Sounds above 85 decibels are considered harmful to human hearing, so we should avoid prolonged exposure to them. This can become a problem when you consider that the fans inside air purifiers can get really freaking loud – especially if you have more than one device inside a room.
All this is to say that sound matters when it comes to air purifiers, and unfortunately, sound levels in product listings and marketing materials cannot be trusted.
In fact, if you click on a random air purifier on Amazon, you will likely see very low sound levels (around 20 dB) mentioned. But you should know that these incredibly low decibel figures are generally what you can expect when running the air purifier on sleep mode…
Sadly, it’s now common for air purifier manufacturers to only share the sound level at the lowest fan speed. The problem is that at this low fan speed, any small air purifier will not be able to provide multiple air changes per hour in even the smallest of rooms.
That is why we not only test the air cleaning performance of air purifiers at top speed but also at fan speeds below 45 dBA, which is the limit set by Clean Air Stars for noisy classrooms and offices.
My recommendations today are based on benchmark testing of over 90 different air purifiers running at fan speeds that generate less than 45 decibels of sound.
TL;DR: These are the best quiet air purifiers
If reading is not your thing, you can just watch the video version of this article.
I’ve also put together a table with information about each of the air purifiers I recommend for those looking for solid performance with quiet operation:
| BEST OVERALL | BEST OUTSIDE THE U.S. | SMART | SMALL | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CleanAirKits Luggable XL-7 | AirFanta 3Pro | Levoit EverestAir | CleanAirKits Triple Exhalaron | |
 |  |  |  | |
| Time to PM1 zero | 23 minutes | 17 minutes | 14 minutes | 46 minutes |
| CADR | 323 CFM | 430 CFM | 365 CFM | 120 CFM |
| Filter tech | MERV 13 | True HEPA H11 + carbon | Particle + carbon | HEPA H10 |
| Max room size | 485 sq. ft. | 671 sq. ft. | 563 sq. ft. | 180 sq. ft. |
| Sound levels | 38.8 dB | 36-56 dB | 39-57 dB | 35.2 – 40.5 dB |
| Long-term running costs | $58.16 / year | $125.23 / year | $85.23 / year | $96.36 / year |
| Upfront cost | $299.00 | $159.99 | $499.99 | $359.00 |
Read on to learn more about my top picks for the best-performing quiet air purifiers you will find today. If none of them is right for you, scroll down to my list of excellent devices that nearly made the list or drop us a message on Reddit.
1. Best overall: CleanAirKits Luggable XL-7
It is honestly so quiet that the first week we had it, I found myself walking up to it now and again to check if it was running.
The Luggable XL-7 cleaned our 728 cubic ft. test room of all PM1 pollutants in 23 minutes while generating only 38.8 dB of sound. Just to put this into perspective, that is the same time clocked by the popular Winix 5500-2, the Levoit Vital 200S and the Smart Air SA600 — incredible air cleaning performance below 40dB!
This minimal noise level can be explained by the fact that the Luggable is part of a new generation of air purifiers powered by PC fans. The Luggable XL-7 with its seven Cooler Master SickleFlow 120 fans will give you the power of 323 cfm without generating a lot of noise in spaces of up to 485 sq. ft.
What we really like
What we think could be better
When comparing the air cleaning speed of the Luggable XL against other air purifiers running at sub-45 dB speeds, it becomes clear that the only models coming close are other PC fan-powered devices: the NorthBox 6XL and the AirFanta 3Pro.
Something I really like about this air purifier is that you can choose any 20×25 MERV 13 filters you can get hold of and are not stuck to buying OEM filters from CleanAirKits. After testing a few alternatives, I highly recommend the 3M Filtrete MPR1900 and MPR2200.
If you are in Canada, check out North Box Systems. They manufacture PC fan-powered DIY kits similar to those from CleanAirKits, but are a local business and will be cheaper to buy from Canada. I tested their 6XL model with different PC fan configurations and was blown away by its performance.
