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Our experts review standard and HEPA air purifiers from the likes of Dyson, Philips and more
When we talk about air quality, we tend to think of mucky exhaust pipes and busy city streets but the air we breathe inside our homes can be just as detrimental to our health. Help is at hand, though, as the best air purifiers for the home will help clean the air, removing impurities and allergens.
In a 2019 study, environmental charity Global Action Plan found Indoor air pollution can be 3.5 times worse than outdoor pollution in British towns and cities, as fumes from trains and traffic are trapped inside well-insulated homes. Fresh paint, cooking gases and even that beloved scented candle make the pollution worse, not to mention all those airborne allergens such as dust and pet fur.
While we love our feather duster, it won’t eliminate microscopic particles or prevent the continual release of gases, including VOCs (volatile organic compounds) from some paints, varnishes or furniture made from MDF and plywood. That’s where air purifiers come in.
Air purifiers literally pluck pollutants out of the air and trap them in a filter. The CADR (clean air delivery rate) indicates how quickly the purifier will remove contaminants from the air. Be aware, however, that some manufacturers, most notably Dyson, believe this rating can be misleading – testing for it doesn’t always represent real living conditions.
There are a few things to consider when buying an air purifier, to help you evaluate whether it’s the right one for your home. If you suffer from allergies, look at the number of cleans per hour, the recommended room size and the type of filter included.
“Three air cleans an hour is fine for general cleaning of the air; five is better for someone whose life is disrupted by allergies,” advises Chris Michael, managing director and founder of manufacturer Meaco. “All too often, people buy too small or too large and get it wrong. Make sure your air purifier actually cleans what you are allergic to from the air as well. If you are a hay fever sufferer, don’t worry about a charcoal filter, but if you want to remove smells, then charcoal is better than HEPA [high-efficiency particulate absorbing].”
We’ve put a range of air purifiers to the test, so, keep scrolling to find out which one is right for you.
We test all of our products in everyday settings (rather than in labs), to replicate how you will be using them. Products are rated on several criteria and, while these can vary depending on the type of product being tested, we take into consideration everything from performance to value to design and usability.
For this review, we plugged in a range of air purifiers, then sat back and let them do the hard work. For each, we tested how easy it was to operate, how noisy it was, and any smart features offered, including air monitoring. We also considered whether we would be happy leaving the purifier out on display and if we noticed any discernible improvement in the air. Did we still get the sniffles if the air purifier claimed to be able to suck up allergens?
Where manufacturers have only provided recommended room size in square metres, we have calculated the approximate size in cubic metres, for a more accurate comparison, using 2.5m as the average height of a room.
If you want an air purifier that ticks almost every box, look no further than the Levoit Core 400S. It was quick at purifying the air in our home, and unbelievably quiet and smart, thanks to the handy VeSync app and Alexa and Apple Home integration.
The perfect gadget for medium to large rooms, the 400S is a sleek-looking 350-degree air purifier with moulded handles and a modern LED display that told us how dirty the air was, by using different colours. The neat little automatic mode let us leave the purifier on, cleaning the air without intervention. It speeds up when it detects particulate and slows down when the air is clean. Even on the highest speed setting, it was still extremely quiet, and when we had it on sleep mode, we could barely hear it at all. The Levoit Core 400S features an H13 HEPA filter that picks up particles as small as 0.3 microns in size, chugging on whenever we were cooking and the room got smoky. It even notched up when our dog walked into the room.
There are other air purifiers on this list that can pick up microns that are even smaller than 0.3 microns, but they cost more than double, and we found the Levoit just as effective, making our home feel fresher just a few minutes after turning it on. We also loved the smart functionality – it was great being able to set up scenes in the VeSync app, turn on the air purifier before we even entered our home, and use Alexa to turn it on when we were too lazy to get to the unit. Best of all? It’s very affordable for the sheer value it delivers. Although the replacement filters can get a bit pricey, you shouldn’t need to replace them too frequently. Overall, the Levoit Core 400S is an air purifying marvel.
This small, sleek purifier is so whisper-quiet on its lowest setting, we had to check it was definitely switched on. Suitable for rooms up to 7m³, it has a USB connection rather than a plug, so, it would be handy next to a computer or even in a car. It’s extremely simple to set up, and enters automatic mode as soon as it’s plugged in, adjusting fan speed automatically to suit the air quality. This can also be adjusted manually.
