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
CADR stands for Clean Air Delivery Rate. It’s a rating independently provided by the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) to indicate how well an air purifier will perform.
The CADR score is calculated by measuring the volume of clean air produced when a purifier is used against the three most common pollutants: dust, pollen and smoke. The score is given as a measurement of cubic feet per minute (CFM).
This score, therefore, allows you to make a confident and informed decision, knowing that a higher score means greater efficiency when removing harmful pollutants from your home or workplace.
High CADR is the best choice for large rooms, open-plan spaces and those with large ceilings. But these units are usually massive — the lightest on our list is the Levoit 600S, which weighs 13.7 lbs! If you have a smaller room, you are better off choosing a unit with a lower CADR.
| Why You Can Trust Our Recommendations CADR is just one of many valuable metrics for evaluating air purifiers. That’s why here at HouseFresh, we also perform our own experiments and tests to compare the performance of all the units we recommend. When putting this list together, we looked at: Filters — All the models use HEPA and activated charcoal to allow it to remove contaminants and gas from the air. CADR — All the units listed have a minimum CADR of 300 CFM. Long-term energy costs — Air purifiers must be on 24/7 for issues like pollen and allergies, so you want to ensure that your air purifier doesn’t add too much to your bill. Sound level at highest speed — Very loud air purifiers aren’t used much, so they don’t keep your home air clean. The units we recommend don’t create too much noise to filter the air. App and smart modes — These are always optional, but we did include several units as this can be useful for some situations. Our Testing Process We pay for all the air purifiers we recommend and don’t take freebies in return for shallow positive reviews. We aim to test every unit the same, whether it’s a $1000 Austin Air or the latest $30 best seller on Amazon. Our goal is to uncover how well a unit performs in the real world at its primary job — removing particulates from the air in our home. 1️⃣ All the air purifiers we review are tested in the same room to compare different models across all budgets and specs. 2️⃣ We use a power meter to see how much power is pulled at the lowest and highest speeds. 3️⃣ We use a sound meter to identify sound levels in dB for air purifiers running at the lowest and highest speeds. |
If you’re short on time, here are our top three high CADR purifiers.
The Top 3 High CADR Air Purifiers
| 👑 BEST OVERALL | 💰 FOR TIGHT BUDGETS | 🛋️ FOR LARGE SPACES | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blueair Blue Pure 211+ | Levoit Core 600S | Blast Mini | |
 |  |  | |
| AIR CLEANING SPEED ⚡ | 18 minutes | 15 minutes | 17 minutes |
| CADR 👩🔬 | 350 CFM / 594 m³/h | 410 CFM (697 m³/h) | 435 CFM (740 m³/h) |
| FILTER TECHNOLOGY 💨 | HEPASilent™ technology (electrostatic filtration with HEPA and Activated Charcoal) | H13 True HEPA filter with Activated Carbon | H13 HEPA filter |
| MAX ROOM SIZE 📏 | 540 sq. ft. | 1,588 ft² | 915 sq. ft. |
| WEIGHT ⚖️ | 12.5 lbs / 5.67 kg | 6.2 kg / 13.7 lbs | 59 lbs / 26.8 kg |
| OUR REVIEW 🔍 | Blueair Blue Pure 211+ review | Blast Mini review | |
| PRICE 💵 | $188.99 | Price not available | $748.99 |
Last update on 2023-05-29 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The following seven air purifiers are those with the highest CADR scores that also performed well during our internal testing and evaluations.
There’s something for everyone in this list, with purifiers across a range of budgets — although we ensured that each purifier came with an excellent CADR rating with a minimum of 300 CFM.
1. Best Overall: Blueair Blue Pure 211+ — 350 CFM
Blueair is a Swedish company making air purifiers for two decades. Its Blue Air range is its take on a no-frills, budget-friendly air purifier. The 211+ is one of the more powerful units with a CADR of 350 CFM, and it cleaned our test room of all pollutants in 18 minutes.
The Blueair Blue Pure 211+ has clearance for rooms up to 540 sq. ft and has three AHAM, CARB and Energy Star certifications. This means it’s ozone-safe and energy-efficient, and the CADR rating is accurate. It has an overall CADR rating of 350 CFM, 380 CFM for pollen, 347 CFM for dust and 353 CFM for smoke.