Sound is subjective, so I made this video so you can listen to the Luggable XL-7 running at its only fan speed:
| HouseFresh rating: | ★★★★☆ |
| Time to clean our 728 cubic feet test room (with the device running at top speed): | 23 minutes |
| Air filtration technology: | MERV 13 |
| Recommended room size (4.8 air changes per hour): | 485 sq. ft. |
| Clean air delivery rate (CADR): | Dust: 323 CFM Smoke: 259 CFM Pollen: 370 CFM |
| Dimensions (in inches / in cm): | 7D x 25W x 20H in (18D x 64W x 51 cm) |
| Weight (in pounds / in kg): | 8 lbs (3.63 kg) |
| Filter life: | 6-12 months |
| Noise level in decibels (measured from 3 ft. away with a sound level meter): | Only speed: 38.8 dBA |
| Electricity consumption in watts (recorded with an electricity usage monitor): | Only speed: 10.5 watts |
| Estimated running cost (electricity consumption + official filter replacement): | $58.16 per year |
| Cost per CADR cfm (based on dust CFM as reported by Intertek): | $0.93 |
| Manufacturer’s warranty: | 1 year |
| Country of manufacture: | United States |
2. Best outside of North America: AirFanta 3Pro
More than just quiet: this is the only air purifier with a CADR above 400 that you can fit inside a carry-on bag.
Use the discount code HOUSEFRESH for 5% off when buying directly from AirFanta.
If you live outside of Canada or the United States, you will find that PC fan-powered air purifiers that use HVAC filters are not a good option because HVAC systems are not as popular, so finding filters can be challenging — and when you can find them, you will need to pay triple the price for them. Thankfully, you can now access the quiet performance that comes from PC fans in the shape of the AirFanta 3Pro.
Created by Adam Wong, the 3Pro is a small box that uses a four-PC fan array on top of four custom H11 filters, with the option of getting carbon if you want to tackle odors and gases. Running at its top speed, the 3Pro is not much quieter than most HEPA retail devices BUT you can adjust the voltage controller to set lower (and quieter) fan speeds without compromising on performance:
| VOLTAGE | SOUND LEVEL (at 3 ft. away) |
|---|---|
| 3.63 v. | 36.1 dBA |
| 4.19 v. | 36.9 dBA |
| 5.24 v. | 39.7 dBA |
| 6.54 v. | 43.3 dBA |
| 7.44 v. | 46.7 dBA |
| 8.56 v. | 49.1 dBA |
| 12.6 v. (top speed) | 56.3 dBA |
We found that setting the 3Pro at 6.45V generates 43.3 dB of noise while being able to complete our particle removal test in just 28 minutes, so this is a good sub-45 dB fan speed. To put this into perspective, 28 minutes is the same amount it took for the Levoit Core 400S and the IQAir HealthPro Plus to complete the same test.
And if you want it to be even quieter, you can set it at 4.84V. At this speed, we recorded 38.1 dB (quieter than the Luggable XL) in terms of noise and it could still clean all PM1 in 31 minutes. Super impressive!
What we really like
What we think could be better
At its highest fan speed, it hits the average noise level across all the air purifiers we have tested, 57 dB, but you don’t need it running on high for long. Have a listen for yourself:
| HouseFresh rating: | ★★★★★ |
| Time to clean our 728 cubic feet test room (with the device running at top speed): | 17 minutes |
| Air filtration technology: | True HEPA H11 |
| Recommended room size (4.8 air changes per hour): | 671 sq. ft. |
| Clean air delivery rate (CADR): | Estimated: 430 CFM |
| Dimensions (in inches / in cm): | 12.6D x 12.6W x 12.6H inches (32D x 32W X 32H cm) |
| Weight (in pounds / in kg): | 7.7 lbs (3.49 kg) |
| Filter life: | 6 – 12 months |
| Noise level in decibels (measured from 3 ft. away with a sound level meter): | 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 (recorded with an electricity usage monitor): | 43.23 watts |
| Estimated running cost (electricity consumption + official filter replacement): | $125.23 per year |
| Cost per CADR cfm (based on dust CFM as reported by AHAM): | $0.35 |
| Manufacturer’s warranty: | 1 year |
| Country of manufacture: | China |
3. Best smart option: Levoit EverestAir
A quiet option for those who want a more traditional air purifier with top-notch smart features.
