Dust mites are microscopic, bug-like creatures that occur naturally and can be found in practically every home worldwide. Thriving on a diet of dead skin cells (the primary component of dust) and absorbing moisture from the air, they love to make their homes with soft furnishings such as bedsheets, carpets and curtains.
While they are generally harmless to most, these tiny critters (and their fecal matter) can be a major cause of allergic reactions for millions of people, including:
- Irritation of the nose, throat, eyes and skin
- Sinus pressure and congestion
- Coughing and sneezing
- Trouble sleeping
- Respiratory issues amongst people living with asthma
- Increased likelihood of severe asthma attack
While the proper medication can help alleviate symptoms, the most effective defense is to attack the source directly and remove dust mites from your home. Although dust mites and their feces are so small the human eye cannot see them, they can easily be removed from the air using a HEPA filter.
In this article, I will walk you through the best air purifiers you can use at home to eliminate dust mites and their feces from the air. Every unit I will recommend has been thoroughly tested to ensure you won’t be wasting your money.
- 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.
Using this data, we can compare air purifiers and choose the best ones for various issues.
This is the criteria we used for selecting the products on this list:
- HEPA filtration – With dust mite feces (the main cause of your allergy) ranging in size between 10-40 microns, our recommendations utilize HEPA filters, which offer a certified way of removing particles as small as 0.3 microns but can remove even smaller particles.
- High CADR score – The CADR (clean air delivery rate) indicates how quickly the purifier will remove contaminants. With dust, you want to remove it quickly, so a solid CADR score is essential.
- Low level of sound generated – Allergens don’t take the night off once you go to bed, so looking for a unit to operate while sleeping is essential.
- Powerful fan – For fast-acting allergy relief, you’ll want a purifier to clean the air quickly before dust mite particles can be breathed in.
If you want more guidance and advice, this presentation from the CDC has a ton of helpful information on removing exposure to dust mites
Staff picks: Top 3 air purifiers for dust mites
Don’t want to read the full article? Here are the three best air purifiers for dust mite particles available on the market today.
| 👑 BEST OVERALL | 💰 FOR TIGHT BUDGETS | 🛋️ FOR LARGE SPACES | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alen BreatheSmart Flex | Shark HP102 | Levoit EverestAir | |
 |  |  | |
| AIR CLEANING SPEED ⚡ | 34 minutes | 38 minutes | 13 minutes |
| CADR 👩🔬 | 225 CFM | 92 CFM | 360 CFM |
| FILTER TECHNOLOGY 💨 | HEPA and Activated Charcoal Filter – you can choose options when you first order | NanoSeal™ Filter (True HEPA Multi-Filter with Microban® antimicrobial coating) | 3-Stage Filtration (Pre-filter, H13 HEPA and activated carbon) |
| MAX ROOM SIZE 📏 | Up to 700 sq. ft. | up to 200 sq. ft. | 558 sq. ft. |
| WEIGHT ⚖️ | 15 lbs (6.8 kg) | 5.85 lbs (2.7 kg) | 20.7 lbs (9.38 kg) |
| OUR REVIEW 🔍 | Alen Flex review | Shark HP102 review | EverestAir review |
| PRICE 💵 | $269.00 | $129.99 | $266.79 |
Last update on 2024-04-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
That’s our top three, but keep reading for more info on each one to find out which other air purifiers we recommend for dust mite allergies.
1. Best overall: Alen BreatheSmart Flex
Alen shows their flex-ible side with this sophisticated air purifier containing filters that pack a punch against dust mites.
Alen has been in this game for a while, gaining worldwide success for their range of high-performance air purifiers for various needs and room sizes. For those who suffer from dust mite allergies, I recommend the Breathsmart Flex.
The Flex impressed me straight off the bat with its slick design, easy-to-use operation and, most of all, its cleaning performance. With a CADR of 225 CFM, the Flex cleared our performance room of contaminants (including dust mites) in just 34 minutes.
What we really like
What we think could be better
Alen offers the choice of four different filters to accompany your Flex. The one I recommend to tackle dust mites is the Pure, which is a thick H13 (medical grade) HEPA filter with activated carbon pellets that is capable of trapping 99.9% of contaminants.
