We generally recommend that most people go for the biggest air purifier they can live with to get the most power (and the most value) for their money.
Having a slightly more powerful air purifier than you need will let you run it at lower fan speeds and still get solid air cleaning performance without making much noise. Plus, in the long run, you will find that small air purifiers will cost nearly as much to maintain as larger devices because you will need to replace their filters much more often.
However, I know that sometimes people just want a small air purifier. So, to find the ones worth buying, I spent $4,872 on 30 air purifiers small enough to fit on top of a table.
If you don’t want to read my full article, you can watch the video version below:
I used all the air purifiers we bought at home and also ran a series of tests to find out how well they clean the air at different fan speeds, how noisy they are, how much energy they consume, and how much they will cost you to run each year. You can read more about our testing process here.
1. The best for most people: Coway Airmega 100
Standing at 39 cm high and weighing just 3 kg, the Airmega 100 isn’t the smallest Coway, but nearly.
The Airmega 100 is a small, cylindrical air purifier with a bonded particle and carbon filter that will help remove dust, pollen, smoke and other allergens from the air in spaces no larger than 177 sq. ft. (or 16 m2).
At top speed, it cleared our test room of pollutants in 40 minutes while generating 53.8 decibels of noise. We estimate a PM1 CADR of 148 cfm.
As you can see from the table, there are other units that offer better air cleaning at top speed, but they are also more expensive for a marginally better result.
This model doesn’t have app connectivity but you do get an onboard air quality sensor that unlocks the auto mode functionality.
It also comes with an LED indicator light at the top that changes color based on your air quality. Or you can set it to be a night light, with a warm yellow glow.
CONS
PROS
| Clean air delivery rate (CADR): | – Top speed PM1 CADR: 148 cfm – Sub-45 dBA PM1 CADR: 118 cfm |
| Filter technology: | Bonded particle filter with a layer of carbon-impregnated fabric. |
| Recommended room size: | 177 sq. ft. (5 air changes per hour) |
| Dimensions: | 8.6 x 8.6 x 15.5 in (22 x 22 x 39.5 cm) |
| Weight: | 6.6 lbs (3.0 kg) |
| Noise level in decibels from 3 ft. away: | Sleep mode: 35.6 dBA Speed 1: 38.9 dBA Speed 2: 46.5 dBA Speed 3: 57.2 dBA |
| Electricity consumption in watts: | Standby: 0.3 watts Sleep mode: 3.5 watts Speed 1: 5.6 watts Speed 2: 9.5 watts Speed 3: 23.2 watts |
| Filter lifespan: | 6-12 months |
| Manufacturer’s warranty: | 2 years |
| Country of origin: | South Korea |
| Country of manufacture: | China |
If you’re looking for a small, cylindrical unit that won’t break the bank but will still offer solid performance, then the Blueair 511i Max might be just the thing.
It comes with app connectivity, an onboard sensor, smart modes and a bonded filter with HEPA filtration and a layer of carbon.
CONS
PROS
2. The best for performance in overall: AirFanta 3Pro
If you’re buying a small air purifier to help with your allergies, the 3Pro is the only one powerful enough to help.
Use the discount code HOUSEFRESH for 5% off when buying directly from AirFanta.
This PC-fan powered air purifier is a 32 x 32 cm cube that weighs just 2.3 kg and is small enough to fit on top of a side table or a large desk. You have to build it yourself but it takes just a minute: place the plastic base at the bottom, stand a filter at each side and secure the filters with the PC fan array on top.
At top speed, it offers an impressive PM1 CADR of 353 cfm, so it can clean the air 5 times per hour in rooms up to 529 sq. ft. (or 49 m2) while generating 56.3 decibels.
For those looking for the best performance in a small package, then nothing beats the $165 AirFanta 3Pro. It outperforms units that cost 7x as much!
A cool thing about it, is that you can break it down and fit the parts inside a bag, making it a great option for those looking for a small air purifier to travel with.
You get the option of buying it with HEPA filters only (for particles) or HEPA with pelleted carbon (for gases and odors).
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 |
3. The best portable air purifier: CleanAirKits Triple Exhalaron
The best option for those looking for a small, portable air purifier to use on the go.