The EverestAir is Levoit’s most premium device, so it isn’t cheap — it costs just under $500. However, its powerful fan, stylish design and smart features will make it worth it for those who appreciate those things in an air purifier.
It has a CADR of 365 cfm, giving you 4.8 air changes per hour in spaces of up to 563 sq. ft. but, most importantly, it offers excellent air cleaning performance at its lowest (and quietest) fan speeds. In our testing, the EverestAir only generated 43.2 dB of sound at speed 2, yet it could clean our test room in 29 minutes.
What we really like
What we think could be better
If you are looking for an air purifier with smart features, the EverestAir is a great choice. It comes with an onboard air quality sensor that allows it to be used in automatic mode, so you can set it and forget it. Plus, you can control the device on your phone through the Levoit VeSync app, which is one of the best air purifier apps I’ve used.
As I always say, sound can be subjective, so make sure to give the EverestAir a listen to see if you find it as quiet as I do:
| HouseFresh rating: | ★★★★★ |
| Time to clean our 728 cubic feet test room (with the device running at top speed): | 16 minutes |
| Air purifier technology: | 3-Stage Filtration (Pre-filter for large particles, main filter for airborne particles, high-efficiency activated carbon filter for odors and gasses) |
| Recommended room size (4.8 air changes per hour): | 563 sq. ft. |
| Clean air delivery rate (CADR): | Dust: 365 CFM Smoke: 363 CFM Pollen: 428 CFM |
| Dimensions (in inches / in cm): | 18.9L x 8.5W x 23.2H inches (48L x 21.6W x 58.9H cm) |
| Weight (in pounds / in kg): | 20.7 lbs (9.39 kg) |
| Filter life: | 12-15 months |
| Noise level in decibels (measured from 3 ft. away with a sound level meter): | Speed 1: 39.1 dB Speed 2: 43.2 dB Speed 3: 48.6 dB Turbo: 57.8 dB |
| Electricity consumption in watts (recorded with an electricity usage monitor): | Standby mode: 1.26 watts Speed 1: 9.85 watts Speed 2: 15.59 watts Speed 3: 26.6 watts Turbo: 69.8 watts |
| Estimated running cost (electricity consumption + official filter replacement): | $206.36 per year |
| Cost per CADR cfm (based on dust CFM as reported by AHAM): | $1.37 |
| Manufacturer’s warranty: | 2 years |
| Country of manufacture: | China |
4. Best for small spaces: CleanAirKits Triple Exhalaron
An air purifier with a CADR of 120 cfm that has been designed to be used as a table centerpiece.
As much as I would like every person to buy the largest, most powerful air purifier they can live with, I know that not everyone has the space for a full-sized device. If this is you and you find yourself looking for a small and quiet air purifier with good air-cleaning performance, you should definitely consider the Triple Exhalaron from CleanAirKits.
The Triple Exhalaron has a CADR of 120 cfm, so it will give you 4.8 air changes per hour in rooms of up to 180 sq. ft. At its highest fan speed, it hit 40.5 dB and cleaned our test room in 46 minutes, which is faster and much quieter than the Levoit Core 300, the PuroAir 240 and the Aroeve MK04.
What we really like
What we think could be better
Unlike the Luggable XL-7, the Triple Exhalaron comes pretty much ready to go out of the box. Three cylindrical filters covered by a machine-washable mesh pre-filter sit between a thin wooden base and a thick wooden top that houses three CoolerMaster Mobius argb (2400 rpm) PC fans.
