Since its conception in 1943, IKEA has been furnishing homes worldwide with modern, affordable goods. What made IKEA stand out was a straightforward innovationโฆ you have to build each piece yourself.
Even though this fact has been the course of much frustration over the years (if you havenโt tried to make their furniture before, trust me, itโs frustrating), they can post furniture straight to your door, which keeps costs low.
IKEA has 456 stores worldwide (54 in the U.S.) and a huge marketing department, so any project they launch receives much attention from the media.
Although IKEA is pretty new to the air purification market, they have released a few models for the home, the FรRNUFTIG, the UPPร TVIND and the STARKVIND, both under $200 and the STARKVIND, which is a table with an air purifier built in.
If youโve read any of our product reviews before, youโll know that we tell you exactly what we think and pull no punches. We test every unit in our home lab and compare it with others, so you know how well it performs in real-world conditions.
We promise to tell you if we think this air purifier (or any other we test) is not worth your hard-earned money.
The lowdown on the IKEA FรRNUFTIG
We tend to go pretty in-depth into our product reviews; if you donโt have time to read into all the details, check out our Too Long; Didnโt Read pros and cons to get a sense of what we thought of the FรRNUFTIG.
What we really like
What we think could be better
The CADR (Clean Air Delivery Rate) on the FรRNUFTIG can seem a little low when compared to other smaller units like the Blueair Blue Pure 411 (120 CFM) or the Medify MA-25 (135 CFM). Still, you have to remember that this unit is $75!ย But any unit under $100 that gives you a CADR over 50 deserves recognition.ย
| HouseFresh rating: | โ โ โ โโ |
|---|---|
| Time to clean our 728 cubic feet test room (with the device running at top speed): | 61 minutes |
| Air purifier technology: | Pre-filter, HEPA-Type filter and activated carbon filter |
| Recommended room size (4.8 air changes per hour): | 98 sq. ft. |
| Clean air delivery rate (CADR): | Smoke: 63 Dust: 79 Pollen: 87 |
| Dimensions (in inches / in cm): | 18H x 12W x 4D inches (45.7H x 30.5W x 10.2D cm) |
| Weight (in pounds / in kg): | 6.7 lbs (3.04 kg) |
| Filter life: | 6 months |
| Noise level in decibels (as reported by the manufacturer): | 28 – 60dB |
| Estimated running cost (electricity consumption + official filter replacement): | $80.38 per year |
| Manufacturerโs warranty: | FรRNUFTIG does not come with a warranty from IKEA |
| Country of manufacture: | Sweden |
Itโs IKEA, what do you expect?
The FรRNUFTIG sets itself apart from the usual boxy units we see day in and day out here at HouseFresh
If thereโs one thing that IKEA cares most about, itโs the design of its products. For the FรRNUFTIG, IKEA enlisted one of their top designers, Swedish-born David Wahl (the man behind the award-winning PS 2014 pendant lamp). And it has paid off.
It has one solitary dial on the top to adjust the fan speed, making it super simple to operate and an excellent alternative to buttons and touch screens. A heavy-duty fabric handle on the top makes it easily transported between rooms and removable when wall-mounted.
If you donโt decide to mount it on the wall, the FรRNUFTIG comes with a powder-coated steel stand, which only adds to the overall aesthetic.
The fabric grill on the front reminds me of an old-school speaker cover you might find in the basement hangout on That 70โs Show (they probably should have checked out our top air purifiers for weed smoke article).
Strictly from a size and design standpoint, I would compare this unit to the Blueair Blue Pure 411. Theyโre both doing something bold and different and keeping the features and controls to a minimum.
There are no fancy bells and whistles with the FรRNUFTIG, which you may either love or hate.
I like units with an air quality indicator like the one on the TaoTronics AP-003 or an intuitive auto mode like the Coway Airmega 300. FรRNUFTIG is as simple as they come.
On the top of the unit is one dial to operate the fan. Simply twist the dial to turn the unit on to its lowest fan speed, then twist again to toggle to the other two speeds (medium and high). Thatโs it, no buttons, touchscreens, remote controls or smartphone apps to contend with.
Pre-filter and HEPA but no activated carbon
You should pay the extra $17 to get the ‘Gas Filter’ to allow your IKEA FรRNUFTIG to handle odors and gasses
When looking for an air purifier, the filter is one of the essential parts. If the filter sucks, your air quality wonโt improve.
The IKEA FรRNUFTIG comes with a pre-filter and a HEPA filter.
The HEPA filter in the FรRNUFTIG isnโt groundbreaking; in fact, it’s quite thin compared to filters in other units, but for the size of the room this unit is intended for, it does the trick.
It feels well-made and covers much of the unit’s surface area (no wasted space).
The FรRNUFTIG has a fabric cover on the front, which acts as a pre-filter. Again, itโs not the best weโve seen, but it will stop larger particles like dust and hair, and you can remove it to vacuum, prolonging the HEPA’s life.
Unfortunately, IKEA doesnโt provide an activated carbon filter (which they call a Gas Filter) as standard with the FรRNUFTIG; you have to pay extra to have one included for an extra $17. I recommend getting this extra as activated carbon filters remove odor and other VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) from the air.
If you choose not to pay for an activated carbon filter initially, you can buy and install one later.
The FรRNUFTIGโs filters (HEPA and activated carbon) last around six months, depending on usage. You donโt have to mark it in your calendar; the unit will let you know when a replacement filter is needed with a red light.
