air Purifier makes full use of it as a complement to its triple-layered filtration system. As air passes through the system a tightly-knit pre-filter catches dust and other large particles, then the activated carbon filter absorbs gases and odors, and lastly a HEPA filter traps everything else down to microscopic levels. All of the filters are cleanable, meaning you won’t need to buy new ones every month, which will save you money in the long run.
Whether those bacteria, viruses, and molds are trapped in the HEPA filter or happen to squeeze through, they all get blasted by a powerful UV-C light that eliminates them from your abode. Users can manually control the three fan speeds, the UV-C light switch, a sleep mode, and multiple timer settings to acquire the perfect air purification settings for their current needs
This unit weighs a mere six pounds and stands only a foot tall. An integrated carry handle allows for easy transportation between rooms. As this purifier can efficiently clean the air in a 200 square foot space it is a great size for bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchens, and small offices. And because it is backed by a five-year warranty you can rest assured that it will operate day and night for a long time to come.
Pure Enrichment PureZone Air Purifier Key Features:
- Covers 200 square feet
- Built-in UV-C light
- Portable design
- Five-year warranty
Best Budget Air Purifier: HAUEA Portable Air Purifier
Ideal for office desks and bedside tables, the HAUEA Portable Air Purifier makes up for its lack of square-foot-coverage with portability and convenience. This unit uses a portable USB plug that can be powered by a traditional wall outlet or any device with a USB port such as a laptop or USB car charger. It can go with you wherever you roam and be your personal air purification buddy.
This HAUEA air purifier utilizes a medical-grade HEPA filter and an activated carbon filter to cleanse your immediate surroundings of allergens and odors. Though its 32-square-foot range is rather small, its petite size and USB capabilities make it convenient to take anywhere. It weighs under two pounds and stands about seven inches tall.
The 360-degree air inlet and outlet design is the perfect design for its diminutive size as it can easily pull in contaminated air from all directions and suitably cycle clean air all throughout a small space. It also has a sleep mode functionality that drops down fan noise to a minimum and dials down the illumination to produce a soft night light.
HAUEA Portable Air Purifier Key Features:
- Covers 32 square feet
- One-button operation
- USB powered
- 360-degree air inlet and outlet
Best Air Purifier for Small Spaces: Renpho HEPA Air Purifier
For large to small bedrooms or offices, there is no better option than the Renpho HEPA Air Purifier. It’s a fairly small air purifier standing under a foot in height and weighing about eight pounds, but it utilizes 360-degree air intake and robust cylindrical filters to maximize its pure air output. The cleansing power is sensational.
The three common filters (a pre-filter, HEPA filter, and an activated carbon filter) are aided by a fourth net filter to capture carbon grains and any other bits that may have somehow made it past the first three layers. With its strong fans, this air purifier can cycle through all of the air in an appropriately sized room up to three times in an hour.
A clean user interface is centralized on top of the device where three fan speeds, three timer settings, a sleep mode, a child lock, and light settings are all adjustable. The light can be set to act as a dim night light, or it can be displayed brightly in a color of your choosing. The child lock is a convenient function for those who have small children around the house who like to press buttons and play with whatever they can get their little hands on!
Renpho HEPA Air Purifier Key Features:
- Covers 240 square feet
- Four-stage filtration
- Quiet 26-decibel sleep mode
- Child lock
Best Air Purifier for Large Spaces: Colzer BKJ-33 Air Purifier
You can consider the Colzer BKJ-33 Air Purifier to be a more powerful version of our top overall pick. It takes the convenient functions of our top pick, such as the all-in-one composite filter and automatic operation setting, and pumps up the power to cover a large area of up to 800 square feet. This is the best option for large living rooms, conference rooms, or any area larger than a typical bedroom.
This air purifier utilizes laser technology to monitor immediate air quality levels. It takes this information to adjust its automated fan speed operation to the ideal setting, balancing energy usage and air cleanliness control, and it also displays this information for you to see at a glance via its multi-colored indicator light display.
Four timer settings, three fan speeds, an automatic mode, sleep mode, and child lock are all manually accessible at the user interface on top of the device. Users have praised this air purifier for how well it removes bad odors, dust, and mold from various areas of their homes.
Colzer BKJ-33 Air Purifier Key Features:
- Covers 800 square feet
- Intelligent air quality sensor
- Quiet 28-decibel sleep mode
- Automatic functionality
Who Should Buy an Air Purifier
You should buy an air purifier if you are sensitive to common air contaminants such as dust, pollen, pet dander, and smoke. Air purifiers do a wonderful job of cleansing the air of these irritating impurities. An air purifier can be a saving grace to those with asthma or allergies. To see the most benefits, each commonly used room in your home or office should have an adequately powerful air purifier for maximum air clarity.
It is important to note that UV and ionizer air purifiers create ozone which can be harmful to people with certain health conditions, and in some cases, it can even cause new health conditions to arise. If this is a concern, you can still buy air purifiers that do no utilize UV or ionizer filtration as a part of their multi-stage filtration process.
If you’re looking to change the humidity of your air, though, then you may be interested in The Best Dehumidifiers.
Important Features to Consider
There are a few important considerations to think through before purchasing an air purifier.
- Stages of filtration. You’ll find that all of the different air purifiers advertise anywhere from two to seven different stages of filtration. Nearly all air purifiers will have a HEPA filter that will collect fine particles and an activated carbon filter capable of absorbing odors from the air. Beyond this, different air purifiers will have different filtration methods and combinations. Some advertise ‘pre-filters’ which can either be finely-woven screen filters or no more than a plastic covering over the actual filters, so make sure to do your due diligence and looks to see what the pre-filters look like on each model you consider. From here, there are different methods of filtering or neutralizing bacteria, viruses, and mold via antibacterial coatings, UV lights, and ionizers.
- Square footage capability. Each air purifier has a certain amount of square footage that it is rated to clean efficiently. You should match your purchase with the size of the space you intend to clean. Underpowered air purifiers will not be able to properly cycle through the air of a room size that is beyond its capability.
- Size. This is often linked to a unit’s square footage capability, but looks can sometimes be deceiving. You should look to see how large each air purifier is, especially if portability is a trait you desire. Some units can be quite large and heavy, though they are typically the more powerful models.
- Automatic modality. Some air purifiers are programmed with automatic modes that sense your room’s air quality level and automatically adjust fan speed based upon how much cleaning needs to be done. These work all about the same, but different models may or may not display the information to you through colorful LED lights or LCD displays.
- Noise. Generally, the more powerful an air purifier is the louder it will be, but even the larger ones often feature sleep modes that cut down on the noise while you sleep. Most will advertise their lowest decibel rating, so if you consider noise levels a priority make sure to see how quiet each purifier is during operation to find the best for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an air purifier and how does it work?
Air purifiers are devices that remove contaminants from the air. They are used to clean the air of impurities such as pollen, dust, and pet dander. More advanced air purifiers are able to cleanse the air of odors, smoke, mold, bacteria, and viruses.
Standalone air purifiers, like the ones we’ve featured in this article, use electrically powered fans to pull air through a series of filters, UV lights, and ionizers to capture and kill a host of air pollutants. These filters often need to be cleaned or replaced after extended use.
Where should I place my air purifier?
Your air purifier should ideally be placed in an open area of the room you are spending your time in. Each air purifier has its own spatial cleaning ability based upon its air intake design, fan power, and filters. It is recommended to purchase an air purifier that is capable of cleaning the entire square footage of the intended space it will be placed in.
How long does it take an air purifier to clean a room?
An appropriately powerful air purifier can be capable of cleaning an entire room in as little as 10 minutes when maximum power is applied. Most air purifiers can cycle through a room’s air several times in an hour. Underpowered air purifiers may never be able to fully clean a room, however.
Should I sleep with an air purifier on?
This is perfectly fine to do. Most air purifiers are equipped with night lights and sleep modes that run on ultra-quiet settings while you sleep. Operating an air purifier while you sleep can help you sleep better by cleansing the air of allergens.
