An increasing number of countries across the globe are banning e-cigarettes. In the US, more than 7 states, including Washington and New York, have banned the use of e-cigarettes in public places. As the crackdown on e-cigarettes intensifies, it leaves fewer options for vapers to find a secluded place to light up.
This makes vaping at home a more viable option since you can vape when and where you want. But indoor vaping has one drawback—nicotine build-up and smell.
Although vaping is considered a healthier alternative to smoking, it creates smelly fumes containing chemicals and compounds that pollute the indoor air. In this guide, we’ll explore how you can get that vape smoke out of your home and what are the best air purifiers on the market for people who vape indoors.
While many agree that vaping is much better for your health than cigarette smoke, it’s not without problems. That’s why we decided to produce a buying guide that outlines the best air purifiers on the market today with the performance required to deal with chemicals from all sorts of vaping devices.
It’s often wrongly assumed that vape pens produce water but include many chemicals based on the original liquid formula that you use. Before using your e-cig inside a closed room you share with others, you must consider that whatever you put in your vape pen will be converted to gas in your surrounding area.
Our previous guide on the best air purifier for cigarette smoke is one of the most visited on HouseFresh, so we want to ensure vape users can also find advice on our site.
- In our home lab of 728 cubic feet, we light an incense stick to generate particle pollution and VOCs.
- We set up our trusted Purpleair Indoor Sensor with the latest Bosch gas sensor to track levels of PM1ug/m3, PM2.5ug/m3 and PM10ug/m3 and VOCs in the air.
- We switch the air purifier to its highest speed and measure how long it takes to get our room air quality down to PM1 level to 0.
- We use an energy meter to measure precisely how much electricity is used when running the unit at the lowest and highest fan speed settings.
- We track sound levels emitted by the air purifier at different fan speeds with the help of a commercial sound meter.
When we tested a dry herb vaporizer, we also found significant amounts of particle pollution of all sizes from PM1, PM2.5 and PM10. This isn’t as bad as cigarette smoke or incense, but it still creates particles of considerable size that need to be removed from the air.
Staff picks: Top 3 air purifiers for vaping
If you don’t have time to read the whole article, you can see my top three picks in the table below.
| 👑 BEST OVERALL | 💰 FOR TIGHT BUDGETS | 🛋️ FOR LARGE SPACES | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Levoit Core 300S | Levoit Core 200S | Blueair Blue Pure 211+ | |
 |  |  | |
| AIR CLEANING SPEED ⚡ | 39 minutes | 61 minutes | 18 minutes |
| CADR 👩🔬 | 141 CFM | 118 CFM | 350 CFM |
| FILTER TECHNOLOGY 💨 | 3-Stage Filtration | 3-Stage Filtration | HEPASilent™ and Activated Charcoal Filter |
| MAX ROOM SIZE 📏 | Up to 219 sq. ft. | Up to 183 sq. ft. | Up to 540 sq. ft. |
| WEIGHT ⚖️ | 5.95 lbs (2.7 kg) | 6.6 lbs (3 kg) | 12.5 lbs (5.67 kg) |
| OUR REVIEW 🔍 | Core 300S review | Core 200S review | Blue Pure 211+ review |
| PRICE 💵 | $149.99 | $76.46 | $248.93 |
Last update on 2024-04-17 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Read on to find out what my top recommendations are for those who want to clean the air from vaping chemicals.
1. Top pick: Levoit Core 300S
The most affordable smart air purifier with excellent air cleaning performance for rooms of up to 219 sq. ft.
I fell in love with the Levoit Core 300 when it came out in 2019. This air purifier singlehandedly leveled up the market for affordable air purifiers. The old sub $100 budget air purifiers used to be units that didn’t perform well for most people, so I used to tell readers to avoid them at all costs. This all changed with the Levoit Core 300.
The Core 300S is the upgraded model, including smart mode and, more importantly, an auto function 🤩 All that extra for an additional fifty bucks. This is our number one pick because we believe the auto mode is perfect for a use case like vaping. Unlike air pollution (where you need continuous cleaning), when vaping, you want your air purifier to kick in and quickly remove pollutants without you having to do a thing.
I tested the Levoit Core 300S in our test room and found that this unit could clear the room of all vaping pollutants in less than 20 minutes. The auto mode kicked on within seconds of the first vapor creation and made short work of the pollutants.
What we really like
What we think could be better
Paying a bit extra instead of choosing the Levoit Core 300 (which I’ll tell you more about further down this list) will be easily outweighed by the fact that the Core 300S will use less energy and require fewer filter changes due to only being used when needed. Pay the extra $50; your energy bill will thank me later.