The Triple Exhalaron from CleanAirKits is a PC fan-powered air purifier that weighs 2.7 kg and can be powered with a USB battery pack, so you can use it on the go inside your vehicle, or take it with you while you travel.
I’ve tested many portable air purifiers and this is the only one with a performance that can go head-to-head with home air purifiers.
And thanks to the use of PC fans, it reaches just 40.5 dBA when running at top speed, so it offers better air cleaning at quiet operation than most other small air purifiers.
In terms of design, you get a wooden base, three cylindrical filters and a hard wooden top with three powerful PC fans.
There’s no control panel, fancy touchscreen, smart features or even buttons, but you do get a knob to dial the fan speed up and down.
CONS
PROS
| Clean air delivery rate (CADR): | – Top speed PM1 CADR: 128 cfm – Sub-45 dBA PM1 CADR: 128 cfm |
| Filter technology: | HEPA H10 with a layer of carbon-impregnated fabric |
| 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 |
4. The best option under $100: GoveeLife Smart Air Purifier 2
This $99.99 air purifier matched the performance of the Coway Airmega 100, even though it’s a little louder.
The GoveeLife Smart Air Purifier 2 (or H7124) is a small air purifier with good air cleaning performance that comes with an air quality sensor and smart features for just $99.99.
Even though it’s not as small as the usual cylindrical air purifier, it’s still big enough to sit on a desk or side table.
GoveeLife air purifiers come with the option to connect the devices to your smart home setup thanks to the fact that they are Matter certified.
The filter is bonded, combining a side of HEPA filtration for particles and a side of pelleted activated carbon for odors and gases.
There isn’t enough carbon to tackle serious VOCs and chemicals, but it’s much better than the carbon-impregnated fabric filter we find in most small units.
CONS
PROS
| Clean air delivery rate (CADR): | – Top speed PM1 CADR: 148 cfm – Sub-45 dBA PM1 CADR: 71 cfm |
| Filter technology: | Bonded particle filter with a layer of pelleted activated carbon. |
| Recommended room size: | 222 sq. ft. (5 air changes per hour) |
| Dimensions: | 12.4 × 6.3 × 37.5 in (31.5 x 16 x 38H cm) |
| Weight: | 8.15 lbs (3.7 kg) |
| Noise level in decibels from 3 ft. away: | Sleed mode: 35.2 dBA Speed 1: 39.8 dBA Speed 2: 49.6 dBA Speed 3: 54.4 dBA Speed 4: 57.6 dBA |
| Electricity consumption in watts: | Standby: 1.6 watts Sleep mode: 4.1 watts Speed 1: 6.9 watts Speed 2: 15.1 watts Speed 3: 25.2 watts Speed 4: 38.2 watts |
| Filter lifespan: | 6 months |
| Manufacturer’s warranty: | 1 year |
| Country of origin: | China |
| Country of manufacture: | China |
Special mentions
The small air purifiers that nearly made the cut.
We bought and tested 30 different tabletop air purifiers to find the best models for this list. Many of them were very close to making the cut, so I thought it could be useful to give them a shoutout in case they are available in countries where my top picks are not.
Amazon Basics Medium Room Air Purifier
It costs less at $62.99 and performed as well as the GoveeLife Smart Air Purifier 2, outperforming it at sub-45 dBA fan speeds. Plus, it comes with a sensor, auto mode and an air quality indicator light that can be set as a night light, just like the Coway Airmega 100.
It didn’t make the cut because the build quality isn’t as good as other models on this list. But if you can find this model where you live, know it’s a good unit.
Philips PureProtect Mini 900 Series
The Philips 900 Series was a solid contender: it offers the same top speed performance as the Coway Airmega 100 and comes with smart features and app support.
Ultimately, it didn’t make the cut because Coway is available in more countries, but if you can find the 900 Series on deal where you live, then it’s a great small unit.
Dyson Hushjet Purifier Compact HJ10
The new Dyson HushJet HJ10 nearly made the shortlist because it offers performance similar to the Blueair Blue Pure 511i Max.
It comes with separate HEPA and pelleted carbon filters, which is something you don’t see with cylindrical air purifiers – especially not small ones.
