7 Best Air Purifiers for Bird Dander

Anyone with a pet bird will tell you that they are notoriously messy. With food, feathers, and even feces scattered across the cage and surrounding room, it can often feel like a never-ending challenge to keep your home tidy, but it is most definitely worth it.

Due to the minute size of bird dander, it is easily breathed into the lungs, which can cause serious health issues over time. Fortunately, the upside to dander’s tiny particle size is that it remains airborne for a long time, so an air purifier can easily capture it, leaving the air in your home both clean and safe to breathe.

🤔 What is bird dander? Bird dander is composed of feathers and feather dust particles from birds. With natural movements like flapping its wings, a bird spreads its dander throughout a room. Sadly, bird dander, like other pet dander, can cause allergic reactions in pet owners or other pets.  Some birds, like parrots, emit ultrafine, powder-like dander that is nearly impossible to remediate without an air purifier. While bird dander is a healthy function in birds, it can be bothersome to allergy and asthma sufferers. Similar to how other pet dander can exacerbate breathability, so too can bird dander.

When looking for the right air purifier to help with bird dander it’s crucial to make sure it utilizes HEPA filters, which are capable of capturing particles as small as 0.3 microns, and an activated carbon filter, to help eradicate any unpleasant smells. 

However, it’s best to avoid any ionizing purifiers as they can emit ozone, which is dangerous for a bird to inhale. As they have small lungs and no noses, air purifiers with ionizers could be fatal to your feathery pets.

Don’t forget to bathe your bird often, and ensure its cage is cleaned and the cage liners are changed often. Regular cleaning will reduce bird dander not only in the room your birds live but also where it has spread. Regularly vacuuming carpets, curtains, and soft furnishings, and wiping down hard surfaces will all make a difference. 

We highly recommend investing in a vacuum cleaner that’s fitted with a HEPA filter to make sure the dander you’re removing isn’t recirculated back into the air. 

The Top 3 Air Purifiers For Bird Dander

To help you decide, we’ve picked our favorite 7 purifiers across different price ranges. Whether you’re looking for a budget option best suited to a small room like the Levoit Core 300, or a powerful purifier for a large space like IQAir Healthpro Plus, there is something for everyone in our choices.

1. IQAir Healthpro Plus

Smaller air purifiers are great when you have one or two birds in your home, but what about when you have more? Look no further than the IQAir Healthpro Plus. This unit will take care of all your needs when you have multiple birds shedding a lot of dander.

It may look big, but no room is wasted on the inside of this unit as it’s packed with a Pre-max filter, HyperHEPA filter, and packed to the nines with activated carbon in its V5-Cell filter. These have the ability to capture everything multiple birds can throw at them and can last up to 4 years, so there is no need to worry about changing them often.

This Swiss-made air purifier is rigorously tested in their purpose-built labs to guarantee you’re getting a top-quality product every time. The menu screen gives you up-to-date information on the air quality of your room, so you can adjust the settings accordingly.

What We Really Like:

👍 Contains 5lbs of Activated Charcoal
👍 HyperHEPA is one of the best filter technologies on the market
👍 Comes with a 10-year warranty
👍 Has wheels to move the unit if needed

What We Think Could Be Better:

👎 It is a very large unit
👎 Replacement filters are expensive

SPECS & FEATURES

Purifier technology:	Pre-max filter, V5-Cell Filter, HyperHEPA filter
CADR (CFM / m³/h):	300 CFM
Recommended room size:	450 sq. ft. to 1125 sq. ft.
Filter life:	4 years
Noise level (low – high):	25 – 69dB
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:	$476 per year

2. Levoit Core 600S

Levoit are at the top of the game when it comes to high-quality air purifiers at realistic prices. The 600S proved itself as one of our top-performing units in our HouseFresh tests. Not only that but we love how much technology they crammed into this unit whilst keeping it lightweight and on a budget. With its high-spec filters and ability to clear rooms fast, the 600S makes for a perfect candidate to tackle bird dander.

The 600S houses a three-stage filtration system which includes a pre-filter, H13 True HEPA with HEPASmart technology™, and a high-efficiency ARC Formula™ activated carbon filter which adsorbs any odors your birds give off.

