Danny as been writing about air purifiers for 10+ years. He is a major fan of home technology, which makes him the perfect person to test and evaluate products for HouseFresh
As much as we love our furry friends, there’s no denying that pets can stink occasionally. Whether you’re a cat, dog, hamster, or fish household, having a pet in your home will inevitably produce unpleasant smells.
If you don’t think your pet smells, then you might be nose blind to the smells in your home, so be sure to ask guests what they think about the odor, as it could be worse than you think.
The best way to remove odors from your home is by using an adsorption filter like activated charcoal. Many air purifiers are marketed to remove pet odors, but many are not fit for the purpose.
Thankfully, we can share, based on our internal experiments and testing, that the following air purifiers are our top pick for pet odor:
The Top 3 Air Purifiers For Pet Odor in 2023
Why trust us?
At HouseFresh, we have been testing air purifiers for over 10 years, and we actually test them and then use them in our homes to understand the long-term experience. We always buy the units with our own money, so we can say what we think, and sometimes they are awesome but stink. We test all our air purifiers in the same sized room so you can calculate how it could work for your space. It also allows us to evaluate all types of air purifiers for the one test they are purchased for – cleaning a room of particulates. Using our internal data, we can recommend specific use cases like “pet smells.”
If you care less about odors but still have a pet then be sure to look at what we think is the best air purifiers for homes with pets as of 2023.
We share all our data using Flourish and hope to support as many consumers as possible in finding the right air purifier for their needs and budget.
Read on for the detail behind our recommendations:
1. Blueair Blue Pure 211+ – Best Overall for Pet Odors
The Blueair 211+ uses a filter system called “HEPA Silent,” which combines HEPA and activated charcoal filter with an electrostatic charge that performs better than pure mechanical filter systems. This has a recommended room size of 540 ft² so is perfect for those pet owners with large room spaces. The addition of activated charcoal is key for removing odors from the air, which is key for those of us who live with pets.
When we tested the non-smart version of this air purifier called the 211/221, we found that it performed well in our room cleaning test and removed all the pollutants in 18 minutes, our second-best score only being beaten by far larger Smart air Blast. The auto mode is a welcome addition with some energy efficiency improvements over the older model, with peak wattage max out at 38 watts vs 55.5 watts we recorded with the 211, and has a slightly better CADR score.
SPECS & FEATURES
| Purifier technology: | “HEPASilent™ technology” which is an electrostatic filtration with HEPA and Activated Charcoal |
| CADR (CFM / m³/h): | 380 CFM |
| Recommended room size: | 540 ft² |
| Filter life: | Every 6 months |
| Noise level (low – high): | 23dB-56dB |
| Dimensions (in inches / in cm): | 20H x 13W x 13D inches |
| Weight (in kg / in pounds): | 5.67 kg / 12.5 lbs |
| Energy consumption: | $82.55 |
| Time to clean our test room: | 18 minutes |
What We Really Like:
👍 Auto mode is simple and has a clear color guide for how dirty your air is
👍 Great performance to $ spend
👍 Ability to change the color is simple but a welcome addition
What We Think Could Be Better:
👎 Some might have concerns about the use of electrostatic charge but we found no evidence of ozone or gas production
2. Coway Airmega 300 – Good Second Choice
The Coway Airmega 300 Smart Air Purifier has a dual, three-stage filtration system that can clean the air every 30 minutes in a 1,256 sqft room, and every 15 minutes in a 628 sqft room, removing 99.97% of contaminants from the air. In our performance test, the smaller version of the Coway Airmega 300 cleaned our room completely in under 26 minutes.
Air is drawn in on each side of the unit, where washable pre-filters and Max2 filters combine activated carbon and True HEPA filters, removing airborne pollutants down to 0.3 microns and VOCs and pet odors.
The Airmega 300 features real-time monitoring of your room’s air quality, with colored LED rings that tell you how clean or dirty the air in the room is. With its handy Smart Mode feature, this purifier will automatically adjust the fan speed depending on the air quality. It has a remote to set the unit’s five fan speeds. It also has a five-year manufacturer’s limited warranty.