I ended up leaving it out of my main recommendations because it costs $349.99, so it will be out of budget for most people.
Alen BreatheSmart 35i
The Alen 35i offers good air cleaning power and quiet operation with the high-quality build one can expect from a brand like Alen.
It didn’t make the cut because it is bulkier than other small units on the final list.
However, if budget is no objection, then the small units from Alen offer incredible performance and top-notch build quality that will last for years to come.
Small-sized air purifiers we don’t recommend
- Levoit Core Mini – Weighing just 2.3 lbs (1.06 kg) and selling for just $49.99 on Amazon, the Core Mini might seem like the perfect small air purifier. However, it is too underpowered to make any meaningful difference to the air in even the smallest of rooms. Plus, if you go with the Core Mini, you will end up spending the same amount of money you’ll need to run a larger device like the Core 300S due to the fact that the small filters need to be replaced every three months or so.
- Molekule Air Mini+ – This is undoubtedly a very good looking small-sized air purifier but it doesn’t come cheap at $359.99 and our test data showed that its air cleaning performance is seriously lacking considering this high price. Not only did the Air Mini+ take a full hour to complete our particle removal test but it is also way too loud: when we measured the noise levels from 3 ft. away, we recorded 67.4 dBA when running at top speed.
- PuroAir 240 – When we reviewed and tested this device in early 2024, it was called the PuroAir HEPA 14 240 but the name has now changed and all references to HEPA 14 have been removed without any clarification on what the grade of the filter actually is. But the main reason why we don’t recommend this small air purifier is that it’s not good value considering its list price of $199.00 on Amazon, especially when compared to the $75 Winix A231 which completed our particle removal test 11 minutes faster than the PuroAir 240.
My advice for finding an air purifier you won’t regret buying
Before I leave you, let me share three tips to help you choose a good option even if you don’t go with any of my picks.
1. Don’t be duped into buying one of those mini air purifiers at the top of Amazon.
Seeing a $50 price tag might help you make a quick decision, but in the end, it will only lead you to a false economy.
Mini air purifiers usually need their filters replaced every 3 to 6 months, compared to the 9-12 months of lifespan you get with small or mid-sized filters.
So in the end, you might end up spending double!
2. Take the time to calculate how much you will spend on filters over a year.
Manufacturers usually specify the estimated lifespan of the filters on the product page. They will usually give you a range (like 6-12 months or 3-6 months), so I recommend taking the lowest estimate for your calculation.
Once you know the lifespan, check out the cost of a filter replacement. You will then be able to calculate how much you can expect to spend to replace the filter each year.
Doing this will help you avoid models with disproportionate filter costs that will become a hole in your wallet.
3. If you already have different air purifier models in mind but need help deciding which one is best, check out our new tool.
You can now use our air purifier comparison tool to compare the performance, sound, energy consumption, and long-term running costs across different units we have tested:
We might not have every small air purifier under the sun, but there are a lot of models in there!
4. If you can go bigger than a tabletop air purifier, please do.
A mid-sized air purifier like the Levoit Vital 200S, the Winix 5510, or the Coway Mighty2 will cost a little more to buy, but you will get double the air cleaning power with a unit that will fit a small room.
By going bigger, you will be able to run your device at lower fan speeds that generate less noise, while still getting good air cleaning perfomance. Also, if the need arises, you will have an air purifier that packs some extra power. AND you are likely to spend the same amount of money each year to replace the filters, compared to small devices with filter that cost nearly the same but need to be replaced more often.
Use our CADR calculator to find out the ideal CADR cfm you need in your air purifier to clean the air in the room where you will use it at least 4-5 times per hour:
Final thoughts
If you are looking for a small device because you have a small budget available, then please check out my list of recommendations ranking the best cheap air purifiers. You will find some DIY options in there that will cost you as little as $80 but still deliver powerful air cleaning performance.
Now, if space is a serious concern, then I hope you were able to find a good option for your specific situation in the list above.
If you have any questions about the air purifiers featured on this list or about buying a small air purifier, just drop a comment below and I’ll get back to you as soon as I read it. Or send me an email to danny@housefresh.com.
And if you want to explore our full leaderboard, check out the table below:
