5 Top Rated Air Purifiers for 2023
Indoor air is often 2 to 5 times more polluted than outdoor air. Indoor concentrations of pollutants are on the rise due to an increase in synthetic building materials, furnishings, personal care products, pesticides, and household cleaners. Air purifiers can remove particles from the air and sanitize them. In this article, we break down what to look for in an air purifier and list some top-rated purifiers for your home.
Top Rated Air Purifiers for 2022
Below is a curated list of our top ranked air purifiers that can support a wide variety of uses whether you’re looking for a small portable purifier to get rid of the pollen from your office or a high-tech purifier to help with your pet allergies from your living room.
To compile this list, we looked at product reviews, quality considering price, recommendations by the Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America (AAAFA), additional features, customer support quality, room coverage, and noise levels.
Top Rated Air Purifiers
Product | What We Loved | Cost | Rating on Amazon | Additional Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Effective and Affordable | $100 | 4.7 stars with over 54,000 ratings |
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Eco-Friendly and Provides Real-Time Indoor Air Quality
| $230 | 4.7 stars with 16,000 ratings |
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High-Tech and Portable | $450 | 4.5 stars with over 1,200 ratings |
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High-Tech and for Medium Sized Spaces | $579 | 4.4 stars with 33 ratings on Amazon |
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Quiet and Long Lasting | $750 | 5 star review with 37 ratings on Amazon |
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Levoit Air Purifier: Effective and Affordable
This air purifier is affordable and has positive reviews for its price ($100) and was ranked as a top purifier by Wirecutter. This air purifier relieves allergy symptoms caused by airborne contaminants such as dust, smoke, pollen, and odor. Below are some of its features:
- H13 True HEPA filter (captures airborne particles 0.3 microns in size)
- Ozone free
- 24 dB (on sleep mode)
- 7.48 lbs
- 360 degree intake
- CADR: 141 CFM (cubic feet per minute) or 240 MCH (meter cubed per hour)
- Cleans up to 547 ft² in 30 minutes or 219 ft² in 12 minutes
- Allows multiple filter choices to best meet your needs
- Filter lifetime indicator (notifies when to replace them)
- A timer for 2/4/6/8 hours
- Complies with California air resources board (CARB) for indoor cleaning devices
Coway Airmega Purifier: Eco-Friendly and Provides Real-Time Indoor Air Quality
This air purifier for $230 is also a top-ranked purifier by Wirecutter and top-ranked at TopTenReviews. For a little over double the price of the Levoit air purifier, you get slightly larger square footage coverage and more features to help save energy. Washable filters can help save money and it comes with a limited warranty in case it does not function properly.
- 1512HH True HEPA filter (captures airborne particles 0.3 microns in size)
- 24.4 - 53 dB
- 12.3 lbs
- CADR: Dust 246 / Pollen 240 / Smoke 233 cubic feet per minute
- Cleans rooms up to 361 sq. ft.
- Filter lifetime indicator
- Pre-filter is washable and permanent
- Pollution sensor communicates indoor air quality in real-time with colored LED lights
- Energy efficient with 3 manual fan speeds,
- Auto mode optimizes fan speed and will enter Eco mode (shut off) if no pollution is detected for 30 minutes to save energy
- A timer for 1/4/8 hours
- Limited manufacturer’s warranty covers any internal/functional parts for 1 year and motor and electronic parts for 3 years
Dyson Pure Cool Link Air Purifier: High-Tech and Portable
For $450, this purifier comes with dual functionality, serving as an air purifier and fan in the summer. This high-tech purifier automatically monitors and reacts and can provide real-time air quality through the Dyson Link App and comes with many different settings. This purifier is also recommended by the AAFA. Dyson does not provide a CADR value.
- HEPA filter (captures airborne particles 0.3 microns in size)
- 63 dB
- 7.9 lbs
- 360 degree intake
- Cooling fan
- Works with Alexa
- Second layer in filter contains activated carbon to capture household odors (like paint fumes)
- Dyson Link app provides real-time air quality reports
- Dyson Link app allows users to remotely control machine
- Comes with a remote control
- Includes night mode and a sleep timer to reduce noise
- Easy to clean with no fast-spinning blades
- Includes 10 airspeed settings
- Replace filter after a year of use of 12 hours every day
- 2-year warranty on parts and labor
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LG PuriCare 360 Degree Single Air Purifier: High Tech for Medium Spaces
This air purifier for $579 is also AAFA recommended and is high tech–working with Alexa or Google assistant and can be remotely monitored with an app. This purifier is on the heavy side but can effectively clean air of a medium or large space and uses a powerful HEPA filter.
- Advanced True HEPA filter (captures 6 different types of particles including ultra-fine dust and odors)
- PM (particulate matter) 1.0 sensor detects contaminants 1 micron in diameter for filtration
- As low as 25 dB
- 25.4 lbs
- 360 degree intake
- Can clean up to 310 sq. ft.