This model is small and compact so you can place it on your desk or shelf. It’s ideal for those that want a purifier that can clear all allergens in medium-sized rooms. The combination of HEPA, activated charcoal and electrostatic means that it achieves this high level of cleaning power without increasing energy usage and sound levels.
What We Really Like:
👍 Powerful high CADR 350 cfm air purifier that is avail,able for under $350
👍 Combination of electrostatic and activated carbon
👍 Multiple color options for the pre-filter fabric
👍 Good level of energy consumption and lower sound levels than is typically seen with this CADR level
What We Think Could Be Better:
👎 No Smart Sensor or air quality sensor and no access to timers
👎 The ON button has a bright light that may disturb light sleepers
SPECS & FEATURES
| HouseFresh Rating: | ★★★★☆ |
| Time to clean our test room: | 18 minutes |
| Air purifier technology: | HEPASilent™ Technology (electrostatic filtration with HEPA) and Activated Charcoal Filter + Ionizer technology |
| Recommended room size: | 540 sq. ft. |
| Clean air delivery rate (CADR): | 350 CFM (595 m3/h) |
| 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 (low – high): | 31 – 56 dB |
| Filter life: | 6 – 8 months |
| Manufacturer’s warranty: | 1 year (can be extended to 2 years by creating a Blueair account and registering the unit within 60 days of purchase) |
| Estimated energy consumption: | $64.12 per year |
2. Best Budget Option: Levoit Core 600S — 410 CFM
The Levoit Core 600S is one of the most powerful air purifiers on the market and cleaned our test room in the fastest time of all at 15 minutes. With an overall CADR rating of 410 CFM, 377 CFM for smoke, 437 CFM for pollen and 373 CFM for dust, the 600S can clean rooms up to 1,588 sq. ft.
The ideal room size for this unit is 635 sq. ft and it will freshen the air five times per hour. Compared with other larger purifiers, the Levoit 600S has a lot of power at a fraction of the price generally seen for this level of cleaning power.
The 3-stage filtration system comprises a pre-stage, HEPA and custom high-efficiency Activated Carbon filter. The HEPA filter is proven to remove 99.97% of indoor pollutants such as dust, mold spores and pollen particles, while carbon filters help tackle odors and hazardous VOCs.
Equipped with a 4-speed fan setting and an auto mode, the 600S also features a downloadable app to control your purifier from your mobile phone or tablet. Like phone alarms, you can now schedule what time you want your air purifier to turn on and how long it should be scheduled for, with outstanding results.
What We Really Like:
👍 Cleans rooms at super fast speed
👍 Great value for such a high CADR
👍 Pulls a low 6.2 watts of power in sleep mode
👍 Easily transportable between rooms as it weighs just 13.7 lbs
What We Think Could Be Better:
👎 The pre-filter can’t be removed
👎 If it’s too close to the wall it doesn’t work as effectively as the sensor is on the back
SPECS & FEATURES
| HouseFresh Rating: | ★★★★★ |
| Time to clean our test room: | 15 minutes |
| Air purifier technology: | H13 True HEPA filter with Activated Carbon |
| Recommended room size: | 635 sq. ft. |
| Clean air delivery rate (CADR): | 410 CFM (697 m³/h) |
| Dimensions (in inches / in cm): | 12.3H x 12.3W x 23.6D inches (31.3H x 31.3W x 60D cm) |
| Weight (in pounds / in kg): | 13.7 lbs (6.2 kg) |
| Noise level (low – high): | 26 – 55 dB |
| Filter life: | 6 months |
| Warranty: | 2 years |
| Estimated energy consumption: | $51.51 per year |
3. Best for Large Spaces: Blast Mini by Smart Air — 435 CFM
The Blast Mini has the highest CADR of all the air purifiers we have tested. It’s a beast of a unit, but it can draw a lot of air and pass it through its combination of H13 HEPA filters and optional activated charcoal (an option we recommend.)
| 🎸 The Blast Mini was spotted being used by The Anchoress, who is clinically vulnerable and used a number of these air purifiers to keep the air she breathed clean; check out the photos over at NME.com. |
One big benefit of the Smart Air Blast mini is that it doesn’t run very loud — only 49dB at it’s highest speed. Due to this reason, they make great air purifiers for classrooms and offices that need quiet for concentration. It will likely be overkill for many homes, but if you have cash and want the most power you can get, this is the air purifier we recommend as of 2023.
