Suffering from allergies can be the bane of many people’s lives. From pet dander to pollen, countless particles in our homes can trigger an allergic reaction. We can even find harsh chemicals, such as formaldehyde, emitted from common household appliances and furniture, leading to unpleasant side effects.
Preventive measures like keeping windows closed and banning known triggers from your home will help alleviate symptoms. But the truth is allergens can and will make their way inside your home, finding the smallest vent or crevice to creep in through or even hitching a lift on your own back as you re-enter the space from outside.
What To Look For in an Air Purifier for Allergies
According to the EPA, indoor air is two to five times more polluted than outdoor air. That’s why experts recommend investing in a quality air purifier that can filter out allergens like pollen and dander, so they don’t cause allergic symptoms.
The main thing you need to look for is an air purifier that uses a HEPA filter. Pollen and dander are fairly large particles of 20 to 55 microns and smaller ones closer to 2.5 microns, and these are removed effectively with grade H11 HEPA and above.
You must also ensure you have the right cleaning power for your room. Large rooms will need many larger-sized units or multiple units working together. The CADR scoring system isn’t perfect, but it’s a useful way to identify the right-sized unit for your space.
You don’t need auto-modes and app support, so you have less to spend on important things like a bigger filter and a more powerful fan. While an auto-mode is good in some situations for those looking to reduce allergic symptoms, you will always use the air purifier at a speed that you are comfortable with the sound, so avoid those that run loud.
Armed with the right cleaner, you’ll find symptoms occur much less frequently and begin to appreciate a much higher air quality standard. To help you find the perfect unit for your needs, we’ve highlighted five excellent allergen-busting purifiers and three that don’t cut the mustard and should be avoided at all costs.
The Top 3 Air Purifiers For Allergies
Why You Should Trust This List
All the air purifiers we recommend at HouseFresh are based on our in-house evaluation and performance test as doing the job it was sold for — removing small particulate from the indoor air. We test our air purifiers using incense smoke which is heavy in PM1, PM2.5 and PM10, which are tiny particles similar to what we want to remove for wildfire smoke.
Here’s what we do:
- We have evaluated over 44 air purifiers available for sale in 2022 and published performance tests for all of them.
- We create particulate pollutants in our home lab with the help of incense sticks.
- We use a Purple Air Indoor sensor to record how long the air purifier takes to reduce PM1ug/m3, PM2.5ug/m3 and PM10ug/m3 particles in the air.
- We track energy consumption with an electricity usage monitor.
- We measure noise levels in decibels across all power levels available.
As everyone’s home and requirements will be different, we’ve made sure to include a range of cleaners that are suited to different size spaces and cover a variety of budgets too. Be sure to check out the complete list below, paying close attention to room size suitability and the range of features each unit offers to find the perfect purifier for you.
1. Taotronics AP003
Those of you who have read any of our recent articles may have noticed we are huge fans of this purifier. Having initially been skeptical whether a mass-produced purifier that costs under $100 could make a difference, once we got our hands on one, we soon became fully convinced that this is a purifier to be reckoned with.
With three stages of filtration, including a pre-filter, Activated Carbon and top-of-the-line H13 HEPA filter, the Taotronics AP003 has all the tools necessary to fend off an array of allergies. Despite its unassuming appearance, this purifier is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. With a punchy fan that brings about a CADR rating of 226 CFM in medium-sized spaces up to 322 ft².
Although this isn’t the most advanced Smart purifier, it has many user-friendly features, including a programmable timer, child-lock setting and Auto mode. You’ll also find a unique air quality sensor that feeds back real-time accurate PM2.5 ug/m3 readings, which is all the more impressive when considering the price of this purifier.
SPECS & FEATURES
| Purifier technology: | Washable pre-filter, Activated Carbon, and H13 True HEPA filters. |
| CADR (CFM / m³/h): | 226 CFM |
| Recommended room size: | 322 ft² |
| Filter life: | 3 — 6 months |
| Noise level (low – high): | 32 — 52 dB |
| Dimensions (in inches / in cm): | 21.8H x 14.1W x 7.9D inches / 55.4H x 35.8W x 20D cm |
| Weight (in pounds / in kg): | 19 lbs / 8.6 kg |
| Energy consumption: | $63.44 per year |
| Time to clean our test room | 29 minutes |
What We Really Like:
👍 Incredible value for money
👍 Precise particle readings through its air sensor
👍 Comes with a high-end H13 HEPA filter
👍 Energy efficient, saving on bills in the long run
What We Think Could Be Better:
👎 Design is fairly basic
👎 Filters don’t last as long as other brands
2. Smart Air Blast Mini
When clearing your home of allergens, you’ll want a purifier to achieve results quickly. That’s precisely what Smart Air’s Blast Mini does. When we tested this purifier for ourselves, its cleared our home office of all pollutants in a measly 17 minutes. Proving to be one of the fast purifiers around.
