The 10 Best Air Purifiers with HEPA Filters, Tested Against Allergens, Dust, Odors, and More

Mar. 15, 2025

In This ArticleView AllIn This ArticleOur Top PicksReviewsWhat to KnowBehind the ScenesWhy Trust PEOPLE?What Is PEOPLE Tested?

In This ArticleView All

In This Article

View All

Our Top Picks

Reviews

What to Know

Behind the Scenes

Why Trust PEOPLE?

What Is PEOPLE Tested?

Photo:People / Henry Wortock

People / Henry Wortock

If you can see dust particles floating through your living room or notice that cooking smells linger around the house for days, it might be time to invest in an air purifier for your home. The best air purifiers remove air pollutants like pollen, dust, smoke, and pet dander (much like avacuum for pet hair), and many can also help eliminate unwelcome odors.There are different types of air purifiers, but experts recommend models that use HEPA filters, which are highly effective against microscopic particles. To find out which air purifiers can truly help relieve us of our sniffling allergy symptoms, we tested 38 top-rated models, evaluating each device on design, ease of use, and how effectively it cleared the air. These are the 10 best air purifiers we tested.Our Top PicksBest Overall:Honeywell InSight HEPA Air Purifier at Amazon$223Jump to ReviewBest Overall (Cheaper):SALEKenmore 850e Air Purifier at Amazon$80$68Jump to ReviewBest Whole Home:SALEClorox Large Room Air Purifier at Amazon$150$120Jump to ReviewBest for Pet Hair:Black+Decker Ionic Air Purifier at Amazon$399Jump to ReviewBest for Odor Control:VEVA 8000 Black Air Purifier at Amazon$106Jump to ReviewBest for Mold:Bionaire True HEPA 360 UV Air Purifier at Amazon$210Jump to ReviewBest for Living Rooms:SALEWinix 5500-2 4-Stage True HEPA Air Purifier at Amazon$250$206Jump to ReviewBest for Bedrooms:Coway Airmega 160 Air Purifier at Target$180Jump to ReviewBest Energy Efficient:Rabbit Air BioGS 2.0 Air Purifier at Amazon$370Jump to ReviewBest Dyson:SALEDyson Purifier Humidify+Cool Formaldehyde at Amazon$1,000$799Jump to Review

If you can see dust particles floating through your living room or notice that cooking smells linger around the house for days, it might be time to invest in an air purifier for your home. The best air purifiers remove air pollutants like pollen, dust, smoke, and pet dander (much like avacuum for pet hair), and many can also help eliminate unwelcome odors.

There are different types of air purifiers, but experts recommend models that use HEPA filters, which are highly effective against microscopic particles. To find out which air purifiers can truly help relieve us of our sniffling allergy symptoms, we tested 38 top-rated models, evaluating each device on design, ease of use, and how effectively it cleared the air. These are the 10 best air purifiers we tested.

Our Top PicksBest Overall:Honeywell InSight HEPA Air Purifier at Amazon$223Jump to ReviewBest Overall (Cheaper):SALEKenmore 850e Air Purifier at Amazon$80$68Jump to ReviewBest Whole Home:SALEClorox Large Room Air Purifier at Amazon$150$120Jump to ReviewBest for Pet Hair:Black+Decker Ionic Air Purifier at Amazon$399Jump to ReviewBest for Odor Control:VEVA 8000 Black Air Purifier at Amazon$106Jump to ReviewBest for Mold:Bionaire True HEPA 360 UV Air Purifier at Amazon$210Jump to ReviewBest for Living Rooms:SALEWinix 5500-2 4-Stage True HEPA Air Purifier at Amazon$250$206Jump to ReviewBest for Bedrooms:Coway Airmega 160 Air Purifier at Target$180Jump to ReviewBest Energy Efficient:Rabbit Air BioGS 2.0 Air Purifier at Amazon$370Jump to ReviewBest Dyson:SALEDyson Purifier Humidify+Cool Formaldehyde at Amazon$1,000$799Jump to Review

Best Overall:Honeywell InSight HEPA Air Purifier at Amazon$223Jump to ReviewBest Overall (Cheaper):SALEKenmore 850e Air Purifier at Amazon$80$68Jump to ReviewBest Whole Home:SALEClorox Large Room Air Purifier at Amazon$150$120Jump to ReviewBest for Pet Hair:Black+Decker Ionic Air Purifier at Amazon$399Jump to ReviewBest for Odor Control:VEVA 8000 Black Air Purifier at Amazon$106Jump to ReviewBest for Mold:Bionaire True HEPA 360 UV Air Purifier at Amazon$210Jump to ReviewBest for Living Rooms:SALEWinix 5500-2 4-Stage True HEPA Air Purifier at Amazon$250$206Jump to ReviewBest for Bedrooms:Coway Airmega 160 Air Purifier at Target$180Jump to ReviewBest Energy Efficient:Rabbit Air BioGS 2.0 Air Purifier at Amazon$370Jump to ReviewBest Dyson:SALEDyson Purifier Humidify+Cool Formaldehyde at Amazon$1,000$799Jump to Review

