The best air purifiers you can buy right now

COVID-19 and wildfire smoke covering the NYC skyline showed the importance of keeping the air in our homes clean of pollutants.

Sadly, the air purifier industry is full of many bad actors, with manufacturers claiming lab reports that don’t exist and exaggerating room size recommendations — and even big media publications recommending sub-par devices just to earn a higher affiliate commission off your purchase.

But improving the air quality inside your home doesn’t need to burn a hole in your pocket.

Since 2020, we have bought and thoroughly tested 105 air purifiers (and counting!) with the goal of separating the good from the absolute scams.

HouseFresh picks: The best air purifiers we tested

These are our recommendations for the best air purifiers you can buy today.

After all our testing, I am confident that these air purifiers are the best units you can buy today based on their reliability, air cleaning performance and yearly running costs:

	BEST OVERALL	BEST BUDGET	BEST SMALL	FOR LARGE ROOMS	FOR SMOKE	QUIETEST	MOST SYLISH	FOR OFFICES	DIY OPTION
	Levoit Vital 200S	AirFanta 3Pro	Winix A231/A230	Levoit Core 600S	IQAir HealthPro Plus	CleanAirKits Luggable XL-7	Winix T810/T830	Smart Air Blast Mini	CR Box
HouseFresh PM1 CADR	260 cfm	353 cfm	148 cfm	375 cfm	213 cfm	323 cfm	229 cfm	400 cfm	274 cfm
Filter technology	Particle + carbon	H11 HEPA + carbon	True HEPA + carbon	Particle + carbon	HyperHEPA + carbon	MERV 13	True HEPA + carbon	H13 HEPA + carbon	MERV 13
Max room size (5 ACH)	390 sq. ft.	529 sq. ft.	222 sq. ft.	562 sq. ft.	319 sq. ft.	485 sq. ft.	343 sq. ft.	600 sq. ft.	411 sq. ft.
Noise levels	38-57 dB	36-56 dB	35-57 dB	40-61 dB	36-61 dB	38.8 dB	35-62 dB	44-56 dB	49-60 dB
Yearly running costs	$94.54	$125.23	$119.54	$195.13	$421.47	$101.65	$121.99	$295.27	$231.83
List price	$189.99	$159.99	$99.99	$299.99	$949.00	$299.00	$219.00	$599.00	$85.00

The Vital 200S is our top choice because it offers good air cleaning performance without ionization, is relatively quiet, has a removable pre-filter, doesn’t take up lots of space, has smart functions, connects to your phone AND costs less than $200. This device will tick off most boxes for most people. 

With the Vital 200S you will get excellent performance at top speed and quiet speeds, smart functions and app connectivity for an affordable price. It completed our particle removal test in just 23 minutes — which is nearly as fast as devices costing upwards of $500.

➜ Read our full review

➜ Watch our video review

2. Best value for money: AirFanta 3Pro

The PC fan-powered 3Pro is one of the best-performing air purifiers to date with a super budget-friendly initial price.

With a design inspired by the Corsi-Rosenthal Box, the 3Pro is a box with a plastic base, four H11 HEPA filters (with optional pelleted carbon) at each side and four PC fans on top. You can disassemble and reassemble the 3Pro to bring it with you inside a carry-on suitcase or large backpack wherever you go.

In our particle removal test, the AirFanta 3Pro removed all the PM1 pollutants from our incense smoke test in 17 minutes. The 3Pro ranks #5 as one of the fastest air purifiers we tested, and you can buy it for less than $160.

➜ Read our full review

➜ Watch our video review

3. Best for small spaces: Winix A231 (a.k.a. Zero Compact)

Affordable, energy-efficient and compact, the Winix A231 (or A230 in black) is a great choice for rooms smaller than 200 sq. ft.

I recommend people buy air purifiers with a minimum CADR of 200 cfm because small tabletop devices are usually underpowered, run loud, and need filters changed more regularly than larger units. That said, if you need a small device, look no further than the Winix A231 (or A230 in black). It offers better air cleaning performance than all other small air purifiers we’ve tested, and you can buy it for less than $80. 

This is a small air purifier, so you shouldn’t use it in rooms larger than 200 sq. ft. However, if you have limited space and need to find a small device you can place on top of a side table, then the Winix A231 is the best option on the market.

➜ Read our full review

➜ Watch our video review

4. Best for large spaces: Levoit Core 600S

The 600S offers an impressive CADR of 373 cfm (dust), smart functions and app connectivity for less than $300.