The filtering process includes four-stage air disinfection, with a silver ion coating to destroy micro-organisms and activated carbon to tackle smells and gases. Depending on usage, it’s recommended the filter is changed about every three to six months. We loved how portable and light it was, at just 400g, though, we remain sceptical of its claim the filter “inactivates 99 per cent of Covid-19 viruses”. If you want to improve the air even when you’re driving, we still think it’s a good bet.
Coway is a big name in the States but it hasn’t made as big an impact here in the UK. The brand should definitely be on your radar, though, because the Airmega Mighty is one of the best air purifiers we’ve tested. It doesn’t scream “look at me” but rather blends into the background.
Unlike most air purifiers, it’s square-shaped and looks a bit like a subwoofer. The rear-facing fan, which gives it less height and more portability, is a really good design choice. It barely makes a sound, making it one of the quietest models we’ve tested. Air also blows upwards instead of forwards, which is said to help circulate the purified air, and it did it all in a snap, too, with a CADR rating of 240.
It’s easy to use, thanks to the simple fan speed buttons and timer buttons, with a light indicator telling you how good the air quality is – when it’s good, it’s really good. We particularly liked the eco mode, seeing the fan power off if the air quality is stable for 10 minutes, and ratchet back up after 30 minutes or when it detects a change in air quality. Smart mode adjusts the fan level automatically, based on the air quality in the room.
While, technically, you shouldn’t be able to use it with the Coway app (there’s a separate wifi model available), we were actually able to connect it and control the purifier from our phone. The filter can capture large particles for pet hair, the carbon filter captures smaller particles and pollutants, and the HEPA tackles bacteria, dust, pollen and mould. It’s very good, and extremely well-priced for a device that works for large rooms.
Speedy, smart and stylish, this air purifier is an excellent addition to any home, especially if you suffer from allergies. It has both a HEPA and active carbon filter to zap everything from dust to pet dander, and captures 99.97 per cent of ultra-fine particles as small as 0.003 microns. It’s fast, too, cleaning 20m² in just six minutes and even has a special allergy sleep mode that kicks in at night to zap allergenic dust, while still keeping the sound level low. All this and it’s extremely energy efficient, running at a maximum of 55W power, the equivalent of one standard light bulb.
Both the machine’s screen and the app make it easy to keep track of exactly how the purifier is improving air quality. We particularly liked the colour ring that shows real-time air quality at a glance from the other side of the room and that we could use the app to turn on the machine even outside the house. There are four manual speed modes and an automatic setting, although, we found the turbo mode a little too noisy when watching TV in the same room. Most impressively, Philips says the filter only needs changing once every three years – a huge improvement on comparable machines – which would represent a sizeable saving in the long term. We’re seriously impressed.
Call us shallow, but we were immediately smitten by this air purifier’s contemporary grey good looks, which made us less inclined to tuck it out of sight, compared with some of the other air purifiers. We also liked the two fabric handles, which meant we could easily carry it to different rooms, rather than installing one purifier in the kitchen and a second in the bedroom (although, this is recommended for maximum efficiency).
This model is extremely easy to set up and operate, too. PureSense responsive technology continually measures air quality and adjusts the air purification, so you don’t need to do a thing. There’s also an auto-sleep feature, a light and odour sensor and a filter indicator that means you can see if it needs changing. Cleverly, the filter can also be configured to suit your personal and seasonal needs – for instance, if pollen levels are high in spring. Each filter’s smart tag will then keep track of its usage for hands-on control over exactly how the air purifier works. It’s easy to adjust preferences and check air quality on the excellent app, too. A thumbs up all-around, if you have the cash.
We’re in love with this Dyson air-purifying fan. The name might be ridiculously long, but it looks modern and sleek, does a heck of a lot of stuff, and is incredibly smart.
The Dyson Purifier humidify + cool... oh, forget it; Dyson’s latest air purifier is a three-in-one machine. It’s an air purifier, humidifier and fan, all in one. Because it has a solid-state formaldehyde sensor, it can also remove the odourless gas from your room – which the app kept telling us was the biggest pollutant in our home. It’s super quiet, too, and has a night mode, which sees the LED screen dim when you’re trying to get to sleep.