SPECS & FEATURES
| Purifier technology: | Activated Carbon, Green True HEPA |
| CADR (CFM / m³/h): | 300 CFM / 509 m³/h |
| Recommended room size: | 628 ft² to 1,256 ft² |
| Filter life: | 9 months |
| Noise level (low – high): | 22 – 52dB |
| Dimensions (in inches / in cm): | 13.6W x 21.2H x 13.6D inches / 34.5W x 53.8H x 34.5D cm |
| Weight (in kg / in pounds): | 9.7 kg / 21.4 lbs |
| Energy consumption: | 52.5 watts |
| Time to clean our test room: | 26 minutes |
What We Really Like:
👍 Large unit capable of dealing with very large spaces
👍 A large amount of activated charcoal will deal with pet odors easily
👍 Auto mode is a welcome addition as it will only turn on when it detects pollutants
What We Think Could Be Better:
👎 Uses a lot of electricity so something to be aware of
3. Best for those wanting to remove pet odors on a budget: Levoit Core 300
Getting an air purifier that can remove pet odors for less than $100 didn’t use to be possible 10 years ago. Now you can get an air purifier that uses H13 HEPA with activated charcoal without getting a second mortgage to afford it. The Levoit Core 300 won’t be able to deal with large spaces like the suggestions above, but it will be perfect for those with pets who live in smaller spaces and still want to keep the air odor-free.
Being cylindrical, the air intake is located near the bottom of the unit, with clean air emitted from the top. To ensure the room’s air gets cleaned efficiently, leave at least 15 inches of clearance. Simple touch-sensitive buttons on the top of the unit let you control the power, the three-speed fan, and the night light.
In our test room, it managed to remove all pollutants in under 49 minutes which is very good considering you are paying less than $100.
SPECS & FEATURES
| Purifier technology: | HEPA H13 and activated charcoal |
| CADR (CFM / m³/h): | 145 CFM |
| Recommended room size: | 219 ft² to 547 ft² |
| Filter life: | 6 months |
| Noise level (low – high): | 24 – 50dB |
| Dimensions (in inches / in cm): | 8.7L x 8.7W x 14.2H inches / 22 x 22 x 36 cm |
| Weight (in kg / in pounds): | 3.4 kg / 7.48 lbs |
| Energy consumption: | $82.55 per year |
| Time to clean our test room: | 40 minutes |
What We Really Like:
👍 It has a great cost-to-performance ratio of $99 for 145 CFM
👍 Simple touch-screen with timer and 3 power modes
👍Is not too large and the design is pleasing
What We Think Could Be Better:
👎 Genuine filters are $50 and need replacing every 6 months and energy costs are moderate
4. For those looking for smart features: Levoit Core 400S
Released in 2021, the Levoit improves the Core range of air purifiers. As with the 300S, it is an H13 HEPA plus activated charcoal, perfect for removing odors from various pets. This unit is a little larger than the other suggestions, but it does mean that it can perform at a higher level with a CADR of 265 CFM, which matched with our performance test that showed the Core 400S removed all pollutants in 33 minutes which is close to $1000 IQAir Healthpro Plus.
Unlike the IQAir model, this unit comes with a ton of technology under the hood, with auto-mode and app support from day one. You can see how clean or dirty your air is, and the unit can automatically switch the fans on to remove pollutants and switch off when it’s not needed.
I am a big fan of the design and wouldn’t look out of place in any modern home or apartment.
SPECS & FEATURES
| Purifier technology: | H13 True HEPA filter and activated charcoal |
| CADR (CFM / m³/h): | 260 CFM / 442 m³/h |
| Recommended room size: | up to 403 ft² |
| Filter life: | 6 months |
| Noise level (low – high): | 24dB – 54dB |
| Dimensions (in inches / in cm): | 10.8L x 10.8W x 20.5H in / 27.4 x 27.4 x 52 cm |
| Weight (in kg / in pounds): | 6.4 kg / 14.12 lbs |
| Energy consumption: | $82.55 per year |
| Time to clean our test room: | 33 minutes |
What We Really Like:
👍 Auto mode works well and is something that is a great option for dealing with pet odors that occur at regular intervals (dog farts)
👍 Super easy to use – same as any other Levoit air purifier
👍 Great performance to $$ ratio
What We Think Could Be Better:
👎 Filters costs are higher than other units at this performance level
5. Medify Air MA-40
The Medify MA-40 combines style and technology to bring you an air purifier powerful enough to clean a room up to 840 sqft in 30 minutes and 420 sqft in 15 minutes. Its three-stage, one-piece filtration system, located at the rear of the unit, has a pre-filter, an H13 HEPA filter to remove 99.9% of unseen particles, and a carbon filter containing carbon pellets for pet odor and smoke removal.
An elegant, tempered glass panel incorporating the easy-to-use touch controls is located on the top of the unit. There’s an ON/OFF button, timer, fan speed, ionizer, and a handy child lock button. The air intake is located at the back, with fresh, clean air expelled from the front. A three-color LED light on the front of the unit informs you of the air quality in the room, blue for good, green for not-so-good, and red for contaminated air.