The Alen Flex is a simplified version of their flagship air purifier model, the Alen 45i. It has the same filter options and fan but loses smart features like auto-mode and app support. If you want these features, I recommend going for the upgrade.
SPECS & FEATURES
| HouseFresh Rating: | ★★★★☆ |
| Time to clean our test room: | 34 minutes |
| Air purifier technology: | H13 HEPA with an option for activated charcoal (Fresh, Odorcell and Heavy Smoke options available) |
| Recommended room size: | 700 sq. ft. |
| Clean air delivery rate (CADR): | 225 CFM (Smoke: 191 / Pollen: 245 / Dust: 209) |
| Dimensions (in inches / in cm): | 25H x 15W x 8.5D inches (63.5 x 38.1 x 21.59 cm) |
| Weight (in pounds / in kg): | 15 lbs (6.8 kg) |
| Noise level (measured from 3 ft. away): | Speed 1: 35.7 dB Speed 2: 45.5 dB Speed 3: 50.7 dB |
| Filter life: | Every 9-12 months |
| Electricity consumption (kilowatt-hour): | Standby mode: 0.8 kWh Speed 1: 2.9 kWh Speed 2: 6.3 kWh Speed 3: 14 kWh Speed 4: 24.2 kWh |
| Estimated running costs (electricity consumption + filter replacements): | $94.23 per year |
| Manufacturer’s warranty: | Lifetime (with product registration & active filter subscription) |
| Country of manufacture: | China |
Like the look of the BreatheSmart Flex but want more smart features? We pit two of Alen’s units head-to-head in Alen BreatheSmart Flex VS 45i: Which one is better?
2. Best for large rooms: Levoit EverestAir
A powerhouse of an air purifier that will tackle dust mites in large rooms without even breaking a sweat.
The EverestAir is a standout air purifier, effective and robust in swiftly eradicating dust mites and a plethora of airborne allergens from large spaces. It achieves remarkable speed, cycling the air of a 558 sq. ft. room five times every hour and refreshing areas up to 2790 sq. ft. once per hour. It took a mere 13 minutes to completely clean the air in our test room.
With an extra-large fan driven by Levoit’s Vortex Air technology and featuring a True H13 HEPA filter, this unit can remove particles as small as 0.3 microns, including those pesky 250-micron-sized dust mites.
What we really like
What we think could be better
Despite its potent performance, EverestAir maintains an impressively low annual operating cost compared to other units with similar air filtration capabilities.
Furthermore, its operation is notably quiet, particularly in sleep mode, where noise levels can drop as low as 24 dB. Adding to its sleep-friendly features, the built-in light sensor automatically turns off display lights during sleeping hours, ensuring an uninterrupted slumber.
When we tested this device at its lowest fan speed, it could still remove all particles measuring 1 micron and larger in 25 minutes.
SPECS & FEATURES
| HouseFresh Rating: | ★★★★★ |
| Time to clean our test room: | 13 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: | 558 sq. ft. |
| Clean air delivery rate (CADR): | 360 CFM (612 m3/h) |
| Dimensions (in inches / in cm): | 18.9L x 8.5W x 23.2H inches (48L x 21.6W x 58.9H cm) |
| Weight (in pounds / in kg): | 20.7 lbs (9.38 kg) |
| Noise level (low – high): | 24 – 56dB |
| Filter life: | 12-15 months |
| Warranty: | 2 years |
| Estimated energy consumption: | $87.25 per year |
| Country of manufacture: | China |
3. Best for small rooms: Shark HP102
The ideal air purifier for any small dust mite-infested room — it’s small, it’s smart, it’s Shark.
You’ve probably heard of the Shark brand before with their large range of electrical devices. The brand is well known for its innovative engineering and high-quality products. So when we got our hands on the HP102, we expected the same.
We weren’t disappointed. This mini air purifier packs a punch at clearing dust mites, has low running costs and comes equipped with all the smart features you expect from a more expensive unit.
