Living with a pet means coexisting with any allergies, hair everywhere and unwanted smells — from litter boxes to bad breath.
Pet odors, hair and dander can linger, even with regular grooming and cleaning. That’s when an air purifier can become a valuable investment.
But that is only the case if you buy the right air purifier.
You should focus on finding a model that comes with a removable pre-filter (ideally washable), activated carbon filtration (for odors), a high quality particle filter (for allergens), good performance at quiet fan speeds, a control panel with the option to lock all buttons, and enough power to change the air 4-5 times per hour.
I kept all that in mind when shortlisting the air purifiers for this list. As always, I have bought and tested all these devices myself, so everything I’ll share is based on my experience and first-hand data.
I also made a point of sticking to air purifiers without an ionizer or with bipolar ionization technologies that could be disabled without negatively impacting the performance of the device.
1. Best for large spaces: Levoit EverestAir
The EverestAir boosts power and smart features in a sleek white and silver design that makes it stand out from the crowd.
For $499.99, you get a good looking air purifier with enough air cleaning power (PM1 CADR of 375 cfm) to provide five air changes per hour in rooms up to 562 sq. ft. when running at top speed (57.8 dBA).
The pre-filter is easy to remove so you can vacuum pet hairs and extend the life of the main particle filter that sits behind it.
The bonded filter has a high quality particle filter on one side (to remove the smallest of particles from the air) and a gas filter on the other with 400g of pelleted activated carbon (to adsorb odors and gases).
The air quality sensor displays particle readings on screen and it unlocks a smart mode where it adjusts fan speeds automatically.
The color-coded LED lights on the display show the percentage of clean air in the room.
And the VeSync app unlocks features like scheduling and display lock to ensure curious pets don’t change settings.
CONS
PROS
| Clean air delivery rate (CADR): | – Top speed PM1 CADR: 375 cfm – Sub-45 dBA PM1 CADR: 205 cfm – AHAM PM2.5 CADR: 365 cfm (dust) |
| Filtration technology: | Removable pre-filter, particle filter and 400g of pelleted activated carbon. |
| Recommended room size: | 562 sq. ft. (5 air changes per hour) |
| Dimensions: | 18.9L x 8.5W x 23.2H inches (48L x 21.6W x 58.9H cm) |
| Weight: | 20.7 lbs (9.39 kg) |
| Filter lifespan: | 12-15 months |
| Noise level in decibels from 3 ft. away: | Speed 1: 39.1 dB Speed 2: 43.2 dB Speed 3: 48.6 dB Turbo: 57.8 dB |
| Electricity consumption in watts: | Standby mode: 1.26 watts Speed 1: 9.85 watts Speed 2: 15.59 watts Speed 3: 26.6 watts Turbo: 69.8 watts |
| Manufacturer’s warranty: | 2 years |
| Country of origin: | United States |
| Country of manufacture: | China |
2. Best for smelly pets: Alen BreatheSmart 75i
A large air purifier with a H13 HEPA filter and 3.6 lbs of pelleted activated carbon to remove unwanted pet smells from the air.
The 75i is Alen’s largest and most powerful air purifier. With an estimated PM1 CADR of 333 cfm, it can provide five air changes per hour in rooms as large as 448 sq. ft.
Similarly to the EverestAir (above), the 75i comes with a removable pre-filter, which is easy to access and keep clean regularly.
It also has a laser particle sensor (which you won’t need to clean regularly) and you get an air quality indicator on screen.
There are multiple filter options available. For pets, I recommend the Fresh filter which comes with a HEPA H13 and a carbon filter.
Alen’s Fresh filter is packed with 3.6 lbs of pelleted activated carbon, which is a lot more than what you get with most other devices.
PROS
| Clean air delivery rate (CADR): | – Top speed PM1 CADR: 333 cfm – Sub-45 dBA PM1 CADR: 164 cfm – AHAM PM2.5 CADR: 351 cfm (dust) |
| Filter technology: | True HEPA H13 filters with activated carbon pellets + Ionizer technology |
| Recommended room size: | 448 sq. ft. (5 air changes per hour) |
| Dimensions: | 27H x 18.5W x 11.5D inches (68.58H x 46.99W x 29.21D cm) |
| Weight: | 27 lbs (12.2 kg) |
| Noise level in decibels from 3 ft. away: | Speed 1: 36.5 dBA Speed 2: 44.7 dBA Speed 3: 51.9 dBA Speed 4: 54.6 dBA Speed 5: 57.5 dBA |
| Electricity consumption in watts: | Standby: 0.75 watts Speed 1: 5.19 watts Speed 2: 13.27 watts Speed 3: 25.85 watts Speed 4: 33.99 watts Speed 5: 47.4 watts |
| Filter lifespan: | 12 – 15 months |
| Manufacturer’s warranty: | Lifetime (with product registration & active filter subscription) |
| Country of origin: | United States |
| Country of manufacture: | China |
3. Best under $200: Levoit Vital 200S
For less than $190, you can get an excellent air purifier with a removable pre-filter, carbon filtration, quiet operation and smart features.
