The Best

According to the CDC, 11.6% of all adults in the U.S. smoke cigarettes and 3.7% smoke cigars; if that’s you, then you most likely don’t mind the odor, but that potent smoke can travel far.

Cigar and cigarette smoke can enter your home from neighbors or even from one person smoking as they walk by. The smell is pervasive and can make it hard to sleep or spend time in a room where the smoke has invaded.

We all know the dangers of secondhand smoke. Still, smoke particles from cigarettes can even cause thirdhand smoke, a residue of toxic particles that becomes embedded in furniture, carpet or walls. Thirdhand smoke particles can last for years and remain toxic as long as they are in your home. 

While there are things you can do to clear smoke from a room, a long-term, effective solution is to get an air purifier. This will allow you to remove smoke particles and odors before they cause harm.

Cigarette smoke is one of the hardest pollutants to remove, so I included only air purifiers that excelled across all our tests and contained larger amounts of pelleted activated carbon.

The best air purifiers for cigarette and cigar smoke

For those who don’t want to read the whole thing, here is a quick recap of all the models I shortlisted with a top-level view of the specs for each one:

	BEST OVERALL	FOR LARGE SPACES	FOR SMART	BUDGET OPTION	THE MOST CARBON
	IQAir HealthPro Plus	Smart Air Blast Mini	Alen 45i	Levoit Core 600S	Austin Air HealthMate
Time to PM1 zero	28 minutes	15 minutes	30 minutes	22 minutes	38 minutes
CADR	250 CFM	450 CFM	209 CFM	410 CFM	150 CFM
Filter tech	HyperHEPA + V50-CELL carbon	H13 HEPA w/ optional carbon filter	HEPA + carbon filter with odor catalyst	Bonded particle + carbon filter	HEPA + carbon filter
Carbon Amount	5lbs	1.56lbs	2.38lbs	0.79 lbs	15lbs
Max room size (5 ACH)	375 sq. ft.	703 sq. ft.	297 sq. ft.	584 sq. ft.	234 sq. ft.
Long-term running costs	$421.47 / year	$311.89 / year	$136.64 / year	$125.23 / year	$283.03 / year
List price	$1,199.99	$599.00	$498.00	$299.99	$765.00

Be sure to check out the full article below for a more comprehensive guide to the five recommended air purifiers and why they’re good options against cigarette smoke. 

1. Best overall: IQAir HealthPro Plus (with V5 Cell Filter: 5.5 lbs carbon)

Powered by a HyperHEPA filter and more than five pounds of activated carbon to deal with smoke particles and odors.

The IQAir HealthPro Plus is big. It needs to be big to accommodate three stages of air filtration: a thick pre-filter for large particles and debris, a lab-certified HyperHEPA for fine and ultra-fine particles, and a massive gas filter with activated charcoal and zeolite for VOCs and unwanted smells. 

Even with such a dense set of filters, it still managed to clean our test room in 28 minutes in our particle removal test. This showcases how powerful its fan is at drawing the air in, which could translate to a noisy air purifier, but luckily, it doesn’t: the HealthPro Plus only generates 36.9 dB of noise output at its lowest fan speed and 61.2 dB when operating at top speed (which is the mode you should run it in to remove cigar or cigarette smoke effectively).

The HealthPro Plus is a long-term investment, costing nearly $900. If I were forced to choose one air purifier, this is the device I would pick — especially when dealing with any type of smoke. IQAir has so much trust in its unit that they locked their CEO inside a smoke chamber with just the HealthPro Plus to clean the air as he breathed.

➜ Read our full review

2. Best for large spaces: Smart Air Blast Mini (with Carbon Filter: 1.56 lbs carbon)

Unmatched in speed, the Blast Mini can quietly clean the air of rooms of up to 700 sq. ft.

As the fastest unit we tested, Smart Air’s Blast Mini only needed 15 minutes to bring PM1 levels down to zero in our test room. The exact kind of air cleaning performance you need, considering how fast tobacco smoke and toxic particles spread through entire homes.

The Blast Mini also has one of the biggest HEPA filters ever. The H13 grade filter can trap fine and ultra-fine particles on its large surface, lasting up to 13 months. It also features a removable pre-filter but you’ll need to purchase the optional activated carbon filter to tackle cigar/cigarette smells and chemicals. Considering the 1.56 lbs of loose-fill activated carbon packed in the filter, it’s worth the while.

Despite being a considerably large air purifier, the Blast Mini’s design is modern and can blend in easily. It may lack the bells and chimes of other top-tier units. Instead, it has just a straightforward one-dial command to navigate between speeds. The Smart Air team focused on outstanding air cleaning performance, and the Blast Mini simply excels. 

➜ Read our full review

3. Best for smart features: Alen 45i (with VOC/Smoke Filter 2.38lbs)

Alen brings a high-end laser sensor with a sizeable standard carbon filter

The Alen 45i is the mid-size model in the Breathsmart range. When you choose the VOC/Smoke filters, you can get 2.38 lbs/1079g of activated carbon to deal with the gases that come from smoke and the particles that the H13 HEPA filters will pick up.

We can compare these carbon amounts to other air purifier models:

Air Purifier Model	Carbon Amount
Winix 5510 (Filter Q)	226g
Alen 45i (Fresh Filter)	299g
Levoit Core 400S (Basic Filter)	240±10g
Levoit Vital 400S (Smoke Filter)	450g
Dyson Big+Quiet BP06	900g
Alen 45i (VOC/Smoke Filter)	1079g

Be aware that the VOC/Smoke filter will reduce overall particle removal performance compared to particle-only. Still, as you can see from the table above, this is the most significant amount of carbon you can get with a standard mid-size air purifier.

We are featuring it in this list of the best innovative models for smoke because it comes with a high-end Plantower sensor, the PMS-7003, which can detect pollutants within seconds and enable the air purifier to move to higher fan speeds to remove the contaminants quickly.

When testing particle performance with the Pure filter, it managed to clean our test room in 30 minutes and even when running on speed 2 it was less than 45dBA at 3 feet away, yet still managed to clean our test room of all PM1 in 30 minutes.

