Best air purifiers 2024: Remove pet hair, smoke, dust and more

Investing in one of the best air purifiers is a simple and effective way to improve air quality in your house or workplace. These hi-tech appliances trap smoke, dust and dust mites, pollen, pet dander and many other pollutants that lurk in the indoor air. For those with allergies or respiratory conditions, or people living in areas of poor air quality, the best air purifiers can be a lifesaver. 

However, buying an air purifier can be an overwhelming task, even for the most tech-savvy consumers. From small and portable desktop appliances to mammoth units designed for large bedrooms, there are plenty of models available on the market. But don't worry — we've done the heavy lifting for you. The Live Science team has tried and tested some of the best air purifiers out there to help you pick an appliance that ticks all your boxes.

We've thoroughly tested the units to bring you an honest and unbiased recommendation for each appliance in this guide. Whether you're looking for a budget-friendly air purifier or a hi-tech beast packed with smart features, we have an option for you. It's worth familiarising yourself with some Air Quality Index AQI basics (or Daily Air Quality Index, DAQI in the UK) regarding air quality in your area.

If you don't know if you need an air purifier, or how they work, scroll down to our air purifier FAQ section to see what the experts say. And if you're looking to get ahead of the hay fever spring season, don't miss our guide specifically on air purifiers for allergies. Alternatively, check out our guide on the best dehumidifiers to eliminate moisture from the air, or best humidifiers to banish dry air.

The quick list

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Why you can trust Live Science Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best ones for you. Find out more about how we test.

Best air purifier overall

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Levoit Core 600S in the home — We think the Levoit Core 600S is the best air purifier overall.(Image credit: Joanne Lewsley)

The Levoit Core 600S is our favorite air purifier overall, dethroning its coveted older sibling, the Levoit Core 400S.

The Levoit Core 600S is an intelligent air purifier with a three-stage True HEPA filtration system that effectively captures particles such as mold, bacteria and viruses, as well as an activated carbon filter that traps odor-bearing VOCs. It can integrate into your connected home through the Vesync app and voice control compatibility. This air purifier is also quiet, discreet and blends well with a range of home decors. Although not the cheapest option, the Levoit Core 600S delivers fantastic value.   

During our Levoit Core 600S review, we tested its performance using an air particle meter, before and after burning incense sticks and matches. We were impressed by the results, with the Core 600S removing up to 99.9% of particles — some measuring as small as 0.3 microns. 

The Core 600S is traditionally rectangular but maintains a sleek, low-profile design. Its touch-control panel provides a multitude of settings, including power, timer, auto mode and speed. The Vesync app is straightforward to download and useful for monitoring air quality and adjusting the device's output.

While not the most compact or affordable option, the Core 600S delivers a great user experience. Its auto mode optimizes performance, while sleep mode enables quiet night-time operation. Some user reviews report annoying motor noise at certain speeds, but overall, the Core 600S earns positive reviews for its effectiveness, smart features and ease of use. It's a great choice if you're looking for cleaner, fresher air at home.

Read our full Levoit Core 600S review

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Levoit Core 600S
Attributes	Notes
Design	Bulky design
Performance	Quiet night-time operation for sleep.
Functionality	App connectivity & Alexa/Google voice control

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Best for pet owners

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Levoit Vital 200S in the home — The Levoit Vital 200S is ideal for pet owners.(Image credit: Joanne Lewsley)

The Levoit Vital 200S is a powerful air purifier designed specifically for pet owners. It may not be the most stylish or affordable appliance on the market, but it will keep your home free from fur, pet dander and bad odors — and we can vouch for that.  

We were impressed by the excellent performance of the Levoit Vital 200S during our full Levoit Vital 200S review. Equipped with four fan speeds, three modes, including a pet mode, and three different filters (a washable pre-filter, an H13 True HEPA filter and a high-efficiency activated carbon filter), this air purifier left no stone unturned. The Vital 200S effectively removed hair, dust, cooking odors, and many other airborne pollutants, including particles as small as 0.3 microns.    

We liked its smart features, too. The Levoit Vital 200S can be controlled remotely using the Vesync app, and it is compatible with Google Assistant and Alexa voice control devices. 

The Vesync app is especially useful for monitoring the air quality, both in real-time and in the past. 

While the rather chunky design of this air purifier may not appeal to all users, the unobtrusive aesthetic makes the Levoir Vital 200S easy to blend in with most home decors. It is, however, more expensive than some of the other air purifiers in the Levoit line. 

Read our full Levoit Vital 200S review

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Levoit Vital 200S
Attributes	Notes
Design	Could be a bit big for small spaces.
Performance	Impressive air cleaning performance.
Functionality	Easy to use via app or voice control.

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Best budget air purifier

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Levoit LV-H132 on a window sill — The Levoit LV-H132 is small and compact enough to sit on your windowsill.(Image credit: Joanne Lewsley)

The Levoit LV-H132 might lack the wow–factor of more stylish purifiers. However, what it lacks in style, it certainly delivers in sheer affordability. Available for under $100, this is definitely one of the best air purifiers for those on a budget. Small enough for any desktop or shelf, the Levoit LV-H132's compact size and low price make it the ideal air purifier for someone looking to try their first air purifier at home. If you have a small apartment, or you simply want to use an air purifier in one room only, then this might be the product for you. 

While this particular air purifier might lack the HEPA filter that gives premium air purifiers their mark of quality, it does come with an in-built dimmable nightlight, making it an ideal air purifier for a nursery or child's bedroom. While it's not possible to pre-program the unit, a memory function means that previous fan settings are logged before it powers down. 

Unfortunately, during our Levoit LV-H132 review, it didn't quite live up to expectations when it came to testing how well it absorbed particles, consistently falling some way below the 99.97% expected from a device with an H13 HEPA filter. However, running this air purifier for longer periods may produce better results.

The Levoit LV-H132 may not have all the bells and whistles of a smart air purifier, but its affordability and compact size make it the ideal entry-level indoor air purifier that performs well in small to medium-sized rooms.

Read our full Levoit LV-H132 review

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