This has been my top recommendation for most people since 2024 because it is affordable, performs as well as much more expensive units and comes with all the smart features readers ask about. It also has an estimated PM1 CADR of 260 cfm, it can provide five air changes per hour in rooms no larger than 390 sq. ft.
The Vital 200S comes with a washable pre-filter that will make it a lot easier to regularly remove pet hairs before they obstruct airflow.
You also get a bonded particle and carbon filter, which has enough carbon to help with mild pet smells but won’t be enough in cases where you’re dealing with serious odors.
In terms of air cleaning, it outperformed more expensive devices like the Winix 5510 and the Coway Airmega 250S, while generating less noise.
The control panel is simple and easy to figure out without reading the manual. You get a button to activate the child lock and you will also see a color-coded ring that shows air quality in real-time.
CONS
PROS
| Clean air delivery rate (CADR): | – Top speed PM1 CADR: 260 cfm – Sub-45 dBA PM1 CADR: 128 cfm – AHAM PM2.5 CADR: 254 cfm (dust) |
| Filter technology: | Bonded particle filter with a layer of pelleted activated carbon and a removable pre-filter |
| Recommended room size: | 390 sq. ft. (5 ACH) |
| Dimensions: | 15.6D x 8.5W x 19.8H inches (39.3D x 21.5W x 50.2H cm) |
| Weight: | 13.2 lbs (5.9 kg) |
| Noise level in decibels from 3 ft. away: | Speed 1: 38.3 dB Speed 2: 41.9 dB Speed 3: 53.8 dB Speed 4: 57.7 dB |
| Electricity consumption in watts: | Standby mode: 0.97 watts Speed 1: 5.71 watts Speed 2: 8.01 watts Speed 3: 31.96 watts Speed 4: 44.55 watts |
| Filter lifespan: | 12 months |
| Manufacturer’s warranty: | 2 years |
| Country of origin: | United States |
| Country of manufacture: | China |
4. Best for small spaces: Levoit Core 400S (with Smoke Remover filter)
A smart and quiet air purifier with a filter packed with 450 grams of pelleted activated carbon to help with pet smells.
There are many other much smaller devices than the 400S, but if you want to keep your air clean of pet hair, dander and odors, then you shouldn’t go smaller than this. The cylindrical design will make it easier to find a spot for it even in the smallest of rooms.
Even though you’ll see there’s a Pet Allergy filter, I recommend choosing the Smoke Remover filter as it comes with 50 grams more of carbon.
The filter itself is a cylindrical filter, so vacuuming the pre-filter won’t be as easy as with rectangular models like the Vital 200S.
Size-wise, the Core 400S is similar to the Winix T810 but it offers better air cleaning performance at quiet fan speeds that won’t disturb your pet.
Based on our tests, we estimate a PM1 CADR of 213 cfm, it can provide five air changes per hour in rooms up to 319 sq. ft.
CONS
PROS
| Clean air delivery rate (CADR): | – Top speed PM1 CADR: 213 cfm – Sub-45 dBA PM1 CADR: 134 cfm – AHAM PM2.5 CADR: 247 cfm (dust) |
| Filtration technology: | Pre-filter for large particles, main filter for airborne particles and activated carbon filter for odors and gasses |
| Recommended room size: | 319 sq. ft. (5 air changes per hour) |
| Dimensions: | 10.8L x 10.8W x 20.5H inches (27.4L x 27.4W x 52H cm) |
| Weight: | 11.2 lbs (5 kg) |
| Filter lifespan: | 6 months |
| Noise level in decibels from 3 ft. away: | Sleep mode: 35.5 dBA Speed 1: 38.3 dBA Speed 2: 43.2 dBA Speed 3: 51.2 dBA Speed 4: 60.3 dBA |
| Electricity consumption in watts: | Standby: 0.93 watts Sleep mode: 3.05 watts Speed 1: 5.28 watts Speed 2: 8.51 watts Speed 3: 16.41 watts Speed 4: 39.64 watts |
| Manufacturer’s warranty: | 2 years |
| Country of origin: | United States |
| Country of manufacture: | China |
5. Best for homes with multiple smelly pets: Austin Air Healthmate
An air purifier made in the USA with a filter packed with 15 lbs. of carbon that can remove the most stubborn, pungent pet odors from the air.