➜ Read our full review

4. Best budget option: Levoit Core 600S (with Smoke Removal filter: 0.79 lbs carbon)

Ideal for medium to large-sized rooms, the Levoit Core 600S has all the smart features of top-tier air purifiers, a good amount of activated carbon and a budget-friendly price tag.

The Core 600 is a speedy unit that finished our cleaning speed test in only 15 minutes. As the biggest unit in Levoit’s Core range, it is also suitable for large spaces up to 600 sq. ft. rooms. Yet, its energy consumption is among the lowest on this list ($75 per year), only bested by the smart Mila ($58). 

💡exclusive code for HouseFresh for 10% off a single purchase on Levoit.com: HOUSE10

Levoit’s three-stage filters feature a non-removable pre-filter and the primary filter for fine particles and activated carbon. I recommend the Smoke Remover filter for cigar and cigarette smoke, as it has the highest amount of carbon in the Core series range. It is more expensive than regular filters—it will cost $160 a year, considering they last 6 months—but you get 0.79 lbs of pelleted carbon.

The Core 600S is one of the best high-performing air purifiers in the budget range. Compared to other large units, it has an outstanding cost-per-CADR ratio and offers a solid mix of cleaning power and smart features for less than $300.

➜ Read our full review

5. Best carbon filter: Austin Air HealthMate (with 15 lbs of carbon)

One of the few (and best) USA-made air purifiers with an activated carbon filter like no other, perfect for removing VOCs and toxic chemicals.

Although you’ll miss some perks with the Austin Air HealthMate, such as smart features or an auto mode, it has a seriously robust filter with four stages of pure mechanical filtration. With no more than one dial to navigate through fan speeds, this heavy-duty unit is straightforward to the core.

The real substance is in the medical-grade HEPA filter and massive activated carbon filter, ideal for tackling the finest particles and VOCs of cigar and cigarette smoke. Then, unlike other air purifiers, the Austin Air HealthMate has two pre-filtering stages, one for large-sized and the other for medium-sized particles that would otherwise clog the main filter faster — as a matter of fact, the HealthMate filter has an impressive lifespan of five years.

During performance tests, the Austin device removed all PM from our room in 37 minutes. True, it could sound unimpressive compared to the speedy and budget-friendly Levoit Core 600. But, then, there’s no comparison to the activated carbon filter this unit is packed with — not even the IQAir Healthplus Pro has as much. No air purifier beats the Health Mate in dealing with VOCs.

➜ Read our full review

Units we don’t recommend for cigarette and cigar smoke:

• PuroAir 240 – This is a hyped unit that simply lacks the performance to back it up. Smaller devices like this have very low CADR and small amounts of carbon so will lose effectiveness quickly with a pollutant like cigarette smoke.

• Levoit LV-H132 – I was shocked to see this device recommended for smoke by a well-known magazine. While it’s cheap, its performance in our particle removal test was very poor. It took 1 hour and 38 minutes to make our test room clean. It is underpowered for most situations, but it would be dangerous if you relied on it to remove smoke.

• Okaysou AirMax 10L Pro – A super popular air purifier thanks to its slick use of TikTok influencers, but it failed to match our expectations. It cleaned our test room in 4 minutes, longer than the much cheaper Core 300, and it made claims about its 5-in-1 filter technology that weren’t true.

• Dyson HP04 – A high price for a good-looking device, but it has a very small CADR, and it took 1 hour and 24 minutes to clean all pollutants measuring 1 micron in our test room. This will be nearly useless for smoke issues unless you like the fan function.

• Levoit LV-H128 – At less than $40, this is a great price but a terrible air purifier as it took 2 hours and 42 minutes to clean our test room of 728 cubic feet of particle pollutants measuring at least 1 micron. It will be totally useless for any-sized room to deal with smoke from cigarettes and cigars.

• Molekule Air Mini+ – You have probably seen adverts for this good-looking device from Molekule. We were a little suspicious of its PECO technology, and it took almost an hour to bring down the levels of PM1 to breathable levels. At this price level, it’s just a total waste of money, and you are better off with any of the other air purifiers we recommend. There is even a class action settlement in progress for devices sold by this brand.
  

What to look for when buying an air purifier for smoke

1. 4.8 air changes per hour in your room

Many air purifier manufacturers overstate the room size they can work in. While AHAM requires room sizes to be based on 4.8 air changes per hour, many brands will give the room size for 1 air change. 

Be very wary of manufacturers who don’t provide a CADR rating or don’t send their devices to AHAM for testing, as we have seen many of these devices exaggerate their performance when we test them ourselves.

One air change is almost useless, especially with something as pervasive as cigarette or cigar smoke. 

That is why when we list room sizes, we always base them on their reported CADR and the maximum size when providing at least 4.8 air changes per hour. 

To make things simpler, we produced a tool that tells you the CADR in CFM you need for your room size – enter your room size and adjust the ceiling height if required and our tool will let you know what CADR is needed:

2. Large Carbon is necessary for gas and odors

You will want to look at HEPA-grade filters to deal with tiny particles that can measure as small as 0.1 microns. HEPA H13 filters are tested to be 99.97% efficient at capturing particles 0.3 µm in size. HEPA H13 is used extensively in marketing material, but most manufacturers don’t share third-party testing. One of the reasons I am a big fan of IQAir is that they share all their third-party lab data, so you can be confident that all of their filters have been tested to this grade. 

Besides, other types of filter technology can sometimes make the air quality worse, but in nearly all cases, they promise a lot but fail to deliver. Just stick with HEPA, it’s backed by decades of research and has no chemical byproducts.

While HEPA does a great job of removing the tiniest particles from the air, odors and gases will pass through. You will need a good-sized activated carbon filter to deal with gases and odors such as those from cigarette or cigar smoke. 

When it comes to activated carbon, bigger is better, which is why the top two choices we recommend for dealing with smoke are to measure their carbon filters in lbs. 

Look for activated carbon filters that use pellets of actual carbon. They will last much longer and are much more effective at removing odors. 

Be wary of the fabric carbon filters you see on devices from Blueair, as they will quickly lose effectiveness. 

3. Decide on what features you need

Many newer air purifiers have app support, onboard sensors and auto-modes that kick in when the sensor detects pollutants like particles or gases. If you want auto-mode, try to choose a model that uses a laser sensor vs cheaper optical sensors, as they don’t need maintenance and will kick in within seconds of detecting particles in your air. The Alen 45i and Core 600S on our list have a high-end laser sensor.