What we really like
What we think could be better
Shark has engineered a HEPA filter with a difference to trap those pesky dust mites from your home. They state their Anti-Allergen NanoSeal™ technology “captures more micropolutants than HEPA standards require.” As well as NanoSeal™, this filter also contains activated carbon pellets that remove odors and VOCs from the air.
The HP102 comes with a timer, child lock, auto mode and a that monitors air quality and presents the data on its front display screen. As well as a color wheel AQI, the screen tells you the current percentage of clean air and how long it will take for the unit to clean the remainder.
Fancy stuff for a budget unit.
SPECS & FEATURES
| HouseFresh Rating: | ★★★★★ |
| Time to clean our test room: | 38 minutes |
| Air purifier technology: | NanoSeal™ Filter (True HEPA Multi-Filter with Microban® antimicrobial coating) |
| Recommended room size: | 500 sq. ft. (but it can only do 1.38 ACH so we recommend a minimum of 200 sq. ft.) |
| Clean air delivery rate (CADR): | 92 CFM |
| Dimensions (in inches / in cm): | 8.66D x 8.66W x 14.56H inches (22D x 22W x 27H cm) |
| Weight (in pounds / in kg): | 5.85 lbs (2.7 kg) |
| Noise level (low – high): | 41.7 – 56.5 dB |
| Filter life: | 6-12 months |
| Warranty: | 2 year limited warranty |
| Estimated energy consumption: | $25.23 per year |
| Country of manufacture: | China |
4. Best budget option for large rooms: Levoit Core 600S
Want air cleaning power without breaking the bank? Check out the Core 600S — especially if you have a large room.
Another high-performance air purifier from Levoit, the Core 600S boasts a massive CADR of 410 CFM, comes packed with smart features like air quality sensors and app connectivity and still manages to come at the cost of a budget unit.
It features a HEPA H13 with pelleted activated carbon and offers a powerful air cleaning performance: it’s currently ranking as the second fastest air purifier we’ve tested in our home lab – removing particles sized 0.1 microns, completing the job in a rapid 15 minutes.
What we really like
The 600S is Levoit’s elite air purifier in their Core range for those who have large spaces to clean and a budget to stick to. As well as having a low initial price for the unit, the 600S is energy efficient, with low running costs and plenty of generic replacement filters to save more money.
If, like me, you like your air purifier with smart features, the 600S has everything you’ll need to clear dust mites with minimal effort. With a timer, sleep mode, auto mode and four fan speeds, you can also monitor your air quality and control the unit from anywhere in the world using Levoit’s VeSync app.
SPECS & FEATURES
| HouseFresh Rating: | ★★★★★ |
| Time to clean our test room: | 15 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: | 635 sq. ft. |
| Clean air delivery rate (CADR): | 410 CFM (697 m³/h) |
| Dimensions (in inches / in cm): | 12.3 x 12.3 x 23.6 inches (31.3 x 31.3 x 60 cm) |
| Weight (in pounds / in kg): | 13.7 lbs (6.2 kg) |
| Noise level (measured from 3 ft. away): | Speed 1: 40.9 dB Speed 2: 45.9 dB Speed 3: 61.4 dB |
| Filter life: | 6 months |
| Electricity consumption (kilowatt-hour): | Standby mode: 1.53 kWh Speed 1: 7.92 kWh Speed 2: 11.35 kWh Speed 3: 21.15 kWh Speed 4: 49.27 kWh |
| Estimated running costs (electricity consumption + filter replacements): | $107.29 per year |
| Manufacturer’s warranty: | 2 years |
| Country of manufacture: | China |
5. Best with ionizer function: Blueair Blue Pure 211+
The stylish option for those who have an eye for design — an excellent air purifier with an ionizer.
The Blue Pure range from Blueair uses an electrostatic process called HEPASilent™, enabling their HEPA filters to remove more dust mites from your room with the same amount of electricity at a whisper-quiet noise level.
The Blueair 211 removed particles as small as 0.1 microns in 18 minutes; in comparison, dust mites measure 250 to 350 microns, so this air purifier will easily remove them. With a CADR of 350 CFM, the 211+ can enable many air changes in larger rooms.
