Welcome to a new era where clean air is a must-have luxury. Thanks to growing concerns from pandemics, wildfires, and pollution, air purifiers have rapidly become a critical home appliance. Modern buildings allow-in particulate matter, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and airborne chemicals. Additionally, everyday household items like plastics, furniture, paint, and flooring emit noxious fumes, compromising indoor air quality.
If your home doubles as your office, gym, restaurant, and movie theater, it’s more important than ever to ensure the air you’re breathing all day is clean and healthy. Below, we’ve curated a list of top air purifiers that offer notable benefits, from relieving chronic coughs and allergies to improving sleep by reducing nasal congestion and throat irritation. Not sure if you need an air purifier? We’ve also got guides to help you improve indoor air quality, plus recommendations for other home essentials like the Best Robot Vacuums and Best Mesh Wi-Fi Routers.
Since 2019, I’ve relied on air purifiers as a staple in my life. I’ve tested these purifiers in a 130-year-old Brooklyn apartment undergoing renovations. I cook with a gas stove, share the space with two cats, a dog, and another person, and have no central air or HVAC system with MERV filters. This setup has proven to be the perfect testing ground for evaluating air purifiers.
Updated for August 2024:
We’ve added some new recommendations, including the Shark NeverChange Air Purifier Max, Rabbit Air A3, and Coway Airmega Mighty, while removing older models and updating links and prices. Here are our top picks for air purifiers that can help keep your home’s air clean and healthy.
Best Overall
IQ Air Atem X
If you’re looking for a long-term investment in air purification, the IQ Air Atem X (9/10, recommended by experts) is the best choice. With its sleek design, advanced HEPA filtration, and optional 10-year warranty (with registration and filter subscription), it offers long-lasting performance and peace of mind. Its built-in sensor, customizable settings, and app control make it easy to monitor and adjust air quality. While it lacks a carbon filter for gases, its ability to trap harmful particles makes it a top-tier option for allergy sufferers.
Price: $1,399 at Amazon
Best for Small Rooms
Coway Airmega 200M
For a balance of simplicity, affordability, and efficiency, the Coway Airmega 200M is a solid choice. Compact yet powerful, it works well in rooms up to 361 square feet, automatically adjusting its fan speed based on detected pollution levels. Energy-saving and user-friendly, it’s ideal for everyday use.
Price: $230 at Amazon
Best for Dorm Rooms
Shark NeverChange Air Purifier Max
Perfect for small spaces like dorms, the Shark NeverChange Air Purifier Max offers effective air cleaning with a compact design. Equipped with HEPA and activated carbon filters, it neutralizes odors and traps particles, making it a great fit for tight spaces.
Price: $330 at Amazon
Best Cost-to-Benefit Ratio
Coway Airmega Mighty
For those seeking the perfect balance between performance and price, the Coway Airmega Mighty is a standout option. At under $200, this purifier efficiently cleans rooms up to 361 square feet, refreshing the air almost five times per hour at maximum power. The Mighty features a HEPA filter, deodorizing filter, and pre-filter, offering comprehensive air purification. Its auto mode adjusts fan speeds based on detected pollutants, ensuring that you’re always breathing clean air. It’s a great choice for bedrooms or smaller living spaces, but keep in mind it doesn’t support smart home integration.
Price: $230 at Amazon
Best for Pets
Shark NeverChange Air Purifier
If you’re a pet owner, managing odors and pet dander is a top priority. The Shark NeverChange Air Purifier is designed to handle small spaces (up to 130 square feet) where pet smells and dander tend to accumulate, like bathrooms or laundry rooms. Its HEPA filter captures fine particles, while the activated carbon filter neutralizes unpleasant odors. Though it lacks smart features, it’s compact, efficient, and great for keeping pet areas fresh and clean.
Price: $250 at Amazon
Best Air Purifier for Large Spaces
IQAir GCX
The IQAir GCX is a workhorse for larger homes or spaces with serious air quality concerns. This Swiss-made air purifier is equipped to handle harmful gases, VOCs, and PM 2.5 particles, making it ideal for spaces where kitchen fumes, construction dust, or chemical pollutants are present. It comes with a built-in sensor and app integration, allowing you to monitor and adjust air quality effortlessly. While it’s an investment, the 10-year warranty and powerful filtration make it a long-term solution for maintaining optimal indoor air quality.
Price: $1,399 at IQAir
Best for Quiet Operation
Rabbit Air A3 Ultra Quiet Air Purifier
If noise is a concern, the Rabbit Air A3 Ultra Quiet Air Purifier delivers top-notch air cleaning performance without the usual hum. Even on its highest setting, it remains quieter than most competitors, making it a great choice for bedrooms or offices where silence is golden. The A3 features a HEPA filter, activated carbon filter, and ion generator, all wrapped in a sleek design. It even allows for customizable front panels with artistic designs, making it blend into your room decor.
Price: $750 at Rabbit Air
Best for Travel
Wynd Plus
For air purification on the go, the Wynd Plus is a portable, bottle-sized air purifier perfect for travel or small spaces like cars or hotel rooms. It can clean air within a three-foot radius and even comes with its own air quality sensor. It’s compact enough to fit in a cup holder, making it ideal for road trips through areas with poor air quality, like wildfire-prone regions. While it’s not a full HEPA filter, it effectively removes particles greater than 0.3 microns, offering peace of mind when traveling.
Price: $179 at Amazon
How to Choose the Right Air Purifier for Your Needs
When shopping for an air purifier, it’s important to consider the specific needs of your space and household. Here are a few key factors to keep in mind:
- Room Size: Match the air purifier’s Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) to your room size for optimal performance. Larger spaces require purifiers with higher CADR ratings to ensure efficient air cleaning.
- Filter Type: HEPA filters are essential for capturing allergens, dust, and fine particles, while activated carbon filters are ideal for removing odors and gases. Some models offer additional features like UV-C lights for bacteria and virus removal.
- Smart Features: If convenience is important, look for purifiers with smart integration, app control, and real-time air quality monitoring. These features make it easier to maintain clean air without constantly adjusting settings.
- Energy Efficiency: For continuous use, opt for energy-efficient models to keep electricity costs down. Look for ENERGY STAR-certified air purifiers to ensure long-term savings.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the right air purifier can drastically improve your indoor air quality, especially if you suffer from allergies, live with pets, or are exposed to pollutants. The options listed here represent the best air purifiers for 2024, catering to different needs, spaces, and budgets. Whether you’re looking for a smart, high-tech model or a simple, budget-friendly solution, there’s an air purifier that fits your lifestyle.
Investing in clean air is not just about comfort—it’s about health. With the right air purifier, you can breathe easier, sleep better, and enjoy a healthier home environment.