SPECS & FEATURES
| HouseFresh Rating: | ★★★★☆ |
| Time to clean our 728 cubic feet test room (with the device running at top speed): | 40 minutes |
| Air purifier technology: | Pre-filter, non-HEPA grade particle filter, and activated carbon pellets |
| Recommended room size (4.8 air changes per hour): | 219 sq. ft. |
| Clean air delivery rate (CADR): | Dust: 131 cfm Smoke: 126 cfm Pollen: 154 cfm |
| Dimensions (in inches / in cm): | 8.7L x 8.7W x 14.2H inches (22L x 22W x 36H cm) |
| Weight (in pounds / in kg): | 7.5 lbs (3.4 kg) |
| Filter life: | 6 – 8 months |
| Noise level in decibels (measured from 3 ft. away with a sound level meter): | Speed 1: 37.1 dB Speed 2: 48.5 dB Speed 3: 50.2 dB Top speed: 54.5 dB |
| Electricity consumption in watts (recorded with an electricity usage monitor): | Standby mode: 0.1 watts Sleep mode: 17.3 watts Speed 1: 19.7 watts Speed 2: 24 watts Top speed: 35.5 watts |
| Manufacturer’s warranty: | 2 years |
| Estimated energy consumption: | $47.30 |
| Country of manufacture: | China |
2. Best for small rooms: Levoit Core 200S
A capable air purifier that can handle the pollutants generated by a vape pen but is probably not enough for a dry herb vaporizer.
After testing this air purifier in my home lab, I can say that the Core 200S is a solid option for indoor vaping indoors in small rooms as it has Levoit’s famous 3-Stage Filtration, including an activated charcoal filter. It’s smaller than the 300S and the Smart Mode doesn’t go as far as it doesn’t have an in-built sensor, but it will do the trick for a fraction of the price. It’s one of the best affordable air purifiers with a low purchase cost and fairly priced filters. Due to its small size, it also draws less power than bigger models.
What we really like
What we think could be better
You can connect the unit to the VeSync app to manage the air purifier’s activity from anywhere. Not only that, you can also activate it using voice commands if you set it up with Alexa or Google Home. And last but not least, you can set a timer so the Core 200S gets to work exactly when you need it
SPECS & FEATURES
| HouseFresh Rating: | ★★★☆☆ |
| Time to clean our test room: | 61 minutes |
| Air purifier technology: | 3-Stage Filtration (Pre-filter for large particles, main filter for airborne particles, high-efficiency activated carbon filter for odors and gasses) |
| Recommended room size: | 183 sq. ft. |
| Clean air delivery rate (CADR): | 118 CFM |
| Dimensions (in inches / in cm): | 12.6H x 8.07W x 8.07D inches (32H x 20.5W x 20.5D cm) |
| Weight (in pounds / in kg): | 6.6 lbs (3 kg) |
| Noise level (measured from 3 ft. away): | Speed 1: 39.6 dB Speed 2: 43.7 dB Speed 3: 49.1 dB |
| Filter life: | 6 – 8 months |
| Electricity consumption (kilowatt-hour): | Standby mode: 1.1 kWh Speed 1: 19.3 kWh Speed 2: 22.6 kWh Speed 3: 28.4 kWh |
| Estimated running costs (electricity consumption + filter replacements): | $82.46 per year |
| Manufacturer’s warranty: | 2 years |
| Country of manufacture: | China |
3. Best for large rooms: Mila
A smart air purifier with seven different filters to choose from depending on your specific air quality need.
When I unboxed the Mila, I was pleasantly surprised by how well this air purifier fits with the décor of my house – the world doesn’t need another boring white box air purifier. But what surprised me the most was the Mila’s air cleaning capabilities, matching the performance we have seen on the Levoit 400S: both units cleaned our home lab from smoke pollutants in under 35 minutes.
What we really like
What we think could be better
It is worth mentioning that when buying a Mila, you will get the choice to pick from seven different filters designed to address seven specific use cases. Considering you are meaning to tackle the chemicals, pollutants and odors associated with vaping indoors, you have two options: The Rookie Parent or The Critter Cuddler. Both filters contain a solid HEPA filter and a good amount of pure granular carbon.
SPECS & FEATURES
| HouseFresh Rating: | ★★★★☆ |
| Time to clean our test room: | 35 minutes |
| Air purifier technology: | HEPA (ranges from H12-H14) + Activated charcoal (granular carbon) |
| Recommended room size: | 1000 sq. ft. |
| Clean air delivery rate (CADR): | 263 CFM (447 m³/hr) |
| Dimensions (in inches / in cm): | 12L x 12W x 15H inches (30.48L x 30.48W x 38.1H cm) |
| Weight (in pounds / in kg): | 18 lbs (8 kg) |
| Noise level (low – high): | 24dB – 74dB |
| Filter life: | 6 months |
| Manufacturer’s warranty: | 1 year |
| Estimated energy consumption: | $52.56 per year |
| Country of manufacture: | China |
4. Cheapest option: Levoit Core Mini
This might not be right for people with large rooms, but it does a lot right and it costs less than $50.
