Top 10 Best Air Purifiers for Allergies – Consumer Reports {2022}

Article by Kate Wilson

Kate Wilson

    

Kate Wilson is a writer and fact checker specialized in home decor and furnishings for ChosenFurniture. She enjoys splitting her finds with others.

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| Updated on April 24, 2022

All air purifiers for allergies usually consist of a filter, or multiple filters, and a fan that absorbs in and circulates air. As bad air moves through the filter(‘s), nasty particles are captured and the clean air is expelled from the appliance into the living space. Typically, filters are made of paper, glass, or plastic fibers, and require regular replacement and cleaning to maintain efficiency.

How frequently you will have to clean and lastly change these filters varies based upon the purifier type and how often you use it. Some filters are reusable and washable and are good at removing larger particles from the air, like dust mites and pollen. UV (ultraviolet light) filters claim to destroy biological impurities like mold or bacteria, but many require higher wattage and greater exposure to be effective.

An ionic air purifier attract negative ions that bond to dust and allergens and make them settle out of the air. If you’re interested in buying an ionizer air cleaner, make sure it does not produce ozone, because large quantities of ozone could be a lung irritant gas and further aggravate asthma conditions. Usually, the air purifiers with ozone will have that listed on the packaging and usually release small quantities of ozone.

List of Top 10 Air Purifiers for Allergies (Updated May, 2022)

