The Best Air Purifier
We looked at the top 13 Air Purifiers and dug through the reviews from 44 of the most popular review sites including New York Times Wirecutter, HighTechDad, Breathe Quality, BestReviews, Tech Gear Lab, Top Ten Reviews and more. The result is a ranking of the best Air Purifiers.

Why Trust The DWYM Score?
DWYM is focused on helping you make the best purchasing decision. Our team of experts spends hundreds of hours analyzing, testing, and researching products so you don't have to.
Our Picks For The Top Air Purifiers
- The Best Air Purifier
- 1. Coway Mighty Air Purifier
- 2. LEVOIT LV H132 Air Purifier
- 3. Winix 5500-2 Air Purifier
- 4. Pure Enrichment PureZone True Purifier
- 5. Alen BreatheSmart Air Purifier
- 6. IQAir HealthPro Plus Air Purifier
- 7. AirMega 400 Air Purifier
- 8. GermGuardian Full Room Air Purifier
- 9. Blue Pure 411 Air Purifier
- 10. Blue Pure 211+ Air Purifier
- 11. Whirlpool Whispure Air Purifier
- 12. Honeywell True HEPA Allergen Remover
- 13. Austin Air Healthmate Standard Air Purifier
Small But MightyPerfect for small- and medium-sized spaces, this Coway Mighty Air Purifier is especially useful if you suffer from allergies.
Great for AllergiesThe LEVOIT LV H132 Air Purifier is a multi-stage air purifier that's whisper quiet.
Removes OdorsThe Winix 5500-2 Air Purifier is high-tech air purifier that also eliminates odors.
Simple and EasyThe GermGuardian Full Room Air Purifier is a simple, easy-to-use air purifier that traps odors and allergens.
Why we recommend these?
Products Considered
Products Analyzed
View All Product Rankings
Expert Reviews Included
User Opinions Analyzed
Our experts reviewed the top 13 Air Purifiers and also dug through the reviews from 44 of the most popular review sites including New York Times Wirecutter, HighTechDad, Breathe Quality, BestReviews, Tech Gear Lab, Top Ten Reviews and more. The result is a ranking of the best of the best Air Purifiers.
DWYM is your trusted roduct review source. Our team reviews thousands of product reviews from the trusted top experts and combines them into one easy-to-understand score. Learn more.
The Best Overall
Coway Mighty Air Purifier
Our Take
The relatively low price point on the Coway doesn't mean it's short on features. This compact unit supplements its HEPA filter with a bipolar ionizer and two additional filters, making it especially attractive to the allergy-prone. This is the purifier to get when you have a medium-to-small size area that you need reliably clean.
What other experts liked
What other experts didn't like
The Best Bang For Your Buck
GermGuardian Full Room Air Purifier
Our Take
The GermGuardian does solid work without a lot of bells and whistles, at least on the outside. It's easy to use and replace the filters on, but the extra charcoal filter (and optional UV-C light) make it equally good at trapping odors and allergens. And with a low power consumption, it's ideal for heavy use in medium-sized rooms.
What other experts liked
What other experts didn't like
Our Findings
Coway Mighty Air Purifier
What We Liked: The relatively low price point on the Coway doesn’t mean it’s short on features. This compact unit supplements its HEPA filter with a bipolar ionizer and two additional filters, making it especially attractive to the allergy-prone. This is the purifier to get when you have a medium-to-small size area that you need reliably clean.
GermGuardian Full Room Air Purifier
What We Liked: The GermGuardian does solid work without a lot of bells and whistles, at least on the outside. It’s easy to use and replace the filters on, but the extra charcoal filter (and optional UV-C light) make it equally good at trapping odors and allergens. And with a low power consumption, it’s ideal for heavy use in medium-sized rooms.
LEVOIT LV H132 Air Purifier
What We Liked: The LEVOIT Air Purifier uses a three-stage filtration system to clear your air, so it’s great for sensitive people with allergies. It’s highly efficient and ultra-quiet. It also has a built-in night light.
Winix 5500-2 Air Purifier
What We Liked: The Winix Air Purifier has a true HEPA filter that catches particles as small as 0.3 microns. The activated charcoal filter eliminates unpleasant odors. The Smart Sensors and Auto Mode adjust to your home’s air filtration needs.