SPECS & FEATURES
| Purifier technology: | Pre-filter, H13 True HEPA, active carbon composite |
| CADR (CFM / m³/h): | 223.7 CFM (380m³/hr) |
| Recommended room size: | 420 ft² to 1,600 ft² |
| Filter life: | 6 months |
| Noise level (low – high): | 46 – 66dB |
| Dimensions (in inches / in cm): | 22H x 9.9W x 10.9D inches |
| Weight (in kg / in pounds): | 7.07 kg / 15.6 lbs |
| Energy consumption: | $147.73 per year |
What We Really Like:
👍 Great looking design looks expensive
👍 Powerful performance for medium-sized rooms
👍 Easy to clean the pre-filter
What We Think Could Be Better:
👎 Electricity costs are high for this level of performance
6. The Cadillac of pet odor removal: Alen BreatheSmart 75i
The Alen Air BreatheSmart 75i is the most premium unit for Alen, based in Austin, USA. It was voted best air purifier for 2022 by ConsumerReports due to its ability to achieve 347 CFM, which is the top end for most household air purifiers.
This unit is heavy with large HEPA filters and a ton of activated charcoal that is perfect for locking in odors from our pets. The replacement filters are not cheap but know that you have one of the most powerful air purifiers on earth, but it doesn’t come cheap!
The Alen 75i uses a combination of an ionizer, HEPA, and activated charcoal to get significant air-cleaning power for relatively low electricity usage levels.
SPECS & FEATURES
| Purifier technology: | B7 Pure filter, H13 True HEPA filter |
| CADR (CFM / m³/h): | 347 CFM |
| Recommended room size: | up to 1,300 ft² |
| Filter life: | 12 months |
| Noise level (low – high): | 25 – 49dB |
| Dimensions (in inches / in cm): | 27H x 18.5W x 11.5D inches / 68.58H x 46.99W x 29.21D cm |
| Weight (in kg / in pounds): | 12.2 kg / 27 lbs |
| Energy consumption: | $97.76 per year |
| Time to clean our test room: | 24 minutes |
What We Really Like:
👍 Great performance so it would be an excellent option for larger rooms
👍 Love the color-changing icon for levels of pollutants
👍 Can customize the filters for specific use cases like wildfire or odors.
What We Think Could Be Better:
👎 The replacement filter is over $100. At least it’s only every 12 months!
7. LEVOIT Core P350
The P350 is a grey-colored Core 300 that includes the standard Pet/Allergy odor filter instead of the normal standard filter that all Levoit Core 300 come with.
As with the Levoit Core 300, it uses a three-in-one combination filtration system that captures pet dander and hair and features a specially designed pre-filter, a high-grade, revised active carbon filter, and an H13 True HEPA filter that makes pet odors a thing of the past.
Its cylindrical shape and appealing design make it suitable for any room in the house. The controls are on the top of the unit and comprise fan speed, timer, display, and sleep mode buttons. It measures 14.2 inches high and weighs 7.5lbs.
To ensure the 360-degree air intake works efficiently, leave a gap of at least 15 inches around the unit. It comes with a one-year warranty and lifetime customer support. This special Levoit Core model has been built with pets as its main focus so you don’t need to buy a separate filter for your core 300/S.
SPECS & FEATURES
| Purifier technology: | H13 True HEPA filtration with activated charcoal |
| CADR (CFM / m³/h): | 141 cfm (240 m3/h) |
| Recommended room size: | 219 sqft |
| Filter life: | 6 – 8 months |
| Noise level (low – high): | 24 – 50dB |
| Dimensions (in inches / in cm): | 8.7L x 8.7W x 14.2H inches / 22 x 22 x 36 cm |
| Weight (in kg / in pounds): | 3.4 kg / 7.48 lbs |
| Energy consumption: | $15.60 per year |
| Time to clean our test room: | 40 minutes |
What We Really Like:
👍 With its stylish looks, it blends in perfectly with any decor
👍 It runs very quietly, and the sleep mode is almost silent
👍 The display can be turned off for discreet use in a bedroom
What We Think Could Be Better:
👎 It doesn’t have an air quality indicator which would be useful
What You Need to Know About Using an Air Purifier to Get Rid of Pet Odors
To tackle pet odors, or any volatile organic compound (VOC), you will need a purifier with an activated carbon filter. This filter, made up of a sponge-like bed of charcoal, works by absorbing VOCs from the air as they pass through the purifier.
As well as odors, we know pet dander and hair can be a nuisance when cleaning your home and trigger allergies, amongst many other unpleasant side effects. An air purifier can certainly help with this issue too. Each purifier on our list also utilizes HEPA filters, so they can easily capture and remove these particles and odors from the air.
🤔 Will an air purifier help with dog smell?