Rank		Brand		Score
1.		LEVOIT	LEVOIT Air Purifier for Allergies and Large Rooms Levoit air purifiers are always 100% ozone-free, never use the UV-C light and anion purification methods that cause harm to children and people with asthma. With Honeycomb activated carbon HEPA filter, the purifying efficiency is 30% higher and purify speed is 30% faster than other air cleaners. Air change 4.5 times per hour for a 360 sq feet room size. With the 3 stage filtration system (pre-filter, true HEPA filter, coconut shell activated carbon filter), it works effectively to improve the air you breathe. It can calculate the real filter life according to the filter’s situation, not just simply define the filter’s life with a few months, thus help you to save money. With a cutting edge smart sensor, the air purifier can automatically adjust between 3 fan speed settings in response to real-time air quality readings. Filter the air with a noise level of 27 dB for a restful and soothing indoor environment, helping you sleep deeply. Levoit air purifier’s specially designed LED display can be turned off so it won’t keep you awake at night. Customize your settings by selecting fan speeds and timer for up to 12 hours to deliver clean air into your living space. Suitable for medium and large rooms, bedrooms, family rooms, and kitchens.	9.90	View Product
2.	#1 Brand Recommended by Allergists	Honeywell	Honeywell True HEPA Allergen Remover Recommended for extra large rooms (465 sq feet), this air purifier help capture up to 99.97% of airborne particles as small as 0.3 microns, like pet dander, pollen, dust, mold and smoke. Also helps capture certain germs and odors. Include three air cleaning levels plus Turbo Clean setting. Filter and circulate air in a stated room up to 5 times an hour, so you can relax and breathe easy, knowing the air in your home is fresher, cleaner, and contains fewer allergens. Our favorite features, however, are the automatic shut off timer with 2, 4 and 8-hour intervals. Features easy tap control buttons and turbo fan mode. A filter light reminds you when to change the filters, which are easy to replace, no tools required. Use only certified HEPA filters in your air purifier to remove allergens, dust and other particles from your air. If you have allergies or pets, this air purifier doesn’t just freshen the air but remove all airborne particles to improve air quality.	9.80	View Product
3.	Editor’s Choice for Best Modern Look Air Purifier	RabbitAir	RabbitAir MinusA2 Ultra Quiet Air Purifier This model is designed to purify spaces up to 700 square feet. Equipped with BioGS HEPA filtration technology, the Rabbit Air MinusA2 SPA-700A air purifier combines effective allergen filtration with a very modern and versatile design. This slim flat-panel air purifier measures a mere 7 inches in depth and fits easily on a tabletop or can be mounted on your wall for space-saving convenience (hence, mounting bracket included). It features a 6-stage air filtration system with your choice of a customized filter to tailor air cleaning for your environment. Enjoy ultra-quiet operation, smart air quality monitoring with the auto-adjusting operation, 5 fan speeds, a remote control, and more. The purifier lacks an operational timer that allows you to set the machine to turn on or off at specific times throughout the day. With filters lasting up to two years with 12-hour daily operation, and an Energy Star rated motor, you keep annual costs low. You can mount it on your wall, and with the custom artistic panels, you can change a standard-looking appliance into a piece of art that you can hang on your wall.	9.70	View Product
4.		Okaysou	Okaysou AirMic4S Medical Grade Air Purifier Medical Grade H13 True HEPA filter captures 99.97% of dust, pollen, pet dander, smoke, mold spores, and household odors (any particles as small as 0.3 microns). Recommended size 300 sq ft, it circulates air up to 3x per hour. Designed for small to large rooms, bedrooms, offices, nurseries, and kitchens. The H13 True HEPA filter works with activated carbon filter, acting as an air cleaner and odor eliminator and helping to reduce gases and unwanted odors from pets, smoke, cooking smell, and more. The filter indicator alerts you to needed filter changes. Provides a perfect solution for making the air more comfortable for people who suffer from allergies, asthma or other breathing issues. Choose from 4 replacement filters based on your surrounding air: Pet Filter (pre-installed), Germ Defense Filter, Toxin Absorber Filter, Odor Remover Filter.	9.50	View Product
5.		Winix	Winix 5500-2 Air Purifier with True HEPA Winix is another household name in the world of air filtration, and its purifiers come with some unique features that put them ahead of the competition. This unit is CADR-rated for areas of up to 360 sq feet. The three-stage purification system uses a true HEPA filter along with Winix’s patented PlasmaWave technology, which attacks airborne microbial pollutants and breaks them down on a molecular level. Continuously operate at a chosen four fan speed (Low, Medium, High, Turbo). Choose Low or Medium for near silent cleaning and High or Turbo for maximum airflow and cleaning power. Smart sensor gauge the air and the Auto Mode adjusts the fan to filter the air as needed. The LED indicator displays the indoor air quality on a scale of good to poor (Blue – Amber – Red). When the unit senses a change in the air quality, it automatically adjusts the fan speed to optimally clean the environment. Comes with a sleep mode for silent night-time operation. When the filters need to be replaced, the filter replacement indicator LED will illuminate. Suitable for medium and large rooms, kids bedrooms, family rooms and kitchens.	9.40	View Product
6.		Hathaspace	Hathaspace Smart Air Purifier With a CADR of 160, clean an average 350 sq feet room. It will completely exchange and replace the air 2 times per hour. This 6-in-1 air filter system destroys particles you can’t see, with a true HEPA filter that captures 99.97% of particles as small as 0.3 microns and a UV-C light that can be turned on to kill even smaller viruses or bacteria. Nano-Cold Catalyst filter removes larger particles like dust and pet dander, as well as toxic household chemicals like formaldehyde, ammonia, and benzene. Activated carbon molecules absorb and remove smoke, odors, gases, and volatile organic compounds (VOC’s). Choose from 3 fan speeds (Low, Medium, and High) or switch your purifier to AUTO mode, where the fan speed is automatically adjusted based on the live air quality sensor measurements. An air quality sensor detects and displays your indoor air quality in real time. Operate at its most quiet level (18 dB). The lights turn off completely, giving you the most restful sleep. Ideal home air purifier for allergies and pets, recommended for small to large size living rooms.	9.10	View Product
7.		RENPHO	RENPHO Air Purifier for Large Rooms Fully auto home air purifier, it circulates air in rooms up to 301 sq feet. CADR rated 135 CFM and clean space of 300 sq feet. Premium 4-stage filtration system: pre-filter, charcoal filter, activated carbon filter, TRUE HEPA filter. Effectively eliminates 99.97% airborne pollutants like pet dander, dust, smoke, pollen, allergens odors and particles as small as 0.3 microns. Built-in air quality sensor detects air quality in every moment. Auto mode changes colors and fan speeds based on the air quality it senses. Child lock mode makes it can be locked so that not affected by the curious cat, or any children. Ultra quiet (and no lights) sleep mode is awesome for the bedroom with a noise level at 35 dB. Set timer to auto shut off to conserve energy while you sleep. Filter replacement indicators light starts to flash when the appropriate filter should be replaced.	8.80	View Product
8.		Medify	Medify MA-40 Medical Grade Air Purifier Covers 860 sq feet with two air exchanges per hour (CADR 330). Medical grade H13 filters (rated higher than aTrue HEPA) have a 99.97% particle removal rate. It combines the chemical bonding power of active carbon, electrical bonding power of negatively charged air particles, and the mechanical filtration power of medical grade HEPA H13 filters for a threefold line of defense against 99.98% of all contaminant particles down to 0.3 microns. The purifier processes 4 ACH – air changes per hour. A color-coded air quality indicator allows users to monitor the quality of the air they are breathing, as well as the efficiency of the purifier. Features tempered glass panel (like your cell phone, easy to clean, won’t scratch like cheap plastic models), 4 fan speeds, an 8-hour timer, night mode, and child lock system. Also includes a dust sensor, pre-filter, active carbon filter, and ionizer technology. Offers medical-grade filtration for smaller rooms like bedrooms or bathrooms. Comes with a Lifetime warranty on manufacturer defects.	8.60	View Product
9.	Editor’s Choice for Best Budget Air Purifier	Hamilton Beach	Hamilton Beach TrueAir Allergen Reducing Air Purifier With a permanent 99% HEPA-grade filter, the Hamilton Beach True Air Allergen Reducer cleanses the air in your home without the added costs and hassle of replacement filters. The high-performance filter captures dander and airborne particles as small as 0.3 microns, making your surroundings a better place to breathe. Effective performance for large 160 sq foot rooms. With an ultra-quiet motor and fan, you’ll hardly hear this air purifier while it’s on. Three speeds give you ultimate control. Set on High for the fastest air cleaning, Medium for all-day use, or Low when extra quiet is needed. The compact size makes it a discreet addition to your room. Works horizontally or vertically, so it is easy to move it from place to place. Easy-care, permanent filter vacuums clean. Perfect for the bedroom, office, den or small to medium-sized living areas.	8.40	View Product
10.	Top Seller Recommended by Amazon	Germ Guardian	GermGuardian AC4825 Full Room Air Purifier Best used for rooms up to 167 sq feet. Filters and circulates air over 4 times per hour. HEPA Filter captures 99.97% of dust and allergens as small as 0.3 microns such as household dust, pet dander, mold spores, and plant pollens. Charcoal filter reduces common odors from pets, smoking, cooking and wildfire smoke. Optional UV-C light technology works with Titanium Dioxide to reduce airborne bacteria, viruses, germs, and mold spores. Standing 22 inches tall, this air cleaner is lightweight. Choose from 3 speeds, including a low speed that runs ultra-quiet. The higher the CADR the faster the unit filters the air. CADR for dust is118, for pollen 125 and for smoke is 108. Include a filter replacement indicator, only one single filter that needs to be replaced every 6-8 months depending on the use of the product. Recommended for anyone who wants to breathe in cleaner air and get reed of dust or germs, also great for a family who has allergies. Quiet, compact, super effective – this is one of the best options for small to medium size rooms.	8.30	View Product