Pure Enrichment PureZone True Purifier
What We Liked: The Pure Enrichment PureZone True Purifier pairs a true HEPA filter with a UV-C light to remove particulates and nasty smells. It keeps you safe with two, four and eight-hour auto shutoff timers. The five-year warranty and superb customer service means that this purifier will last.
Our Air Purifier Buying Guide
The reasons for buying an air purifier can be as numerous as the number of pollutants in the air — and indoors, that number tends to be bigger than most people would expect. Despite the best efforts of the filters in our air conditioners, pollen and dust particles can settle into carpets and upholstery. Mold spores can grow in moist areas. And if there are pets or smoke involved, expect dander and carcinogens to be part of every breath.
Whether you suffer from allergies or just want to eliminate the smell associated with all this particulate matter, a good air purifier can be an essential accessory in any room. But how are they different from the filters we already have in our regular AC?
All that depends on the purifier. Most models circulate air through a HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) filter, and often more than one. HEPA filters are certified to trap particulate matter as small as 0.3 microns, which covers dust, pollen and most bacteria. Some purifiers boast a medical-grade Hyper-HEPA filter that will go down to 0.003 microns — enough to pick smoke out of the air.
In conjunction with this, the more high-tech air purifiers can employ an extra line of defense. The Germ Guardian uses an optional UV light that renders many micro-organisms sterile, and an activated charcoal filter that can actually pull in and neutralize toxins through electrostatic attraction. There are also models like the Coway Mighty Air Purifier that can ionize incoming particles, which are then sucked in by metal plates or other treated substances.
A word of caution on ozone, though. While they’re less common these days, some air purifiers generate ozone, which, according to the manufacturers, can deodorize and disinfect the air. The jury is still out on those claims, and in fact the presence of ozone in confined spaces can be more harmful than the pollutants you’re trying to get rid of.
For a measure of general effectiveness, you can look for a rating on most air purifiers called the CADR — Clean Air Delivery Rate. It’s a number that represents the cubic feet per minute (CFM) of air that has been cleared of all the particles of a given size. These ratings are recognized by the EPA and can be found on most devices. If you can’t find them, the number is fairly easy to calculate: Just take the CFM on the air purifier and multiply it by the percentage of a certain particle (smoke, pollen, etc.) that the machine can remove.
DWYM Fun Fact
That air purifier humming away in the corner of your room may look tranquil, but it was initially created for military use. The HEPA filters that are so common today were first employed to keep lab workers safe at the Manhattan Project, the 1940s scientific effort that led to the creation of the atomic bomb. Back then, scientists were less concerned with their ability to keep their allergies in check. They were using the filters to block out as much radioactive material as possible.
The Air Purifier Tips and Advice
- One of the first things you’ll want to consider when buying an air purifier is the kind of room you’ll be using it in. When it comes to price, this is usually the primary factor. A workhorse unit that can handle an entire living room and kitchen is going to run you significantly more than a machine that’s meant for a home office (the Coway Mighty) — for good reason.
- Are you looking for protection from allergies or just need to freshen up the air? A quick look at the specs for the purifier should tell you what particles it can effectively remove from the air. Again, a HEPA filter is going to do the trick for most common irritants and odors, including pet hair and dust. But if you live in a smoker’s house, look into something more robust.
- Much like your air conditioner, you’ll likely be keeping an air purifier on for as long as you plan on breathing the air in that room. In a lot of cases, that might be all day, so power consumption matters. Frugal users might want to check out the wattage specs on prospective models. There are also features that can mitigate that electricity drain, such as timers. In most cases, your air purifier won’t be running all the time. It’ll cycle the air through a few times an hour, and you can adjust that number more or less with most models.
- Another thing to figure into your price point are the filters. Like your AC, there’s upkeep involved. Check not only the price of your filter, but the frequency with which you’ll need to replace it.
- Since they’re meant for indoor use, most air purifiers are better looking than, say, that wall AC unit you had in your dorm room at college. That said, few people want them as the focal point in a room. If you’re getting one for a small room, you likely want a small purifier — or at least one that’s nondescript. Sleekly designed at less than 17″ x 19″, the Coway Mighty fits the bill on both counts.
About The Author
As a professional writer for the past couple decades and a homeowner for the last seven, Tod Caviness has learned the hard way what vacuum cleaners will actually pick up dog hair and which plants will survive on a Florida patio. His favorite room: The office, with the kitchen a close second.