It also features a full HEPA filtration system, with Dyson saying that it traps H1N1 viruses and 99.95 per cent of particles as small as 0.1 microns, such as allergens, bacteria, pollen and mould spores. We felt less congested on particularly hay fever-prone days with this machine whirring in the background, and we liked that we could use it as a humidifier, too. It’s easy to control with either the remote or the app, which provided a lot of detail on our indoor air quality. The only negatives? The price (it’s a horrifyingly expensive machine) and the heft – it weighs more than 8kg.
If you don’t want a huge machine in your house but still need an appliance with considerable purifying muscle, this MeacoClean machine is an excellent option. The curved, white appliance sits unobtrusively in the corner and is so quiet when in use it could easily be used in a child’s room while they’re sleeping. The night mode even switches off all lighting on the machine, and there’s an ingenious child lock, so you’ll have no worries when leaving it to do its thing.
Air cleaning capabilities are top-notch, too. It has a handy display that indicates the air quality from afar, using different coloured lights, an automatic setting for easy operation and an H11 HEPA filter to remove more than 95 per cent of damaging particles from the air. There’s also the option of upgrading to an H13 HEPA filter, to increase cleaning to a whopping 99.97 per cent of particles, if preferred. If you want a little more control, the accompanying app is straightforward and oddly fascinating, enabling you to check the air quality, set timers and even see the pollen level in your home, compared with outside. A great buy.
These machines take air and filter out various particles and pollutants. The contaminants could be anything from volatile organic compounds (VOCs) generated from doing work around the house (if, for example, you have freshly painted walls) to car fumes coming in through your windows when you air your home, or the fumes that result from frying food.
Most work by drawing the air into the machine and running that air through a filter (sometimes several filters) to grab small particles of pollen, pollution, dust and – depending on the type of filter – viruses and smaller particles. It then sends the clean air out into the room again. Some also use something called ultraviolet germicidal irradiation to ‘kill’ any viruses caught in the air.
Indoor air quality is very much a field of innovation. Professor David Fairen-Jimenez, head of the absorption and advanced materials lab at the University of Cambridge said: “We spend so much time indoors that the quality of the air will impact the quality of health and life. At Cambridge, we’re developing new synthetic materials that are capable of removing the more challenging toxic compounds.”
It’s worth noting it isn’t only catching small particles that’s tricky, but also PM 2.5, or fine particulate air pollution, which is another area researchers are continually looking into.
In a word: yes. The thing to know about air purifiers is that their efficacy depends largely on the filtration system and the size of the particles they can capture. The gold standard in filters is the high-efficiency particulate air filter (aka the HEPA filter), which captures at least 99.97 per cent of 0.3-micron and larger particles. The naked eye can’t see particles smaller than 10 microns in size, so, yes, most air purifiers will remove dust from the air.
If your allergies are triggered by pollution or other fine particles in the air, a good purifier is likely to help.
Studies carried out by Lung India show that asthma patients who were sensitised to dog and cat fur, dust mites, and birch and tree pollen, found symptoms improved after 10 weeks of sleeping in a room where there was a purifier containing a HEPA filter.
That said, even the best one has limitations – you will still be breathing in allergens when you leave your home and open windows – but, on the whole, if you notice your house being clean and ventilating it well reduces allergies, it’s safe to assume an air purifier will also have a positive effect.
A good air purifier can help reduce or even eliminate unpleasant smells entirely, while making the air you breathe healthier and fresher.
While air purifiers won’t help treat active mould in your home, they can help capture spores from the air, preventing them from reproducing and spreading throughout your home – meaning these gadgets are a great way to control the spread of airborne mould particles.
Air purifiers and dehumidifiers offer the perfect combo. They both work at pulling things out of the air to make it fresher for you. Air purifiers use a filter to pull allergens and dust out of the air, while dehumidifiers pull moisture out of the air, which can cause mould growth. They’re both great appliances on their own but, together, they’re even better.
You tend to get what you pay for with air purifiers, especially if you’re buying to help with allergies, but, despite its relatively low price point, the Levoit core 400S has it all. With spectacularly effective filtration and good looks, it’s whisper-quiet and comes with visible real-time reporting on air quality on the top of the machine. It’s a very effective air purifier for large rooms, too.
If you want something that also works as a fan, take a look at the Dyson purifier huymidfy + cool formaldehyde. If you’re keeping a closer eye on cost, you can’t go wrong with the Coway AP-1512HH airmega mighty, which can purify large rooms and tuck away in a corner.
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