Taking a no-nonsense approach to cleaning the air, the Blast Mini doesn’t come with apps, auto mode or a delicate design. What you do get, however, is a colossal fan that can draw in vast amounts of dirty air every second before pushing it through its highly efficient HEPA and Activated Carbon filters and finally expelling clean, allergy-free air. This unit boasts the highest Clean Air Delivery Rate on our list of recommended purifiers.
While some may miss the fancy design features, others will love this purifier’s simplicity. It has one dial to operate the unit, simply switching between the three fan speeds and switching the unit off. Despite being somewhat of a lump, this purifier does come on convenient castor wheels, making it easy to move around the home. Plus, this unit won’t sound like a turbojet engine when on its highest speed setting, which is one of the reasons that this unit is our top pick for large spaces.
SPECS & FEATURES
| Purifier technology: | Mesh Pre-Filter, H13 HEPA Filter + optional Activated Charcoal filter |
| CADR (CFM / m³/h): | 435 CFM |
| Recommended room size: | 915 ft² |
| Filter life: | 13 months |
| Noise level (low – high): | 36 — 49 dB |
| Dimensions (in inches / in cm): | 24.8H x 22.6W x 13D inches / 63H x 57.5W x 33D cm |
| Weight (in pounds / in kg): | 59 lbs / 26.8 kg |
| Energy consumption: | $284.38 per year |
| Time to clean our test room | 17 minutes |
What We Really Like:
👍 Awesome power and performance
👍 Unique air inlet design
👍 Super simple to use
👍 Long-lasting, quality filters
What We Think Could Be Better:
👎 This unit weighs a ton
👎 It will use a lot of energy when set to its highest speed setting
3. IQAir HealthPro Plus
For air quality aficionados, the IQAir HealthPro Plus needs no introduction. Widely considered the best purifier money can buy, you’ll find exceptional performance thanks to its innovative filters and a unit built to last by the Swiss masters of purification.
What exactly makes this purifier the cat’s pajamas? First, it comes with the most advanced filters on the market. Equipped with a Pre-Max filter to capture larger particles, a V5-Cell filter stacked with a whopping 5lbs of Activated Carbon. Plus, the star of the show, the HyperHEPA, can remove 99.95% of ultrafine particles down to 0.003 microns in size. Which is 100 times smaller than the 0.3-micron particles that standard HEPA filters can capture.
Beyond filters, the quality of this purifier doesn’t drop, as you’ll find sealed interiors and durable components. Each unit is rigorously tested before being sent for delivery, proven by an individualized factsheet that states the specific unit’s performance. When we received our own HealthPro Plus, we found that its airflow was much higher than the published figures, reaching heights of 494m3/h rather than the stated 440m3/h. This is why it is trusted to clean the air in hospitals and homes.
SPECS & FEATURES
| Purifier technology: | Pre-max filter, V5-Cell Filter, HyperHEPA filter |
| CADR (CFM / m³/h): | 330 CFM (estimate) |
| Recommended room size: | Up to 1125 ft² |
| Filter life: | 4 years |
| Noise level (low – high): | 25 — 69 dB |
| Dimensions (in inches / in cm): | 28H x 18W x 16D inches / 71H x 38W x 41D cm |
| Weight (in pounds / in kg): | 35 lbs / 16 kg |
| Energy consumption: | $467.08 per year |
| Time to clean our test room | 25 minutes |
What We Really Like:
👍 Most effective filters on the market
👍 The HyperHEPA filter lasts for four years
👍 Capable of cleaning large spaces thanks to its impressive airflow
👍 Runs at surprisingly low volumes on its lower speed setting
What We Think Could Be Better:
👎 It’s big and ugly
👎 Is the most expensive purifier on our list
4. Smart Health S
If space is in short supply in your home, this small but mighty purifier from Smart Health will provide an excellent option for removing allergens. With an H12 HEPA and Activated Carbon filter, this unit can transform the air in spaces as large as 430 ft², proven through its impressive CADR score of 185 CFM.