In the past, if you needed to clean the air in an area larger than 500 sq. ft., you would need to pay upwards of $500. But in 2025, you can get up to five (5!) air changes per hour in spaces up to 559 sq. ft. for just $299.99 if you get yourself a Levoit Core 600S.

For less than $300, the Levoit Core 600S includes an auto-mode, an onboard screen showing current air quality levels and even app support. For raw cleaning power for larger spaces, the Core 600S offers the most bang for your buck in rooms of up to 559 sq. ft. Be aware, though, that this is a big air purifier that will require floor space.

➜ Read our full review

5. Best for smoke and odors: IQAir HealthPro Plus

A Swiss-quality air purifier released in 1998 that is packed with 5 lbs of activated carbon and cleans the air as effectively as new devices.

While many air purifiers come with activated carbon filters, these are often far too small to deal with severe odor issues like cigarette smoke or chemical gases. But this is where the IQAir HealthPro Plus shines, thanks to a gas filter with over 5 lbs of activated carbon and zeolite.

Paired with a powerful fan, it provides effective gas and odor removal — it cleaned our test room of all PM1 particulate matter in 28 minutes. The Austin Air Healthmate is another device that comes packed with A LOT of carbon, but it failed to make this list as it’s too underpowered in terms of particulate removal for such a hefty price ($700). The IQAir HealthPro Plus provides much better value.

➜ Read our full review

➜ Watch our video review

6. Best quiet option: CleanAirKits Luggable XL-7

This PC fan-powered air purifier generates 38.8 dB of noise and still managed to clear our test room faster than most popular traditional HEPA devices.

The Luggable XL-7 is the quietest air purifier I have ever tested. It combines a lightweight wooden case, seven Cooler Master SickleFlow 120 PC fans and two 20x25x1 MERV 13 filters (you can use any brand but I recommend the 3M Filtrete MPR1900).

If you want to build your own Luggable, CleanAirKits will send you a box with five or seven Cooler Master SickleFlow 120 PC fans (depending on which option you choose), four hardboard panels (one with an integrated handle), a power supply, internal pre-tensioner cords, foam tape strips and fan guard grills. You can also go for the pre-built Luggable XL, which costs $299 (versus the $227 of the DIY kit).

➜ Read our full review

➜ Watch our video review

7. Best stylish option: Winix T810

A mid-sized cylindrical air purifier that won’t look out of place in the trendiest of spaces.

The Winix T810 is the perfect choice for those looking for a good-looking air purifier with smart functions and app support for less than $250. its cylindrical design allows the T810 to pull air in from all sides, which translates into a high CADR (229 cfm PM1) in a relatively small package that won’t take up too much floor space.

If what you want is an air purifier with above-average air cleaning performance, then you should go with the AirFanta 3Pro as the T810 is an average performer. However, if you are looking for a fashionable air purifier that won’t look out of place in even the most stylish of spaces, then the Winix T810 is the best-looking air purifier you can buy without breaking the bank.

➜ Read our full review

➜ Watch our video review

8. Best for offices and classrooms: Smart Air Blast Mini

A robust, powerful, quiet and no-nonsense air purifier with a massive fan and filter that can effectively clean the air in large rooms.

With 435 CFM (740 m³/h), the Blast Mini boasts one of the highest CADR ratings across all the air purifiers we have tested to date. But what’s incredible about it is that its powerful air cleaning power doesn’t come with unbearable noise attached to it. At its highest fan speed, this air purifier hits only 56.3 dBA, which is quieter than the much much smaller Levoit Vital 200S at the top of this list.

The combination of a low level of noise generated and a high CADR makes the Blast Mini an excellent choice for situations requiring clean air without high levels of noise that could have a negative effect on concentration, like a classroom or office. 

It’s not cheap at $599, but if you have the funds and want the best air cleaning for large spaces with the least amount of noise, the Smart Air Blast Mini is the device you should buy.

➜ Read our full review

9. Best you can build yourself: Corsi–Rosenthal Box

A DIY approach to air purifiers that can democratize indoor air cleaning.

The Corsi–Rosenthal Box (or CR Box for short) was popularized during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic to help people clean their air with items they could find at home: a standard box fan, four MERV-13 HVAC filters, duct tape and cardboard. While a high-quality commercial device offers long-term and quality-of-life benefits, a DIY air cleaner can be the best option for those who need a swift air purifying solution due to wildfire smoke or an unexpected airborne pandemic.