Its shape is small enough to sit on a car dashboard and could be used on the go for vacations. When we tested the Levoit Core Mini, we were pleasantly surprised by its performance, considering it is such a small unit. I tested the Levoit Core Mini in our test room (712 cubic ft) and found that this unit could clear the room of all vaping pollutants in less than 113 minutes. Bear in mind that it took a similar amount of time for the far larger Levoit LV-H132 to achieve the same results.
What made me happy about the Levoit Core Mini is its power usage. On our tests with a power meter, we saw this air purifier reaching no more than 6.4 watts while functioning at high power – incredible for this level of cleaning power!
What we really like
What we think could be better
The only potential downside with the Core Mini is the price of filters. I would be concerned that the smaller size means that filters need replacing more regularly, so you might need to drop $24.99 every four months on filters alone. This could add up if you plan to use the unit continuously.
But if you are looking for a solid air purifier for an RV or a car air purifier, this is the unit you should take a long look at.
SPECS & FEATURES
| HouseFresh Rating: | ★★★☆☆ |
| Time to clean our test room: | 1 hour and 53 minutes |
| Air purifier technology: | 3-Stage Filtration (Pre-filter for large particles, main filter for airborne particles, high-efficiency activated carbon filter for odors and gasses) |
| Recommended room size: | 178 sq. ft. |
| Clea; you delivery rate (CADR): | 32 CFM |
| Dimensions (in inches / in cm): | 10.4H x 6.5D x 6.5W inches (26.4H x 16.4D x 16.4W cm) |
| Weight (in pounds / in kg): | 2.2 lbs (1 kg) |
| Noise level (measured from 3 ft. away): | Speed 1: 37 dB Speed 2: 38 dB Speed 3: 44.5 dB |
| Filter life: | 4 – 6 months |
| Electricity consumption (kilowatt-hour): | Standby mode: 0 kWh Speed 1: 1.2 kWh Speed 2: 2.8 kWh Speed 3: 5.9 kWh Speed 4: 6.4 kWh |
| Estimated running costs (electricity consumption + filter replacements): | $88.81 per year |
| Manufacturer’s warranty: | 2 years |
| Country of manufacture: | China |
5. Best on/off ionizer function: Coway Airmega AP-1512HH Mighty
Solid air cleaning performance enhanced by its on/off ionizer function — a good option for those who don’t care about smart functionalities.
This air purifier looks like a thing out of a sci-fi movie. It I’m honest, that is probably the main reason why I bought it as quickly as I did once I saw it. The second reason was that it’s the number one air purifier recommended by the New York Time’s Wirecutter team. If they said it was so good, I wanted to test if for myself. Coway is one of the top air purifier manufacturers out there and has been around since 1989, so I had big expectations for it.
The Airmega AP-1512HH Mighty is a little old now, but it still compares well against some of the most modern units. It comes with smart features we have now grown accustomed to such as a timer, auto mode, eco mode and an onboard air quality monitor (with a visual indicator), so one could say Coway were visionaries. Once you open up the unit, you will find a powerful motor and fan that will require a lot of electricity to run at its top speed.
What we really like
What we think could be better
Now, this isn’t the best air purifier we have reviewed but it’s far from the worst. When we tested its air cleaning performance speed, the AP-1512HH managed to clean the air in our home lab from all incense smoke pollutants in 23 minutes — that’s four minutes faster than Winix 5300-2, six minutes faster than the Smart Air S and 10 minutes faster than the Alen BreatheSmart 45i and the Levoit Core 400S.
SPECS & FEATURES
| HouseFresh Rating: | ★★★★☆ |
|---|---|
| Time to clean our test room: | 23 minutes |
| Air purifier technology: | Pre-filter, True HEPA, Activated Carbon, and Bipolar Ionizer |
| Recommended room size: | 361 sq. ft. |
| Clean air delivery rate (CADR): | 240 CFM |
| Dimensions (in inches / in cm): | 18.3H x 16.8W x 9.6D inches (46.5H x 42.7W x 24.4D cm) |
| Weight (in pounds / in kg): | 12.3 lbs (5.58 kg) |
| Noise level (measured from 3 ft. away): | Speed 1: 38.9 dB Speed 2: 44.4 dB Speed 3: 60.1 dB |
| Filter life: | 6 months |
| Electricity consumption (kilowatt-hour): | Standby mode: 0.3 kWh Speed 1: 3.7 kWh Speed 2: 8.7 kWh Speed 3: 75.3 kWh |
| Estimated running costs (electricity consumption + filter replacements): | $162.93 per year |
| Manufacturer’s warranty: | 3 years |
| Country of manufacture: | South Korea |
Common questions about vaping and air purifiers
In general, it takes around 30 minutes for the smell to dissipate. However, if you’re vaping in a small room with poor ventilation, the smell may linger in the space longer—sometimes even up to 6 hours before it clears.
