These air purifiers will rid your home of weed smoke (and its smell)

Whether you use marijuana for health, to relax, or to socialize, it can’t be denied that the smell lingers, with odors sticking to clothes, hair and furniture. This is a real downside to enjoying cannabis in the home. 

As well as leaving a lingering odor, smoking cannabis indoors has been found to dramatically increase the level of PM2.5 particulate matter, including carcinogens and toxic chemicals, which can result in serious health effects for smokers and second-hand smokers alike. Some tests found that air quality levels worsened 100-fold, even when no tobacco was used. 

Thankfully, a high-powered air purifier fitted with a HEPA and activated charcoal filter can remove particles and gases generated from weed smoke. 

Since 2021, we have tested and reviewed 73 different popular air purifiers, so we have comparable data to identify the best units for specific use cases, such as tackling marijuana smoke.

Burning cannabis produces a vast number of particles and gasses that need to be removed, so you need to go for a large device with large filters and a powerful fan. Unfortunately, many air purifiers that fit those characteristics don’t come cheap. However, I did my best to shortlist options for all budgets.

1. Staff pick: IQAir Healthpro Plus 

IQAir is the oldest air purification company, and the IQAir Healthpro Plus has all you need to deal with both particles and odors from weed smoke.

The air purifier industry is full of many fly-by-night brands, but IQAir has been here since 1963 and is one of the most trusted names in the industry. 

The IQAir Healthpro Plus has a large HyperHEPA filter and 5 lbs. of activated charcoal with zeolite for dealing with weed smoke odors. In our air cleaning performance test, it brought the level of PM1 particles down to zero in 24 minutes, which is impressive considering it’s also pushing the air through one of the largest activated charcoal filters on the market.

If you are serious about dealing with odors and particles from weed smoke, the IQAir Healthpro Plus is worth the investment. While this air purifier might not be affordable for everyone, its performance in dealing with both gasses and odors is why it is our top choice for dealing with weed smoke in 2024. 

See full review

2. Best for intense weed odors: Austin Air Healthmate

With 15 lbs. of activated carbon, you’ll struggle to find a better air purifier to deal with the VOCs and odors from weed smoke. 

The filter of the Austin Air Healthmate is so big that it can rid the air of marijuana smoke even in the largest of spaces. Not only that, the filter will also last for an epic five years, so you don’t need to worry about replacing it too often.

As well as a colossal carbon filter, you’ll find a True HEPA and two separate pre-filters to tackle smoke particles and other household pollutants. Plus, this unit is straightforward to use; plug it in and cycle through its one-dial control panel to find the right fan speed for your needs. 

It doesn’t quite make our top spot as its particle removal performance was much worse than the IQAir Healthpro Plus, but for those who want to primarily deal with a serious odor issue from weed smoke – the Austin Air Healthmate won’t disappoint.

See full review

3. Best smart unit: Levoit EverestAir 

The EverestAir works fast, preventing smoke and odors from permeating the air and sticking to your clothes and furniture.

Unlike our top two choices, the EverestAir comes with a ton of bells and whistles. It has an auto-mode that will kick in within seconds of detecting weed smoke and also offers full app support with the VeSync app (including remote management of its settings, filter life reminders, schedules and times, air quality readings and vent angle adjustments).

Thanks to its highly efficient primary filter and an activated carbon filter with ARC Formula™, the EverestAir can remove both particles and odors present in weed smoke — although, with only 0.88 lbs of activated charcoal, it won’t be as effective as our choices above for odors from weed.

During our speed test, this air purifier took only 14 minutes to clean the air of all PM1 pollutants when running at top speed — making it the second fastest unit we have ever tested. When tested at its lowest speed, it still took just 25 minutes to complete the test while generating only 24 dB of sound, which was close to silent to my ears.

Although whenever smoking indoors, you’ll want to run the purifier at its top speed setting, it’s great to know that the EverestAir’s air cleaning performance is still excellent at its lowest speed, too. This means you can achieve protection from weed smoke odors around the clock while benefiting from lower energy use and near-silent operating volumes.

See full review

4. Best with on/off ionizer function: Winix 5500-2 

The Winix 5500-2 is an air-cleaning powerhouse from a trusted manufacturer.

Considering that this air purifier can often be bought for less than $160, I was shocked to see how fast it performed in our air cleaning speed test, taking just 18 minutes to remove all traces of pollutants from the testing lab. 

The air filtration of the 5500-2 is supercharged by combining a granular activated carbon filter (which nips weed odors in the bud) and a HEPA-certified primary filter. And that’s not all. The ionizer function in the Winix 5500-2 can help improve performance compared to HEPA alone, but the good news is that you can turn the ionizer off if you’re concerned about potentially dangerous byproducts, such as ozone. 

The 5500-2 is faster at cleaning the air than air purifiers, which cost twice its price. An example is the $900 IQAir HealthPro Plus, which took 24 minutes (six minutes more) to clear the same space.

See full review

5. Best warranty: Alen BreatheSmart 45i

The 45i offers excellent air cleaning performance thanks to its high-grade air filters.

When tackling weed smoke, you’ll want an air purifier that is ultra-reliable. And that’s exactly what you’ll get from Alen. Their air purifiers offer a brilliant build quality that is backed up by a lifetime warranty – the only air purifier brand I’ve seen offer this guarantee. 

The 45i comes with a medical-grade H13 HEPA filter that removes 99.95% particulates as small as 0.1 microns. Alen also offers a choice of carbon filters, with large amounts of charcoal substrate to lock in weed odors and the associated harmful chemicals. 