You will have to leave your device running continuously for regular smoke issues, so these features might not be as helpful as those who want an air purifier for occasional cooking odors. 

For those who like their devices to be smart, our current top favorite is the 45i. It has a high-end app combined with a laser sensor and you also get a lifetime warranty if you use your Alen filters with your device.

How we test air purifiers

Saying we tested 104 air purifiers in the last four years sounds great, doesn’t it? But what does testing mean for HouseFresh?

It’s definitely not just getting the units out of their boxes to take some cool editorial pictures for our articles. On the contrary, it is a thorough process that involves reliable testing devices to cover the many aspects of air purifier evaluation.

Air cleaning performance is key, for sure. But we go further. When you decide to invest in an air purifier that will be constantly running at home, things like long-term costs and noise output are also important in a real-world context. 

Our testing process includes the following steps: 

Step 1. We conduct a particle removal test

First, we burn some incense to pollute the air. Using our PurpleAir indoor sensor (which we’ve chosen after thorough research), we measure how fast each unit can remove PM10, PM1 and PM2.5 at top fan speed. The PurpleAir sensor provides regular updates on particulate matter levels, allowing us to create graphs showing the evolution of air quality in the room. 

Step 2. We assess the power of the fan

We also measure the unit’s fan power with the Testo 410i anemometer. It’s interesting to see the variation in airflow coming out of the unit at every fan speed. Especially considering the AHAM Verified program measures CADR at the highest speed setting. 

Step 3. We measure sound levels generated

For noise levels, we use a commercial sound meter from 3 ft. away to measure how much noise in decibels (dB) is generated by the air purifier at each fan speed. Like other measurements, the data is displayed in our reviews, but we also share the results on HouseFresh YouTube channel.

Step 4. We measure electricity consumption

We use a power meter to record how much electricity (in watts) the air purifier consumes when running at each of its fan speeds, including sleep mode and stand-by mode.

Step 5. We estimate yearly maintenance costs

We also calculate the long-term costs you can expect to spend each year to run the air purifier. First, we use the appliance energy calculator from the U.S. Department of Energy to calculate how much money running the air purifier will add to your yearly energy bill. Next, we conduct desk research to determine the costs of genuine and generic replacement filters, using filter lifespan information stated by the manufacturer.

Step 6. Real-life experience

All four steps comprise the core performance evaluation we run on every unit. We know the data is solid. However, there’s something about everyday use that cannot be measured in a lab-test situation. That is why our “final step” is using the air purifier regularly at home in an ordinary context. You can learn a lot by just living with a device.

Wrapping up

I’ve intentionally selected various air purifiers for cigar or cigarette smoke. It’s a serious issue and you should be able to find a unit to fit your circumstances, budget and needs. 

Whether you found the unit that sounds right for you in this guide or will keep browsing the internet for other options, make sure to check if the one that catches your eye is powerful enough, has the right CADR to clean your space, has a high-performance primary filter and features an activated carbon filter (the more, the better) for fumes and VOCs.   

My goal is to help more people improve their indoor air quality. So, if you have any doubts about our testing process or have a question that I haven’t covered in this guide, please feel free to email me directly: danny@housefresh.com

Whether you smoke marijuana for health, to relax, or to socialize, it can’t be denied that the smell lingers, with odors sticking to clothes, hair and furniture. Not only that, but cannabis smoke can also travel, reaching roommates and next-door neighbors.

Smoking cannabis inside has been found to dramatically increase the level of PM2.5 particulate matter — including carcinogens and toxic chemicals, which can result in serious health effects for smokers and second-hand smokers alike. Some tests found that air quality levels worsened 100-fold, even when no tobacco was used.

Thankfully, a high-powered air purifier fitted with a HEPA filter and an activated charcoal filter can remove particles and gases generated from weed smoke.

Since 2020, we have tested and reviewed nearly 100 different popular air purifiers, so we have comparable data to identify the best units for specific use cases, such as tackling marijuana smoke. These are my picks right now:

	TOP PICK	FOR SERIOUS SMELLS	UNDER $250	PC FAN POWERED
	IQAir Healthpro Plus	Austin Air Healthmate	Winix 5500-2	AirFanta 3Pro
Time to PM1 zero	28 minutes	37 minutes	23 minutes	17 minutes
CADR	250 CFM	150 CFM	243 CFM	430 CFM
Filter tech	HyperHEPA + V50-CELL carbon	True HEPA + carbon	True HEPA + carbon	H11 HEPA + carbon
Max room size (5 ACH)	375 sq. ft.	234 sq. ft.	360 sq. ft.	671 sq. ft.
Long-term running costs	$421.47 / year	$283.03 / year	$161.53 / year	$125.23 / year
Upfront cost	$1,199.99	$765	$205.99	$159.99

Burning cannabis produces a vast number of particles and gasses that need to be removed, so you need to go for a large device with large filters and a powerful fan. Unfortunately, many air purifiers that fit those characteristics don’t come cheap. However, I did my best to shortlist options for all budgets based on our first-hand data collected across 105 tests (and counting!).

1. Top pick: IQAir Healthpro Plus 

IQAir is the oldest air purification company, and the IQAir Healthpro Plus has all you need to deal with both particles and odors from weed smoke.

The air purifier industry is full of many fly-by-night brands, but IQAir has been here since 1963 and is one of the most trusted names in the industry. 

The IQAir Healthpro Plus has a large HyperHEPA filter and 5 lbs. of activated charcoal with zeolite for dealing with weed smoke odors. In our air cleaning performance test, it brought the level of PM1 particles down to zero in 24 minutes, which is impressive considering it’s also pushing the air through one of the largest activated charcoal filters on the market.

If you are serious about dealing with odors and particles from weed smoke, the IQAir Healthpro Plus is worth the investment. While this air purifier might not be affordable for everyone, its performance in dealing with both gasses and odors is why it is our top choice for dealing with weed smoke in 2024. 

➜ READ OUR full review

2. Best for intense weed odors: Austin Air Healthmate

With 15 lbs. of activated carbon, you’ll struggle to find a better air purifier to deal with the VOCs and odors from weed smoke. 

The filter of the Austin Air Healthmate is so big that it can rid the air of marijuana smoke even in the largest of spaces. Not only that, the filter will also last for an epic five years, so you don’t need to worry about replacing it too often.

As well as a colossal carbon filter, you’ll find a True HEPA and two separate pre-filters to tackle smoke particles and other household pollutants. Plus, this unit is straightforward to use; plug it in and cycle through its one-dial control panel to find the right fan speed for your needs. 

It doesn’t quite make our top spot as its particle removal performance was much worse than the IQAir Healthpro Plus, but for those who want to primarily deal with a serious odor issue from weed smoke – the Austin Air Healthmate won’t disappoint.

➜ READ OUR full review

3. Best for less than $250: Winix 5500-2 

The Winix 5500-2 is an air-cleaning powerhouse from a trusted manufacturer.

Considering that this air purifier can often be bought for less than $160, I was shocked to see how fast it performed in our air cleaning speed test, taking just 23 minutes to remove all traces of pollutants from the testing lab. 

The air filtration of the 5500-2 is supercharged by combining a granular activated carbon filter (which nips weed odors in the bud) and a HEPA-certified primary filter. And that’s not all. The ionizer function in the Winix 5500-2 can help improve performance compared to HEPA alone, but the good news is that you can turn the ionizer off if you’re concerned about potentially dangerous byproducts, such as ozone. 

The 5500-2 is faster at cleaning the air than air purifiers, which cost twice its price. An example is the $900 IQAir HealthPro Plus, which took 28 minutes (five minutes longer) to clear the same space.

➜ READ OUR full review

4. Best DIY option: AirFanta 3Pro (with HEPA + carbon filters)

Most choices above cost $500+ and while they are still my top options for weed smoke, I also wanted to include an affordable device powered by PC fans.

The AirFanta 3Pro is part of a new generation of air purifiers designed off the back of PC fan technology. With a design inspired by the DIY Corsi-Rosenthal box, you will need to assemble the 3Pro yourself but it’s fairly straightforward: you place four filters on each side on top of a plastic base and secure with a 4-PC fan array on top.

The AirFanta 3Pro is one of the fastest air purifiers we have ever tested, and was able to complete our particle removal test in a speedy 17 minutes when running at its top speed (12V). That is right, this 12.6×12.6-inch box packs an unbelievable 430 CFM!

When buying an AirFanta 3Pro, you can choose between particle filters only or particle AND activated carbon filters. For tackling weed smoke, you will need carbon as it will help trap the smell. AirFanta’s carbon filter is a bonded filter that combines a 15mm thick HEPA 11 filter with a 10mm layer of activated carbon. You will get four of them to fit at each side of the 3Pro.

➜ READ OUR full review

Three other good air purifiers for weed smoke

The four air purifiers above are my top picks for weed smoke, but these are other units with solid performance that nearly made the list.

Levoit Core 400S

The Core 400S is the one air purifier that comes with the highest amount of carbon across the entire Levoit range. For tackling weed smoke, make sure to choose the Smoke Remover filter, as it comes with 450 grams of pelletized activated carbon to adsorb smells and gases.

This Core 400S comes with smartphone connectivity through Levoit’s VeSync app, which is my favorite app across all the air purifiers I have tested. With the app, you’ll be able to control your Core 400 remotely. I recommend you set the auto mode to its maximum sensitivity through the app to ensure the fan speeds reach the highest levels to get rid of smoke quickly, compared to the normal auto mode which never quite hits top fan speeds.

➜ READ OUR FULL REVIEW

Alen BreatheSmart 45i

The 45i comes with a medical-grade H13 HEPA filter and a choice of carbon filters. For dealing with weed smoke, I recommend getting the VOC/Smoke filter, which comes with 2 lbs. of pelleted activated carbon. On top of mechanical filtration, this device comes with an ionizer function that can be switch on and off for some extra power (if you’re happy with using an ionizer).

Alen is a trusted air purifier manufacturer, and the 45i is a good example of why, as its build quality is excellent. This air purifier will give you 4.8 air changes per hour in rooms of up to 512 sq. ft., so it’s a solid pick.

➜ READ OUR FULL REVIEW

Levoit EverestAir

The EverestAir comes with a ton of bells and whistles. It has an auto-mode that will kick in within seconds of detecting weed smoke and also offers full app support with the VeSync app.

This air purifier completed our particle removal test in 16 minutes when running at top speed, ranking as one of the fastest units we have ever tested. It has a powerful fan and comes with a highly efficient primary filter and an activated carbon filter with ARC Formula™ — although it comes with only 0.88 lbs of activated charcoal, which is less than other units on this list.

➜ READ OUR FULL REVIEW

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Other units we tested but don’t recommend for weed smoke

This list was supported by the same data we used to find the best air purifiers overall, but some devices are not well suited to weed smoke, so we identified them here:

• Levoit Core 300: The Core 300 is one of the most recommended air purifiers since 2019. It comes with a compact design and a bonded particle and carbon filter, but it doesn’t pack the power or air filtration needed to clear the air from marijuana smoke and odors.

• Medify MA-25: The MA-25 is another decent air purifier that packs a lot of power for its size. But what really lets this option down is its filter replacement costs. They cost almost double what you’d find from other manufacturers like Levoit or Winix, which is an expense that will soon mount up if you smoke indoors frequently. 

• Molekule Air Mini: Molekule is the brand that promised so much yet delivered so little. Their so-called revolutionary filter technology, PECO, failed to remove polluting particles when we tested the Air Mini for ourselves. It is no surprise that Molekule is now on the verge of bankruptcy, so this is definitely a brand to steer clear of. 

• PuroAir 240: The 240 is a highly advertised model that you will often find ranking at the top of Amazon searches for air purifiers. However, with a CADR of 183 CFM, the 240 is highly underpowered to deal with weed smoke and the lingering smells that come with it.

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What to look for when buying an air purifier for weed smoke

Armed with the right air purifier, you can transform a stale and smelly environment and mitigate the dangers of secondhand smoke, creating a healthier and happier home. 

But before you take the plunge on purchasing a new purifier, consider these five key factors to find the right unit for your needs and ensure you’ll be best protected from weed smoke. 