Best Overall:Honeywell InSight HEPA Air Purifier at Amazon$223Jump to Review

Best Overall:Honeywell InSight HEPA Air Purifier at Amazon$223

Best Overall:

Best Overall (Cheaper):SALEKenmore 850e Air Purifier at Amazon$80$68Jump to Review

Best Overall (Cheaper):SALEKenmore 850e Air Purifier at Amazon$80$68

Best Overall (Cheaper):

SALE

Best Whole Home:SALEClorox Large Room Air Purifier at Amazon$150$120Jump to Review

Best Whole Home:SALEClorox Large Room Air Purifier at Amazon$150$120

Best Whole Home:

Best for Pet Hair:Black+Decker Ionic Air Purifier at Amazon$399Jump to Review

Best for Pet Hair:Black+Decker Ionic Air Purifier at Amazon$399

Best for Pet Hair:

Best for Odor Control:VEVA 8000 Black Air Purifier at Amazon$106Jump to Review

Best for Odor Control:VEVA 8000 Black Air Purifier at Amazon$106

Best for Odor Control:

Best for Mold:Bionaire True HEPA 360 UV Air Purifier at Amazon$210Jump to Review

Best for Mold:Bionaire True HEPA 360 UV Air Purifier at Amazon$210

Best for Mold:

Best for Living Rooms:SALEWinix 5500-2 4-Stage True HEPA Air Purifier at Amazon$250$206Jump to Review

Best for Living Rooms:SALEWinix 5500-2 4-Stage True HEPA Air Purifier at Amazon$250$206

Best for Living Rooms:

Best for Bedrooms:Coway Airmega 160 Air Purifier at Target$180Jump to Review

Best for Bedrooms:Coway Airmega 160 Air Purifier at Target$180

Best for Bedrooms:

Best Energy Efficient:Rabbit Air BioGS 2.0 Air Purifier at Amazon$370Jump to Review

Best Energy Efficient:Rabbit Air BioGS 2.0 Air Purifier at Amazon$370

Best Energy Efficient:

Best Dyson:SALEDyson Purifier Humidify+Cool Formaldehyde at Amazon$1,000$799Jump to Review

Best Dyson:SALEDyson Purifier Humidify+Cool Formaldehyde at Amazon$1,000$799

Best Dyson:

Best OverallHoneywell InSight HEPA Air PurifierPHOTO: Amazon$223 at Amazon$253$223 at Walmart$223 at Home DepotStar QualitiesHighly effective on allergens and odorsAuto mode helps maintain air qualitySpecialty filters availableRed FlagsPre-filter can’t be vacuumedThe Honeywell InSight Series HEPA air purifier was a top performer in our testing, proving to be efficient against allergens, odors, and everyday dust. It helped noticeably alleviate one of our testers’ pet allergies with frequent use. The purifier includes a HEPA filter that captures microscopic airborne particles and a carbon pre-filter to neutralize odors. We like that you can add specialty filters to your setup to target things like pet odors, smoke, or even VOCs.The Honeywell air purifier has three speed settings and an auto mode, which responds quickly to contaminants in the air. We like that this model has an indicator light that changes color to let you know when the air quality has decreased, and on its lowest setting, we could barely tell that the fan was running. The only downside is that the unit’s pre-filters aren’t supposed to be vacuumed — instead, the brand recommends replacing them every three months.Dimensions:19 x 17.9 x 10.1 inches |Weight:20.5 pounds |Room Size:500 square feet |Filter Type:HEPA and carbon |Filter Life:3 months (pre-filters), 12 months (HEPA)PHOTO: People / Henry WortockPHOTO: People / Henry WortockPHOTO: People / Henry Wortock

Best OverallHoneywell InSight HEPA Air PurifierPHOTO: Amazon$223 at Amazon$253$223 at Walmart$223 at Home Depot

Best OverallHoneywell InSight HEPA Air Purifier

Best Overall

Honeywell InSight HEPA Air Purifier

PHOTO: Amazon

$223 at Amazon$253$223 at Walmart$223 at Home Depot

Star QualitiesHighly effective on allergens and odorsAuto mode helps maintain air qualitySpecialty filters availableRed FlagsPre-filter can’t be vacuumed

Star QualitiesHighly effective on allergens and odorsAuto mode helps maintain air qualitySpecialty filters available

Highly effective on allergens and odors

Auto mode helps maintain air quality

Specialty filters available

Red FlagsPre-filter can’t be vacuumed

Pre-filter can’t be vacuumed

The Honeywell InSight Series HEPA air purifier was a top performer in our testing, proving to be efficient against allergens, odors, and everyday dust. It helped noticeably alleviate one of our testers’ pet allergies with frequent use. The purifier includes a HEPA filter that captures microscopic airborne particles and a carbon pre-filter to neutralize odors. We like that you can add specialty filters to your setup to target things like pet odors, smoke, or even VOCs.