In addition to all the pros I’ve already covered, this device is sleek and looks really good. It is easy to move from room to room as it’s not too heavy and comes with a handle at the back. Want even more pros? The 45i comes with an auto-mode, meaning you can turn it on and leave it to do its job. 

See full review

6. Best for less than $100: Winix A230/A231

Most choices above cost $500+ and, while they are still my top options for weed smoke, I also wanted to include a cheap device for small spaces.

The Winix A230 is regularly found for less than $90, and yet it was still able to clean our test room in 35 minutes. As with all small air purifiers, the amount of activated charcoal will not be very effective with the odors related to weed smoke. However, it will still be able to remove the particles released from smoking cannabis indoors.

This air purifier shouldn’t be used in spaces larger than 230 sq. ft. Even then, you will need to run it at its highest speed for it to be effective at cleaning the air. These might sound like cons, but there is no other air purifier under $100 that is as effective at removing smoke particles from the air as the A230.

This Winix air purifier blew me away with its performance in our real-world tests, clearing all traces of pollutants in just 35 minutes. This makes it faster than the Levoit Core 300 and boasts an in-built air sensor and Auto mode, all while costing less than other budget-friendly air purifiers.

See full review

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Other units we tested but don’t recommend for weed smoke

This list was supported by the same data we used to find the best air purifiers overall, but some devices are not well suited to weed smoke, so we identified them here:

• Levoit Core 300: The Core 300 often features as our top budget pick. But considering you can pick up the speedier Winix A230 (with smoke-busting PlasmaWave technology) for $20 less, it’s time as a HouseFresh favorite may be coming to an end.

• Medify MA-25: The MA-25 is another decent air purifier that packs a lot of power for its size. But what really lets this option down is its filter replacement costs. They cost almost double what you’d find from other manufacturers like Levoit or Winix, which is an expense that will soon mount up if you smoke indoors frequently. 

• Molekule Air Mini: Molekule is the brand that promised so much yet delivered so little. Their so-called revolutionary filter technology, PECO, failed to remove polluting particles when we tested the Air Mini for ourselves. It is no surprise that Molekule is now on the verge of bankruptcy, so this is definitely a brand to steer clear of. 

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What to look for when buying an air purifier for weed smoke

Armed with the right air purifier, you can transform a stale and smelly environment and mitigate the dangers of secondhand smoke, creating a healthier and happier home. 

But before you take the plunge on purchasing a new purifier, consider these five key factors to find the right unit for your needs and ensure you’ll be best protected from weed smoke. 

1. Ensure filtration is up to scratch

Without quality filters, you’ve essentially got an expensive but useless fan. 

Look out for a high-quality primary filter to protect you from the harmful pollutants of weed smoke – if possible, choose at least HEPA grade H13.

This HEPA filter removes particulate matter that can enter the lungs and contribute to severe health conditions. Studies have shown that weed smoke contains up to four times the amount of PM2.5 as cigarette smoke, so this is something you really don’t want to skimp on.   

Any air purifier worth its salt will have a primary filter capable of removing minuscule particles as small as 0.3 microns.

Manufacturers will share data on how well their filters perform against particulate matter, but it’s a good idea to read third-party reviews, too.  

2. Can the purifier tackle odors and other gaseous pollutants?

While a primary filter captures particulate matter, it won’t remove all toxins from the air. You’ll need an activated carbon filter to tackle odor and other gasses – known as VOCs.

Activated Carbon filters work by locking gasses into the porous surface of charcoal in a process called adsorption:

This means that the more carbon a filter possesses, the larger the surface area to lock in VOCs. Filters using carbon pellets are more effective than pleated carbon filters, so keep an eye out for what’s inside and the weight of each carbon filter. Many cheaper air purifiers will use very small amounts of carbon that will be ineffective in dealing with serious odors like weed smoke.

3. Measure the space in which you smoke (and consider how much weed smoke your home is exposed to)

Air purifiers are designed to work at their best in different-sized spaces. Bigger units can usually clean the air in a much larger room than a smaller, budget unit. Manufacturers will often provide a recommended room size for each air purifier, which is a great starting point for consumers. 

But be wary of

Once you have measured the space where you want to use your air purifier, you can use our calculator below to find out which CADR rating you will need for your specific space, telling you how much air (measured in cubic feet) a purifier can clean in a minute (CFM).

Remember that weed smoke is thick and full of pollutants, so you’ll need a more powerful unit than if you were to tackle everyday pollutants like dust or cooking smells. Likewise, if you smoke every day, consider purchasing a larger, more powerful unit.

4. Would you benefit from smart features?

Modern air purifiers come with many handy Smart features that can make cleaning the air a doddle. From Auto modes to smartphone apps or even Alexa smart speaker compatibility for voice-activated controls, there is plenty to streamline how you control your unit or even trust it to work all by itself.  

This can all make life much easier and result in you having to do less after settling in after a smoke. However, these units can also come with a premium price tag, so if your budget is tight, prioritize cleaning capability over fancy features. 

Common questions about weed smoke and air purifiers

Wrapping up 

Whether you are a full-blown blunt lover or just partake in the occasional bong hit with friends, having an air purifier to help you rid the air in your home of lingering odors and harmful toxins will be a worthwhile investment. 

Knowing which air purifier is the best option for you will vary from person to person, but in general, you should make sure to choose one that utilizes high-quality particle and VOC filtration to achieve the best level of protection.

If you’ve reached this point in the guide and are still unsure which air purifier to get, just email us at hello@housefresh.com, and we’ll help.