Consumer Reports – Air Purifiers for Allergies Pros and Cons

Unfortunately, it’s estimated that 35% of the world’s population suffers from allergies. Even worst, approximately half of all school children are sensitive to bad toxins like odor, smoke, pollen, and mold. Owning a high-quality air purifier in your home can help with allergy symptoms by removing dust, mold spores, bacteria, dander, pollen, cigarette smoke, or volatile organic compounds. Air purifiers will calm your symptoms by keeping the air clean, fresh, and allergen-free.

However, since the beginning, air purifiers have always been promoted as great devices made to improve the air quality, aka enhance people’s lifestyle and health conditions. What people alleviate to discuss are the cons that stand behind these devices, because they are not perfect. Before you buy an air purifier, you must know everything about them, including the pros and cons.

Pros

• They are a great way to reduce indoor allergy triggers
• To remove 99.97% of allergens, the air purifier must use a True HEPA filter
• Must be sized properly so it can cover the square footage of the room you want to use it in
• For the best results, you’ll want an air purifier in every room you spend a lot of time
• A good unit can last up to 20 years under proper usage and maintenance
• The air with an air purifier is five times cleaner than the air in a space where no air purifier has been put to work

Cons

Ionic purifiers will produce a small amount of ozone; too much ozone can be harmful to our health because it can cause severe breathing problems

HEPA models require more electricity to operate

Before you put an air purifier to work, try some simple steps to reduce indoor air allergens, including:

• Vacuum and dust frequently in the room to remove pollutants trapped in rugs, drapes, and furniture
• Open as many windows as possible during and after any cleaning
• Avoid rugs, carpeting and use smooth flooring instead
• Limit pets to certain areas of the house
• If you have pets, consider finding them a new home (if that’s not an option, keep the pets outside)
• Use air conditioning in the warmer months to get rid of outdoor pollens or allergens
• Clean all air purifier filters as prescribe by manufacturers
• Ban indoor smoking
• Don’t store chemicals, solvents, glues, or pesticides near your living quarters.
• If possible, avoid any furnishings that gather dust.

How To Choose an Air Purifier

How do you buy an air purifier? You need to do a bit of research to find out which air purifier is best for allergies. Although there seem to be hundreds of different air purifiers out there, they all tend to fall into defining a few aspects. You’re now wondering what these factors are, so let’s begin.