Smart Air follows the school of thought that countless rival purifiers are overselling their performance and features when they fail to do the basics right. That’s why they take a stripped-back approach, using quality fans and filters that enable the Smart Health S to nail the basics without costing the earth.
As well as impressive air-cleaning performance, this purifier is simple to set up, operate and maneuver from room to room. Allowing you to target specific spaces as you move around the home. Even while you sleep, this purifier is super quiet so it can tackle allergens through the night without affecting your rest.
SPECS & FEATURES
| Purifier technology: | H12 HEPA and optional Activated Carbon filter |
| CADR (CFM / m³/h): | 185 CFM |
| Recommended room size: | 430 ft² |
| Filter life: | 6 months |
| Noise level (low – high): | 23 – 52 dB |
| Dimensions (in inches / in cm): | 13H x 13W x 14.3D inches / 33.02H x 33.02W x 36.32D cm |
| Weight (in pounds / in kg): | 10.1 lbs / 4.58 kg |
| Energy consumption: | $92.55 per year |
| Time to clean our test room | 29 minutes |
What We Really Like:
👍 Utilizes an H12 HEPA filter for greater efficiency
👍 Compact and cute design
👍 Whisper quiet on its slowest fan speed
👍 Great performance for its pricetag
What We Think Could Be Better:
👎 Activated Carbon filter should come as standard
👎 Some may miss the Smart features found on other units in this price range
5. Levoit Core 600S
If you’re looking for an air purifier that can do it all, then the Levoit Core 600S is an ideal option. With fast-acting fans, high-quality filters and smart features, this purifier is much more user-friendly.
Starting with what matters most, the triple threat of Pre-filter, H13 HEPA and Activated Carbon filters make light work of capturing even the smallest of allergen particles from your space. Yet these filters wouldn’t be worth much if it wasn’t for the high-end fan and trademarked VortexAir technology that pushes gallons of air through them every hour. You’ll find that the Core 600S can completely cycle the air within a 635 ft² room five times an hour.
It has an in-built Auto mode, which will continuously monitor the air quality and automatically adjust the fan speeds to combat allergens whenever required. Although, if you prefer to be more hands-on, you can receive regular updates and operate the setting straight from your smartphone or even connect to a smart speaker for voice-activated control.
SPECS & FEATURES
| Purifier technology: | Pre-filter, H13 HEPA and Activated Carbon filters |
| CADR (CFM / m³/h): | 410 CFM |
| Recommended room size: | Up to 1,588 ft² |
| Filter life: | 6 months |
| Noise level (low – high): | 26 — 55 dB |
| Dimensions (in inches / in cm): | 23.6H x 12.3W x 12.3D inches / 60H x 31.3W x 31.3D cm |
| Weight (in pounds / in kg): | 13.7 lbs / 6.2 kg |
| Energy consumption: | $102.11 per year |
| Time to clean our test room | 15 minutes |
What We Really Like:
👍 This is the quickest purifier we’ve ever tested
👍 Runs whisper quiet on its lowest setting
👍 Energy efficient for such a powerful unit
👍 Capable of combatting allergens even in larger, open plan spaces
What We Think Could Be Better:
👎 Is on the large side with a less inspiring design than other Levoit models
👎 Gets a bit loud when on turbo speed
The 3 Air Purifiers We Don’t Recommend for Allergies
You’ve seen the best, now let’s take a look at the rest of the purifiers on the market that will promise to tackle allergens but should be avoided if you want to see real improvement in your air quality. We’ve tried highlighting where these units fall short so you know what to look for when conducting your research.
1. Molekule Air Mini
It’s no secret that we aren’t huge fans of Molekule and their not-so-revolutionary filterless purifiers. While some boldly claimed that Molekule would be the future of air purification, we found them severely lacking in power and performance when we put the Molekule Mini through its paces.