What We Really Like:
👍 The HEPA filter lasts 18 — 24 months
👍 Brilliantly made fan that allows for superb performance and low sound levels
👍 Has space for an optional activated carbon filter
👍 Easy to use in even the largest rooms and runs quiet 49dB
What We Think Could Be Better:
👎 The high-powered performance means it does drain a lot more power than smaller units
👎 Initial outlay cost is high but longer term costs are kept low
SPECS & FEATURES
| HouseFresh Rating: | ★★★★☆ |
| Time to clean our test room: | 17 minutes |
| Air purifier technology: | H13 HEPA Filter |
| Recommended room size: | 915 sq. ft. |
| Clean air delivery rate (CADR): | 435 CFM (740 m³/h) |
| Dimensions (in inches / in cm): | 24.8H x 13W x 22.6D inches (63H x 33W 57.5D x cm) |
| Weight (in pounds / in kg): | 59 lbs (26.8 kg) |
| Noise level (low – high): | 36 — 49 dB |
| Filter life: | 33 months |
| Manufacturer’s warranty: | 1 year |
| Estimated energy consumption: | $277.70 per year |
4. Alen BreatheSmart 75i — 347 CFM
This is the top dog in the Alen Breathsmart range with a 347 CFM score that cleaned our test room in 24 minutes. It comes with smart features and pink noise for easy sleeping. With the right filter choice, you can get a lot of activated charcoal to help with nonparticulate pollution, such as gasses and VOCs.
It’s another one of the quietest units with a max sound of 49dB, but it’s also a large unit with a height of 27 inches and weighs in at 27 lbs. I like that you can get a lifetime guarantee, which is unheard of in the industry, but you do need an active filter subscription.
With a CADR rating of 347 CFM, this product can tackle household pollutants that may impose on your space. Like Blueair units, the Alen 75i combines electrostatic generation with HEPA and activated charcoal called HEPASilent.
The Alen 75i’s auto mode is the perfect feature for automatically sensing the air quality in the room and adjusting its fan speed to whatever is required. Other great features include a downloadable mobile phone app to control your unit and smart features when you are not at home.
What We Really Like:
👍 Features five stages of fan speeds
👍 Extremely versatile and capable of dealing with multiple indoor pollutants and hazardous fumes
👍 On the lowest setting, the noise output is super quiet at just 25dB
What We Think Could Be Better:
👎 It’s tough to tuck away as it’s a large unit
👎 The control panel does get dirty with fingerprints so you need to constantly clean it after use
SPECS & FEATURES
| HouseFresh Rating: | ★★★★☆ |
| Time to clean our test room: | 24 minutes |
| Air purifier technology: | True HEPA H13 filters with activated carbon pellets + Ionizer technology |
| Recommended room size: | Up to 1,300 sq. ft. |
| Clean air delivery rate (CADR): | 347 CFM (589 m³/h) |
| Dimensions (in inches / in cm): | 27H x 18.5W x 11.5D inches (68.58H x 46.99W x 29.21D cm) |
| Weight (in pounds / in kg): | 12.2 kg (27 lbs) |
| Noise level (low – high): | 24dB – 49dB |
| Filter life: | 12 – 15 months |
| Warranty: | Lifetime (with product registration & active filter subscription) |
| Estimated energy consumption: | $47.30 per year |
5. IQAir Healthpro Plus — 300 CFM
Weighing in at 35 Ibs, the IQAir Healthpro Plus may be one of the heavier and more expensive units on the market, but wow, this machine can clean. With a CADR rating of 330 CFM, the Healthpro Plus is recommended for rooms ranging from 450 to 1,125 sq. ft making this product perfect for medium and large rooms.