Coverage Area – it’s very important to measure the room you want to be purified. You can do this by considering the square footage of the room. With this number in mind find the right air purifier size. An ACH rate of 4 is the recommended value for most rooms. To be able to make the most of your air purifier, evaluating the Cubic Feet of the air processed per Minute (CFM) is also a good alternative. This measures how fast the air purifier would reach the square footage of any room’s air per hour. The last critical step is to decide where to place the air purifier. If you want an air purifier for many rooms, it’s important to calculate the average square footage of each room. You can buy a unit that includes caster wheels, handles, and other portability features to make it easier to move it from room to room.

CADR Rating – also known as the Clean Air Delivery Rate, this is a standard industry metric that allows you to defines the total volume of air filtered. Look for CADR ratings of at least 100 when picking one. An air purifier with a higher CADR rating is effective, but its effectiveness may decrease with time. A limitation of CADR ratings is that they don’t measure gas, small air pollutants, and odors. So you won’t be able to determine how accurately the air purifier filters a specific volume of tiny particles with the CADR ratings. Hence, choosing an air purifier based on its CADR is just one step to take.

ACH Rating – known as Air Changes Per Hour rating, relates to the amount of air an air cleaner is capable of passing through its system in one hour. Most manufacturers default this to 4x for the coverage area in sq feet. Air purifiers with higher maximum air exchange rates will clean the air faster than those with lower rates.

Pre-Filter – Look if the model you choose comes with a pre-filter, best if it can be vacuumed. The pre-filter helps block larger particles and protect the core system filter, which can be more delicate and used to filter smaller particles. In some cases, the pre-filter can be coated with activated carbon or other materials to help absorb smoke and other odors.

Dust Sensor – A few modern air purifiers have automatic sensors to detect how polluted is the air. Those models can adjust the cleaning speed without manual intervention.

Fan Speeds – Most air purifiers have 3-4 fan speeds, which adjust the speed at which the air is cycled through the system. Higher fan speeds mean more noise, and vice-versa.

Noise – Some machines might work silently but some can be very distracting if they generate very loud white noise. Always check for their noise levels.

Reasonable Costs – Some air purifiers have more than one filter, while others come with a permanent filter meant to be vacuumed or cleaned periodically instead of being replaced. The more frequently you have to replace the filter, the more an air purifier will cost you over time.

Warranty – Most will come with at least 1-year warranty. Look for this as a bare minimum you should accept. Some manufacturers even offer lifetime warranties, like Medify MA-40 Medical Grade Air Purifierr.

A final note about CADR. Air purifiers are typically CADR rated for smoke, dust, and pollen, with each number reflecting how large of a space the unit is capable of covering while still completely turning the air over in a room four times every hour. For example, an air purifier with a CADR score of 170 for dust particles is as effective as adding 170 cubic feet of clean air per minute. In general, the higher the CADR rating for each type, the better. Even better, CADR scores are comparable across all products, helping you make the right decision.

CADR has three main ratings to help you decide: smoke uses very small particle sizes of 0.09 to 1µm, dust has particle sizes of 0.5 to 3µm, and pollen uses particle sizes of 5 to 11µm. Of course, it is best to choose your air purifier based on how effective it is at the pollutant you want to remove. For example, people who suffer from hay fever should choose an air purifier that’s efficient for pollen removal. Since air purifiers come in different sizes, the CADR rating should equal (or exceed) 2/3 of your room size in square feet. As an example, a 180 sq feet room would need CADR ratings of 120 or above.

Experts agree that for individuals suffering from severe allergy or asthma symptoms, the investment in a top air purifier is worth the price. But if you suffer from mild symptoms or simply want to reduce odor or pet dander in your sweet home, a more affordable model can do the magic.

Summary

In conclusion, an air purifier is not sufficient to deal with all the indoor air pollution on its own. Instead, it’s a great and useful tool that should not be overlooked by anyone interested in keeping the home’s air as clean as possible. When the air purifier is of good quality, used and maintained effectively, it has a significant role in your fight against the toxins and irritants that infest your air.

• Air purifiers are most effective at removing particles from the air such as various pollens, dust, and some molds
• Air purifiers are not very effective with dust mite allergies since these allergens tend to remain on surfaces like pillows, bedding, or furniture
• Air purifiers have mixed results with pet allergens because these particles not always remaining long enough in the air to be filtered successfully
• Air purifiers are one solution to provide healthy indoor air and should be used in conjunction with other methods

Ultimately, at the end of the day, there are so many great air purifiers to choose from. Because of this, it can be overwhelming for anyone to find the right air purifier. By reading this guide, we hope you now have a greater understanding of what an air purifier does, the benefits a good air purifier will bring to you, and discover the 10 best air purifiers on the market right now.