From traffic fumes to road dust, the air quality inside your RV might not be as pristine as the clean air in the outdoors you’re exploring.
But it’s not just about allergens and particle pollution, the very gas stoves you use for cooking could emit nitrogen dioxide that irritates the lungs. Plus, studies show that children exposed to VOCs created by such cookers are 42% more likely to develop asthma.
Not only that… You are most exposed to harmful air pollution when traveling in a vehicle. Although RVs generally have an air filter, this kind of air filter struggles to keep exhaust fumes such as carbon monoxide and PM2.5 such as road dust out of the cabin. While rolling down your window increases your exposure by 80%.
The good news is that bring an air purifier with you can help clean the air before pollutants settle in. Read on to find the best models you can buy for an RV.
1. Best battery-powered option: CleanAirKits Triple Exhalaron
A quiet, portable air purifier that can clean the air in RVs with a living space of 200 sq. ft. (20 m2).
The Triple Exhalaron is a portable air purifier that you can use with a a battery pack (with a male USB-C pigtail), so you can have it running beside you as you drive and you can get up to 10 hours of use with a 20,000 mAh battery. Based on our tests, we estimated a PM1 CADR of 128 cfm.
It uses three cylindrical particle filters with a layer of activated carbon combined with three quiet CoolerMaster Mobius argb (2400 rpm) PC fans.
When running at top speed, the fans generate just 40.5 decibels of noise and it can still clean the air as fast as popular traditional air purifiers.
This is outstanding performance for a unit you can use with a battery pack.
CONS
PROS
| Clean air delivery rate (CADR): | – Top speed PM1 CADR: 128 cfm – Sub-45 dBA PM1 CADR: 128 cfm |
| Filter technology: | EPA H10 particle filtration with a layer of activated carbon |
| Recommended room size: | 192 sq. ft. (5 air changes per hour) |
| Dimensions: | 22W x 7.25D x 8.5H in (56W x 14D x 22 cm) |
| Weight: | 6 lbs (2.72 kg) |
| Noise level in decibels from 3 ft. away: | Speed 1: 35.2 dBA Speed 2: 37.7 dBA Speed 3: 40.5 dBA |
| Electricity consumption in watts: | Standby: 0.1 watts Speed 1: 1.1 watts Speed 2: 2.8 watts Speed 3: 6 watts |
| Filter lifespan: | 6 months |
| Manufacturer’s warranty: | 1 year |
| Country of origin: | United States |
| Country of manufacture: | United States |
2. Best cheap option: Levoit Eleva 300X
A modern air purifier that will filter the air in RVs with a living space up to 250 sq. ft. (23 m2) for $130.
A smart air purifier with an onboard laser sensor that is small enough to fit on top of an RV countertop or that won’t take up much floor space if you were to place it in a corner. With an estimated PM1 CADR of 165 cfm, it can clean the air five times per hour in RVs as large as 250 sq. ft. (23 m2).
You get a HEPA filter for particles that can last up to 24 months and on the inside there’s a gas filter with activated carbon pellets that will need to be replaced every 6 months.
It offers more powerful air cleaning than the Triple Exhalaron (above) and, in our particle removal test, it even outperformed the much more expensive Dyson HushJet Compact.
CONS
PROS
| Clean air delivery rate (CADR): | – Top speed PM1 CADR: 165 cfm – Sub-45 dBA PM1 CADR: 115 cfm |
| Filter technology: | Separate HEPA particle filter and gas filter with activated carbon pellets. |
| Recommended room size (5 air changes per hour): | 247 sq. ft. (23 m2) |
| Dimensions: | 9.4 x 9.4 x 15.1 in (23.8 x 23.8 x 38.3 cm) |
| Weight: | 9.9 lbs (4.5 kg) |
| Noise level in decibels from 3 ft. away: | Sleep mode: 35.8 dBA Speed 1: 36.8 dBA Speed 2: 39.8 dBA Speed 3: 44.9 dBA Turbo speed: 55.4 dBA |
| Electricity consumption in watts: | Standby: 0.65 watts Sleep mode: 1.85 watts Speed 1: 5.33 watts Speed 2: 6.91 watts Speed 3: 10.03 watts Turbo speed: 23.91 watts |
| Filter lifespan: | HEPA filter: 2 years Carbon filter: 6 months |
| Manufacturer’s warranty: | 2 years |
| Country of origin: | United States |
| Country of manufacture: | China |
3. Best for large RVs: AirFanta 3Pro
The smallest air purifier powerful enough to thoroughly clean the air in RVs as large as 529 sq. ft. (50 m2).
The AirFanta 3Pro is another air purifier powered by PC fans. Based on our tests, we estimate a PM1 CADR of 353 cfm, which is incredible considering its low price of $164.99. This makes the 3Pro capable of providing five air changes per hour in rooms up to 49 m2 (529 sq. ft.).
The design won’t be everyone’s cup of tea but if you want a small air purifier for your large RV that you can disassemble when not in use, then this is the one.
The 3Pro is a small box with a plastic base, a filter at each side and four PC fans on top. For RVs, I suggest you get the version with particle and carbon filtration to remove allergens, dust AND harmful traffic fumes.
CONS
PROS
| Clean air delivery rate (CADR): | – Top speed PM1 CADR: 353 cfm – Sub-45 dBA PM1 CADR: 213 cfm |
| Filter technology: | True HEPA H11 and optional pelleted activated carbon |
| Recommended room size: | 529 sq. ft. (5 air changes per hour) |
| Dimensions: | 12.6D x 12.6W x 12.6H inches (32D x 32W X 32H cm) |
| Weight: | 7.7 lbs (3.49 kg) |
| Noise level in decibels from 3 ft. away: | 3.63 volts: 36.1 dB 4.19 volts: 36.9 dB 5.24 volts: 39.7 dB 6.54 volts: 43.3 dB 7.44 volts: 46.7 dB 8.56 volts: 49.1 dB 12.6 volts: 56.3 dB |
| Electricity consumption in watts : | 43.23 watts |
| Filter lifespan: | 6 – 12 months |
| Manufacturer’s warranty: | 1 year |
| Country of origin: | China |
| Country of manufacture: | China |
What to look for when buying an air purifier for your RV
To find the right air purifier for your RV, consider these two tips that will help protect you when out on the road.
1. Look for both particle and gas filtration
An air purifier is only as good as its filters. For an RV, look for a model with filters that can remove both particles (dust, pollen, allergens) and gases (traffic fumes, chemicals, VOCs) from the air.
2. Make sure the purifier can clean the air effectively inside your RV
Not all air purifiers are created equal. Before you choose a specific model, you’ll need to measure the living space in your RV and find what CADR you’ll need to clean the air at least five times per hour (which is the minimum recommended by the CDC).
You can use our CADR calculator to find this figure:
Wrapping up
Whether you love getting away for the weekend or are a full-time van lifer, paying close attention to the air you breathe on the road is essential. Remember that when residing in a vehicle, you’ll face all the same pollutants in the home but with added traffic, dust and allergen concerns.
If none of the models above meets your space or budget, just drop a comment below specifying the size of your RV’s living space and the country where you’re based and I will reply with some recommendations.
And if you already have some air purifiers in mind, use our comparison tool to find out how its performance, sound levels, energy consumption and yearly running costs compare to the over 150 models I’ve tested since 2020.