It’s stand-out feature is the filter system — HyperHEPA, which is large and high quality but isn’t cheap when you need to replace it.
Featuring three filters, the Healthpro Plus begins by drawing in air through the bottom of the unit. The pre-Max filter is located towards the base; the air then travels past the fan upwards to the carbon filter and finishes through the HyperHEPA particle filter.
The Healthpro Plus can be controlled via the supplied remote control with six fan speeds. You can adjust speeds from the control panel on top of the unit; however, noise levels will vary from 25-69dB depending on the fan speed.
What We Really Like:
👍 Long lasting filters
👍 High-quality HyperHEPA that is large and high-quality material
👍 Contains 5Ibs of activated carbon in the V5-Cell Filter – that’s 5x more than most units
👍 Comes with wheels for better portability
What We Think Could Be Better:
👎 Looks a bit like a printer
👎 The unit is quite large, not one for tucking away
SPECS & FEATURES
| HouseFresh Rating: | ★★★★☆ |
| Time to clean our test room: | 25 minutes |
| Air purifier technology: | HyperHEPA and V50-CELL gas and odor filter |
| Recommended room size: | 450 to 1125 sq. ft. |
| Clean air delivery rate (CADR): | 300 CFM (510 m³/h) |
| Dimensions (in inches / in cm): | 28H x 18W x 16D inches (71H x 38W x 41D cm) |
| Weight (in pounds / in kg): | 35 lbs (16 kg) |
| Noise level (low – high): | 25dB – 69dB |
| Filter life: | 4 years |
| Manufacturer warranty: | 10 years |
| Estimated energy consumption: | $165.04 per year |
6. Coway Airmega 300 — 306 CFM
The Coway Airmega 300 can cover up to an astonishing 1,256 square feet, which is surprisingly effective considering it’s not the largest unit. With a CADR rating of 306 CFM, the Airmega 300 packs a punch when sanitizing your household air from indoor contaminants.
Equipped with a highly recommended Activated Carbon filter and a Green True HEPA filter, this unit will help eradicate indoor pollutants such as dust, pollen and pet dander and, through the process of Carbon trapping, help tackle unwanted odors and hazardous VOCs.
Operating at the lowest fan speed, the Airmega 300 will produce a noise level of just 22 dB. Although this unit doesn’t have the features we’ve all come to expect in air purifiers nowadays, like an auto sensor or a downloadable app, it still produces the same results when delivering good air quality.
However, the Coway Airmega 300S is also available for a bit more money and features more modes and features.
What We Really Like:
👍 Great for larger rooms with a high CADR across dust, pollen and smoke
👍 Night mode allows you to turn the lights off
👍 Perfect for the bedroom as it’s very quiet
👍 Great design, blends in really well in both household and office surroundings
What We Think Could Be Better:
👎 The legs leave marks on the carpet
👎 Energy consumption is a bit pricey if you run it all the time
SPECS & FEATURES
| HouseFresh Rating: | ★★★★☆ |
| Time to clean our test room: | 26 minutes |
| Air purifier technology: | Three-stage HyperCaptive™ Max2 filters (pre-filter + activated carbon + Green True HEPA™) |
| Recommended room size: | 628 sq. ft. to 1256 sq. ft. |
| Clean air delivery rate (CADR): | 306 CFM (520 m3/h) |
| 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 pounds / in kg): | 21.4 lbs (9.7 kg) |
| Noise level (low – high): | 22dB – 52dB |
| Filter life: | 12 months |
| Warranty | 5 years from the date of the original retail purchase |
| Estimated energy consumption: | $55.71 per year |
7. Honeywell HPA300 — 300 CFM
Featuring three HEPA filters and a signal-activated carbon filter that acts as a pre-filter, the Honeywell HPA300 is a simplistically designed, high-powered product with lots of great aspects to admire. With its four fan speeds being low, medium, high and turbo, the HPA300 has a brilliant CADR rating of 300 CFM, cleaning rooms of up to 465 sq. ft.
As well as being high in CADR efficiency, the Honeywell HPA300 is a surprisingly low-budget product for its capabilities. This unit is larger than other purifiers on the market and is louder than many of the other units we have listed. However, unlike other units, the LEDs on the HPA300 can be turned off, which makes it even more appealing in the evenings.