The Honeywell air purifier has three speed settings and an auto mode, which responds quickly to contaminants in the air. We like that this model has an indicator light that changes color to let you know when the air quality has decreased, and on its lowest setting, we could barely tell that the fan was running. The only downside is that the unit’s pre-filters aren’t supposed to be vacuumed — instead, the brand recommends replacing them every three months.

Dimensions:19 x 17.9 x 10.1 inches |Weight:20.5 pounds |Room Size:500 square feet |Filter Type:HEPA and carbon |Filter Life:3 months (pre-filters), 12 months (HEPA)

PHOTO: People / Henry WortockPHOTO: People / Henry WortockPHOTO: People / Henry Wortock

Best Overall (Cheaper)Kenmore 850e Air PurifierPHOTO: Amazon$80$68 at Amazon$101 at WalmartStar QualitiesPerforms well in small and medium spacesVirtually silent on low speedEnergy-efficient operationRed FlagsFilter requires regular maintenanceThe Kenmore 850e air purifier may be inexpensive, but it still uses a HEPA 13 filter to remove contaminants from the air. In testing, we found that it was effective in small- and medium-sized rooms, and it’s virtually silent on the lowest of its three speed settings. This air purifier has three filters — a pre-filter, HEPA filter, and activated carbon filter — making it efficient against dust and pollen as well as odors, but the downside is that they’re all connected, so you can’t replace just one at a time.This air purifier is Energy Star-certified, and it used notably less power than other models in our testing. However, this model does require more upkeep than others — the brand recommends vacuuming its filter every two to four weeks to keep it working optimally.Dimensions:8.1 x 8.1 x 14.07 inches |Weight:4.38 pounds |Room Size:850 square feet |Filter Type:HEPA H13 and activated carbon |Filter Life:Six months

Best Overall (Cheaper)Kenmore 850e Air PurifierPHOTO: Amazon$80$68 at Amazon$101 at Walmart

Best Overall (Cheaper)Kenmore 850e Air Purifier

Best Overall (Cheaper)

Kenmore 850e Air Purifier

$80$68 at Amazon$101 at Walmart

Star QualitiesPerforms well in small and medium spacesVirtually silent on low speedEnergy-efficient operationRed FlagsFilter requires regular maintenance

Star QualitiesPerforms well in small and medium spacesVirtually silent on low speedEnergy-efficient operation

Performs well in small and medium spaces

Virtually silent on low speed

Energy-efficient operation

Red FlagsFilter requires regular maintenance

Filter requires regular maintenance

The Kenmore 850e air purifier may be inexpensive, but it still uses a HEPA 13 filter to remove contaminants from the air. In testing, we found that it was effective in small- and medium-sized rooms, and it’s virtually silent on the lowest of its three speed settings. This air purifier has three filters — a pre-filter, HEPA filter, and activated carbon filter — making it efficient against dust and pollen as well as odors, but the downside is that they’re all connected, so you can’t replace just one at a time.

This air purifier is Energy Star-certified, and it used notably less power than other models in our testing. However, this model does require more upkeep than others — the brand recommends vacuuming its filter every two to four weeks to keep it working optimally.

Dimensions:8.1 x 8.1 x 14.07 inches |Weight:4.38 pounds |Room Size:850 square feet |Filter Type:HEPA H13 and activated carbon |Filter Life:Six months

Best Whole HomeClorox Large Room Air PurifierPHOTO: Amazon$150$120 at Amazon$150 at Target$120 at WalmartStar QualitiesLightweight and compactWorks quickly, even on lowRemoved smoke and odor from the roomRed FlagsNoisy on higher settingsNot the best for pet hairDespite its surprisingly small size, the Clorox air purifier noticeably improved the air quality in our testing space after 30 minutes on the lowest setting. We found it to be super easy to get started with, too. It has four fan speeds and an auto setting, and the rounded filter sucks in debris from 360 degrees around the device. This model is rated to clear rooms with an area of up to 1,500 square feet yet still manages to be smaller and lighter than many of the air purifiers we’ve tried.While the Clorox unit was great at removing odor and smoke from the room, it didn’t trap any pet hair in its filter during our test, so if your main goal is to trap fur, this might not be up to par. After six months of testing, we also noticed that it can be a bit noisy when it kicks up to high fan speeds.Dimensions:10 x 10 x 19 inches |Weight:12.7 pounds |Room Size:1,500 square feet |Filter Type:True HEPA and activated carbon |Filter Life:6-12 monthsPHOTO: People / Dera BurresonPHOTO: People / Dera Burreson

Best Whole HomeClorox Large Room Air PurifierPHOTO: Amazon$150$120 at Amazon$150 at Target$120 at Walmart