It’s really easy to control with features like a timer, sleep mode, and a display lock. On the back of the unit is a smart sensor that gives you air quality readings in real time. If you switch the unit to auto, then it will automatically change its fan speed to reflect the quality of the air. Ideal if your birds often get into a flutter.

What We Really Like:

👍 You connect and control the 600S to a smartphone app
👍 The air quality is displayed using a color-coded LED ring
👍 Weights only 13.7 lbs
👍 Uses minimal energy in sleep mode

What We Think Could Be Better:

👎 The pre-filter cannot be removed to clean
👎 The air quality sensor is on the back so can’t be placed too close to a wall

SPECS & FEATURES

Purifier technology:	H13 True HEPA filter
CADR (CFM / m³/h):	410 CFM
Recommended room size:	635 to 1,588 sq. ft.
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

3. Honeywell HPA300

There’s a good reason why you’ll probably see this unit in medical waiting rooms across the country. The Honeywell HPA300 is great if you’re looking for a simple turn-on-and-go type of unit with its high-performance fan, True HEPA filters, and activated carbon mesh. There are no complicated functions to get your head around, just sit back and let it clear your room of bird dander.

Instead of the usual one-piece HEPA filter, Honeywell has gone with three smaller filters which can be replaced individually if needed. True HEPA filters have the ability to capture up to 99.97% of microparticles which include dust, smoke, and bird dander.

This air purifier performed amazingly well in our performance testing, especially for a unit in its price bracket. The only real issue we faced was the amount of energy it uses. If you’re using this air purifier on full speed all day, the costs can rack up, but the good thing is, with its high performance, you will rarely need to have it on max for more than an hour at a time.

What We Really Like:

👍 Straightforward, easy-to-use controls
👍 Doesn’t take up much floor space 
👍 There’s no set-up needed, ready to use out of the box
👍 Replacement filters are easy to come by

What We Think Could Be Better:

👎 It gets quite loud on full speed
👎 I would like to see an air quality indicator

SPECS & FEATURES

Purifier technology:	Activated carbon pre-filter and True HEPA filter
CADR (CFM / m³/h):	300 CFM
Recommended room size:	465 sq. ft.
Filter life:	Replace Certified HEPA Filters 1x per year. Replace genuine pre-filters every 3 months.
Noise level (low – high):	48.3 – 71.2dB
Dimensions (in inches / in cm):	20.8L x 10.83W x 22.38H inches / 52.8L x 27.5W x 56.8H  cm
Weight (in pounds / in kg):	17 lbs / 7.7 kg
Energy consumption:	$189.01 per year

4. Smart Air S

If you pride yourself on your home being modern and fashionable, then you probably don’t want a big air purifier ruining the aesthetic. Well, we got you covered with the beautifully designed Smart Air S that would complement any room. It may be small, but this unit contains a high-powered fan and H11 HEPA filter.

Smart Air have made it their mission to deliver powerful, easy-to-use air purifiers at affordable prices, and the Smart Air S demonstrates this. If your bird(s) live in a small to medium room, this unit will make light work of their dander, removing it from the air whilst looking cool and sophisticated.

It cleared our performance room in just 29 minutes, showing how impressive this little unit is. The downside is that it doesn’t come with an activated carbon filter as standard, so we would highly recommend spending the extra $$$ as it will capture all of those odors which birds produce. 

What We Really Like:

👍 The price is competitive for a unit with this CADR
👍 It doesn’t have an ionizer
👍 It’s very energy efficient
👍 Well designed

What We Think Could Be Better:

👎 There’s no auto function
👎 We’d like to see a digital display

SPECS & FEATURES

Purifier technology:	HEPA H11 and activated charcoal (optional)
CADR (CFM / m³/h):	185 CFM / 315 m3/h
Recommended room size:	430 sq. ft.
Filter life:	6 months
Noise level (low – high):	23 – 52dB
Dimensions (in inches / in cm):	13 x 13 x 14.3 inches
Weight (in pounds / in kg):	10.1 lbs / 4.5 kg
Energy consumption:	$112.97 per year

5. Levoit Core 400S

You’ll notice a few models from Levoit in this list, and for good reason. They are leading the way in air purifiers that are packed with new technology, smart features, and high-performance filters, all at a price that won’t break the bank. The Levoit Core 400S holds up this standard when it comes to clearing bird dander from medium-sized rooms.