1. Look for certified filters to clear weed smoke particles

Without quality filters, you’ve essentially got an expensive but useless fan. 

Look out for a high-quality primary filter to protect you from the harmful pollutants of weed smoke – if possible, choose at least HEPA grade H13.

This HEPA filter removes particulate matter that can enter the lungs and contribute to severe health conditions. Studies have shown that weed smoke contains up to four times the amount of PM2.5 as cigarette smoke, so this is something you really don’t want to skimp on.   

Any air purifier worth its salt will have a primary filter capable of removing minuscule particles as small as 0.3 microns.

Manufacturers will share data on how well their filters perform against particulate matter, but it’s a good idea to read third-party reviews, too.  

2. Prioritize units with pelleted activated carbon to adsorb weed smells

While a primary filter captures particulate matter, it won’t remove all toxins from the air. You’ll need an activated carbon filter to tackle odor and other gasses – known as VOCs. Activated Carbon filters work by locking gasses into the porous surface of charcoal in a process called adsorption:

This means that the more carbon a filter possesses, the larger the surface area to lock in VOCs. Filters using carbon pellets are more effective than pleated carbon filters, so keep an eye out for what’s inside and the weight of each carbon filter. Many cheaper air purifiers will use very small amounts of carbon that will be ineffective in dealing with serious odors like weed smoke.

3. Match CADR ratings with the size of your space

Air purifiers are designed to work at their best in different-sized spaces. Bigger units can usually clean the air in a much larger room than a smaller, budget unit. Manufacturers will often provide a recommended room size for each air purifier, which is a great starting point for consumers. If you do have a very small space, you may want to look into our guide to the best small air purifiers, but make sure to still choose a device that includes a carbon filter for dealing with weed odors.

But be wary of

Once you have measured the space where you want to use your air purifier, you can use our calculator below to find out which CADR rating you will need for your specific space, telling you how much air (measured in cubic feet) a purifier can clean in a minute (CFM).

Remember that weed smoke is thick and full of pollutants, so you’ll need a more powerful unit than if you were to tackle everyday pollutants like dust or cooking smells. Likewise, if you smoke every day, consider purchasing a larger, more powerful unit.

4. Consider if you want to have smart features

Modern air purifiers come with many handy Smart features that can make cleaning the air a doddle. From Auto modes to smartphone apps or even Alexa smart speaker compatibility for voice-activated controls, there is plenty to streamline how you control your unit or even trust it to work all by itself.  

This can all make life much easier and result in you having to do less after settling in after a smoke. However, these units can also come with a premium price tag, so if your budget is tight, prioritize cleaning capability over fancy features. 

A few common questions about weed smoke and air purifiers

I compiled a few questions we have received from some of our readers about weed smoke and air filters. If you have any question I haven’t covered in this article, please email us to hello@housefresh.com and we will get back to you within a day.

Wrapping up 

Whether you are a full-blown blunt lover or just partake in the occasional bong hit with friends, having an air purifier to help you rid the air in your home of lingering odors and harmful toxins will be a worthwhile investment. 

Knowing which air purifier is the best option for you will vary from person to person, but in general, you should make sure to choose one that utilizes high-quality particle and VOC filtration to achieve the best level of protection.

If you’ve reached this point in the guide and are still unsure which air purifier to get, just email Danny at danny@housefresh.com, and he will help you.

An increasing number of countries across the globe are banning e-cigarettes. In the US, more than 7 states, including Washington and New York, have banned the use of e-cigarettes in public places. As the crackdown on e-cigarettes intensifies, it leaves fewer options for vapers to find a secluded place to light up. 

This makes vaping at home a more viable option since you can vape when and where you want. But indoor vaping has one drawback—nicotine build-up and smell. 

Although vaping is considered a healthier alternative to smoking, it creates smelly fumes containing chemicals and compounds that pollute the indoor air. In this guide, we’ll explore how you can get that vape smoke out of your home and what are the best air purifiers on the market for people who vape indoors.

While many agree that vaping is much better for your health than cigarette smoke, it’s not without problems. That’s why we decided to produce a buying guide that outlines the best air purifiers on the market today with the performance required to deal with chemicals from all sorts of vaping devices.

It’s often wrongly assumed that vape pens produce water but include many chemicals based on the original liquid formula that you use. Before using your e-cig inside a closed room you share with others, you must consider that whatever you put in your vape pen will be converted to gas in your surrounding area. 

Our previous guide on the best air purifier for cigarette smoke is one of the most visited on HouseFresh, so we want to ensure vape users can also find advice on our site. 

Staff picks: Top 3 air purifiers for vaping

If you don’t have time to read the whole article, you can see my top three picks in the table below.

	👑 BEST OVERALL	💰 FOR TIGHT BUDGETS	🛋️ FOR LARGE SPACES
	Levoit Core 300S	Levoit Core 200S	Coway Airmega 1512HH
AIR CLEANING SPEED ⚡	32 minutes	61 minutes	26 minutes
CADR 👩‍🔬	141 CFM	118 CFM	247 CFM
FILTER TECHNOLOGY 💨	3-Stage Filtration	3-Stage Filtration	Pre-filter, True HEPA, Activated Carbon, and Bipolar Ionizer
MAX ROOM SIZE 📏	Up to 219 sq. ft.	Up to 183 sq. ft.	Up to 362 sq. ft.
WEIGHT ⚖️	5.95 lbs (2.7 kg)	6.6 lbs (3 kg)	12.34 lbs (5.60 kg)
OUR REVIEW 🔍	Core 300S review	Core 200S review	Coway Airmega 15122hh review
PRICE 💵	No products found.	$68.94	$229.99

When we tested a dry herb vaporizer, we also found significant amounts of particle pollution of all sizes from PM1, PM2.5 and PM10. This isn’t as bad as cigarette smoke or incense, but it still creates particles of considerable size that need to be removed from the air.

Read on to find out what my top recommendations are for those who want to clean the air from vaping chemicals.

1. Top pick: Levoit Core 300S

The most affordable smart air purifier with excellent air cleaning performance for rooms of up to 219 sq. ft.