What we really like
What we think could be better
Beyond its impressive performance, the Blueair 211+ boasts a simple and contemporary design. It features an interchangeable fabric mesh pre-filter for the unit’s exterior that captures larger pollutants, extending the lifespan of the HEPASilent filter and adding a unique touch of customizable color to the usual white looks.
The 211+’s design is also characterized by its minimalism and user-friendliness. Equipped with a unique button for power control and fan speed selection, this air purifier offers an intuitive and straightforward operation.
SPECS & FEATURES
| HouseFresh Rating: | ★★★★☆ |
| Time to clean our test room: | 18 minutes |
| Air purifier technology: | HEPASilent™ Technology and Activated Charcoal Filter + Ionizer technology |
| Recommended room size: | 540 sq. ft. |
| Clean air delivery rate (CADR): | 350 CFM |
| Dimensions (in inches / in cm): | 20H x 13W x 13D inches (51H x 33W x 33D cm) |
| Weight (in pounds / in kg): | 12.5 lbs (5.67 kg) |
| Noise level (measured from 3 ft. away): | Speed 1: 37.2 dB Speed 2: 45.8 dB Speed 3: 55.7 dB |
| Filter life: | 6 – 8 months |
| Electricity consumption (kilowatt-hour): | Standby mode: 0.1 kWh Speed 1: 16.9 kWh Speed 2: 40.5 kWh Speed 3: 54.5 kWh |
| Estimated running costs (electricity consumption + filter replacements): | $117.50 per year |
| Manufacturer’s warranty: | 1 year |
| Country of manufacture: | Designed and engineered in Sweden, assembled in China |
Other units we tested but don’t recommend for dust mite allergies
- Medify MA-25 – This air purifier may come equipped with a high-grade H13 HEPA filter, but unfortunately, they are small and only have a lifespan of 3-4 months and cost a lot more than other brands. This means you’ll spend a lot of your time and money running this unit.
- AROEVE MK01 – This budget air purifier may look great on paper, but we were extremely disappointed when we tested its cleaning performance in our home lab. It only managed to clear less than 100% of airborne pollutants in 2 hours 43 minutes. One to keep clear of if you suffer from a dust mite allergy.
- Okaysou AirMax 10L Pro – TikTok has produced great hype for this unit, but don’t believe everything you hear. In our performance tests, we discovered this air purifier is sub-par compared to its competitors.
What to look for when buying an air purifier for dust mite allergies
Allergies are no joke; they can make your time indoors a living nightmare. We already know that an air purifier can remove nearly 100% of those nasty allergens from your home, but not any air purifier will do.
Here are a few considerations to ensure you’re getting the right air purifier for your needs.
1. Does it come with high-quality particle filters?
The part of an air purifier that removes dust mites from your room is its filters. These trap microscopic particles like allergens in a pleated sheet made up of tightly woven fibers, removing them from the air.
If you buy an air purifier that doesn’t contain these filters or use different technologies like an ionizer, they don’t remove dust mites effectively, leaving you in the same place you started in.
2. How big is your room?
When it comes to allergy relief, you’ll most likely want the biggest unit your budget will allow, but in some cases, bigger is not always better.
The size of your room plays a big part in which air purifier you will need. A small unit in a large space won’t clear allergens from your air effectively, and a large unit in a small space will be overkill, waste energy, and cost you much more than you need to spend.
3. How much power do you need?
As you research air purifiers for dust mite allergies, you will come across the words clean air delivery rate or CADR. This is how manufacturers measure the unit’s cleaning performance.
As a general rule, the higher the CADR, the more powerful a unit is. But, as with room size, you want to look for an air purifier that matches your space requirements.
That’s why we’ve created a CADR calculator. Simply input your room measurements and it will automatically tell you what CADR an air purifier needs to remove harmful contaminants from that space effectively.
4. Do you need/want smart features?
Personally, after I’ve looked at cleaning performance, I like to see what smart features an air purifier has. When it’s available, I will always use the auto mode, monitor the quality of my air with a unit’s built-in sensors and AQI and control all of that through an app.