An air purifier is just a fan and a filter and the CR box is a perfect example of this. Even with MERV 13 filters, which are lower-graded compared to HEPA, it removed PM1 (particles measuring 1 micron) from our 728 cubic feet test room in 30 minutes. But don’t just take our word for it; the EPA tested it and found it to be 99% effective at removing airborne viruses.

➜ Read our full review

Special mentions: the air purifiers that nearly made the shortlist

Five good-performing air purifiers that didn’t make the cut, but that could be a good choice for you.

While we only wanted to feature the best of the best units we’ve tested, it’s also worth mentioning some other air purifiers with outstanding performance.

Smart Air SA600

The SA600 pulls air from both sides of the device with its two sets of HEPA H13 and activated carbon filters. It doesn’t have any smart functionalities and the controls are straightforward with just four buttons: one to adjust fan speeds, a child lock, a filter reset button and the on/off button. I really liked that the lights on the control panel go off automatically, which is a great feature for a bedroom.

In our particle removal test, the SA600 reached PM1 zero in 24 minutes, which is comparable to what we saw with the Vital 200S but the use of two sets of filters raised the long-term running costs to $131.30 per year, whereas you’ll spend $96.82 to run a Vital 200S for a year

But if you’re looking for a powerful air purifier without any smart functions that can be mounted on the wall, then the SA600 could be the one for you.

Xiaomi Pro 4

The Pro 4 from Xiaomi has the same shape and roughly the same size as the Levoit Core 600S, my top recommendation for large spaces. Inside, you will find a tall cylindrical bonded filter, including a non-HEPA particle filter and a gas filter that (according to Xiaomi) has 650 grams of activated carbon pellets.

To operate the Pro 4, you get a flashy OLED touch screen without any physical buttons. However, the onboard screen only allows you to adjust fan speeds and enable smart mode. For all the other features (including disabling the ionizer), you will need to use the app, and this can be annoying at times.

That said, the app itself is quite slick and modern, and it is the same one you will use for other Xiaomi products, which could be a benefit if you already have Xiaomi smart devices.

CleanAirKits Triple Exhalaron

The Exhalaron is another PC fan-powered air purifier from CleanAirKits. The Triple version comes with three PC fans and three cylindrical H10 HEPA filters, and has a CADR of 120 cfm. When we tested its air cleaning performance of the Triple Exhalaron running at its highest fan speed, it cleaned our test room in 46 minutes, which is faster than the popular Levoit Core 300 and the PuroAir 240.

As with other PC fan-powered air purifiers, the Triple Exhalaron is whisper quiet, reaching 40.5 dB when running at its top fan speed. But unlike the Luggable XL-7, the Triple Exhalaron comes pretty much ready out of the box.

The reason we didn’t include this air purifier in our main shortlist has to do with its price. At $359, this is quite an expensive small air purifier that won’t be suitable for all budgets. However, if you are looking for a small air purifier you can use as a table centerpiece, then the Exhalaron might be the right choice for you.

Coway Airmega AP-1512HH Mighty

The Coway Airmega Mighty is the NYT Wirecutter’s most recommended air purifier since 2014 due to its reliability, affordable cost and good air cleaning performance. This has turned the Coway AP-1512HH into the most popular air purifier in the world.

It comes with a True HEPA filter and a layer of carbon impregnated fabric, and has a dust CADR of 247 CFM. In our particle removal test, it needed 26 minutes to reach PM1 zero, which is great air cleaning for an air purifier sold for under $250.

However, after testing nearly 100 air purifiers, I personally feel it is now a little dated. In 2025, there are better options for performance per $ spent (AirFanta 3Pro), energy efficiency (Levoit Vital 200S), sound generated (CleanAirKits Luggable XL-7) and odor removal (Winix 5500-2).

Levoit Core 400S

The Core 400S from Levoit is an air purifier with smartphone connectivity that works well against VOCs thanks to its bigger-than-average carbon filter. You’ll get good performance against particulates, too, with the 400S completing our particle removal test in 24 minutes, which is much faster than the Molekule Air Mini+ (61 minutes), the Dyson TP07 (62 minutes) and the Mila (38 minutes).

The Core 400S comes with Levoit’s signature 3-in-1 bonded filter, which includes a pre-filter to capture large particles, an activated carbon filter to tackle odors and gases, and a particle filter to remove particulates from the air. As with other units in this ‘special mentions’ section, I believe there are newer models (such as the Levoit Vital 200S or the Winix T810) that offer a better bang for your buck compared to what you get with the Core 400S.

Other air purifiers that we tested, but you should avoid

These devices are a bad investment, based on how overpriced and underperforming they all are.