Now, unless you need a small device to take with you on your travels or want to use it as a table centerpiece to reduce viral load, the cost of the Triple Exhalaron is still very high for just a quiet air purifier. That is why I recommend that most people choose larger devices like the other air purifiers on our list.
| HouseFresh rating: | ★★★★☆ |
| Time to clean our 728 cubic feet test room (with the device running at top speed): | 46 minutes |
| Air filtration technology: | HEPA H10 |
| Recommended room size (4.8 air changes per hour): | 180 sq. ft. |
| Clean air delivery rate (CADR): | 230 CFM |
| Dimensions (in inches / in cm): | 22W x 7.25D x 8.5H in (56W x 14D x 22 cm) |
| Weight (in pounds / in kg): | 6 lbs (2.72 kg) |
| Filter life: | 6 months |
| Noise level in decibels (measured from 3 ft. away with a sound level meter): | Speed 1: 35.2 dBA Speed 2: 37.7 dBA Speed 3: 40.5 dBA |
| Electricity consumption in watts (recorded with an electricity usage monitor): | Standby: 0.1 watts Speed 1: 1.1 watts Speed 2: 2.8 watts Speed 3: 6 watts |
| Estimated running cost (electricity consumption + official filter replacement): | $96.36 per year |
| Cost per CADR cfm (based on dust CFM as reported by Intertek): | $2.99 |
| Manufacturer’s warranty: | 1 year |
| Country of manufacture: | United States |
Three other great air purifiers that offer solid performance at quiet fan speeds
The four air purifiers above are my top picks, but other good-performing units with relatively quiet operation nearly made the list.
Perhaps one of these could be a better choice for you, depending on what you’re looking for:
Alen BreatheSmart 45i (36.2 – 51.1 dB)
The 45i is a pretty big unit with a large fan and filters, so it should be noisier than it actually is. It has touchscreen controls, a H13 HEPA filter with pelleted activated carbon, and an ionizer function that you can turn on and off.
With a dust CADR of 208 cfm, the 45i used to be my top recommendation for quiet air purifiers, but its 51 dB is too loud compared to what we see today with the CleanAirKits Luggable XL-7 and the new generation of PC fan-powered air purifiers.
Levoit Vital 200S (38.3 – 57.7 dB)
The Vital 200S looks more modern and stylish than other Levoit devices, and its fan is energy-efficient and relatively quiet (reaching 57.7 dB at its top speed). With smart functions, a CADR of 263 cfm and an RRP of $189.99, it offers excellent value for money both upfront and in the long term.
When running at speed 2, the Vital 200S hits 41.9 dB (very quiet), and it has decent air cleaning performance (it cleared our 728 cubic ft. test room of PM1 pollutants in 46 minutes). This made it one of my choices in the past, but the highly affordable AirFanta 3Pro outranked it.
Smart Air Blast Mini (44.9 – 56.3 dB)
Unlike most air purifiers, the Blast Mini is made from metal instead of plastic, which makes it super durable. It is a BIG device that is heavy and takes up a lot of space, but it comes on wheels and makes it up with its CADR of 435 cfm that can clear the air 4.8 times per hour in rooms up to 703 sq. ft.
It comes with an H13 HEPA filter and an optional carbon filter and was able to clear the air in our test room in 15 minutes while generating just 56.3 dB of noise. When running at its lowest speed (44.9 dB), it completed our test in 22 minutes. This is a great option for large spaces, but it didn’t make the cut because the EverestAir was quieter and better performing at its lowest fan speeds.
What to look for when buying a quiet air purifier
If you want to ensure the air in your home is clean, you should run your air purifier 24/7/365. That means that if your air purifier is noisy, it will affect the quality of life of those who live in your home… or even worse, you will likely turn it off sooner or later.
That is why you could say that the Holy Grail of air purifiers is a high CADR unit powered by a quiet fan, but these units are not easy to find, so I rounded up some tips to help you navigate the world of sound when looking for a quiet air purifier:
1. Don’t get duped by reported noise levels
Most air purifier guides on the Internet are nothing more than a repetition of manufacturers’ claims and data, and the thing with manufacturers is that it is in their interest to show you the best numbers, even if they had to jump through hoops to achieve them in a controlled test environment that won’t be reflective of day-to-day use.
That is why you will often see articles about quiet air purifiers quoting very low decibel figures, as manufacturers tend to promote noise levels of their units running at its lowest fan speeds.
When buying an air purifier for your home, be sure to check how much noise it produces at both low AND high fan speeds. Ideally, look for third-party data like the one we publish here at HouseFresh.
Check out this tool from Clean Air Stars, where you can enter the desired noise levels to find devices that will fit that criteria.