The Honeywell HPA300 is a great budget product. It purifies the air significantly quicker than other products. Still, it won’t be featured in any best-looking categories and is probably our least favorite of the high CADR air purifiers we have featured in this list.
What We Really Like:
👍 Having the option to turn off the lights, perfect for the bedroom
👍 Filters are easy to replace and easy to come by
👍 Simplistic style means it’s straightforward to understand and use
👍 Easy to pick up because of the side pockets (really comes in handy as it is pretty heavy)
What We Think Could Be Better:
👎 Can be very loud on the highest setting
👎 The design isn’t the best looking very utilitarian
SPECS & FEATURES
| HouseFresh Rating: | ★★★☆☆ |
| Time to clean our test room: | 26 minutes |
| Air purifier technology: | Activated Carbon pre-filter and True HEPA filter |
| Recommended room size: | 465 sq. ft. |
| Clean air delivery rate (CADR): | 300 CFM (510 m3/h) |
| Dimensions (in inches / in cm): | 20.8L x 10.83W x 22.38H inches (52.8L x 27.5W x 56.8H cm) |
| Weight (in pounds / in kg): | 17 lbs (7.7 kg) |
| Noise level (low – high): | 48.3dB – 71.2dB |
| Filter life: | HEPA every 12 months, Pre-filters every 3 months |
| Warranty | 5 years |
| Estimated energy consumption: | $189.01 per year |
Buying Guide: High CADR Air Purifiers
If you live in a large home it means there is a chance more contaminated air can fill it. You’ll need an air purifier with a CADR capable of tackling contaminants in an ample space.
| 🤔 Why should you improve air quality in an ample space? In a large space, there is more air and more chance of breathing in contaminated air. 📖 Breathing in pollutants can damage your health, especially if you suffer from allergies or have respiratory issues like asthma, according to Cleveland Clinic. 📖 A study published in the medical journal Atmosphere during the pandemic found that particulate matter exceeded the recommended maximum of 12 µg/m3 in 100% of home offices used for remote work. So if you work from home regularly, it’s even more critical to ensure you breathe clean air. |
What to Look for When Buying a High CADR Air Purifier
The importance of CADR ratings is that they provide a way for consumers to compare the airflow and efficiency of air purifiers. This rating is important for those who want to know the performance of an air purifier, especially when shopping for an air cleaner. It will let you know whether the air purifier you intend to buy is strong enough to clean your living area.
Living in a large space means more air to clean, so CADR becomes a fundamental metric to consider when buying an air purifier. Let’s look at all of the issues you have to consider.
1. Measure your room to ensure you get the right CADR
To get a suitable unit, you have to determine how much space you have for it to clean.
| Multiply the room’s length, width and height |
The resulting number will tell you how many cubic feet are in your space and approximately how many cubic feet your air purifier needs to be able to clean each minute for it to be effective in that space. It is recommended that a room have at least four air changes per hour (ACH).
Now that you know the air volume that needs purifying and how often the air needs to be cycled, you can determine the minimum clean air delivery rate (CADR) a purifier would need to vent the room properly.
You need this equation:
| Minimum CADR = room area x 4 ACH (air changes per hour) x (1 hour/60 minutes) x ceiling height |
2. The filters must be right
You should only consider air purifiers with HEPA filters and activated carbon. These filters protect you against any contaminants in a home setting.
3. Check the long-term costs and the initial outlay
There’s no point in getting a decent high CADR air purifier if the cost of new filters will prevent you from replacing them. Always check the price of replacement filters and see how long they last before deciding if it’s the right unit for you.
4. Be mindful of noise levels
If your air purifier is so loud that disturbs you while you work, watch a film or try to sleep, you probably won’t use it much, making it a pointless investment. That’s why we record the sound levels of all the recommended air purifiers.
Manufacturers often publish this information, but the figures can’t always be trusted. You should research sound levels and look up a few videos of the unit running to get a good idea of what it sounds like.
Common Questions About High CADR Air Purifiers
🤔 What is CADR rating?
