Best air purifier 2024: tested for cleaner, healthier air at home

The best air purifiers are designed to cleanse the air in our homes. They can capture and remove harmful particles in the air, such as allergens, smoke, dust, and pet dander, from our living spaces, creating a much cleaner, healthier environment.

Air purifiers can be a genuine life-changer for anybody who has pets, suffers from allergies, or lives in a busy urban area. We found that air purifiers do help with allergies, especially those with HEPA filters, and they can make a huge difference to your quality of life at home.

Smaller air purifiers are ideal for bedrooms and kids' rooms, while the bigger machines are equipped to handle much more open spaces - and, occasionally, entire homes. There are anti-odor models that can replace bad smells with fresh ones, and antibacterial purifiers that can destroy the germs that they capture.

As H&G's home tech editor, and both an asthma and allergy sufferer, I know what to look for in an air purifier. For many, they're essential appliances to have, so we've tested, reviewed and rounded up the 9 best air purifiers you can buy today. We've ranked these air purifiers based on coverage, filtration, design, and the all-important price. 

The quick list

We'll get into the specifics in a minute. For now, these are the best air purifiers at a glance. 

 The best air purifiers 2024

The best air purifier

Outside of its excellent performance on tests, the Shark NeverChange Air Purifier MAX boasts something new in the world of air purifiers. It has pre-filters, that Shark refers to as Debris Defence filters, that are wipeable and washable, protecting the HEPA filter within. Because of this, the NeverChange MAX avoids those recurring filter replacement costs that most air purifiers demand.

Not only is the NeverChange MAX the best air purifier overall, it's also the best for large spaces. At 1,400 square feet, it has the biggest coverage of any air purifier we've tested and we found that it covers large spaces exceptionally well. After a long cooking session, the air purifier had cleaned an entire upstairs' air quality from 33% to 100% in under 30 minutes.

The air purifier's front display shows your room's air quality as a percentage. This is thanks to Shark's Clean Sense IQ detection tech, which also detects the number of PM1, PM2.5, and PM10-sized particles in the air. This data might not be as detailed as the Molekule Air Pro's, but it's enough to see how at-home activities like dusting, cooking, or opening the windows affect your air quality. 

For any product to be the best, it has to be accessible as well as offering helpful features. The NeverChange MAX currently retails for just over $300, which is hundreds of dollars cheaper than some of the other premium air purifiers in this list (like the Dyson Purifier and the Molekule Air Pro). Its plastic aesthetic might not be attractive for everybody, but this is the kind of air purifier that'll genuinely make a big difference at home while being affordable in both initial and recurring costs.

Read our full verdict in our Shark NeverChange Air Purifier MAX review.

Best multi-function air purifier

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An air purifier is what I like to call a home comfort appliance. It might not be necessary, but it's nice to have. Cooling fans and humidifiers fall under the same category. 

Purchasing each of your home comforts individually can cost you hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars. With the Dyson Purifier Humidify + Cool Formaldehyde fan, you get three functions in one machine, for $1000. Not too bad, when you think about it. 

Since this fan is remotely operated, you can use it from anywhere in the house. Once you've downloaded the app and filled the humidity reservoir, you won't need to touch it again. 

You don't need to understand environmental science to use this fan. The in-app air quality reports are written in plain English and translated into simple graphs for more visual learners. 

The Dyson impressed on test, particularly as a humidifier. This machine cleans itself, using UV light to kill any bacteria in the reservoir. 

The only real downside is the size. Three feet tall and one foot wide, the Dyson is on the larger side. You can't hide it, and you might struggle to store it in smaller spaces.

You can find more detail in our Dyson Purifier Humidify + Cool Formaldehyde review. 

Best air purifier for air quality detection

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Two feet tall and one foot wide, this is a little machine that can purify large areas. The Molekule Air Pro can cover and clean spaces up to 1,000 sq. ft. That's twice the size of a standard studio apartment. 

Most air purifiers incorporate HEPA filtration technology to capture all sorts of small particles and pathogens. The Air Pro has a HEPA filter, and a PECO filter, too, which claims to destroy pollutants at a molecular scale. This machine breaks down dust mites and mold spores, bacteria, and viruses and turns them into harmless gases like carbon dioxide and water vapor. 

These filters won't last forever, and you'll need to replace them every six months. This machine is only compatible with Molekule-certified filters, which come at a premium price. 

The Air Pro keeps track of each impurity it encounters and logs them all in the Molekule app, under 'Air History'. Here, you can view the changes to particle levels in the last five minutes or over the past four weeks. 

The Air Pro works hard and keeps noise to a minimum, with a noise range of around 30-65 dB. That's somewhere between a whisper and a normal conversation. At its lowest speed setting, the Air Pro should be suitable for sleep. 

That is, if you aren't sensitive to light. On top of this machine is a pulsing blue UV light. It's just a little dot, but it can be irritating.

The Air Pro isn't perfect. It's a little high-maintenance and it's less suitable for bedroom use. But if you're looking for a purifier to clean large spaces, you won't find a more powerful machine. 

You can find more detail in our Molekule Air Pro review.

Best value air purifier

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Not everybody wants or needs a smart machine that links up with Alexa and speaks to you in emojis. Sometimes, you just want an air purifier that can purify your air. The Dreo Macro Pro is a highly effective cleaner that comes without those inessential, expensive extras. 

This machine removes all your everyday pollutants, from pollen to pet dander, and tackles airborne pathogens with a 99.99% success rate. There's a near-silent sleep mode for night-time use, as well as a turbo setting for quick, loud, deep cleans. If you like your machine to do the work for you, just switch on the auto setting.

For a little machine, it's pretty powerful. Dreo claims the Macro Pro can purify areas as large as 1358 sq. ft., though it works best in smaller spaces and single rooms.

All this for just over $100. That's not nothing, but it pales in comparison to the cost of many of the best air purifiers, which can exceed $1000. The running costs are lower, too, since the Dreo Macro Pro is Energy Star-certified. If the machine ran non-stop for a full week, it would only cost you 30 cents in energy bills. 

Of course, if you're shopping for a smart purifier, you'll be disappointed. There's no Dreo Macro Pro app, which makes it hard to know what's going on inside your machine. The only indicator is a little light on top of the purifier, which pulses blue, green, orange, or red depending on pollution levels. 

This machine isn't smart enough for everyone. But if you're looking for an effective purifier that works quickly and quietly, the Dreo Macro Pro will do the job. 

You can find more detail in our Dreo Macro air purifier review.

Best smart air purifier

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This air purifier is designed by three dads, living amongst the smog of Shanghai, who wanted cleaner air for their kids. When they couldn't find a machine that met their needs, they made their own: the Mila Air Purifier.

You can measure and adjust the quality of your air inside the Mila app. Once you set the fan speed on a sliding scale of 1% to 100%, the machine will take care of the rest.

Mila also monitors for mold growths and carbon monoxide leaks to prevent accidental poisoning. The app explains it all in clear language, using words (and emojis) you can understand. 

This machine comes with custom filters to suit specialist needs. Whether you're an animal-lover who's looking to rid your air of pet smells and shed hairs, or a new parent who wants to protect your child's delicate immune system, Mila's got a filter for you. 

It can be a little overwhelming to have so much information at your fingertips. If you suffer from health anxiety, you might want to shop elsewhere, or at least minimize your Mila screen time. 

This fan has something for everyone. And, as smart tech goes, the Mila Air Purifier is pretty affordable. It's cute and compact to boot, so it will look just as good in your child's nursery as in your family room. 

Best air purifier for pet-owners

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Air purifiers aren't the most attractive appliances. Many are big and bulky, designed with function rather than form in mind. At least Samsung have added a little style to their Bespoke Cube. With curved edges and a cross-hatch design, the Cube is cute and compact, so it should sit pretty in any corner. 

The Cube incorporates 360-degree air purification for whole-room cleaning, as well as a five-stage filtration process. Pollutants and pathogens pass through the pre-filter before they're zapped by the electrostatic discharger, deodorized, detoxed, and finally deactivated by UV light. 

As purifiers go, it's a little difficult to assemble: even our expert struggled to tell which piece went where. Once it's up and running, though, the Cube is easy and intuitive to use. There's an interactive interface that tells you the quality of your air, inside and outside. As for the machine, you can turn it on with just a touch, or even the sound of your voice, when you connect to the Samsung SmartThings app. 

The Cube comes with a child lock function, as well as a filter change alarm, for safe and hygienic use. The biggest issue is the limited coverage. The Cube can only clean areas of up to 350 sq. ft. That's great if you live in a studio, but it's not enough for larger spaces. 

It's also on the more expensive side, retailing for around $700. While it won't cost you as much as some of the best air purifiers, you can definitely buy a decent machine for less. 

You can find more detail in our Samsung BESPOKE air purifier review.

Best budget air purifier

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The Levoit Core 300 costs less than $100. That's almost unheard of for an air purifier.  It may not have the power or the smart features of more expensive machines, but it's a highly effective cleaner for small apartments and single rooms. 

This machine is a foot tall, a foot wide, and weighs less than eight pounds. It's light enough to sit on your tabletop, which makes it easy to lift and move from room to room for whole-house cleaning. 

This purifier features a high-efficiency activated carbon filter, which neutralizes smoke, fumes, and household odors, as well as trapping all the usual particles and pathogens.

Although there's no Core 300 app or smart interface, this machine has many of the same features as the best air purifiers. There's a sleep mode, for example, than runs at just 24 dB. You can even enjoy (mostly) hands-free operation when you set a two-to-eight-hour timer. 

This is an old-school air purifier. You don't need to touch a screen or speak to your smart assistant to make it work. All you need to do is press a button. The Levoit Core 300 may not be as powerful as some of the best purifiers, but it performs exceptionally at its price point.

Best antibacterial air purifier

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No air purifier can offer complete protection against bacteria and viruses. The Blueair HealthProtect doesn't claim to eradicate all germs, but it promises to work day and night to prevent their growth. 

The HealthProtect incorporates a three-stage filtration system. Pathogens are drawn into the fan, where they're zapped by an electrostatic sheet. These charged particles stick like magnets to the filter, where they can be safely contained. 

This purifier doesn't just work on pathogens: it works on all the usual particles and pollutants, from dust mites to mold spores. There's even a layer of activated carbon to absorb bad odors. 

This is a powerful machine and it takes up a lot of space. Since the HealthProtect is more than two feet tall, and weighs over 25lbs, it's a lot bulkier than many of the best air purifiers. You might struggle to pick it and set it down, and it won't blend beautifully into the background. 

Oddly for a machine that sells itself on its antibacterial power, there's no way of measuring its efficacy against pathogens. You can find information on dust and pollen, detergents and paints, temperature and humidity: but when it comes to pathogens, there isn't any data. That might be a good thing if you suffer from health anxiety, but it's a little strange for an antibacterial purifier. 

You can find more detail in our Blueair Blue Pure Fan air purifier review. 

Best quiet air purifier

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Just nine inches tall and six inches wide, this air purifier should fit inside cramped corners. It's light enough to move from room to room or set on a tabletop. It's even small enough to store when not in use. 

The Morento Air Purifier is designed with double air intake, which means it can clear twice the air in the same time as a standard purifier. It comes with a HEPA filter, as well as an infrared sensor which monitors your air quality in real time and feeds it back to the display screen. 

Like with most purifiers, there's a manual mode, but the automatic setting is far more effective. When too many particles and pathogens pollute your air, the Morento fan will speed up to clear the air faster. 

This machine works hard, but almost silently. Its sleep mode maxes out at 24 dB, which is about as loud as rustling leaves. Our expert found that, even on its highest setting, the Morento won't drown out the sound of your television, music, or normal conversation. 

The biggest downside is the lack of smart features. There's no Morento app, or air quality history, but that might be a blessing in disguise. This is a simple purifier that works without fanfare, so quietly that you'll forget it's there. You can't ask for much more than that, especially for just over $100.

You can find more detail in our Morento Air Purifier review. 

How we test air purifiers

We put a lot of thought into how we test air purifiers, and we try to test as many as we can. We use these machines for several weeks, if not months, to monitor their performance over time. We record the whole process, from unboxing to cleaning, to give you a good sense of what it might be like to use this purifier. 

When we haven't been able to get our hands on a purifier, we've scoured the specifications and read countless customer reviews. We rank each product based on power, performance, design, and the all-important price. 

How to choose the best air purifier

We've written a whole feature on what to look for in an air purifier. If you don't have time to read the whole thing, here are a few key points to consider.

Coverage 

Even the best air purifiers can't clean all the air in your house. You'd need to invest in a whole-home filtration system for that. Air purifiers are designed to clean individual rooms up to 350 sq. ft. When in doubt, go for the fan that can handle larger spaces, as it will clean smaller rooms that much faster.

Filtration 

Most air purifiers come with HEPA filters, which trap dust particles, dander, and other contaminants. Some fans incorporate activated carbon to kill odors and gases, or ultraviolet technology to kill and remove viruses. Steer clear of ozone or negative ion filters, which can harm the cells in your lungs and airways.

Noise 

The best air purifiers run quietly in the background, so that you can work, read, chill, and sleep undisturbed. The quietest fans have a maximum volume of 15 dB, which is about as loud as rustling leaves. Louder purifiers on their highest setting can reach heights of 90 dB, which is about loud as a blender.

Certifications 

Keep an eye out for ratings from the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers, which uses the Clean Air Delivery Rate to measure a purifier's energy-efficiency. The higher the rating, the more efficient the machine. 

Cost 

First, there's the upfront cost to consider. The best air purifiers can cost anything between $100 and $1000. Then there's the price of filters, which need to be replaced around every six months to a year, and cost between $30 and $150. 

Meet the team

Dan Fauzi

Dan is our home tech editor and has been testing and writing about products for years. As an asthma and allergy-sufferer, they're conscious of the air quality in their room and understand the importance of a good air purifier. They reviewed the Shark NeverChange Air Purifier MAX in this guide.

Tested by

Tested by

Jaclyn Turner

Jaclyn is our former eCommerce Editor. She regularly scouts out the best of the best for buying guides to help you fill your home with top-quality products. 

Tested by

Tested by

Laura Honey

Laura is one of our eCommerce editors. Before she started at Homes & Gardens, she studied English at Oxford University. Laura's passed our five-step tests to become a certified Customer Advisor. Since she's worked for luxury brands, Laura understands the importance of quality and style over quantity and fads. 

Best air purifier FAQs

Which air purifier is best?

There's no such thing as the best air purifier: just the air purifier that meets your needs. 

If you suffer from allergies or common colds, you'll appreciate the antibacterial properties of the Aeris Aair Lite or the Blueair HealthProtect Air Purifier. 

If you're a pet-owner, and you're keen to banish those ped odors, then you should look for an air purifier with activated carbon, such as the Samsung BESPOKE Cube. 

If you smoke, or you live in an area with high rates of pollution, you'll need an air purifier with a HEPA filter. These filters are designed to trap smoke particles and circulate fresh air. Both the Molekuke Air Pro and the Aeris Aair Lite were highly effective at ridding the air of smoke. 

Do I really need an air purifier?

We've written a whole feature on whether air purifiers are worth it. TL;DR: an air purifier isn't a necessity, but it's nice to have, especially if you're health-conscious. The best air purifiers can circulate fresh air around a room and remove harmful particles or pollutants. 

The air in your home is infested with irritants such as mold, bacteria, dander, and dust. The right air purifier can limit the spread of these pollutants, alleviate allergies, and even reduce odors from cooking, pets, and smoke.

What is a HEPA filter?

HEPA stands for 'high-efficiency particulate air' filters. Made from fiberglass or polypropylene and woven into pleats, these filters can trap dust, pollen, mold, bacteria, and all sorts of airborne particles. The best filters can remove more than 99.97% of polluting particles from a room. 

If these machines just aren't for you, but you're still keen to clean the air in your home, then it's worth learning how to improve air quality indoors − even without an air purifier.