2. Pay attention to the CADR rating
By checking the air purifier’s clean air delivery rate (CADR) rating, you can determine how effectively the device filters pollutants within a given room size.
For example, a device with a 250 CADR rating for dust will be more effective than one with a 200 CADR rating for the same room size. The 250 rating means the air purifier can produce 250 cubic feet of fresh air per minute to remove dust from the room. Therefore, the higher the CADR rating, the faster the air purifier will clean a room’s air.
You can use our handy calculator to find out what CADR rating you should be looking for depending on the size of the room where you will be using the air purifier:
3. Check whether the air purifier has a Sleep Mode
If you are looking for an air purifier for your bedroom, don’t just focus on noise levels; choose one with a sleep mode option.
The sleep mode option not only sets the device to run at the lowest fan speed possible but also turns off the lights on the display, minimizing the chances of the air purifier disturbing the darkness of your room.
4. Beware of small air purifiers that promise whisper-quiet operation
Most lists you will find ranking on Google for “quiet air purifiers” will recommend tons of tiny air purifiers because they operate super quietly at low fan speeds. The problem is that these small devices won’t be able to clean enough air even when running at their top fan speeds (which are usually a lot noisier), so they will offer even worse performance at low fan speeds.
Take the popular Levoit Core Mini, for example. In our test, its top fan speed hit just 44.5 dB, which is below the 45 dB limit we set for this list of recommendations. The reason why this air purifier didn’t make the list is that when running at its highest speed, it took 1 hour and 53 minutes for the Core Mini to clean our fairly small test room of PM1 pollutants. Compare this to the 17 minutes it took the AirFanta 3Pro to complete the exact same test, and you’ll understand why I’m not recommending devices like the Levoit Core Mini.
If you choose the traditional air purifier route over PC fan-powered devices, the best option is to buy a big unit that is powerful enough to clean your air even when running at its lowest fan speeds.
Some common questions about quiet air purifiers
If you have a question about sound in air purification, please drop a comment below, and I will add the answer to this section of the article.
When deciding on appropriate noise levels, you can use a classroom as a reference as it is a room where quiet is imperative for concentration.
According to WHO, an occupied classroom should be 40-50 dB, and Clean Air Stars suggests 40-45 dBA max. Many air purifiers will go over 55dB at the highest speed, so much better to use the lower speeds and choose a bigger device than is recommended for your room space.
You can also use multiple devices at lower fan speeds, Joey Fox talks about this in his blog post about the issue of HEPA noise.
As CADR scores from AHAM scores are calculated at the highest speeds, some air purifier brands make their devices go very loud at the highest fan speed to have a higher CADR score for marketing purposes. This is why we calculate room cleaning speed at lower speed levels, especially for larger devices.
You can often find that a large device like the Levoit EverestAir can clean the air quicker at its lowest fan speed and much lower sound level compared to the noise generated by a smaller device running at its highest fan speed.
Ten years ago, there were popular devices called ionizers sold as silent air purifiers because they made very little noise as they didn’t use fan and a filter. The problem was that they were ineffective and also created dangerous amounts of ozone.
If sound is a concern, then choose a large air purifier and run it at a lower fan speed as it will result in low sound levels but will still keep your room clean.
An easy way to see if your air purifier is working is to look at your HEPA filters after three weeks of usage. If your device is doing its job, you will see dust and hair on the pre-filter.
Another way is to have an air quality sensor in your home. These devices give you an up-to-date air quality reading. We recommend the QP Lite.
Wrapping up
Our motto at HouseFresh is that our tests reveal what manufacturers won’t tell you. To fulfill that promise, we buy all our devices with our own money to avoid any bias and we spend months testing them thoroughly.
If you buy one of the air purifiers I recommended today by clicking the buttons throughout this page, you will be supporting our work so we can keep testing and reviewing air quality products. In simple terms, when you buy a device through our website, we will get a 3% commission on the sale at no extra cost to you.
These funds will help us continue testing and reviewing air purifiers, so we can identify more devices that offer exceptional air cleaning performance without generating too much noise.
As always, if you have any questions about any of the air purifiers I mentioned in this article, then let me know in the comments.