💡exclusive code for HouseFresh for 10% off a single purchase on Levoit.com: HOUSE10

I fell in love with the Levoit Core 300 when it came out in 2019. This air purifier singlehandedly leveled up the market for affordable air purifiers. The old sub $100 budget air purifiers used to be units that didn’t perform well for most people, so I used to tell readers to avoid them at all costs. This all changed with the Levoit Core 300.

The Core 300S is the upgraded model, including smart mode and, more importantly, an auto function 🤩 All that extra for an additional fifty bucks. This is our number one pick because we believe the auto mode is perfect for a use case like vaping. Unlike air pollution (where you need continuous cleaning), when vaping, you want your air purifier to kick in and quickly remove pollutants without you having to do a thing.

I tested the Levoit Core 300S in our test room and found that this unit could clear the room of all vaping pollutants in less than 20 minutes. The auto mode kicked on within seconds of the first vapor creation and made short work of the pollutants.

Paying a bit extra instead of choosing the Levoit Core 300 (which I’ll tell you more about further down this list) will be easily outweighed by the fact that the Core 300S will use less energy and require fewer filter changes due to only being used when needed. Pay the extra $50; your energy bill will thank me later.

Read our full review

2. Best for small rooms: Levoit Core 200S

A capable air purifier that can handle the pollutants generated by a vape pen but is probably not enough for a dry herb vaporizer.

💡exclusive code for HouseFresh for 10% off a single purchase on Levoit.com: HOUSE10

After testing this air purifier in my home lab, I can say that the Core 200S is a solid option for vaping indoors in small rooms as it has Levoit’s famous 3-Stage Filtration, including an activated charcoal filter. It’s smaller than the 300S and the Smart Mode doesn’t go as far as it doesn’t have an in-built sensor, but it will do the trick for a fraction of the price. It’s one of the best affordable air purifiers with a low purchase cost and fairly priced filters. Due to its small size, it also draws less power than bigger models.

You can connect the unit to the VeSync app to manage the air purifier’s activity from anywhere. Not only that, you can also activate it using voice commands if you set it up with Alexa or Google Home. And last but not least, you can set a timer so the Core 200S gets to work exactly when you need it

Read our full review

3. Best for large rooms: Mila

A smart air purifier with seven different filters to choose from depending on your specific air quality need.

When I unboxed the Mila, I was pleasantly surprised by how well this air purifier fits with the décor of my house – the world doesn’t need another boring white box air purifier. But what surprised me the most was the Mila’s air cleaning capabilities, matching the performance we have seen on the Levoit 400S: both units cleaned our home lab from smoke pollutants in under 35 minutes.

It is worth mentioning that when buying a Mila, you will get the choice to pick from seven different filters designed to address seven specific use cases. Considering you are meaning to tackle the chemicals, pollutants and odors associated with vaping indoors, you have two options: The Rookie Parent or The Critter Cuddler. Both filters contain a solid HEPA filter and a good amount of pure granular carbon.

Read our full review

4. Cheapest option: Levoit Core Mini

This might not be right for people with large rooms, but it does a lot right and it costs less than $50.

💡exclusive code for HouseFresh for 10% off a single purchase on Levoit.com: HOUSE10

Its shape is small enough to sit on a car dashboard and could be used on the go for vacations. When we tested the Levoit Core Mini, we were pleasantly surprised by its performance, considering it is such a small unit. I tested the Levoit Core Mini in our test room (728 cubic ft) and found that this unit could clear the room of all vaping pollutants in less than 113 minutes. Bear in mind that it took a similar amount of time for the overhyped but poor-performing Aroeve MK01.

What made me happy about the Levoit Core Mini is its power usage. On our tests with a power meter, we saw this air purifier reaching no more than 6.4 watts while functioning at high power – incredible for this level of cleaning power!

The only potential downside with the Core Mini is the price of filters. I would be concerned that the smaller size means that filters need replacing more regularly, so you might need to drop $24.99 every four months on filters alone. This could add up if you plan to use the unit continuously.

But if you are looking for a solid air purifier for an RV or a car air purifier, this is the unit you should take a long look at.

Read our full review

5. Best on/off ionizer function: Coway Airmega AP-1512HH Mighty

Solid air cleaning performance enhanced by its on/off ionizer function — a good option for those who don’t care about smart functionalities.

This air purifier looks like a thing out of a sci-fi movie. It I’m honest, that is probably the main reason why I bought it as quickly as I did once I saw it. The second reason was that it’s the number one air purifier recommended by the New York Time’s Wirecutter team. If they said it was so good, I wanted to test if for myself. Coway is one of the top air purifier manufacturers out there and has been around since 1989, so I had big expectations for it.

The Airmega AP-1512HH Mighty is a little old now, but it still compares well against some of the most modern units. It comes with smart features we have now grown accustomed to such as a timer, auto mode, eco mode and an onboard air quality monitor (with a visual indicator), so one could say Coway were visionaries. Once you open up the unit, you will find a powerful motor and fan that will require a lot of electricity to run at its top speed.

Now, this isn’t the best air purifier we have reviewed but it’s far from the worst. When we tested its air cleaning performance speed, the AP-1512HH managed to clean the air in our home lab from all incense smoke pollutants in 25 minutes — that’s two minutes faster than Winix 5300-2 and 9 minutes faster than the Alen BreatheSmart 45i.

Read our full review

Common questions about vaping and air purifiers

Wrapping up 

Vaping is becoming the standard when it comes to alternatives to tobacco and with the legalization of cannabis in some states, cannabis vapor is also becoming more of an issue. Thankfully, vapor from electronic cigarettes or herb vaporizers is far less intensive than the smoke created from cigarettes, so you shouldn’t have to spend significant amounts on an air purifier to remove it from the air. 

For most people, we would recommend the Levoit Core 300S but the Mila would also be at the top of our list if you had a much larger room than average.

If you want to use an air purifier for weed smoke, read our dedicated article, as vaping and smoking weed create very different air pollutants.

The term ‘VOC’ stands for volatile organic compounds, which are gases that can contain various chemicals, some of which will be harmful to your health. 

Many VOCs are human-made chemicals used and produced in the manufacture of pharmaceuticals, paints and refrigerants. But VOCs can also be created through chlorination in water treatments and contained in industrial solvents, pesticides, building materials and fuel.