Other Air Purifiers We Reviewed
We looked at 20 other air purifiers. Even though they didn’t make our five best air purifier list, they’re the best of the rest and each is still a great option for cleansing the air in your home or office. The information you’ll need to compare each one is included with the listing.
Air Purifiers for Small Spaces
Air Choice True HEPA Air Purifier
A set it and forget it air cleaning device that is ideal for small rooms, the Air Choice True HEPA Air Purifier has an automatic mode that adjusts fan speed based on air quality. It’ll purify the air faster when contaminants are at their worst. This device also features a quiet sleep mode to keep your bedroom air clean without disturbing your slumber.
Key Features:
- Covers 161 square feet
- Three-stage filtration
- Automatic fan speed mode
Cost: $100
The hOmelabs Air Purifier has been programmed with useful functions such as a child lock that will keep your little ones from fiddling with all of the buttons, a dual-mode night light, and multiple fan speeds. It’s pretty darn capable for how small and inexpensive it is.
Key Features:
- Covers 194 square feet
- Child lock
- One-year warranty
Cost: $70
One of the best options for those who want to run their purifier while they sleep, the LEVOIT Air Purifier allows you to turn off every single display light on the device. At it’s quietest, this device can operate at a whisper of only 24 decibels.
Key Features:
- Covers 215 square feet
- Three-stage filtration
- All display lights can be turned off
Cost: $100
The Mooka Home Air Purifier utilizes a fine preliminary filter to catch dust and debris before cycling air through its true HEPA filter and activated carbon filter. This three-layered approach is aided by three different selectable fan speeds. There are also three different timer settings so that you can run the device for a set period of time without wasting energy when you don’t need it to operate.
Key Features:
- Covers 323 square feet
- Three timer settings
- Three-year warranty
Cost: $70
No larger than a smoke detector, the Pure Enrichment PureZone Halo is a petite air cleanser meant for smaller rooms. It utilizes HEPA and activated carbon filters to cleanse the air of particles and foul smells. The unit has three fan speeds, a night light, sleep mode, and automatic timers.
Key Features:
- Covers 100 square feet
- Dual-layer filtration
- Five-year warranty
Cost: $80
Featuring five stages of filtration including an antibacterial coating on its HEPA filter, the Renpho 5-stage Air Purifier goes beyond simple pollutant mitigation. This purifier traps and kills airborne germs as it cycles through the air in your living space. A colored air quality indicator lights up to tell you the current purity levels of the air in your home.
Key Features:
- Covers 33o square feet
- Five-stage filtration
- Illuminated air quality indicator
Cost: $135
Designed with a modern flare, the UNbeaten Bedroom Air Purifier looks like a vinyl record, or perhaps an automated cleaning robot. In actuality, it is an efficient air filter with a digital clock face and a multicolor air quality indicator ring. Operation is quiet, and it comes with its own stand.
Key Features:
- Colorful air quality display
- Digital clock
- Two-year warranty
Cost: $90
Through the Vremi Large Room Air Purifier does work wonderfully well for spaces up to 300 square feet, its cleansing reach isn’t quite large enough to make it into our “large spaces” category. This is a great purifier, though. Its 360-degree intake take in air from every direction, and its powerful fan will circulate through your room’s air in a flash.
Key Features:
- Covers 300 square feet
- 360-degree air intake
- One-year warranty
Air Purifiers for Large Spaces
Air Choice Large Room Air Purifier
This Air Choice Large Room Air Purifier truly is capable of cleansing the air of large rooms such as living rooms and kitchens. It features an antibacterial filter that will capture viruses as small at .005 microns in size. The device has automatic run settings, selectable timers, and an air quality indicator light.
Key Features:
- Covers 495 square feet
- Smart air quality sensor
- Antibacterial filter
Cost: $180
The Alen BreathSmart Flex is a powerful air filter with a compound that neutralizes germs, mold, and viruses from the air. Four fan speeds are available to use, as well as a suite of useful functions such as sleep mode and energy-saving mode. There are numerous elegant designs and colors to choose from.