The control panel on this unit gives you everything you’ll need in an air purifier. Here you can control its four fan speeds, set the timer, engage auto and sleep mode, and the digital display gives you an accurate reading of the air quality in your room in real-time in both numerical and color-coded LEDs.

The 400S contains a three-stage filtration system that includes a pre-filter, H13 True HEPA filter, and a high-efficiency activated carbon filter. This all-in-one cylindrical design filter can last up to 12 months and is super easy to replace when the time comes.

What We Really Like:

👍 Connects to Levoit’s smartphone app to control and monitor settings
👍 Very energy efficient
👍 Has handles to easily move between rooms
👍 Auto mode uses the air quality sensor to change fan speed accordingly 

What We Think Could Be Better:

👎 Replacement filters are on the expensive side
👎 It doesn’t “blend in” to your room 

SPECS & FEATURES

Purifier technology:	H13 True HEPA filter
CADR (CFM / m³/h):	260 CFM / 442 m³/h
Recommended room size:	403 sq. ft.
Filter life:	6 – 12 months
Noise level (low – high):	24 – 52dB
Dimensions (in inches / in cm):	10.8L x 10.8W x 20.5H in / 27.4 x 27.4 x 52 cm
Weight (in pounds / in kg):	14.12 lbs / 6.4 kg
Energy consumption:	$82.55 per year

6. Levoit Core 300

If the 400S has more features than you think you’ll ever use, try out the smaller, more basic Levoit Core 300. This air purifier can sit just about anywhere, quietly working away to clear any bird dander floating around your home. It’s easy to use with just three fan speeds, a night mode, and a timer.

Under the hood is the same Core three-stage filter technology, just a little smaller. There’s a pre-filter, H13 True HEPA filter, and an activated carbon filter that will clear smaller rooms of bird and other pet dander and won’t cost you the world to replace.

The Core 300 is lightweight and energy-efficient, pulling 35.9 watts on its highest fan speed, meaning you could leave it running for long periods of time without the worry of a large energy bill to follow. Ideal if your bird kicks out a lot of dander throughout the day.

What We Really Like:

👍 Perfect for those on a budget costing less than $100
👍 It’s super quiet on sleep mode
👍 Replacement filters are easy to come by
👍 You can set the timer mode to 2, 4, 6, or 8 hours

What We Think Could Be Better:

👎 Wish it had an air quality sensor
👎 You can’t use it with the Levoit app

SPECS & FEATURES

Purifier technology:	H13 (Medical) Grade HEPA and activated charcoal
CADR (CFM / m³/h):	145 CFM / 246 m3/h
Recommended room size:	219 ft² to 547 ft²
Filter life:	Every 6 – 8 months
Noise level (low – high):	24 dB – 50 dB
Dimensions (in inches / in cm):	8.7L x 8.7W x 14.2H inches / 22 x 22 x 36 cm
Weight (in pounds / in kg):	3.9 kg / 8.6 lbs
Energy consumption:	$97.76 per year

7. Austin Air Allergy Machine B405 (HM405)

If you’re looking for an air purifier for a large room, or you have multiple birds together, then we have the unit for you. The American-made Austin Air Allergy Machine B405(HM405) is a powerhouse air cleaning machine that can remove bird dander from rooms up to 1500 sq. ft. without even breaking a sweat. We recently got a chance to review the Austin Air Healthmate which uses more activated charcoal but a similar design fan and system.

Austin Air have packed the Allergy Machine with a four-stage, 360-degree filtration system consisting of a Permafilter™ large particle pre-filter, medium particle pre-filter, medical grade True HEPA filter, and an activated carbon filter which contains a huge 15lbs of carbon.

There’s no complicated smart controls on this air purifier, only a simple switch to change between its three fan speeds. What makes this unit so efficient is its high-powered fan and the strength of its filters. These combined make this air purifier the ideal candidate for a home with birds.