If you have multiple pets at home, you’re likely to need a lot more carbon than what you usually get with most air purifiers you’ll find in stores. For those cases, I recommend the Austin Air HealthMate and its filter packed with 15 lbs. of activated carbon and zeolite.
Its metal body is heavy but durable, with a flat top that many cats will enjoy sleeping on.
Even though it’s heavy, it comes on wheels so you can easily move it around your house as needed. It’s one of the only devices I’ve tested with wheels that roll well on carpets.
The filter inside the HealthMate is bigger than most small air purifiers you’ll see recommended online.
Instead of a touchscreen display or colorful buttons, the HealthMate comes with a dial to switch between three fan speeds — no risk of your pet accidentally switching the device off.
CONS
PROS
| Clean air delivery rate (CADR): | – Top speed PM1 CADR: 156 cfm – Sub-45 dBA PM1 CADR: 77 cfm – AHAM PM2.5 CADR: 154 cfm (dust) |
| Filter technology: | HEPA particle filter with 15 lb of activated carbon and zeolite mix gas filter |
| Recommended room size: | 234 sq. ft. (5 air changes per hour) |
| Dimensions: | 23H x 14.5W x 14.5D inches (58.4H x 36.8W x 36.8D cm) |
| Weight: | 20.41 lbs (9.26 kg) |
| Noise level in decibels from 3 ft. away: | Speed 1: 42.5 dB Speed 2: 53.2 dB Speed 3: 61.5 dB |
| Electricity consumption in watts: | Standby mode: 0 watts Speed 1: 61.1 watts Speed 2: 85.05 watts Speed 3: 147.6 watts |
| Filter lifespan: | 5 years |
| Manufacturer’s warranty: | 5 years |
| Country of origin: | United States |
| Country of manufacture: | United States (Buffalo, New York) |
Special mentions: The air purifiers that nearly made the cut
Smart Air SA600
In terms of air cleaning, we estimate a PM1 CADR of 249 cfm at top speed, which will be good enough for five air changes per hour in rooms up to 373 sq. ft. It has two H13 HEPA filters, two activated carbon filters and two removable pre-filters.
Even though this is an excellent air purifier from Smart Air, I didn’t include it because it is too large to recommend for small spaces and too expensive ($279.95) for the under $200 category.
Dyson Big+Quiet BP06
Based on our tests, the BP06 has a PM1 CADR of 198 cfm at top speed and will provide five air changes per hour in rooms up to 297 sq. ft. It has an H13 HEPA filter for pet allergies and an innovative wraparound fabric with 900g of carbon to tackle pet odors.
As of August 2025, the BP06 is the best air purifier I’ve tested from Dyson but I haven’t included it because it is still super expensive ($800+) and it has been out of stock everywhere.
AirFanta 3Pro
This PC fan-powered air purifier tops our list of the best value for your money, costing just $159.99 but offering an impressive PM1 CADR of 353 cfm at top speed, which will be good enough to provide five air changes per hour large spaces up to 529 sq. ft.
If you think it could be a good option for your home, make sure to buy the version with activated carbon ($175.99) as it otherwise the HEPA alone won’t be able to remove pet odors from the air.
I didn’t include it because the fans on top are too exposed to curious pets and the design is not as sturdy to survive being pushed around or having animals jump on top of it.
Coway Airmega 250S
This is a beautiful air purifier from Coway that doesn’t have an ionizer function and comes with a smart easy release pre-filter that allows you to vacuum it without having to open the front cover, making it a good option for pet owners.
We estimate a PM1 CADR of 249 cfm which can provide five air changes per hour in rooms up to 373 sq. ft. I didn’t include it because it costs upwards of $400 but offers less power than the cheaper Vital 200S.
What to look for when buying an air purifier for pets
To find out if the unit you are considering is the right one for the job, these are a few questions that will guide you in your search:
1. Does the air purifier have the right filters?
When it comes to pets, a three-stage filtration system is the most comprehensive option, as it includes a pre-filter, an activated carbon filter and a particle filter.