Unlike most consumer products, the work of an air purifier is hidden from the naked eye. Unless you use a high-grade laser sensor, you will have no idea if all the tinniest particles have been removed from your air. 

We have been disappointed to see many air purifiers fail to live up to expectations set by marketing materials. We like to make consumers aware of these overpriced and underpowered devices, backed by the air cleaning performance test data we gather with every review we conduct.

• Okaysou AirMax 10L Pro – This device became a best-seller on Amazon thanks to a successful influencer campaign on TikTok. In our testing, it failed to match the hype or price point. We found that Okaysou used marketing tricks to inflate its performance. I would avoid any Okaysou device. Update 26 June 2024: Okaysou is now bankrupt, and you can no longer buy it and their 5-year warranty is now worthless.

• Molekule Air Mini+ – Molekule has been touting its new PECO technology but has had to remove many of its previous marketing messages due to misleading advertising claims and class action lawsuits due to the lack of performance. In our test, it was very poor at removing PM1 particles and emitted 86 dB at its highest fan speed — louder than a leafblower! If this device is recommended in 2025, know that this is due to the high commission for the publisher recommending it, as they start at $349 and go up to $999 with the Pro series.

• Rainbow RainMate – This is an old device that is still touted as being able to clean the air. However, it was the worst-performing device in our tests, making me think that water air-cleaning is totally useless in even the smallest of home rooms. Don’t rely on this device to clean your air; stick to a good old mechanical filtration.

• PuroAir 240 – Previously sold under the name ‘PuroAir HEPA 14 240), the PuroAir 240 didn’t live up to the marketing spiel. After completing all our tests, we found that this air purifier has poor air cleaning performance for its price and is too underpowered to clean spaces of up to 1,100 sq. ft., which is something that is mentioned multiple times in the marketing materials and on PuroAir’s website.

What to look for when buying an air purifier 

The basic things you need to consider to make sure you’re not being duped into buying a device that won’t help.

The qualities you should look for in an air purifier will differ if you want to reduce allergy triggers at home, live near a busy road, need to improve your air quality during wildfire season or deal with pet odors and dander. However, some things will always be important.

1. The size of the room and the CADR (clean air delivery rate) of the air purifier. 

It’s vital to analyze these two aspects together, considering many brands overstate the cleaning performance of their units. It’s not necessarily unfunded, but there’s a catch.

According to the EPA, for an air purifier to be truly effective, it should be able to perform 4.8 air changes per hour (or ACH) in a room. Unfortunately, some brands will advertise the room size coverage to achieve just one ACH, being able to claim a somewhat opaque wider coverage.  

The rule is simple: a higher CADR (stated in CFM, or cubic feet per meter) means greater cleaning power. Instead of focusing on room sizes recommended by the manufacturer, look at the CADR rating.

The best way to go about it is to figure out how powerful an air purifier needs to be for your space’s specific dimensions. You can use our calculator to do just that:

2. The filtration system

Pure mechanical purifiers stand their ground on efficiency and safety when it comes to air filtration. The most comprehensive systems feature three stages:

• A pre-filter to trap larger particles that would otherwise clog the main filter faster. The best units feature a removable pre-filter, making it easier to vacuum, rinse and keep in top shape. But you may find the pre-filter attached to the main one in budget air purifiers. It’s better than not having one, but it’s also harder to clean. 

• An activated carbon filter to adsorb gasses and smells. If you need an air purifier to deal with mold spores, for example, an activated carbon filter won’t be absolutely necessary, as spores are not gases but particles.
  
  But if you are after a device to help you reduce unwanted smells or deal with chemicals and VOCs, then an activated carbon filter will be able to do what particle filters (like HEPA or MERV 13) cannot.

• Lastly, the main particle filter will remove microscopic particles from the airstream. HEPA-grade filters can remove at least 99.97% of particulate matter as small as 0.3 microns.
  
  Yet, a denser filter just for the sake of it—like with PuroAir’s HEPA 14—is not necessarily equivalent to a better performance. On the contrary, it’s important to balance fan power and filter thickness. If a filter is too dense and the air purifier is not potent enough to draw a good amount of air and pass it through, the cleaning power is reduced. It takes longer to remove airborne pollutants with restricted airflow.

3. Noise output

The fan that powers your air purifier can generate a lot of noise, and you are unlikely to want to use your unit regularly if this noise becomes too much. That is why it’s worth factoring in how noisy the unit will be, especially when running at its top fan speed. This is particularly important if you want an air purifier for the bedroom or your home office. 