Best Whole HomeClorox Large Room Air Purifier

Best Whole Home

Clorox Large Room Air Purifier

$150$120 at Amazon$150 at Target$120 at Walmart

Star QualitiesLightweight and compactWorks quickly, even on lowRemoved smoke and odor from the roomRed FlagsNoisy on higher settingsNot the best for pet hair

Star QualitiesLightweight and compactWorks quickly, even on lowRemoved smoke and odor from the room

Lightweight and compact

Works quickly, even on low

Removed smoke and odor from the room

Red FlagsNoisy on higher settingsNot the best for pet hair

Noisy on higher settings

Not the best for pet hair

Despite its surprisingly small size, the Clorox air purifier noticeably improved the air quality in our testing space after 30 minutes on the lowest setting. We found it to be super easy to get started with, too. It has four fan speeds and an auto setting, and the rounded filter sucks in debris from 360 degrees around the device. This model is rated to clear rooms with an area of up to 1,500 square feet yet still manages to be smaller and lighter than many of the air purifiers we’ve tried.

While the Clorox unit was great at removing odor and smoke from the room, it didn’t trap any pet hair in its filter during our test, so if your main goal is to trap fur, this might not be up to par. After six months of testing, we also noticed that it can be a bit noisy when it kicks up to high fan speeds.

Dimensions:10 x 10 x 19 inches |Weight:12.7 pounds |Room Size:1,500 square feet |Filter Type:True HEPA and activated carbon |Filter Life:6-12 months

PHOTO: People / Dera BurresonPHOTO: People / Dera Burreson

Best for Pet HairBlack+Decker Ionic Air PurifierPHOTO: Home Depot$399$350 at Amazon$350 at WayfairView on Lowe’sStar QualitiesCaptured more pet hair than other modelsPurifies quickly on high settingsRed FlagsNoisy on higher speedsFairly bulky unitAfter we turned the Black and Decker air purifier to its highest setting in our test room, the air smelled clean and crisp, and we found a noticeable amount of pet hair built up on the filter. That may be thanks to the four-stage filtration system, which includes an activated carbon HEPA filter, ozone filter, electrostatic filter, and pre-filter.The Black and Decker purifier has several useful features, including a sleep and auto mode. While the highest settings were super effective, they were also a little loud for our liking. The unit is a bit larger than others we’ve tested, and the design looks like a futuristic kitchen trash can. This air purifier is on the mid-to-expensive end of the price range for the units we’ve tested, but for homes with pets, the hair-capturing abilities make it well worth the price.Dimensions:27.1 x 14.4 x 14.8 inches |Weight:28.2 pounds |Room Size:500 square feet |Filter Type:Activated carbon/HEPA, ozone, and electrostatic precipitator |Filter Life:3 months

Best for Pet HairBlack+Decker Ionic Air PurifierPHOTO: Home Depot$399$350 at Amazon$350 at WayfairView on Lowe’s

Best for Pet HairBlack+Decker Ionic Air Purifier

Best for Pet Hair

Black+Decker Ionic Air Purifier

PHOTO: Home Depot

$399$350 at Amazon$350 at WayfairView on Lowe’s

Star QualitiesCaptured more pet hair than other modelsPurifies quickly on high settingsRed FlagsNoisy on higher speedsFairly bulky unit

Star QualitiesCaptured more pet hair than other modelsPurifies quickly on high settings

Captured more pet hair than other models

Purifies quickly on high settings

Red FlagsNoisy on higher speedsFairly bulky unit

Noisy on higher speeds

Fairly bulky unit

After we turned the Black and Decker air purifier to its highest setting in our test room, the air smelled clean and crisp, and we found a noticeable amount of pet hair built up on the filter. That may be thanks to the four-stage filtration system, which includes an activated carbon HEPA filter, ozone filter, electrostatic filter, and pre-filter.

The Black and Decker purifier has several useful features, including a sleep and auto mode. While the highest settings were super effective, they were also a little loud for our liking. The unit is a bit larger than others we’ve tested, and the design looks like a futuristic kitchen trash can. This air purifier is on the mid-to-expensive end of the price range for the units we’ve tested, but for homes with pets, the hair-capturing abilities make it well worth the price.

Dimensions:27.1 x 14.4 x 14.8 inches |Weight:28.2 pounds |Room Size:500 square feet |Filter Type:Activated carbon/HEPA, ozone, and electrostatic precipitator |Filter Life:3 months

Best for Odor ControlVEVA 8000 Black Air PurifierPHOTO: Amazon$106 at AmazonStar QualitiesLow energy consumptionLeft the air smelling cleaner in just 30 minutesGood valueRed FlagsNo special featuresThe Veva 800 is a hassle-free air purifier that delivers clean, fresher-smelling air quietly — and for a very reasonable price. The device arrives in two pieces: the base device and the filter. Once we put them together, we turned the device on and experienced fresher, cleaner air within 30 minutes of use thanks to its HEPA and activated carbon filters, which help control odors.Not only is this unit an effective and affordable option from the get-go, but we also found that it used very little wattage to run, which leads us to believe that it wouldn’t surge our energy bills. If you’re looking for an air purifier that does what it says it will and nothing more, then this economical device might just be your new favorite unit.Dimensions:9 x 8 x 23 inches |Weight:7 pounds |Room Size:325 square feet |Filter Type:HEPA and activated carbon |Filter Life:Not listedPHOTO: People / Henry WortockPHOTO: People / Henry WortockPHOTO: People / Henry WortockPHOTO: People / Henry Wortock

Best for Odor ControlVEVA 8000 Black Air PurifierPHOTO: Amazon$106 at Amazon

Best for Odor ControlVEVA 8000 Black Air Purifier

Best for Odor Control

VEVA 8000 Black Air Purifier

$106 at Amazon

Star QualitiesLow energy consumptionLeft the air smelling cleaner in just 30 minutesGood valueRed FlagsNo special features

Star QualitiesLow energy consumptionLeft the air smelling cleaner in just 30 minutesGood value

Low energy consumption

Left the air smelling cleaner in just 30 minutes

Good value

Red FlagsNo special features

No special features

The Veva 800 is a hassle-free air purifier that delivers clean, fresher-smelling air quietly — and for a very reasonable price. The device arrives in two pieces: the base device and the filter. Once we put them together, we turned the device on and experienced fresher, cleaner air within 30 minutes of use thanks to its HEPA and activated carbon filters, which help control odors.

Not only is this unit an effective and affordable option from the get-go, but we also found that it used very little wattage to run, which leads us to believe that it wouldn’t surge our energy bills. If you’re looking for an air purifier that does what it says it will and nothing more, then this economical device might just be your new favorite unit.

Dimensions:9 x 8 x 23 inches |Weight:7 pounds |Room Size:325 square feet |Filter Type:HEPA and activated carbon |Filter Life:Not listed

PHOTO: People / Henry WortockPHOTO: People / Henry WortockPHOTO: People / Henry WortockPHOTO: People / Henry Wortock

Best for MoldBionaire True HEPA 360 UV Air PurifierPHOTO: Target$210 at Amazon$180 at TargetStar QualitiesEasy to operateNoticeable difference in air qualityBuilt-in UV disinfection lightRed FlagsNoisier than other modelsOnly powerful enough for small roomsWe didn’t even need to consult the air quality measurements to know that we were breathing in fresher air with the Bionaire True HEPA air purifier — it was noticeably fresher to the senses after 30 minutes. We had no trouble getting the machine up and running, and the buttons were easy and intuitive to use. The air purifier itself is sleekly designed with a few cool features, including an internal UV light to kill bacteria and mold, a 360-degree air filter that sucks in pollution from all sides, and an Energy Star certification.Our only gripe with the Bionaire True HEPA air purifier is the noise level, which was higher than some of the other air purifiers we tested. Other than that, this model gave us everything we needed to breathe easy (literally).Dimensions:10.98 x 10.43 x 17.01 inches |Weight:7.98 pounds |Room Size:175 square feet |Filter Type:True HEPA and carbon |Filter Life:Up to 12 monthsPHOTO: People / Henry WortockPHOTO: People / Henry WortockPHOTO: People / Henry WortockPHOTO: People / Henry WortockPHOTO: People / Henry Wortock

Best for MoldBionaire True HEPA 360 UV Air PurifierPHOTO: Target$210 at Amazon$180 at Target

Best for MoldBionaire True HEPA 360 UV Air Purifier

Best for Mold

Bionaire True HEPA 360 UV Air Purifier

PHOTO: Target

$210 at Amazon$180 at Target

Star QualitiesEasy to operateNoticeable difference in air qualityBuilt-in UV disinfection lightRed FlagsNoisier than other modelsOnly powerful enough for small rooms

Star QualitiesEasy to operateNoticeable difference in air qualityBuilt-in UV disinfection light

Easy to operate

Noticeable difference in air quality

Built-in UV disinfection light

Red FlagsNoisier than other modelsOnly powerful enough for small rooms

Noisier than other models

Only powerful enough for small rooms

We didn’t even need to consult the air quality measurements to know that we were breathing in fresher air with the Bionaire True HEPA air purifier — it was noticeably fresher to the senses after 30 minutes. We had no trouble getting the machine up and running, and the buttons were easy and intuitive to use. The air purifier itself is sleekly designed with a few cool features, including an internal UV light to kill bacteria and mold, a 360-degree air filter that sucks in pollution from all sides, and an Energy Star certification.

Our only gripe with the Bionaire True HEPA air purifier is the noise level, which was higher than some of the other air purifiers we tested. Other than that, this model gave us everything we needed to breathe easy (literally).

Dimensions:10.98 x 10.43 x 17.01 inches |Weight:7.98 pounds |Room Size:175 square feet |Filter Type:True HEPA and carbon |Filter Life:Up to 12 months

PHOTO: People / Henry WortockPHOTO: People / Henry WortockPHOTO: People / Henry WortockPHOTO: People / Henry WortockPHOTO: People / Henry Wortock

Best for Living RoomsWinix 5500-2 4-Stage True HEPA Air PurifierPHOTO: Amazon$250$206 at Amazon$156 at Target$250$200 at Walmart

Best for Living RoomsWinix 5500-2 4-Stage True HEPA Air Purifier

Best for Living Rooms

Winix 5500-2 4-Stage True HEPA Air Purifier

$250$206 at Amazon$156 at Target$250$200 at Walmart

Star QualitiesNo assembly neededEffective in large spacesColor-changing air quality indicatorRed FlagsDidn’t detect certain pollutants

Star QualitiesNo assembly neededEffective in large spacesColor-changing air quality indicator

No assembly needed

Effective in large spaces

Color-changing air quality indicator

Red FlagsDidn’t detect certain pollutants

Didn’t detect certain pollutants

Fully assembled and ready to use right out of the box, the Winix 5500-2 air purifier is a top choice if you want something easy to use. Plus, it can refresh the air in a space of up to 1,740 square feet in an hour, which makes it ideal for open, communal spaces such as living rooms and kitchens.

Dimensions:15 x 8.2 x 23.6 inches |Weight:14.8 pounds |Room Size:1,740 square feet |Filter Type:True HEPA and carbon |Filter Life:Up to 12 months

Best for BedroomsCoway Airmega 160 Air PurifierPHOTO: Amazon$180 at Target$189$172 at WalmartView on Cowaymega.comStar QualitiesSleek, compact designVery easy to remove and replace filterImpressively quietRed FlagsMore expensive than similarly sized modelsIf you’re looking for an air purifier that doesn’t look atalllike an air purifier, then the Coway Airmega 160 might be your new favorite device. The Coway Airmega 160 feels more reminiscent of a boxy sculpture than an unsightly air purifier, but rest assured: It did a great job of cleaning the air. Within 30 minutes of use, the dust particulates were gone from the previously dusty space. The minimalist control panel was simple for us to get started with, and the buttons felt self-explanatory.Of all the air purifiers that we’ve tested, this one was the easiest to remove and replace the filter in. The unit is also impressively quiet. It can clean a small room, so that price feels slightly high for the amount of space it covers, but we think it’s worth the price when you factor in the sleek design and impressively quiet noise level.Dimensions:13.4 x 18.5 x 6.5 inches |Weight:12.1 pounds |Room Size:214 square feet |Filter Type:True HEPA and carbon |Filter Life:Up to 12 monthsPHOTO: People / Henry WortockPHOTO: People / Henry WortockPHOTO: People / Henry WortockPHOTO: People / Henry WortockPHOTO: People / Henry Wortock

Best for BedroomsCoway Airmega 160 Air PurifierPHOTO: Amazon$180 at Target$189$172 at WalmartView on Cowaymega.com

Best for BedroomsCoway Airmega 160 Air Purifier

Best for Bedrooms

Coway Airmega 160 Air Purifier

$180 at Target$189$172 at WalmartView on Cowaymega.com

Star QualitiesSleek, compact designVery easy to remove and replace filterImpressively quietRed FlagsMore expensive than similarly sized models

Star QualitiesSleek, compact designVery easy to remove and replace filterImpressively quiet

Sleek, compact design

Very easy to remove and replace filter

Impressively quiet

Red FlagsMore expensive than similarly sized models

More expensive than similarly sized models

If you’re looking for an air purifier that doesn’t look atalllike an air purifier, then the Coway Airmega 160 might be your new favorite device. The Coway Airmega 160 feels more reminiscent of a boxy sculpture than an unsightly air purifier, but rest assured: It did a great job of cleaning the air. Within 30 minutes of use, the dust particulates were gone from the previously dusty space. The minimalist control panel was simple for us to get started with, and the buttons felt self-explanatory.

Of all the air purifiers that we’ve tested, this one was the easiest to remove and replace the filter in. The unit is also impressively quiet. It can clean a small room, so that price feels slightly high for the amount of space it covers, but we think it’s worth the price when you factor in the sleek design and impressively quiet noise level.

Dimensions:13.4 x 18.5 x 6.5 inches |Weight:12.1 pounds |Room Size:214 square feet |Filter Type:True HEPA and carbon |Filter Life:Up to 12 months

Best Energy EfficientRabbit Air BioGS 2.0 Air PurifierPHOTO: Amazon$370 at Amazon$370 at Home DepotStar QualitiesSleek, attractive designVery quiet during operationEnergy Star certifiedRed FlagsLarge and heavyThis air purifier from Rabbit is Energy Star certified and impressively quiet. It uses three filters — a pre-filter, a charcoal-based carbon filter, and a HEPA filter to top it all off — and after about 10 minutes on its lowest setting, the Rabbit Air BioGS was able to significantly improve the air quality of our testing room. Plus, the pre-filter and HEPA filter did a good job clearing away pet hair particles, as well as pet allergens and odors. We also liked that this device had easy-to-read settings and a timer for shutting off.The unit is rather large, but the design is sleek and sculptural, so we’d probably try to pass it off as a piece of living room decor. It’s also pretty heavy, so it’s not the most portable option. It’s rated to be effective for spaces up to 550 square feet for normal use or 275 square feet for heavy allergy sufferers.Dimensions:22.2 x 16.6 x 9.8 inches |Weight:16.8 pounds |Room Size:550 square feet |Filter Type:HEPA and activated carbon |Filter Life:Up to 18 monthsPHOTO: People / Henry WortockPHOTO: People / Henry Wortock

Best Energy EfficientRabbit Air BioGS 2.0 Air PurifierPHOTO: Amazon$370 at Amazon$370 at Home Depot

Best Energy EfficientRabbit Air BioGS 2.0 Air Purifier

Best Energy Efficient

Rabbit Air BioGS 2.0 Air Purifier

$370 at Amazon$370 at Home Depot

Star QualitiesSleek, attractive designVery quiet during operationEnergy Star certifiedRed FlagsLarge and heavy

Star QualitiesSleek, attractive designVery quiet during operationEnergy Star certified

Sleek, attractive design

Very quiet during operation

Energy Star certified

Red FlagsLarge and heavy

Large and heavy

This air purifier from Rabbit is Energy Star certified and impressively quiet. It uses three filters — a pre-filter, a charcoal-based carbon filter, and a HEPA filter to top it all off — and after about 10 minutes on its lowest setting, the Rabbit Air BioGS was able to significantly improve the air quality of our testing room. Plus, the pre-filter and HEPA filter did a good job clearing away pet hair particles, as well as pet allergens and odors. We also liked that this device had easy-to-read settings and a timer for shutting off.

The unit is rather large, but the design is sleek and sculptural, so we’d probably try to pass it off as a piece of living room decor. It’s also pretty heavy, so it’s not the most portable option. It’s rated to be effective for spaces up to 550 square feet for normal use or 275 square feet for heavy allergy sufferers.

Dimensions:22.2 x 16.6 x 9.8 inches |Weight:16.8 pounds |Room Size:550 square feet |Filter Type:HEPA and activated carbon |Filter Life:Up to 18 months

PHOTO: People / Henry WortockPHOTO: People / Henry Wortock

Best DysonDyson Purifier Humidify+Cool FormaldehydePHOTO: Dyson$1,000$799 at Amazon$919 at Walmart$1,000$800 at Best BuyStar QualitiesVirtually silent on low speedsImproves air quality in as little as 5 minutesBuilt-in humidifierRed FlagsHeavy and hard to moveVery expensiveFor those who are also shopping for ahigh-quality humidifier, the Dyson Purifier Humidify+Cool model packs a one-two punch with both purifier and humidifier capabilities in one machine. Like allDyson products, it has a sleek design, but it’s heavy while filled with water and will take up space in your room — the signature Dyson loop alone stands about two feet tall, while the entire contraption hits the three-foot mark.On a low setting, the noise from this machine was undetectable, and on a high setting, it sounded like a small fan at medium speed — nice and quiet for sleeping. However, the effectiveness of this model impressed us the most, clearing the air in our testing tent with impressive speed — even after running for just five minutes on high. The price may cause some sticker shock, but the unit does offer high-tech features like air quality monitoring and smart capabilities to make it worth the price.Dimensions:36.33 x 11.02 x 12.23 inches |Weight:18 pounds |Room Size: 400 square feet |Filter Type:HEPA H13, activated carbon, and catalytic |Filter Life:Up to 12 monthsPHOTO: People / Dera BurresonPHOTO: People/Dera BurresonPHOTO: People / Dera BurresonPHOTO: People / Dera Burreson

Best DysonDyson Purifier Humidify+Cool FormaldehydePHOTO: Dyson$1,000$799 at Amazon$919 at Walmart$1,000$800 at Best Buy

Best DysonDyson Purifier Humidify+Cool Formaldehyde

Best Dyson

Dyson Purifier Humidify+Cool Formaldehyde

PHOTO: Dyson

$1,000$799 at Amazon$919 at Walmart$1,000$800 at Best Buy

Star QualitiesVirtually silent on low speedsImproves air quality in as little as 5 minutesBuilt-in humidifierRed FlagsHeavy and hard to moveVery expensive

Star QualitiesVirtually silent on low speedsImproves air quality in as little as 5 minutesBuilt-in humidifier

Virtually silent on low speeds

Improves air quality in as little as 5 minutes

Built-in humidifier

Red FlagsHeavy and hard to moveVery expensive

Heavy and hard to move

Very expensive

For those who are also shopping for ahigh-quality humidifier, the Dyson Purifier Humidify+Cool model packs a one-two punch with both purifier and humidifier capabilities in one machine. Like allDyson products, it has a sleek design, but it’s heavy while filled with water and will take up space in your room — the signature Dyson loop alone stands about two feet tall, while the entire contraption hits the three-foot mark.

On a low setting, the noise from this machine was undetectable, and on a high setting, it sounded like a small fan at medium speed — nice and quiet for sleeping. However, the effectiveness of this model impressed us the most, clearing the air in our testing tent with impressive speed — even after running for just five minutes on high. The price may cause some sticker shock, but the unit does offer high-tech features like air quality monitoring and smart capabilities to make it worth the price.

Dimensions:36.33 x 11.02 x 12.23 inches |Weight:18 pounds |Room Size: 400 square feet |Filter Type:HEPA H13, activated carbon, and catalytic |Filter Life:Up to 12 months

PHOTO: People / Dera BurresonPHOTO: People/Dera BurresonPHOTO: People / Dera BurresonPHOTO: People / Dera Burreson

Experts Say“Anyone who suffers from breathing symptoms like nasal congestion or conditions such as allergies or asthma can benefit from using an air purifier.” —Kara Wada, MD, assistant clinical professor of allergy immunology at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center

Experts Say

“Anyone who suffers from breathing symptoms like nasal congestion or conditions such as allergies or asthma can benefit from using an air purifier.” —Kara Wada, MD, assistant clinical professor of allergy immunology at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center

What to Know About Air Purifiers

Filter Types

There are a few different types of filters commonly used in air purifiers, and it can be helpful to understand how they work to decide which type is best for your home.

While these filters are often highly effective for improving air quality, they’re not infallible. “Remember some things like pollen and dust mites are too small to be filtered, so you may need to take other measures for those if you are allergic,” saysPurvi Parikh, MD, an infectious disease, allergy, and immunology specialist at NYU Langone Health. For pet owners, using apet hair vacuumcan greatly reduce the amount of pet-related allergens in the air.Pet hair removerscan also help.

Room Size

All of our recommended air purifiers include guidelines for room size. If you’ve got a 350-square-foot bedroom, for example, you’ll want to check the specs and find a purifier equipped to handle a room that large.

As for which rooms to use an air purifier in, “most often, I suggest an air purifier in the bedroom,” Wada tells PEOPLE. “The home office would be another consideration, especially with more people working from home.” Placing one near acat litter boxcan help filter out the dust (and odors) it generates while having one near your kitchen can help deal with smoke particles and food odors.

Features

Noise Level

For every person who likes to sleep with a fan, white noise, and sound machine, there’s another who needs a quiet space for sleep. Consider how loud each machine can be when set to low, high, or somewhere in between. We found theCoway Airmega 160 Air Purifierto be impressively quiet.

Price Range

You can find budget-friendly air purifiers for as low as $50, while high-end models may cost $1,000 or more. On the lower end, models like theVeva 8000 Black Air Purifiercost less than $100 but have limited features and are only suitable for small spaces. If you want an air purifier that can handle multiple rooms, such as theBlack and Decker BAPUV350 Air Purifier, you can expect to pay between $200 and $500. There are also very high-end options, like theDyson Purifier Humidify+Cool Formaldehyde, that have additional filtering abilities and advanced technology.

We tested a total of 38 air purifiers in our PEOPLE Tested lab and scored each model on its ease of setup, design, noise level, features, effectiveness, and value.

After testing, we rated each purifier on a scale of one to five. The air purifiers with the highest average scores ultimately earned a spot on this PEOPLE Tested list — our top recommendation, theHoneywell InSight Series HEPA Air Purifier, earned a near-perfect score of 4.98.

People/Dera Burreson

Rennie Dyballis an award-winning author who began her career at PEOPLE in 2002 as a reporter and remained on staff until 2017. She now regularly writes for the brand, primarily focusing on home, kitchen, and outdoor topics. She has written extensively about everything fromelectric blanketstogarden hosestoDutch ovens. To inform this article on the best air purifiers, Rennie referred to the in-depth insights gathered from the PEOPLE Tested lab and consulted allergy and asthma experts who provided information on who can benefit from an air purifier and what features are most important when choosing one for your home.

Our Expert PanelKara Wada, MD, is an assistant clinical professor of allergy immunology at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.Purvi Parikh, MD, specializes in infectious disease allergy and immunology and pediatric allergy and immunology at NYU Langone Health.

Our Expert Panel

Kara Wada, MD, is an assistant clinical professor of allergy immunology at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.Purvi Parikh, MD, specializes in infectious disease allergy and immunology and pediatric allergy and immunology at NYU Langone Health.

We created thePEOPLE Tested seal of approvalto help you find the very best products for your life. We use our unique methodology to test products in three labs across the country and with our network of home testers to determine their effectiveness, durability, ease of use, and so much more. Based on the results, we rate and recommend products so you can find the right one for your needs.

In short, PEOPLE Tested provides recommendations you can trust — every day, every purchase.

source: people.com