As smart features usually come at an extra cost, you need to consider which smart functions will make your life easier and which you could live without before choosing an air purifier for your home.
For those with serious dust mite allergies, you will likely not benefit much from smart features as you will likely want to leave your air purifier running continuously.
Common questions about air purifiers for dust mite allergies
As well as being unsightly, dust exposure can negatively affect your health, especially if you are allergic.
Studies have shown that breathing in dust particles regularly can cause:
– Respiratory problems
– Asthma flare-ups
– Allergic reactions
– Coughing
– Sneezing
– Irritation to your eyes
The longer you breathe these particles in, the more at risk you are. So, getting the right air purifier should be your first line of defense.
Dust mites are microscopic, common indoor insect-like pests. They generate the typical allergens that trigger allergic reactions or even asthma in people. There can be thousands of dust mites living in a home. They live inside carpets and curtains, in upholstered furniture, bedding and mattresses.
However, they aren’t parasites and don’t bite, sting, or burrow inside us. Instead, dust mites feed off the dead human skin cells that collect inside the dust. They do create harmful allergens, and this comes from their body fragments and fecal pellets. These are well-known irritants, as detectable traces are found in at least a single bed in four out of five homes in the United States alone.
Allergy-based reactions from dust mites range from mild to severe. In mild cases, people can react with a runny nose, sneezing often, or watery eyes. These are similar reactions to other allergens like pollen.
It can get severe, unfortunately. In these cases, people can experience exasperated, more chronic symptoms. This includes a persistent cough or sneezing, congestion and facial pressure. Severe reactions can also include an asthma attack for those with respiratory issues.
According to the ACAAI, dust allergies can be triggered by dust mites, mold, pollen and/or pet dander and most attacks are triggered by these allergens in your own home. Introducing an air purifier is the most effective way of removing these allergens from your air.
When looking for an air purifier to remove dust from the air, you will need a unit that contains a pre-filter and HEPA grade (or equivalent) filter. A good pre-filter combined with a high-efficiency particle air filter will trap dust particles that pass through them, removing them from the air.
Yes. Air purifiers with the right filters are more than capable of removing dust from the air. But here’s the rub…they only remove airborne dust.
If you want to ensure your home is as dust-free as possible (it will never be 100%), you must keep a thorough and regimented cleaning regime. Check out our guide that covers common causes of household dust and how to remove it.
If you suffer from allergies, the best product you can use as a line of defense is an air purifier.
Air purifiers remove allergens like dust, pollen and dander from the air by passing your air through a series of filters that trap these harmful particles, giving you fresh, allergen-free air to breathe. Humidifiers add moisture to the air; they don’t clean it.
For more information, check out our full guide, Humidifier vs. Air Purifier: What’s the Difference?
Dust mite allergens commonly live on fabric surfaces like carpet, bedding and furniture. They can’t jump or fly, but when they become airborne (shaking your sheets when making your bed, for example), they can travel through the air to other locations and settle.
This is why a strict and thorough household cleaning regime is so important. If you suffer badly from a dust mite allergy, The American Lung Association suggests washing your bedding once a week in water at least 120 degrees, replacing carpets with hard-surfaced flooring, dusting regularly and using HEPA filters to remove dust from your environment.
Yes. Allergists like the American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology strongly recommend using an air purifier in your home as they are scientifically proven to remove allergens from indoor air.
But as I’ve already stated, you will need an air purifier that contains a high-quality particle filter like HEPA. These types of filters can remove up to 99.97% of microscopic airborne allergens like dust, pollen and pet dander.
Wrapping up
Dust mites are common pollutants throughout most homes and because of that, many people constantly suffer from allergy-related symptoms such as coughing and sneezing. Getting rid of these microscopic pests isn’t always straightforward since you can’t see them, but you can handle the allergens released from their body fragments through a quality air purifier.
But what is the best air purifier for dust mite allergies? Always look for the likes of HEPA filtration since that can capture such small pollutants with many handling issues as tiny as 0.3 microns. From there, you should determine what extra features you want and the power size (CADR) best suits your home and needs.
Last update on 2024-04-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
