Best Air Purifiers of 2022 - Forbes

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Air purifiers allow you to breathe easier in your own home. These handy devices can weed out contaminants like dust, smoke, allergens, pet dander and even bacteria that are lurking in your air, just waiting to make you sick. If you suffer from an underlying health condition like allergies or asthma, having the best home air purifier in your living space can make all the difference between you being comfortable and dealing with symptoms like sneezing and wheezing. Even if you're otherwise healthy, a good purifier can create a noticeable difference in the air you breathe.

It can be challenging to find a purifier that works the way you want, fits your lifestyle, falls within your price range and doesn't look like an outdated radiator. When in doubt, it's best to turn to tried-and-true brands and products with excellent user reviews. You'll also want to consider what size room the unit is capable of purifying and aim look for units with a HEPA filter (which stands for high efficiency particulate air) that removes at least 99.97% of air pollutants down to 0.3 microns.

We've evaluated the following air purifiers by their efficiency (how many germs they claim to suck up), capacity (how much space they can keep clean), appearance (is it aesthetically pleasing?) and price. From basic models to state-of-the-art machines, here are our picks for the best air purifiers on the market right now.

  • Best Air Purifier Overall: Levoit LV-H132 Air Purifier
  • Best Splurge Air Purifier: Molekule Air Purifier
  • Best Air Purifier For Allergies: Honeywell HPA100 True HEPA Allergen Remover
  • Best Compact Air Purifier: Coway Airmega AP-1512HH
  • Best Air Purifier For Pets: Hathaspace Smart Air Purifier 2.0
  • Best Air Purifier For A Large Space: Alen BreatheSmart Classic Large Room Air Purifier
  • Most Stylish Air Purifier: Blueair Blue Pure 411
  • Best Portable Air Purifier: Pure Enrichment PureZone Mini Portable Air Purifier
  • Best Smart Air Purifier: Levoit VeSync Core 400S Smart Air Purifier
  • Best Multi-Use Air Purifier: Dyson HP01 Pure Hot + Cool

Best Air Purifier Overall

A Cost-Effective Option With A Built-In Night-Light

Best Splurge Air Purifier

A Sleek Option That Delivers A Powerful Performance

Best Air Purifier For Allergies

A Solid-Option For Medium Size Rooms

Best Compact Air Purifier

A Compact Air Purifier With A Small Spacial Footprint

Best Air Purifier For Pets

A Large Capacity Purifier That's Perfect For Capturing Pet Pollutants

Best Air Purifier For A Large Space

An Aesthetically-Pleasing Unit That Can Purify An Entire Floor

Most Stylish Air Purifier

A Good-Looking Option That Blends In With Your Decor

Best Smart Air Purifier

An Option That You Can Control With Your Phone

Best Multi-Use Air Purifier

A Popular Option That Serves Multiple Purposes

Do Air Purifiers Really Work?

Yes. At baseline, an air purifier works to remove unwanted particles from your air. "An air purifier can filter particles down to a specific size," says Purvi Parikh, M.D., an allergist with Allergy & Asthma Network. "This is helpful for allergens like mold and animal dander as well as certain viral, bacterial, fungal and other irritants and pollutants."

Air purifiers usually involve a fan that moves air through a filter, weeding out impurities in the process, says David B. Corry, M.D., vice chair for immunology in the Department of Pathology & Immunology at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. In addition to HEPA filters, which usually have a "woven material of differing weaves that can remove things as small as 0.3 microns," some air filters are electrostatic, meaning air is passed over an electrically charged series of plates and causes particles to stick to other things, Corry says.

If your air purifier has a HEPA filter, which many do, you'll want to change out the filter on a regular basis. This, Corry explains, "leads to permanent removal of the particles and volatiles from your local environment."

Can You Run An Air Purifier 24/7?

Yes, it's safe to run your air purifier 24/7. Since air quality is constantly changing, air purifiers are designed for continuous use. Some air purifiers have smart technologies that read air quality in real time and automatically adjust settings to help conserve energy when purification isn't needed.

Should I Sleep With An Air Purifier On?

Yes. Air purifiers remove dust, odors and allergens that can hinder your breathing and interrupt your sleep. Sleeping with an air purifier on can help clean the air while you snooze, contributing to a more restful night's sleep.

How Often Do You Need To Change An Air Purifier's Filter?

It depends on your air quality. Most manufacturers recommend that you change your filter every three to six months, but if your indoor air is really polluted you may have to change your filters more often.

What To Look For In An Air Purifier

There are a few important features to look for when shopping for an air purifier.

Size

Regardless of the underlying technology, keep an eye out for how large of a space an air purifier can handle. Many models specify Air Changes per Hour for a given size room, and you'll want to make sure the one you're eyeing will actually work efficiently in the space where you plan to use it.

Filter

HEPA filters are considered the gold standard with air purifiers. "The filter captures both large and small particles that move through it," explains Catherine Monteleone, M.D., professor of medicine, allergy and immunology at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Jersey. "This type is usually best for allergens and best for use in a single room."

CADR

CADR stands for clean air delivery rate. "CADR is a product of two filter variables: the air flow rate and the filtration efficiency," Corry explains. "Many units include this measurement." However, he says, it shouldn't be the end-all, be-all for choosing an air purifier. "Units that move lots of air but have poor filters that remove only large particles and fail to include a carbon insert will rate highly by CADR, but not clean your air very well at all, no matter how long you run the unit," Corry says. "The better thing to do is purchase a unit that is a true HEPA system, so it will remove even very small particles."

Aesthetic

An air purifier isn't exactly something you can hide in a cupboard—it has to be out in the open in order for it to work efficiently. With that in mind, you'll want to choose one that matches your decor or at least isn't an eyesore when it's sitting on a shelf, table or the floor.

Other Features

There's a wide range of features to choose from with an air purifier, and some are swankier than others. Some purifiers have smart options, like app enabling that lets you control all the action from your phone. Others double as heating or cooling systems, or both. But not everyone needs those extra bells and whistles. Figuring out what you will and won't require from your purifier in advance can be helpful toward making sure you don't overspend for features you'll never even use.

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