These gases can enter your home through common household products you use daily, such as paints, cleaning products, and even beauty products like perfumes and nail polish, among many others. They can also enter your place of work through equipment like printers and photocopiers.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, VOC concentrations can be up to ten times higher indoors than outdoors. Outside, VOCs usually dissipate without causing harm. But indoors, these chemicals can linger and cause adverse health effects ranging from headaches and throat irritation to kidney and liver damage.

If you don’t want to read my full article, have a look at the table below with my recommendations for the best air purifiers to deal with VOCs based on data from nearly 100 tests:

	BEST OVERALL	HEAVY VOCs OPTION	BUDGET OPTION	SMART OPTION	LARGE ROOM OPTION
	IQAir HealthPro Plus	Austin HealthMate	AirFanta 3 Pro	Levoit Core 400S	Smart Air Blast Mini
Time to PM1 zero	28 minutes	52 minutes	17 minutes	24 minutes	15 minutes
HouseFresh CADR	213 cfm	156 cfm	413 cfm	213 cfm	400 cfm
Filter tech	Hyper HEPA + V5-Cell carbon	HEPA + carbon	E11 HEPA and Pelleted Carbon	Bonded particle + carbon	H13 HEPA + carbon
Activated carbon amount	5 lbs	15 lbs	0.5 lbs	0.99 lbs	1.56 lbs
Max room size	319 sq. ft.	234 sq. ft.	671 sq. ft.	319 sq. ft.	600 sq. ft.
Yearly running costs	$421.47	$283.03	$125.23	$157.94	$285.29
List price	$1,199.99	$845.00	$175.99	$189.99	$709.00

It’s important to clarify that many of the most popular air purifiers you will find online or at your local appliance shop are designed to tackle other types of pollutants, such as pollen, dust or cigarette smoke. These devices may have excellent particle filters (such as medical-grade H13 HEPA), but you need to look for gas filters with large amounts of activated carbon.

With those disclaimers out of the way, let me tell you about the air purifiers we recommend to tackle VOCs indoors.

1. Best for most people: IQAir HealthPro Plus (5.5 lbs carbon)

With a high-quality HyperHEPA filter and packed with 5 lbs of activated carbon and zeolite, the HealthPro Plus is our top pick for dealing with VOCs.

The HealthPro Plus from IQAir looks like a device from the 90s because it is: it was first released in 1998, and all those decades later, it is still one of the most recommended air purifiers in the world. This is a result of excellent build quality, a trustworthy brand, a very powerful fan, a unique HyperHEPA filter to capture the smallest of particles and an impressive gas filter for VOCs with 5 lbs of activated carbon and zeolite.

If you are looking for an air purifier that can clear the air from not only chemical gases and smells but also dust, smoke, pollen and allergens, then you should consider getting an IQAir HealthPro Plus.

➜ Read our full review

2. Best for serious VOCs: Austin HealthMate (with 15 lbs carbon)

This air purifier boasts the highest amount of activated carbon (15 lbs) of any device currently on the market.

Austin Air has been manufacturing air purifiers from its factory in Buffalo, New York, since 1990. The HealthMate is Austin Air’s most popular device, and it has been designed to effectively remove VOCs and chemicals from the air thanks to a MASSIVE carbon filter packed with 15 lbs of activated carbon and zeolite.

You need to know that this large quantity of carbon will restrict airflow, impacting the HealthMate’s HEPA filter’s ability to quickly remove particles from the air. In our particle removal test, the HealthMate needed 52 minutes to reach PM1 zero — this is 24 minutes slower than what we saw with the IQAir HealthPro Plus at the top of this list. That said, if you’re looking for the best device to remove chemical gases and unwanted odors from the air, then Austin Air HealthMate is the best option for you.

➜ Read our full review

3. Best for less than $200: AirFanta 3 Pro (HEPA+Carbon filters)

The AirFanta 3 Pro was a game-changer when we first tested it with its HEPA E11 filters, but now it also comes with four bonded filters that also include pelleted carbon

With most cheaper air purifiers coming with only an impregnated fabric carbon filter or tiny amounts, I’m glad to see a good amount of carbon used with the new filters for the AirFanta 3Pro. Unlike most standard HEPA retail designs, the AirFanta allows you to adjust the voltage so you can set the sound level at a rate you are happy with. Adam Wong, Founder of AirFanta got a VOC CADR test that showed it achieved 68 CFM for VOC and gasss and 365 CFM for Particles.

I have heard good things from HouseFresh readers who have even used the carbon version of the AirFanta 3Pro with serious issues with weed smoke, and they found it worked well. For those on a budget who want to deal with VOC, the AirFanta 3 Pro with the carbon filters is currently the best option without building your own air purifier.

➜ Read our full review

➜ Watch our video review

4. Best smart option: Levoit Core 400S (with 0.99 lbs carbon)

If you pair the Core 400S with Levoit’s Smoke Remover filter, you will get 450 grams (0.99 lbs) of pelleted activated carbon.

💡exclusive code for HouseFresh for 10% off a single purchase on Levoit.com: HOUSE10

The Levoit Core 400S is a medium-sized air purifier that can move a lot of air through its cylindrical filter quite fast, completing our particle removal test in 24 minutes (or one minute slower than the 5500-2 above). Levoit made a few different filters for the 400S, each with different amounts of carbon inside. For those looking to tackle VOCs in rooms no larger than 319 sq. ft., I recommend going for the Smoke Remover filter, as it comes with 450 grams of carbon. Alternatively, you can go for the Toxin Absorber filter, as it has 400 grams of carbon inside.

But the reason why I included the Core 400S in this list is because I know some of you will be looking for an air purifier you can manage from your smartphone and connect to your smart home setup. The 400S comes with smartphone connectivity through Levoit’s VeSync app, which is, in my opinion, the best app out there across the nearly 100 air purifiers I have tested here at HouseFresh.

➜ Read our full review

5. Best for large spaces: Smart Air Blast Mini (1.56 lbs carbon)

A good choice for those looking for an air purifier for a room of up to 600 sq. ft. BUT make sure to also buy the optional activated carbon filter to tackle VOCs and unwanted odors.