- Pollution sensor communicates indoor air quality in real-time with colored LED lights
- World with Alexa or Google Assistant
- 55 degree tilt and 70 degree rotation
- Pollution sensor communicates indoor air quality in real-time with colored LED lights
- The LG ThinQ app allows you to check air quality readings and adjust features remotely
- Manufacturer’s warranty can be requested from customer service
Rabbit Air A3 SPA-1000N Ultra Quiet HEPA Air Purifier: Quiet and Long Lasting
For $750 this purifier is a recipient of the Red Dot Award for Innovative Product. It offers the highest coverage and lowest noise level. The purifier is energy efficient, high-tech, and comes with 5-year support. This purifier is good for large spaces and if you have really bad allergies or live in a place that is prone to more pollution.
- BioGS HEPA Air Purifier
- 6 stage filtration
- Filter kit will last up to 2 years based on 12 hours of daily operation
- 20.3 lbs
- Verified Zero Ozone
- 5 different speeds operating as low as 20.3 dB - 51 dB
- Covers up to 1070 sq. ft.
- Filters 8,560 cubic ft. of air in 30 minutes
- Pre filter is washable with 4 different custom filter options
- Wall Mountable
- Rabbit Air App allows you to monitor and control air quality remotely
- Energy-efficient (can run all day with minimal energy costs–less than 50 cents a day)
- Comes with 5-year 24/7 support
What to Look For in an Air Purifier
Before purchasing an air purifier, know the space you want to put it in (check out this square footage calculator), what type of pollutant you want to address, and how much you’re willing to spend. Air purifiers have varying square footage coverage, and some target certain pollutants more than others. A quality air purifier can cost between $300 - $700, but there are many on the market for cheaper.
When buying a purifier you should also consider:
- The length of warranty
- Customer service
- Quality
- Noise
- Filter availability
- If you can try out the product in your home before purchasing
Air purifiers are good for allergens (dust, pollen, pet dander), mold, smoke, and indoor toxins. They can use carbon, ion, or ozone technology to purify air. Ozone can effectively remove particles but can become dangerous if levels are too high. Most people see results within 48 hours. The suggested purifiers below produce little to no ozone.
Terminology
Below we define some common terminology used with air quality and demonstrate the size of common particles found in the home.
Common Air Quality Terms
| CADR (Clean Air Delivery Rate) | Determines how well an air purifier purifies air. Three numbers are usually listed: one for tobacco smoke, one for pollen, and one for dust. The higher the number, the faster the unit filters the air.
As a rule of thumb, the CADR should be equal to at least ⅔ of the room’s area. A high CADR can be misleading and should not be the only measurement you look at (check out the FAQ section to learn why). |
|---|---|
| HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) | HEPA filters capture 99.97% of particles as small as 0.3 microns and can capture 95-99% of particles below 0.3 microns.
We suggest looking for air purifiers with a HEPA filter. |
| ACH (Air Change per Hour) | The number of times per hour that the volume of air in a specific space is purified. |
| AHAM Certification (the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers) | AHAM independently tests and rates air cleaning products based on the CADR to help identify the efficiency by room size. It administers a voluntary Room Air Cleaner Certification Program for portable household electric room air cleaners. |
| dB (decibels) | A unit of sound.
0 dB is the softest audible sound, 30 dB is a whisper close to you, and 60 dB is a normal conversation at a dinner table. Sounds over 85 dB can damage your hearing. |
| Micron (μm) | A micron/micrometer is a unit of measurement. 1 micron = 39 millionths of an inch.
Relatively speaking, a grain of salt is ~60 microns. The naked eye can see particles to about 25 microns. |
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Relative Size of Common Particles
Source: US Air Purifiers “Understanding Air Purifiers”
Air Purifiers Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Below we answer some frequently asked questions regarding air purifiers.
Why can a CADR be misleading?
A CADR value is meant to help compare purifiers, however, it can be misleading. CADR is biased towards purifiers that circulate a higher rate of semi-clean air rather than purifiers that clean air more thoroughly but slower.
A higher CADR means that the purifier will clean the air faster and more often, leaving the purifiers that work more slowly but have greater filtration efficiency with a lower CADR value. Be sure to consider all variables and features of an air purifier before purchasing it–not just the CADR value.
Can air purifiers get rid of Coronavirus?
No, air purifiers cannot get rid of coronavirus. Most air purifiers that use a HEPA filter can remove and sanitize particles as small as 0.3 microns. Virus particles however are around 0.1 microns and cannot be trapped by a HEPA filter. A new filter, known as a photo-electrochemical oxidation filter, supposedly filters 0.1 microns however its efficacy has yet to be proven.
What populations are most susceptible to the adverse effects of air pollution?
Unfortunately, the populations that are most susceptible to the adverse effects of air pollution spend the most time indoors. This includes young children, the elderly, and those with cardiovascular or respiratory diseases.
Bottom Line
Indoor air pollution can have harmful effects on your health and can be irritating especially if you have asthma or allergies. Air purifiers are an effective solution to treat the problem at its source as it cleans and sanitizes the air you breathe.
Mira can help alleviate the symptoms caused by indoor air pollution. For an average of $45 per month, Mira offers low-cost virtual and in-person urgent care and discounts up to 80 percent on prescriptions. Sign up today to prioritize your health!
Erica graduated from Emory University in Atlanta with a BS in environmental science and a minor in English and is on track to graduate with her Master's in Public Health. She is passionate about health equity, women's health, and how the environment impacts public health.