An air purifier can do a great deal to remove odors, including those from dogs if it has an adsorption filter, the most popular being activated charcoal. Without this filter, HEPA alone cannot remove dog smells or any other odors in the home. Activated charcoal is carbon that has been treated with high heat and works by trapping odors and is effective for odors and has been proven in multiple peer-review studies.
🤔 Can pet odors cause illness?
Pets, especially young ones, sometimes have ” accidents, ” or perhaps your pets like to “mark their territory” with urine. Either way, pet odors can be unpleasant and potentially harmful to your health if left unattended, as the ammonia can be released from urine stains over time.
The release of ammonia can cause several health problems, such as:
- Coughing and asthma symptoms
- Lung infections
- Nose and throat burning sensations
- Eye or skin irritation
Source: New York Health Department
The best way to remove ammonia from the air is to use an adsorbent filter like activated charcoal. This is the primary material in most air purifiers aimed at removing odors from the air but is not always used, so be aware.
🤔 What do activated carbon filters do to pet odors?
Activated carbon or activated charcoal filters work by trapping those odors through a process known as adsorption, which occurs when specific molecules attach themselves to an external surface instead of being soaked up (absorption). An activated carbon filter with more porous carbon will increase the area of surface space that the odor molecules can attach to when the air is drawn through the filter.
🤔 What are the advantages of owning an air purifier to combat pet odor?
Pets, especially dogs or cats, are continually shedding particles which can lead to health issues. However, it’s not the hair that causes the problem, but the dander from dead skin cells they shed. Your pet can also bring all sorts of other unpleasant items into the house from outside, and things begin to smell over time.
A top-quality air purifier goes a long way to combat not only the dander but will remove any bacteria in the air and significantly reduce, if not eliminate, the odors associated with the four-footed members of your family.
How to Find the Best Air Purifier for Pet Odor
Pets are cute and all, but there’s no denying that sometimes after you’ve had pets indoors with you for a while, the odor of the home changes.
It might be harder for you to catch this smell, especially since you might have been around it for the longest time, so your body system might already be familiar with it.
However, the best way to find out is to ask guests visiting you if they get any unpleasant smells from your home.
Now, we understand that your pet is your best friend, and you probably want it around all the time, and that’s okay. So, the challenge is; How do you keep your pets around while maintaining a fresh and pleasant smell around your home?
Our solution is straightforward- Get an air purifier for pet odors.
What Are Air Purifiers and How Can They Help?
Pollutants in a home can contribute to a poor environment and negatively affect the human body. Inhaling fine pollutant particles, especially those with a small diameter, can cause numerous lung and heart diseases.
Air purifiers are designed to filter the air in the space where they are found. They improve the air quality in a room by removing pollutant sources, especially the tinier particles, and replacing the room with cleaner, healthier air.
When it comes to getting rid of odors, it can be more challenging for air purifiers. Odors are generally stronger, and only air purifiers that use activated charcoal for the purification process stand a chance of eradicating the odor and restoring the smell in the room to normalcy.
The Function of an Activated Charcoal Air Purifier
There are several types of air purifiers. Purifiers are classified according to the type of technology they employ for the purification process.
The types of air purifiers include;
- Mechanical filters
- Activated carbon filters
- Ozone generators
- Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation
- Photocatalytic Oxidation
Of these purifiers, activated carbon works more effectively to eliminate odors. It has special properties allow it to eradicate Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), Odors, and other gaseous pollutants. It has micro and macro pores that pull molecules into itself, trapping them into the activated carbon and absorbing them, thereby neutralizing the odors.
HEPA filters also come highly recommended. HEPA filters are made with fine mesh and are certified to collect up to 99.97% of particles of a certain size (0.3 micrometers in diameter).
Not all filters have this HEPA technology, especially cheaper air filters. If you want to get rid of odors in your home, you should go for air filters with activated carbon and HEPA-certified. The more money you spend on an air filter, the better the performance you should expect from it.
Our Top 3 Air Purifiers for Pet Odors
When it comes to pet odor, these three purifiers top our list;
All three filters are HEPA certified. However, Blueair is leading our options because it uses HEPA silent technology. This is an electrostatic filtration that has both HEPA and activated charcoal. It is very effective in eliminating odors. Suppose you are not very comfortable with the use of electrostatic technology. In that case, you go for the Levoit Core 300 or the Alen BreatheSmart 75i, which are also very effective air purifiers for pet odors.
What to Consider Before Buying an Air Purifier
- Room size
- Noise level of the purifier
- Certifications. Ensure that the purifier has the necessary certifications.
- Cost of replacement filters. Filters should be replaced regularly, so ensure the replacement cost is within your budget.
That said, a high-quality filter will do an excellent job and eliminate the strongest odors.
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 to 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 2023-06-08 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API