The best air purifiers of 2019
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These days, there are plenty of reasons to worry about your air quality. Whether you live in a city or in the country, there are all types of air pollution—from smog and wild fire smoke to allergens, mold, and gas fumes. Breathing heavily polluted air can have a number of negative health effects, including minor irritations like coughing and sneezing in the short term, to chronic bronchitis and lung cancer for those who suffer long-term exposure.
Air purifiers are a way to gain some peace of mind about the air you’re breathing. At the most basic level, they purify air in the same way filtered water pitchers cleanse drinking water, by using a series of increasingly fine filters, devices, and chemicals to remove or reduce pollutants. With consistent use and proper maintenance, air purifiers have been shown to noticeably mitigate the negative side effects related to inhaling air pollutants, especially in vulnerable populations like young children and the elderly.
After spending months testing 12 of the most popular models, we learned that not all air purifiers are created equal.
1. Best Overall: Winix 5500-2
Purification methods: True HEPA filter, carbon filter, plasma
Filter replacement cost: $80 for 2-pack containing HEPA and carbon filters
The Winix 5500-2 air purifier, while not the most technologically advanced air purifier on our list, has intuitive controls and thoughtful extras like a sleep mode, a timer, and a light sensor that automatically adjusts the back-lighting on the control panel. It also comes with a number of status lights for the filter integrity, air quality, and odor detection. Changing the filters is easy, and most of the fan settings were quiet enough to not prove disruptive during conversations or at night.
In our smell tests; the Winix was able to noticeably diminish the smell of strong odors like cigarette smoke. Our testers also commented favorably on the Winix's ability to make a basement seem less musty, and to noticeably diminish cooking smells as well as the amount of allergens in the air. While it lacks some high-tech features like app-control, dollar-for-dollar the Winix is the best value and our top pick. Compared to others on this list, it's so affordable you could even get one for every floor of your home.
Get the Winix 5500-2 air purifier for $143.88 from Amazon
2. Best Smart Purifier: LG AS560DWR0
Purification methods: ultra-fine pre-filter, True HEPA filter, sorbent filter
Filter replacement cost: $130 for combination True HEPA filter and sorbent filter
If you've got the wallet for it, the LG AS560DWR0 delivers all the bells and whistles: a beautiful, Wi-Fi connected, smart air purifier that gets the job done simply and intuitively. With the tap of a button, you can bring up the modules that show you the concentrations of PM10, PM2.5, and PM1.0 particulates, make the whole unit rotate, check the filter status, and more. You can even track your air quality on your phone though the SmartThinQ app. And like most smart home devices, it connects to Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.
While it did very well in our tests, the price and the sheer size of the LG AS560DWR0 may mean that it's not perfect for everyone. But it sure is pretty.
Get the LG AS560DWR0 air purifier for $1,299 from Walmart.com
3. Blueair Classic 205
Purification methods: SmokeStop sorbent filter, HEPAsilent filter
Filter replacement cost: $60 for a HEPAsilent particle filter, $130 for a combination HEPAsilent particle and SmokeStop sorbent media filter
Beneath its industrial-looking exterior lies an effective, app-connected air purifier that can get the job done. The Classic 205 had a tough time removing cigarette smoke, but it did a pretty good job of cleansing the room of the stench of fish oil, so it might do well anywhere you have kitchen or trash odors. Our in-home testing also revealed that the Classic 205 might also help to mitigate allergy congestion when you first wake up in the morning. The fan can be a bit loud, but the Blueair Classic 205 is a good balance between the affordability of Winnex and the app-connectedness of the LG AS560DWR0.
Get the Wi-Fi enabled Blueair Classic 205 air purifier for $344.95 from Amazon
4. Vornado AC550
Purification methods: carbon filter, True HEPA filter
Filter replacement cost: $15 for a 2-pack of carbon filters, $34 for a True HEPA filter
The Vornado AC550 is a stripped-down, no-fuss air purifier that performed above average in our tests. Our testers appreciated that the Vornado is very light, and can be moved with one hand, using one of the pocket handles on the side of the machine. If you want an air purifier that you don't have to babysit, and is portable and user-friendly, we'd recommend the Vornado AC550.
Get the Vornado AC550 air purifier for $169.99 from Amazon
5. Honeywell HPA200
Purification methods: sorbent pre-filter, True HEPA filter
Filter replacement cost: $60 for one True HEPA filter and one sorbent filter
The Honeywell HPA200 is one of the more basic air purifiers on the market today, but it is effective and user-friendly. While its interface is simple, it has four different cleaning modes which offer enough flexibility that you'll be able to use this air purifier in a number of different circumstances, particularly when pollen is bad or when family members get sick. The HPA200 should put a decent dent in your cooking smells, and, as we learned during in-home testing, drastically reduced the number of airborne allergens. Some of the settings got pretty noisy, so you might have to either use the timer function or run it on a lower setting if you want to run it while sleeping.
Get the Honeywell HPA200 air purifier for $178.00 from Amazon
6. Blue Pure 211+
Purification methods: fabric pre-filter, ionizer, particle and carbon filter
Filter replacement cost: $60 for combined particle/carbon filter
The Blue Pure 211+ air purifier is among the most streamlined and eco-friendly air purifiers we tested. With a washable fabric prefilter that doubled as a visual accent and a stripped-down control panel, the Blue Pure 211+ is sure to be a crowd-pleaser for those who want cleaner air without all the extra fuss. With good scores on the odor tests and a lightweight body, it's easy to move around your home when you need to thin out a bit of stink or dust.