The main reason smoke stays in a room for a long time is the vegetable glycerin or propylene glycol in most vape liquids. These substances are usually thick and sticky, which makes the smoke difficult to clear easily.
Additionally, the flavors used in the vapes can contribute to the problem and are typically responsible for the odor. Also, if you use a dry-herb vaporizer, then the oil in the cannabis will add to the odor and pollutants in the air. When we tested using a dry-herb vaporizer in our test room, we found a combination of gasses and PM1, PM2.5 and PM10.
In a word, yes, they do. Any air purifier will help to clean the air of pollutants, and depending on your type of vaporizer, there will be chemicals released into the air that will stick around. Most units are aimed at allergens or cigarette smoke. Still, any unit that uses a HEPA filter will clean the air from vape and electronic cigarette usage. If the odor is an issue, then be sure to look at those units that also use activated charcoal – the larger amount, the better, as this has been shown in numerous studies to remove odor-causing particles from the air.
There are many ways to eliminate vape smoke in your house, but we recommend using a budget-friendly HEPA air purifier.
Here, we’ll share three effective ways to remove vape and cigarette smoke from your house:
As mentioned above, the best way to remove vape (and smell) from your home is to use a HEPA air purifier combined with activated carbon. An air purifier with HEPA and charcoal will suck the air, filter it, and remove vape smoke and smells before sending it back into circulation. It will also improve the quality of your air.
HEPA with activated charcoal is recommended as these block nearly all the particles vaping creates, especially if you use dry herb vaporizers. These purifiers do a stellar job of eliminating vape and cigarette smoke. Under lab conditions and in our home tests, HEPA filters with activated charcoal can remove 100% of the hardest-to-filter particles and quickly remove all air pollutants caused by vaping indoors.
Make a habit of opening the windows daily. Even if it’s just a few minutes a day, opening the windows allows fresh air to flow in, and the bad odor dissipates. As mentioned above, the best way to remove vape (and smell) from your home is to use a HEPA air purifier combined with activated carbon. An air purifier with HEPA and charcoal will suck the air, filter it, and remove vape smoke and smells before sending it back into circulation. It will also improve the quality of your air.
Vacuuming a carpet can easily get rid of the unpleasant odor. However, dispelling the smell from the furniture is an entirely different story. So, how do you go about it? Steam cleaning can do the trick!
Steam cleaners shoot hot vaporized water into the furniture, which helps to clean persistent stains and remove odor. The reason steam cleaning removes odor is that the particles dissolve in vapor. But you’ll need to invest in a steam cleaner.
As with any situation, it will depend on individual usage and the size of the air purifier. Smaller air purifiers have smaller filters so they require filter changes more often, and this is one of the reasons why we suggest spending a bit more if you are a heavy vape user, as the costs of filters may be less with larger units.
Vaping, unlike cigarette smoke, is far less intensive on the filters so you should be able to get away with changing it less often; we recommend at least every three months for a regular vape user. Always clean the pre-filter with a vacuum cleaner at least once a month, as any dust caught here can impede the unit, and it will perform at reduced efficiency.
Many air purifiers that deal with cigarette smoke need to be in the $300+ range to make much of a difference as cigarettes produce a ton of smoke, and you need a lot of filter power to remove it. If you want your air purifier to do more than remove vape smoke, then be sure to check out our other use case reviews.
So, if you are considering buying a $1000 air purifier to deal with vaping, save money with one of the units we recommend, as it would be overkill.
Wrapping up
Vaping is becoming the standard when it comes to alternatives to tobacco and with the legalization of cannabis in some states, cannabis vapor is also becoming more of an issue. Thankfully, vapor from electronic cigarettes or herb vaporizers is far less intensive than the smoke created from cigarettes, so you shouldn’t have to spend significant amounts on an air purifier to remove it from the air.
For most people, we would recommend the Levoit Core 300S but the Mila would also be at the top of our list if you had a much larger room than average.
If you want to use an air purifier for weed smoke, read our dedicated article, as vaping and smoking weed create very different air pollutants.
Last update on 2024-04-17 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