Two things to consider:

• Smaller units won’t make much of a difference to the air when running at the slowest fan speed, and they tend to be noisier than larger ones at top speed. 

• Some air purifiers suited for big spaces can be whisper-quiet when running at their lowest fan speeds, so it is worth going bigger to get a unit that will run quieter.

4. Long-term costs

In addition to the upfront cost of buying an air purifier, you should also consider associated maintenance costs such as energy usage and filter replacement.

Running your air purifier 24/7 2ill substantially improve your air, but that also means an appliance adding to your electricity bill all day, year-round. The good news is that many energy-efficient units out there won’t significantly affect your monthly expenses. However, make sure to check this to avoid unpleasant surprises, as some units are on the power-hungry side.

A few things to consider in terms of filters:

• Filter replacement costs vary among brands and models — and so does the required replacement frequency. 
• The longer a unit has been on the market, the more probable good-quality generic filters will be available. 
• More and more brands are offering convenient filter subscriptions that are cost-effective and include perks for happier customers.

5. Extra features

An extensive control panel with smart functions, app support, onboard air quality sensors or remote controls are handy perks that can make life easier. A no-lights mode for the bedroom, for example, is definitely something worth considering. 

However, if asked, I would recommend not to sacrifice CADR or performance over fancier tech-y bonuses. After all, the purpose of an air purifier is to clean the air.

How we test air purifiers

Saying we tested 104 air purifiers in the last four years sounds great, doesn’t it? But what does testing mean for HouseFresh?

It’s definitely not just getting the units out of their boxes to take some cool editorial pictures for our articles. On the contrary, it is a thorough process that involves reliable testing devices to cover the many aspects of air purifier evaluation.

Air cleaning performance is key, for sure. But we go further. When you decide to invest in an air purifier that will be constantly running at home, things like long-term costs and noise output are also important in a real-world context. 

Our testing process includes the following steps: 

Step 1. We conduct a particle removal test

First, we burn some incense to pollute the air. Using our PurpleAir indoor sensor (which we’ve chosen after thorough research), we measure how fast each unit can remove PM10, PM1 and PM2.5 at top fan speed. The PurpleAir sensor provides regular updates on particulate matter levels, allowing us to create graphs showing the evolution of air quality in the room. 

Step 2. We assess the power of the fan

We also measure the unit’s fan power with the Testo 410i anemometer. It’s interesting to see the variation in airflow coming out of the unit at every fan speed. Especially considering the AHAM Verified program measures CADR at the highest speed setting. 

Step 3. We measure sound levels generated

For noise levels, we use a commercial sound meter from 3 ft. away to measure how much noise in decibels (dB) is generated by the air purifier at each fan speed. Like other measurements, the data is displayed in our reviews, but we also share the results on HouseFresh YouTube channel.

Step 4. We measure electricity consumption

We use a power meter to record how much electricity (in watts) the air purifier consumes when running at each of its fan speeds, including sleep mode and stand-by mode.

Step 5. We estimate yearly maintenance costs

We also calculate the long-term costs you can expect to spend each year to run the air purifier. First, we use the appliance energy calculator from the U.S. Department of Energy to calculate how much money running the air purifier will add to your yearly energy bill. Next, we conduct desk research to determine the costs of genuine and generic replacement filters, using filter lifespan information stated by the manufacturer.

Step 6. Real-life experience

All four steps comprise the core performance evaluation we run on every unit. We know the data is solid. However, there’s something about everyday use that cannot be measured in a lab-test situation. That is why our “final step” is using the air purifier regularly at home in an ordinary context. You can learn a lot by just living with a device.

Common questions people have about air purifiers

Wrapping up

Air pollution is real. Over one-third of Americans still live in areas with unhealthy air and suffer from the consequences to their health. Improving our indoor air shouldn’t be something to take lightly. 

Considering how a high-performing air purifier can improve people’s daily lives, it’s somewhat infuriating to find the internet flooded with unfounded reviews of air purifiers that lack the research and data to back them up.

Our goal at HouseFresh is to help consumers find the right air purifier to fit their needs and budgets in real-life situations. We don’t take free units from manufacturers and are not afraid to raise our voices when a hyped unit turns out to be a disappointment. Most importantly, we are driven by a transparent, hands-on approach and constantly improving methods of real-life testing. 

We want our readers to find actual, helpful solutions. We may not always address all of your doubts in our articles. That’s why my mailbox is always open: danny@housefresh.com