Get the Blue Pure 211+ air purifier for $241.01 from Amazon
7. Honeywell HPA250B
Purification methods: sorbent pre-filter, True HEPA filter
Filter replacement cost: $60 for one True HEPA filter and one sorbent filter
Despite its old-school aesthetics, the Honeywell HPA250B (identical to its sister product, the HPA200), has a fairly sophisticated VOC sensor, as well as Bluetooth connectivity to the Honeywell app. While a bit loud, the odor removal was satisfactory.
Get the Honeywell HPA250B air purifier for $219.99 from Amazon
8. Dyson Pure Hot+Cool HP04
Purification methods: carbon filter, glass HEPA filter
Filter replacement cost: $80 for 4-pack containing two carbon filters and two glass HEPA filters
Dyson aims high with the Pure Hot + Cool, which, as the name suggests, combines air purification, cooling, and heating. While we kicked the tires on the other features, our testing focused on the air purification. Overall, we found mixed results. Perhaps due to the smaller outflow grill, odor removal took quite a bit longer than the competing models. That's not to say that, given enough time, it would fail in your home, but for the parameters of our testing, it fell short. Nevertheless, Dyson delivers yet again on a beautiful, thoughtfully designed device that smartly integrates high-tech features.
Get the Dyson Pure Hot + Cool air purifier for $499.99 from Amazon
9. Blueair Classic 480i
Purification methods: SmokeStop sorbent filter, HEPAsilent filter
Filter replacement cost: $60 for a HEPAsilent particle filter, $150 for a combination HEPAsilent particle and SmokeStop sorbent media filter
The Classic 480i is the largest and most feature-laden of the Blueairs that we tested: app control, bigger and stronger air fans, and warning lights for high contents of VOCs and PM2.5 particulate matter. One of our testers was able to see it work in real time when he moved the 480i into a room he was painting. Testing indicated that removed fragrance smells more easily than cigarette smoke. We also found it difficult to move, so you may want to plant this down in one spot and leave it.
Get the Blueair Classic 480i air purifier for $524.99 from Amazon
10. Alen BreatheSmart 75i
Purification methods: True HEPA filter, ionizer
Filter replacement cost: $129 for a True HEPA "fresh" filter, $139 for a True HEPA "heavy odor" filter, $139 for a True HEPA "pet odor" filter, $99 for a True HEPA "pure" filter
If you've ever wondered what it would look like if Apple designed an air purifier, look no further than the Alen BreatheSmart 75i. This air purifier's clean lines and sleek interface are sure to charm. The control panel is streamlined and fairly intuitive, and its performance was pretty good, particularly with perfumes and fish oil odors. However, it's louder and pricier than our top pick without offering any distinct advantage.
Get the Alen BreatheSmart 75i air purifier for $759.00 from Amazon
11. Holmes HAP9726B
Purification methods: carbon filter, True HEPA filter, ionizer
Filter replacement cost: $20 for 2-pack of 2 True HEPA filters, $35 for 2-pack of 2 True HEPA filters with mold fighting power, $10 for 4-pack of 4 carbon filters
This diminutive model may not have the sleek looks or digital read-outs of other air purifiers on this list, but the Holmes HAP9726B proved to be a powerhouse—albeit a loud one. In our smell test, it was able to noticeably diminish the fish oil smell, but struggled more with fragrances. During at-home testing, users noticed that dusty rooms seemed less so while the Holmes was running. We loved its compactness and portability, but the noise will likely prove disruptive if it's in a room you're occupying.
Get the Holmes HAP9726B air purifier for $156.94 from Walmart.com
12. LG AM501YWM1
Purification methods: ultra-fine pre-filter, super ultra-fine particle filter, sorbent filter, additional water filters for humidifier
Filter replacement cost: N/A
Like everything else in the LG Signature line-up, the AM501YWM1 is a luxury product, with aesthetics and price tag to match. It's also the only air purifier / humidifier we tested, which means it can perform double-duty while taking up half the space in your home. Of course, all bells and whistles are included. There are modes galore, and the water reservoir even has a UV LED light to kill bacteria. The control panel is abuzz with arcane symbology that will send you running for the instruction manual.
The performance is nearly equal to the price. Of all of the air purifiers we tested, the LG Signature fared the best fared best in removing cigarette smoke. But the price will be a turn-off to most, and we found the interface confusing.
Get the LG AM501YWM1 air purifier for $1,649 from Amazon
How we tested
To test air purifiers in the lab, we built an airtight room with a footprint of approximately 200 sq. ft., which is about the size of a large bedroom or a small- to medium-sized living room.
Our testing included 24 rounds of survey-based odor recognition tests (cigarette smoke, fish oil, and essential oils). Odors were introduced into the sealed room for 20 minutes, then the air purifier was run on its highest fan setting for four hours. In total, 120 test reports detailed what, and to what extent, could identify by smell.
The air purifiers were also installed in testers' homes for two-week periods of time. Actually living with a product yielded a great amount of data not only about how well they perceived the product to work, but also its ease of use, noise, portability, and other considerations.
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Prices are accurate at the time this article was published, but may change over time.