CADR stands for Clean Air Delivery Rate. This value shows you how quickly your purifier can clean the air based on the size of the room your purifier can cover. For example, a purifier with a CADR rating of 300 CFM (cubic feet per minute) will clean a room less than 300 sq. ft faster than a purifier with a CADR rating of 200 CFM.
Your air purifier’s ability to remove particles from the air will be determined by the units CADR for three types of particle sizes; this includes
- Smoke CADR (0.09 – 1 micron)
- Dust CADR (0.5 – 3 microns)
- Pollen CADR (5 – 11 microns)
The CADR rating is determined by the amount of clean air being released at the highest speed of your air filtration system, thus giving us a final evaluation.
Most, if not all, air purifiers you’ll find on the market will have a CADR rating. This is because each unit has to test its efficiency and effectiveness against three common air pollutants (dust, pollen and smoke) to achieve the AHAM seal of approval.
The CADR rating scale ranges from 0 — 450, depending on the particle size of the pollutant being measured. This measurement gives the relative cleaning effectiveness of the unit for a particular room size.
The CADR rating consists of three numbers separated by a slash (/), such as 300/350/325. In this case, 300 would refer to the smoke CADR, 350 for dust and 325 for pollen.
🤔 Is CADR misleading?
Although CADR is considered a reliable source for testing and producing the most accurate results for particulate matter, it will not provide any information on an air purifier’s capabilities in tackling VOCs and gases. CADR is known for testing three particle sizes ranging from 0.9 up to 11 microns.
Some air quality companies, such as IQAir, believe that CADR tests show bias toward hybrid models that use ionizer technology, for example, which functions by making particles heavier before cleaning them using HEPA technology.
CADR will also not pick up microscopic particles. Units that remove larger particles quicker than others will have a higher CADR score than a product that removes smaller particles but takes longer to remove big particles.
You can read more about the controversies surrounding CADR here.
🤔 Who gives air purifiers their CADR rating?
CADR ratings come from the AHAM (Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers). This rating means that you can compare your purifier against another. However, it should be noted that the AHAM and CADR approval and rating are voluntary, so it’s not a mandatory program for air purifier manufacturers.
Since 2010, California has required companies to be certified by the CARB. As of 2020, electronic in-duct air cleaning devices are also required to have certification.
To gain certification, air cleaners must be tested for electrical safety and ozone emissions. Ozone emissions must not reach a concentration limit of .05 parts per million (50 ppb).
To measure CADR ratings, three sizes of particles are measured. Each indicates the purifier’s ability to remove smaller and larger particles. For example, a smoke CADR ranges between 0.09 to 1 micron. Dust CADR ranges from 0.5 to 3 microns. Pollen CADR ranges from 5 to 11 microns.
🤔 How do you calculate CADR?
According to the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM), CADR calculates three particle sizes ranging from 0.9 – 11 microns.
Focusing on the three airborne contaminants:
- Dust (0.5-3.0 microns): 450
- Pollen (5-11.0 microns): 400
- Tobacco smoke (0.09-1.0 micron): 450
CADR shows the rate of removal from a 1,008 ft3 test chamber using an air purifier to determine the results and how fast particular units can remove the contaminants from the air. The CADR number represents how an air purifier removes pollutants effectively and how long it takes to do so (in cubic feet per minute).
Air purifiers are usually rated from a variety of room sizes such as smaller rooms (100-250 sq. ft), medium-sized rooms (250-400 sq. ft), large rooms (400-600 sq. ft) and extra-large spaces (600-1000 sq. ft).
Wrapping up
An air purifier that has a higher CADR rating will help clean rooms faster and work to remove pollutants in the air. The most effective purifiers have a True HEPA filter, an Activated Carbon filter, high fan power and low noise levels. You may have other qualities you’d want in an air purifier, like Smart features or sensors that indicate air quality.
Your room size will determine the CADR rating you should look for. For example, the bigger your room, the higher you want the CADR. The price is something you may want to consider as well.
We all have a budget and want to buy the best possible product for the best price.
Any units we have put on this list will do the job. Remember, we have tested them thoroughly, so we can confidently recommend them.
Last update on 2023-05-29 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API