Molekule’s flagship technology is coined PECO, or photoelectrochemical oxidation, which they claim can eliminate pollutants at a molecular level instead of using mechanical filters like the majority of other purifiers. While innovation should be celebrated, we think they may need to return to the drawing board this time, as their Mini purifier failed to remove incense smoke from our test space, let alone potentially health-harming allergens.
| Why We Suggest You Avoid This Unit👎 Their filterless technology isn’t peer-reviewed nor scientifically proven👎 Makes a deafening racket on higher speed settings |
2. Levoit Core Mini
Although we love Levoit and think they produce a range of high-quality and affordable purifiers, the Core Mini simply doesn’t meet the grade required when tackling allergens such as dust, pollen or mold in a home setting.
The first red flag is clear when assessing this purifier’s CADR score. With a lackluster rating of 32 CFM, this unit will struggle to draw in and clean enough air to make a difference. While it may come with a HEPA filter and the same tech as in their flagship models, it simply lacks the power required to capture allergens.
| Why We Suggest You Avoid This Unit👎 Unless using this purifier in a super small space, it won’t be able to cycle the air effectively👎 Took an eternity to clear our test space of pollutants. |
3. GermGuardian AC4825e
While the GermGuardian’s AC4825e may be considered an air purifier veteran, having featured on countless top purifier recommendation lists over the years, it’s now starting to show signs of old age.
Not only is it falling behind its rivals in terms of purifying power, but we also noticed a lack of future-proof features and a that this unit is particularly energy-intensive, given its size and performance. This was all exemplified during our tests, where the AC4825e took 104 minutes to clear our test space of pollutants.
| Why We Suggest You Avoid This Unit👎 Lacks the power and speed to tackle allergens efficiently👎 Utilizes ineffective UV technology. |
What to look for in an air purifier for allergies
Air purifiers come in different shapes and shapes. Look for these features when buying an air purifier for allergens.
Filter Type
You’ll need a high-quality HEPA filter when removing allergens, such as pollen and pet dander. Usually made of materials such as fiberglass, cotton, or foam, HEPA filters can filter up to 99.97% of particles as tiny as 0.3 microns, including all common allergens.
HEPA filters also do a great job of catching larger particles, which makes them particularly effective at removing pollen and dander, which are fairly large.
For serious issues, we recommend going for medical grade H13 True HEPA filters. These filters remove 99.99% of viruses, bacteria, and airborne particles larger than 0.1 microns.
I always suggest choosing an air purifier with activated charcoal filters made using pellets, as it will also work against VOC and odors. But if you only need something for allergies, choosing a pure HEPA-based system could save money if you just don’t care about gasses and odor removal.
CADR Rating
Clean air delivery rate, or CADR, measures the effectiveness of an air purifier in dealing with different types of allergens.
The higher the score, the more powerful and the bigger room it can use.
You should focus on the score for various pollutants for pollen for allergies, as this is the effectiveness most appropriate for those wanting to remove allergens from the air. Generally speaking, the higher the CADR, the more effectively the unit filters our allergens.
Coverage
Air purifiers can be categorized by “coverage” or the largest space they can effectively clean, typically circulating the air two to five times an hour. Some air purifiers are ideal for large spaces, such as classrooms, while others can only clean a small room, like a college dorm.
Manufacturers usually list the maximum room size the air purifier can cover. We recommend buying a device that can cover more space than needed to ensure maximum coverage.
Noise Level
You don’t want to replace one nuisance (allergens) with another (noise).
Look for an air purifier with a high CADR and a low level of sound produced. Different air purifiers have different noise levels. The noisiest units produce over 80 decibels of noise.
Since an air purifier for allergies will be on throughout the day, you’ll want a device with the least noise. Aim for a device rated less than 50 dB. These are considered ultra-quiet and produce less noise even when operating at maximum fan speed.
Common Questions About Air Purifiers for Allergies
🤔 Do Air Purifiers Really Help with Allergies?
In short, Yes.
If your allergies are triggered by pollutants, such as pollen, dander, and dust, a quality air purifier can help. Lung India conducted a study on asthma patients whose allergies were triggered by pet dander and found that symptoms improved after 10 weeks of staying and sleeping in a room fitted with a HEPA air purifier.
🤔 Is it Best to Leave Air Purifier On All the Time?
For allergies, Yes.
You want to remove allergens, such as pet dander and dust mites. Since dander will always be present in your home if you keep pets, leaving the air purifier on 24/7 is the surefire way to eliminate these pollutants.
🤔 What Is the Best Air Purifier for Allergies?
The best air purifiers for allergies are equipped with large HEPA filters. We’d recommend Taotronics AP003 for those who want an affordable yet high-performing pet dander and pollen device.
🤔 Are Ionizing Air Purifiers Safe?
While ionizing air purifiers do a stellar job at disinfecting the air, they should be used cautiously as they produce harmful ozone. According to EPA, even low ozone levels could cause coughing, throat irritation, chest pain, and shortness of breath. Be wary of any ionizer units that create large amounts of ozone.
🤔 How will I know if I have an allergy?
Although some of you will already have a pre-diagnosed allergy, many people will be going through life without being 100% sure, yet paying the price with a whole host of nasty side effects. While certain allergies are easier to diagnose, for example, certain foods or medications, it can be much harder to identify an allergy if it is commonly found in the air we breathe.
Tell-tale signs that you may be suffering from an allergy to airborne contaminants include:
- Itchy, watery eyes
- Itchy or runny nose
- Sneezing
- Rash or hives
- Swelling or redness
- Coughing and wheezing
- Stuffy sinuses or closing of the throat
- Chest tightness and shortness of breath
- Feeling faint, light-headed or dizzy
If you consistently show symptoms of an allergy, it’s best to speak with a doctor. Although identifying the root cause can be complicated and often invasive, your GP may be able to help provide a diagnosis.
🤔 What allergens can an air purifier help with?
An air purifier will help tackle a myriad of airborne allergens. From microscopic dust particles to chemical irritants such as formaldehyde, countless pollutants in your indoor air can trigger allergies.
To combat a specific allergen, you will need to assess whether it is gaseous or consists of particulate matter. This will then help you identify a purifier best suited to your needs, whether using a high-quality HEPA filter for allergens such as dust, pollen or pet dander or an Activated Carbon filter to tackle VOCs.
Each of the units on our list includes HEPA and Activated Carbon filters to work well against both types of allergen. We recommend combining the two to achieve comprehensive protection against allergies and thorough air cleaning performance.
🤔 How can I keep allergens out of my home for good?
Keeping your space allergen-free sounds like the ideal solution; however, it isn’t easy to achieve unless you plan to turn your home into a nuclear bunker.
This is because allergens exist everywhere we go. They are dragged into the home on our shoes, clothing and skin each time we go outside, and the pesky particles can even infiltrate our homes through vents and gaps in seals around windows and doors. While also emitting from our belongings, such as wooden furniture and carpeting.
Although it may be tricky to eradicate allergens, there are ways to minimize their effects. First and foremost, change certain habits to minimize allergies entering the home, such as leaving windows closed, storing coats and jackets in a separate cupboard and leaving shoes outdoors.
If you have a mold or dust build-up in your home, try to tackle the issue head-on, removing the existing allergens and keeping on top of cleaning. Try to keep pets away from bedrooms or communal areas where allergy sufferers spend time. Be sure to seal vents and areas around doors and windows where allergens may enter too.
With all these steps in place, an air purifier will work wonders at eradicating any other allergens that slip by your safeguarding measures.
How We Picked Our Top Choices
We don’t recommend units without being 100% confident in our real-life performance testing process. That’s why we test all the models we recommend in the same room (sized 705 cubic ft) performing the same job (removing incense smoke).
This allows us to compare units side by side and create “best” lists like this one. The most important features we considered when making this selection were:
- HEPA Filteration – When capturing allergens such as dust, pollen and pet dander, you need a high-quality HEPA filter, as found in the IQAir HealthPro Plus.
- Power – For fast-acting relief from allergies, you’ll want a purifier that can clean the air quickly. Like the Levoit Core 600S, the fastest purifier we’ve ever tested.
- Activated Carbon – Not all allergies are caused by ordinary particulate matter. Some people may also be allergic to VOCs such as formaldehyde, so choosing a unit that includes Activated Carbon, too, when it’s an extra option like the Smart Air Blast Mini is vital.
- Volume – Allergens don’t take the night off once you go to bed, so looking for a unit to operate while you sleep is essential. The Smart Health S runs at a super quiet 23 dB on its lowest setting, making it an excellent choice for light sleepers.
SOURCES
Monthly energy consumption costs have been calculated using our air purifier electricity usage calculator, which allows us to calculate daily and yearly costs associated with running an air purifier for 24hs a day.
You can customize the result by air purifier wattage and by state. In the case of the calculations we shared on this page, we used California as our base state for energy prices.
Last update on 2023-03-22 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API