Air purifiers are truly simple machines, consisting of only a fan and a filter. However, a well-designed purifier can capture almost all airborne allergens, including pollen and mold spores, bacteria, viruses, and smoke.
After testing a range of air purifiers, I think the best for most people is the Blueair Blue Pure 211+ Auto, as it was attractive, easy to use, and was effective and efficient at purifying air in a large room. If you want something cheaper, the Clorox Large Room True HEPA Air Purifier costs about $100 less, yet is also very good at cleaning the air.
To determine the performance of the air purifiers on this list, I used their CADR (Clean Air Delivery Rate), which is a measure of how quickly these devices can filter the air in a given space, with distinct values for dust, smoke, and pollen.
So, whether you want a compact design, large room coverage, energy efficiency, or smart features, we have an air purifier to meet your demands.
Best Air Purifiers 2024
Blueair Blue Pure 211+ Auto
The best air purifier overall, I recommend this model above all others because it gets the job done quickly and efficiently, saves energy and works well in large spaces.
Reasons to buy:
- Cleans air efficiently
- Uses power well
- Great for large spaces
Reasons to avoid:
- Larger footprint
- Night mode lacks power
This medium-sized air purifier will suit rooms up to 550 sq ft. It features an upright cuboid design, with a plastic upper section and a skirt fitted around the base, which acts as a pre-filter and comes in several colors. A HEPASilent filter is included, which uses both a carbon and particle layer. For me, it looked like a futuristic robot, which has a quality appearance compared to the competition. There are three fan speeds on offer as well as an auto function, plus a night mode is included for dimming the lights.
This air purifier had the best CADR, with scores of 353, 347, and 380 for smoke, dust, and pollen, respectively. That means it will quickly remove all sizes of airborne particles. It also means it can handle a decent room size of 550 square feet, which is more than enough for a large bedroom or living room.
Coway Airmega AP-1512HH Mighty
Perfect for bedrooms, playrooms, and living rooms, this purifier is one of the highest-performing, most-durable, and most-economical models we’ve tested.
Reasons to buy:
- Small footprint
- Auto and eco modes available
- Doesn’t use a lot of energy
Reasons to avoid:
- Heavy to move around
- Expensive replacement filters
If you want an air purifier that monitors the quality of your air while using very little energy, this is the device you need.
The Coway Airmega AP-1512HH achieved a CADR rating of 247.5, 232.3, and 241.3 for smoke, dust and pollen respectively and consequently advertizes a suggested room size of 361 square feet. This is a strong rating considering its compact size.
Winix 5500-2
The Winix 5500-2 may not be a standout when it comes to design. It measures 23.6 x 15 x 8.2 inches (H x W x D). In my view, its appearance is more about blending into your living room space rather than grabbing attention, which can be a positive thing.
Reasons to buy:
- Unique technology
- Air quality indicator
- Remote control included
Reasons to avoid:
- Expensive filters
- Large and plain design
Its performance is excellent, with a high CADR across multiple contaminants and an easily accessible design. For those interested in novel technology, the incorporation of “Plasma wave” technology is sure to stimulate their attention. It is appropriate for spaces measuring up to 360 square feet.
The air purifier has an MSRP of $249, but you can typically buy it on sale for $159. This makes it fairly affordable, particularly if purchased on sale.
Clorox Medium Room True HEPA
The Clorox’s CADRs of 206, 219 and 232 across smoke, dust and pollen make it well-suited for medium- to largish-sized rooms up to 320 square feet.
Reasons to buy:
- This air purifier features a compact design which is ideal for smaller spaces
- Offers excellent value for money
Reasons to avoid:
- Not suitable for larger bedrooms or living rooms
- This model does not come with a remote control or smart home connectivity
The Clorox Large Room True HEPA Air Purifier has a small and effective design, measuring 19 x 10 x 10 inches and suitable for rooms up to 320 square feet.
It has a tidy and attractive appearance, resembling a huge battery with a fitted pre-filter skirt and a single button on top.
Honeywell HPA300
This one is a large beast of a device that delivers impressive performance for its low price. It’s a huge oval air purifier with slats all around that measures 22.3 x 20.0 x 10.8 inches.
Reasons to buy:
- This air purifier will suit rooms of up to 465 sq ft, which is pretty sizable
- Considering its price of $150 and the capacity of 465 sq ft, It’s excellent value for money
Reasons to avoid:
- It lacks an auto mode, which means it will stick to whatever fan speed you set it to
- The Honeywell HPA300 consumes a lot of energy
It’s quite heavy at 17 pounds, and the exposed lip on the base is sharp enough to scratch your legs. So this is the type of air purifier you won’t want to relocate once it’s set up. It can accommodate rooms up to 465 square feet, making it perfect for larger settings.
Air purifiers don’t get much easier to use than this, with a touch-screen control panel and a brief reference guide to help you remember the basics. However, configuring this air purifier at initially and replacing the HEPA filters as needed is admittedly tricky.