Itโs straightforward to replace the filter with a new one; follow these easy steps:
- Remove the fabric grill on the front of the unit
- Pull the tab on the filters and pull them out
- Remove all the packaging from the replacement filters and insert them into the unit
- Replace the fabric grill
- Reset the replacement filter indicator
If that sounds too complicated, Iโve made a video to show you how easy it is.
When replacing the filters, always remember to remove all packaging before installing the new filters into the unit. If you donโt, the filters will a. Not work and be rendered useless, and b. It will start to cause a burning or plastic smell.
IKEA’s FรRNUFTIG cleared our room in 65 minutes
That is 19 minutes faster than the fancy Dyson HP04
With any air purifier, it all comes down to how well it removes contaminants from the air in your home. There is no point in having a singing all-dancing unit that wins design awards if it doesnโt do its intended job.
We donโt test our units in a sterile laboratory because you donโt live in one. We want accurate results in a real-world environment so you know how well it will work in your home. Thatโs why we test every unit we review in the same 728 cubic ft office under the same conditions. This also allows us to compare side-by-side with other units weโve tested.
To test how each unit performs, we first contaminate our room with pollution by lighting an incense stick, which fills the room with smoke. We then turn on the unit to its highest fan speed and track how long it takes to bring the particle matter down to zero.
To monitor this process, we use the Purple Air indoor sensor, which updates the PM1.0ug/m3, PM2.5ug/m3 and PM10.0ug/m3 levels in the room at regular intervals. These readings are then processed into a graph so we can visualize the results from each unit.
So, how did IKEAโs FรRNUFTIG perform in our testing room?
As you can see from the graph, the FรRNUFTIG cleared our room in 65 minutes with PM2.5ug/m3 and PM10.0ug/m3 levels dropping fast from when the unit was turned on PM1.0ug/m3 levels dropping steadily as these are the hardest pollutants to tackle for any air purifier.
Air cleaning performance compared
The CADR rating for the FรRNUFTIG is 70 CFM, so we werenโt expecting it to clear our room in under an hour, as weโve tested other units with similar ratings like the Dyson HP04 (89 CFM โ 84 minutes to clear room) and the MA-14 from Medify (70 CFM โ cleared our room in 77 minutes).
For the size of the unit and its price tag, IKEA has managed to build an air purifier with an impressive price-to-cleaning power ratio. Itโs not just a pretty face, after all.
Noise levels test results
The FรRNUFTIG may look great, but the sound it creates isnโt so hot. On its first fan speed setting, youโll be treated to a nice low fan whirling sound measuring around 28 dB.
When you turn this unit up another couple of notches to its max speed, you hear the FรRNUFTIG taking over the room. At 60 dB, youโll definitely notice this unit working away in the background, but you wonโt need to have it on high for long if you’re using it in the recommended room size.
Have a listen to the sound it creates on each fan speed with our video below:
The cost to run an IKEA FรRNUFTIG: $80.38 per year
1. Electricity costs = $22.42
When looking at a budget to buy an air purifier, you need to consider not only the cost of the unit. Air purifiers use electricity; unfortunately, electricity costs money (now more than ever with increasing energy prices).
These days, manufacturers usually do everything they can to make their appliances as energy-efficient as possible. Still, if you have ongoing pollution problems, you may need to run your air purifiers for long periods.
Our energy usage monitor showed that the FรRNUFTIG only pulls 14.7 watts at its highest fan speed. We then used the average energy prices of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics to uncover that the annual cost of electricity per year to run the FรRNUFTIG 24 hours a day non-stop is $22.42. Of course, this is an exaggeration as you’re unlikely to need to do this but it’s a way for us to see how expensive it can get to run a unit.
This is more efficient than the GermGuardian AC4825e, which uses 56 watts, cleared our testing room in 104 minutes and will cost you $121.66 annually.
2. Filter costs = $57.96
Another cost to consider is replacing the filters in this unit.
Air purifier filters trap particles in their maze of fine fibers, so they donโt re-enter your environment. As time passes, these filters start filling up with pollutants and becoming less efficient, so you need to replace them periodically.
The FรRNUFTIG filters need to be replaced every six months (dependent on usage and air quality) and the unit will tell you when this needs to be done. Luckily, IKEA has made replacement filters inexpensive.
You can pick up their 2-piece filter set, including one HEPA filter and one activated carbon filter (the Gas filter) for $28.98. Thatโs just $57.96 a year if you replace them every six months.
Bottom line
For a company that isnโt associated with air quality, IKEA has made a great effort with this introduction to the air purifier market with the FรRNUFTIG.
With an award-winning designer like David Wahl’s style, this unit is a big selling point as it fits into any modern home. The controls are easy to use, with only one dial to turn the unit on/off and control the fan speed, and the filters are straightforward to replace.
I feel that the lack of smart features like an air quality monitor or auto mode will exclude consumers who want to keep an eye on the air quality in their home, but keeping things simple also keeps costs down.
The cleaning power is great for a unit of this size, and with a price tag of $74.99, itโs perfect if youโre on a budget. It can be wall mounted and stand on the floor, giving it another edge over the competition.
If youโre looking for an air purifier for a smaller room on a budget that is easy to use and youโre not bothered about smart features, the FรRNUFTIG looks great and performs well even if it is a little noisy.
For everyone else who wants a little more bang for their buck and isnโt too concerned with aesthetics, check out what the new wave of budget air purifiers looks like with the Taotronics AP-003.
SOURCES
We calculated yearly costs associated with running the Ikea FรRNUFTIG 24 hours a day, 365 days per year utilizing the latest average energy prices as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of $0.174/kWh as of May 2024.