What We Really Like:

👍 Simple/easy to use with one switch operation
👍 The filter can last up to 5 years
👍 Has wheels to move between rooms
👍 Can filter bird dander from any angle

What We Think Could Be Better:

👎 Could be quieter on the highest fan speed
👎 It uses more energy than most other air purifiers

SPECS & FEATURES

Purifier technology:	Medical-Grade HEPA Filter with activated carbon and 2-stage pre-filter.
CADR (CFM / m³/h):	400 CFM
Recommended room size:	Up to 1500 sq. ft.
Filter life:	5 years
Noise level (low – high):	40 – 62dB
Dimensions (in inches / in cm):	23H x 14.5W x 14.5D inches (58.5H x 37W x 37D cm)
Weight (in pounds / in kg):	47 lbs. (21.3 kg)
Energy consumption:	$286.77 per year

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Common Questions About Air Purifiers for Bird Dander

🤔 How do I get rid of bird dander?

Having a bird as a pet is fun. Birds are calm and beautiful and require little to no maintenance. However, on the other hand, most birds inevitably produce danders, and it can be quite messy.

So, if you are a pet bird owner, then you might have noticed some light-colored flecks on the back of your bird when you look closely at it. This is most likely dander. In this article, we will discuss what causes bird danders and how to get rid of bird danders. 

• Use an air purifier: This will reduce allergy symptoms and keep the air in the room clean.
• Pay attention to the hygiene of the bird: Give it regular baths, clean the cage of the bird frequently, change the cage bottom, and vacuum and mop the areas around it. 
• Choose rooms that have floorboards, not carpets, to keep the birds. It is easier to clean floorboards. 
• Replace the air conditioning filters at least monthly

When you are conscious of danders, you can control them and ensure that they do not cause any form of harm. 

🤔 What causes bird dander?

Dander is the by-product of the new growth of a bird’s feather. When the feather of a bird is forming newly, it is coated with a substance called keratin. As the feather matures, the keratin begins to dry off, thus breaking off into smaller particles called Danders. 

🤔 Why should you get rid of dander?

In external conditions, dander is not harmful. This is because outdoor birds are in constant motion, thus causing the dander to scatter around. However, this is not the case for pet birds kept indoors. For these birds, the danders tend to build up and get to concentration levels that harm the human system. This is why you need to get rid of them.

🤔 What kind of air filtration systems should I use?

There are three important air purifier features to consider when purchasing one specifically to remediate bird dander. First of all, a large, high-quality True HEPA filter is necessary to filter bird dander, particularly fine bird dust. Next, it’s of utmost importance that the purifier you select has an efficient fan and motor. This is important because optimal airflow is necessary to ensure effective air purification. Finally, it’s imperative to choose an air purifier that is safe for your bird’s health. Some air purifiers emit ozone as they circulate air; ozone can be harmful to birds. Notably, HEPA filtration systems do not emit ozone.

🤔 What allergies can bird dander trigger?

Bird dander can trigger an array of allergic reactions. The most common reaction triggered by bird dander is allergic rhinitis, better known as hayfever. Similar to the symptoms allergy sufferers experience in other instances, bird dander may cause sneezing, coughing, sore throat, postnasal drip, and watery, itchy eyes. 

Another common allergy symptom results in under-eye circles also referred to as allergic shiners. In severe cases, allergic reactions could cause labored breathing, reduced lung capacity, and even weight loss. Although a good air purifier can certainly reduce the presence of bird dander in your home, if your reactions are severe, you may consider avoiding birds altogether.

So… Which Air Purifier is Best For You?

Each of the air purifiers reviewed herein is effective at filtering bird dander. As noted above, one of the three most important purifier features to consider is the type of filter the purifier is equipped with. Selecting a purifier equipped with HEPA filters will effectively remediate bird dander, especially the ultrafine, powder-like dander that some birds spread. Moreover, air purifiers with a powerful fan and motor are essential to ensure adequate airflow. Finally, choosing an air purification system that does not emit harmful ozone is necessary for your bird’s health.

Carefully selecting the best purifier for your space, however, is a personal choice. Although each of these air purifiers will successfully remove bird dander from the air, choosing a purifier that best fits your intended space is important. Be mindful of the size of the room in which you’ll use the purifier, and pay special attention to the square footage the purifier is suitable for. If noise is a concern, also be mindful of the noise levels of the purifier at different fan speeds. 

Other considerations to make include energy efficiency, preferred user interface, whether or not it’s equipped with auto mode, if the purifier has a timer, and the cost and ease of filter maintenance. Ultimately, each of the above air purifiers will effectively address bird dander, so making these other personal considerations will help to narrow down the best one for you.

Last update on 2023-06-02 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API