- Stage 1: Pre-filter. These are designed to pick up larger particles (such as pet hair) before they reach the main filter. Their key function is to prevent fur from clogging the main filters, thus extending their lifespan. Removable pre-filters are more straightforward to clean; some are washable to rinse the shed fur effortlessly.
- Stage 2: Activated carbon filter. This is the layer that will remove unwanted pet odors — the carbon works by absorbing odors (and VOCs) that pass through the filter to remove them from the air.
- Stage 3: Main particle filter. Particle filters are made of pleated sheets that create a maze of randomly assorted fibers capable of capturing the smallest of airborne particles, including pet dander, dust and pollen.
2. Is the air purifier capable of dealing with your room size?
This is a key issue when choosing the right air purifier for you. A unit suited for smaller rooms won’t be able to make the air changes per hour (ACH) needed to clean the air in large spaces. Therefore, it won’t be efficient at removing the odors and lack the power to remove all airborne pollutants.
This is where the unit’s CADR (Clean Air Delivery Rate) comes in, indicating its cleaning performance in CFM (Cubic Feet Per Minute). We’ve included each unit’s CADR and room size recommendation in our spec tables. But you can use our calculator to find the exact CADR you need based on the size of the space where you want to use the air purifier:
3. Does the unit produce any chemical by-products?
Ionization features are often found in air purifiers to enhance their performance. Air purifiers with ionizer functions release ions into the air that attach to airborne particles, forcing them to drop onto surfaces so you can vacuum and wipe them.
The problem is that, in the process, these devices can generate small amounts of ozone which can be detrimental to the health of those with pre-existing respiratory conditions.
Ozone is a lung irritant, so if you worry about the health of your pet then you should stick to air purifiers without ionizers or with ionizer functions that can be disabled, like the ones on my list of recommendations.
Frequently asked questions about air purifiers and pets
Yes, air purifiers can get rid of pet odors as long as their filters have a good amount of activated carbon.
HEPA filters are not efficient against odor molecules or gases; they cannot remove them from the air. On the other hand, activated carbon is capable of trapping smells and VOCs through a process called adsorption. When gaseous pollutants pass through the filtration system, they stick to the porous surface of the activated carbon, unable to re-enter the room.
The amount of carbon a filter has is directly related to its capacity to adsorb gases. The wider the surface, the more cleaning power the filter will have.
That depends on a variety of factors, including the size of your home, how sensitive your pet is to noises and how much fur it sheds. But as a rule of thumb, the air purifier you choose should have:
- An adequate amount of activated carbon
- A CADR capable of renewing the air in the room you’ll be placing it
- A three-stage filtration system
- Quiet operation that doesn’t impact performance
For small spaces, don’t go smaller than the Levoit Core 400S with the Smoke Remover filter. For large rooms, check out the Levoit EverestAir.
The pungent, ammonia-like smell of urine is produced by bacteria decomposing the urea (protein breakdown waste). So, you’ll need a particle filter to reduce bacteria in your environment and A LOT of activated carbon to tackle odors.
Look into the Alen 75i and the Austin Air HealthMate for very bad smells like this.
The only Dyson air purifier I recommend for pet odors and pet hair is the Dyson Big+Quiet BP06, here’s why:
- The BP06 is the best air purifier I’ve tested from Dyson, outperforming the TP06, the HP04 and the PH03.
- It lacks smart functions and app support but this makes it more affordable than other Dyson models.
- It comes with a H13 HEPA filter for capturing pet har and dander.
- It features an innovative wraparound fabric with 900g of carbon to deal with pet odors.
Based on our tests, we estimate a PM1 CADR of 198 cfm at top speed which will be enough to provide five air changes per hour in rooms up to 297 sq. ft. You can read my full review here.
Final thoughts
Taking good care of your pets, with frequent grooming, healthy food and periodic visits to the vet, is a solid step forward in reducing their odor and the amount of hair floating around in the air. Regular home cleaning makes for another important element in the equation but that’s not always enough.
Introducing the right air purifier to your home can make a BIG difference. Just make sure you are buying a device powerful enough for the space where you will place it with a high quality particle filter, a pre-filter that is easy to clean and lots of pelleted activated carbon to deal with odors. Pay attention to sound levels too, as pets are sensitive to noise, and stay away from ionizer functions that cannot be disabled.
If you have any questions about your specific situation, just drop them in the comments below and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.