Key Features:
- Covers 700 square feet
- Kills germs, fungi, mold, and viruses
- Lifetime warranty
Cost: $350
By cycling through up to 800 square feet of air the Inofia Air Purifier can cleanse a large portion of your home of allergens, particles, and odors. A Smart Air Monitoring mode reads the current air quality and adjusts its operation, and the colorful LED display, based upon the cleansing power required.
Key Features:
- Covers up to 800 square feet
- Four-stage LED air quality indicator
- Smart Air Monitoring mode
Cost: $250
With a sleek style akin to high-end Apple products, the RabbitAir BioGS will blend in well with any modern home. The built-in functionality matches its stunning style with five fan speed operation and a negative ion control switch. This unit has won multiple design awards including the Red Dot Award, G-Mark Good Design Award, and the Chicago Athenaeum Good Design Award.
Key Features:
- Covers 550 square feet
- Five fan speeds
- Five-year warranty
Cost: $370
Step up to RabbitAir’s premium MinusA2 air purifier offering. This six-stage filtration system boasts powerful fan speeds. It can stand on its own or be mounted onto a wall to display its stylized design. For a few dollars more, this unit can be upgraded with WiFi and smartphone connectivity so that you can read its data and control it via a smartphone app. When connected with WiFi, the unit works with Alexa voice control.
Key Features:
- Covers 815 square feet
- WiFi and smartphone functionality
- Five-year warranty
UV Air Purifiers
The InvisiClean Claro is a contemporary air purifier with looks to kill and UV functionality that actually does kill germs and other harmful bacteria. This unit has four selectable fan speeds and utilizes a DC motor, rather than the more common AC motors found in other devices, for a more powerful fan that circulates the air faster and more efficiently.
Key Features:
- Covers 374 square feet
- Controllable ionizer and UV light
- Three-year warranty
Cost: $250
Not all too different from its sister Claro air purifier, the InvisiClean Aura II has the same functionality as the Claro but features a more utilitarian design that enables more efficient airflow from the front of the machine. It also ditches the LED display and has smaller dimensions than its sister product.
Key Features:
- Covers 374 square feet
- Controllable ionizer and UV light
- Three-year warranty
Cost: $160
The Mooka 6-Point Air Purifier is wonderfully designed. We love that it has side and bottom air intakes. That bottom air intake will take in heavier contaminants like pet hair and dust clumps better than most other air purifiers will. This unit also comes with a convenient wireless remote control so that you can operate it from your couch.
Key Features:
- Covers 540 square feet
- Bottom and side air intakes
- Wireless remote control
Cost: $200
Pure Enrichment PureZone Elite
The Pure Enrichment PureZone Elite is a good looking, easy to use, and portable air purifier with a UV light sanitizer. There are three fan speeds and three timer settings to choose from, and it has an automatic mode that’ll adjust based on current air quality readings. The Ionizer and UV filters have their own manual switches.
Key Features:
- Covers 190 square feet
- Portable design with useful handle
- Five-year warranty
Budget Air Purifiers
Using an air purifier doesn’t get any easier than with an AZEUS Air Purifier for Home device. It has a simple one-button operation that controls the device’s power and fan speed. It features a bottom air intake to better suck in all of those heavy particles that are trying to lie low and hide away from this powerful filtration system.
Key Features:
- Covers 376 square feet
- One-button operation
- Bottom air intake
Cost: $70
Lightweight and compact, the KOIOS Air Purifier is a fantastic choice for small rooms or office spaces. It’ll work well on a desk where it can take full advantage of its 360-degree air intake, and its one-button operation makes it easy to use.
Key Features:
- Covers 215 square feet
- 360-degree air intake
- One-button operation
Cost: $50
Renpho is a brand that has popped up several times on our list, and their Compact Air Cleaner is the company’s most affordable air purifier to make it onto our recommended product breakdown. This little device has three fan speeds, an automatic mode, a sleep mode, and a filter expiration indicator light.
Key Features:
- Covers 103 square feet
- Quiet sleep mode
- Three-stage filtration
Cost: $60
