These air purifiers can get rid of weed smoke (and its smell)

Whether you smoke 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. Not only that, but cannabis smoke can also travel, reaching roommates and next-door neighbors.

Smoking cannabis inside 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 filter and an activated charcoal filter can remove particles and gases generated from weed smoke.

Since 2020, we have tested and reviewed nearly 100 different popular air purifiers, so we have comparable data to identify the best units for specific use cases, such as tackling marijuana smoke. These are my picks right now:

	TOP PICK	FOR SERIOUS SMELLS	UNDER $250	PC FAN POWERED
	IQAir Healthpro Plus	Austin Air Healthmate	Winix 5500-2	AirFanta 3Pro
Time to PM1 zero	28 minutes	37 minutes	23 minutes	17 minutes
CADR	250 CFM	150 CFM	243 CFM	430 CFM
Filter tech	HyperHEPA + V50-CELL carbon	True HEPA + carbon	True HEPA + carbon	H11 HEPA + carbon
Max room size (5 ACH)	375 sq. ft.	234 sq. ft.	360 sq. ft.	671 sq. ft.
Long-term running costs	$421.47 / year	$283.03 / year	$161.53 / year	$125.23 / year
Upfront cost	$1,199.99	$765	$205.99	$159.99

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 based on our first-hand data collected across 105 tests (and counting!).

1. Top 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. 

➜ READ OUR 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.

➜ READ OUR full review

3. Best for less than $250: 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 23 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 28 minutes (five minutes longer) to clear the same space.

➜ READ OUR full review

4. Best DIY option: AirFanta 3Pro (with HEPA + carbon filters)

Most choices above cost $500+ and while they are still my top options for weed smoke, I also wanted to include an affordable device powered by PC fans.

The AirFanta 3Pro is part of a new generation of air purifiers designed off the back of PC fan technology. With a design inspired by the DIY Corsi-Rosenthal box, you will need to assemble the 3Pro yourself but it’s fairly straightforward: you place four filters on each side on top of a plastic base and secure with a 4-PC fan array on top.

The AirFanta 3Pro is one of the fastest air purifiers we have ever tested, and was able to complete our particle removal test in a speedy 17 minutes when running at its top speed (12V). That is right, this 12.6×12.6-inch box packs an unbelievable 430 CFM!

When buying an AirFanta 3Pro, you can choose between particle filters only or particle AND activated carbon filters. For tackling weed smoke, you will need carbon as it will help trap the smell. AirFanta’s carbon filter is a bonded filter that combines a 15mm thick HEPA 11 filter with a 10mm layer of activated carbon. You will get four of them to fit at each side of the 3Pro.

➜ READ OUR full review

Three other good air purifiers for weed smoke

The four air purifiers above are my top picks for weed smoke, but these are other units with solid performance that nearly made the list.

Levoit Core 400S

The Core 400S is the one air purifier that comes with the highest amount of carbon across the entire Levoit range. For tackling weed smoke, make sure to choose the Smoke Remover filter, as it comes with 450 grams of pelletized activated carbon to adsorb smells and gases.

This Core 400S comes with smartphone connectivity through Levoit’s VeSync app, which is my favorite app across all the air purifiers I have tested. With the app, you’ll be able to control your Core 400 remotely. I recommend you set the auto mode to its maximum sensitivity through the app to ensure the fan speeds reach the highest levels to get rid of smoke quickly, compared to the normal auto mode which never quite hits top fan speeds.

➜ READ OUR FULL REVIEW

Alen BreatheSmart 45i

The 45i comes with a medical-grade H13 HEPA filter and a choice of carbon filters. For dealing with weed smoke, I recommend getting the VOC/Smoke filter, which comes with 2 lbs. of pelleted activated carbon. On top of mechanical filtration, this device comes with an ionizer function that can be switch on and off for some extra power (if you’re happy with using an ionizer).

Alen is a trusted air purifier manufacturer, and the 45i is a good example of why, as its build quality is excellent. This air purifier will give you 4.8 air changes per hour in rooms of up to 512 sq. ft., so it’s a solid pick.

➜ READ OUR FULL REVIEW

Levoit EverestAir

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.

This air purifier completed our particle removal test in 16 minutes when running at top speed, ranking as one of the fastest units we have ever tested. It has a powerful fan and comes with a highly efficient primary filter and an activated carbon filter with ARC Formula™ — although it comes with only 0.88 lbs of activated charcoal, which is less than other units on this list.

➜ READ OUR 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 is one of the most recommended air purifiers since 2019. It comes with a compact design and a bonded particle and carbon filter, but it doesn’t pack the power or air filtration needed to clear the air from marijuana smoke and odors.

• 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. 

• PuroAir 240: The 240 is a highly advertised model that you will often find ranking at the top of Amazon searches for air purifiers. However, with a CADR of 183 CFM, the 240 is highly underpowered to deal with weed smoke and the lingering smells that come with it.

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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. Look for certified filters to clear weed smoke particles

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. Prioritize units with pelleted activated carbon to adsorb weed smells

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. Match CADR ratings with the size of your space

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. If you do have a very small space, you may want to look into our guide to the best small air purifiers, but make sure to still choose a device that includes a carbon filter for dealing with weed odors.

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. Consider if you want to have 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. 

A few common questions about weed smoke and air purifiers

I compiled a few questions we have received from some of our readers about weed smoke and air filters. If you have any question I haven’t covered in this article, please email us to hello@housefresh.com and we will get back to you within a day.

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 Danny at danny@housefresh.com, and he will help you.