The Blast Mini from Smart Air is a truly powerful air purifier that sits at the top of our leaderboard in terms of its air cleaning performance, completing our particle removal test in just 15 minutes. However, VOCs are not particles, so if you like what the Blast Mini has to offer, then you need to buy the version that comes with 1.5 lbs of pelleted activated carbon.

Similarly to the Austin Air HealthMate above, the Blast Mini’s body is entirely made of metal, and the controls have been simplified to a one-dial operation without any bells or whistles. This is a no-nonsense device with a BIG H13 medical-grade HEPA filter inside and a very powerful fan.

➜ Read our full review

Other good air purifiers for VOCs that didn’t make the cut

These devices didn’t make the shortlist but are worth mentioning due to their good performance and solid carbon filters.

Alen BreatheSmart 75i

Alen has been manufacturing air purifiers since 2005, and the Alen BreatheSmart 75i is their flagship model.

When buying a 75i, you will be prompted to choose a filter from three options designed to tackle different air quality issues. For VOCs, you have to go for Alen’s B7-Fresh True HEPA Filter, which comes with a True HEPA filter plus a good amount of activated carbon.

As with most of the air purifiers on this list for VOCs, the Alen BreatheSmart 75i doesn’t come cheap at $750. It didn’t make the list because we have two other similarly priced units at the top of the shortlist that offer a better warranty for this high price. However, you can get a lifetime warranty for your 75i as long as you set up a filter replacement subscription directly with Alen.

Read our full review of the 75i to find out more about this device.

What to look for when buying an air purifier for VOCs

From irritating your eyes and throat to damaging your organs and nervous system, the dangers of VOCs can be severe and must be addressed. Your best option is to pick an air purifier specifically designed to absorb these chemicals. But not all air purifiers are made equal…

1. Choose an air purifier with a large amount of activated carbon

Activated carbon is simply carbon that has been oxidized to create millions of ultra-wide pores that can absorb gas molecules effectively. You can mainly remove VOCs with the help of powerful activated carbon filters, as these will trap gasses and vapors in addition to smells associated to smoke, pets and cooking.

The downside to this type of filtration is that the amount of gases an activated carbon filter can deal with is directly connected to the quantity of activated carbon in the filter itself. That is why you should aim for an air purifier with as much activated carbon as possible.

2. Ensure the air purifier will be powerful enough to clean a space as big as your room

Even though it might feel like a drag, take the time to measure the space where you will be placing your air purifier to ensure that the space is not too big for the air purifier to clean.

The best way to know whether a unit will do a good job in the room you intend to use it in is to use our calculator to see what CADR rating you should look for:

3. Consider noise levels if you’re sensitive to sound

Since your device will likely run at full speed 24/7 while dealing with VOCs in the air, you must consider the associated noise level before purchasing it.

If you can, buy the biggest, most powerful air purifier you can live with. Run it at lower fan speeds, where it will generate less noise while still effectively cleaning the air.

There are quiet air purifiers, but sadly most of them don’t use a large amount of activated charcoal, so they are not a good fit for removing VOCs.

4. Keep upfront costs in mind but also calculate replacement filter costs

These air purifiers are costly, especially the ones that use large amounts of activated carbon. And the thing with carbon filters is that they will become full eventually and you will need to replace them (except for the Winix 5500-2, where you can just wash, dry and reuse the carbon).

As a rule of thumb, always check the price of the air purifier itself and the price of the replacement filter(s). That way you will be able to calculate how much you will need to spend each year to run the device in your home. Air purifier manufacturers include filter lifespan figures on their websites, and we also include this information it the tables with specifications you will find throughout this page.

How we test air purifiers

Saying we tested 104 air purifiers in the last four years sounds great, doesn’t it? But what does testing mean for HouseFresh?

It’s definitely not just getting the units out of their boxes to take some cool editorial pictures for our articles. On the contrary, it is a thorough process that involves reliable testing devices to cover the many aspects of air purifier evaluation.

Air cleaning performance is key, for sure. But we go further. When you decide to invest in an air purifier that will be constantly running at home, things like long-term costs and noise output are also important in a real-world context. 

Our testing process includes the following steps: 

Step 1. We conduct a particle removal test

First, we burn some incense to pollute the air. Using our PurpleAir indoor sensor (which we’ve chosen after thorough research), we measure how fast each unit can remove PM10, PM1 and PM2.5 at top fan speed. The PurpleAir sensor provides regular updates on particulate matter levels, allowing us to create graphs showing the evolution of air quality in the room. 

Step 2. We assess the power of the fan

We also measure the unit’s fan power with the Testo 410i anemometer. It’s interesting to see the variation in airflow coming out of the unit at every fan speed. Especially considering the AHAM Verified program measures CADR at the highest speed setting. 

Step 3. We measure sound levels generated

For noise levels, we use a commercial sound meter from 3 ft. away to measure how much noise in decibels (dB) is generated by the air purifier at each fan speed. Like other measurements, the data is displayed in our reviews, but we also share the results on HouseFresh YouTube channel.

Step 4. We measure electricity consumption

We use a power meter to record how much electricity (in watts) the air purifier consumes when running at each of its fan speeds, including sleep mode and stand-by mode.

Step 5. We estimate yearly maintenance costs

We also calculate the long-term costs you can expect to spend each year to run the air purifier. First, we use the appliance energy calculator from the U.S. Department of Energy to calculate how much money running the air purifier will add to your yearly energy bill. Next, we conduct desk research to determine the costs of genuine and generic replacement filters, using filter lifespan information stated by the manufacturer.

Step 6. Real-life experience

All four steps comprise the core performance evaluation we run on every unit. We know the data is solid. However, there’s something about everyday use that cannot be measured in a lab-test situation. That is why our “final step” is using the air purifier regularly at home in an ordinary context. You can learn a lot by just living with a device.

Common questions about VOCs and air purifiers

Wrapping up

Air purifiers aren’t difficult to find, but when you want them to handle volatile organic compounds (VOCs), you must pay extra attention to what type of filters the device comes with.

HEPA filters are popular but unable to clear odors and chemicals from the air, so you want to choose an air purifier with a gas filter that comes with a large amount of activated carbon.

If you can afford it, then our top choice is the IQAir HealthPro Plus, hands down.