Healthy living starts at home, but what if the air you’re breathing is polluted? From pet dander to mold due to wet conditions, you could be cycling air that’s much more harmful than what’s outside. Fortunately, whether it’s your home or a musty-smelling RV or car that’s driving you (and your allergies) crazy, a portable air purifier could be the perfect fix. Read on for recommendations on the best portable air purifiers for every need.
Source: gadgetreview.com
Buying Guide
Before you start shopping for a portable air purifier, check out these guidelines for picking the perfect product.
- What to consider: Air purifiers have varying price points, size specifications, and running volumes. Also, energy usage can vary widely, so looking for Energy Star appliances is often a smart choice.
- Determining what you need: If you have allergies, asthma, or pets, you may want a higher-performance purifier to avoid the effects of indoor air pollution.
- Choosing the right purifier for you: A minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV) rating can tell you how effective your purifier is at blocking particles down to .3 microns—higher numbers are better. Clean air delivery rates (CADR) above 60 are generally satisfactory.
- Standard features in air purifiers: Most feature a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter, which “theoretically” removes 99.97 percent of airborne particles from your space.
- Additional options for purifiers: From activated carbon or mechanical filters to UV treatment systems, a range of purifier types are available.
Buying Recommendations
Recommendations
Best Budget
Best Premium
Best HEPA
for Severe Allergies
Product Dimensions
7.5 by 6.9 by 6.9 inches
16 by 15 by 28 inches
10.8 inches long and 12.1 inches tall (6.9 inches wide)
13 by 15 by 28 inches
Range of Use
Up to 60 square feet
Up to 1,125 square feet
up to 200 square feet
Up to 2,500 square feet
Type
HEPA, activated carbon
HEPA (HyperHEPA), carbon
HEPA, UV
HEPA, carbon
Noise
Under 50dB
Ranges from 25dB to 69dB
30dB on Low
About 70dB at highest setting
Best Budget
Recommendations
Product Dimensions
7.5 by 6.9 by 6.9 inches
Range of Use
Up to 60 square feet
Type
HEPA, activated carbon
Noise
Under 50dB
Best Premium
Recommendations
Product Dimensions
16 by 15 by 28 inches
Range of Use
Up to 1,125 square feet
Type
HEPA (HyperHEPA), carbon
Noise
Ranges from 25dB to 69dB
Best HEPA
Recommendations
Product Dimensions
10.8 inches long and 12.1 inches tall (6.9 inches wide)
Range of Use
up to 200 square feet
Type
HEPA, UV
Noise
30dB on Low
for Severe Allergies
Recommendations
Product Dimensions
13 by 15 by 28 inches
Range of Use
Up to 2,500 square feet
Type
HEPA, carbon
Noise
About 70dB at highest setting
Best Budget Portable Air Purifiers
Our budget picks for portable air purifiers have plenty of features.
1. KOIOS Air Purifier and Night Light – Editor’s Pick
Specs
Product Dimensions: 7.5 by 6.9 by 6.9 inches
Range of Use: Up to 60 square feet
Type: HEPA, activated carbon
Noise: Under 50dB
Range of Use: Up to 60 square feet
Type: HEPA, activated carbon
Noise: Under 50dB
What we like about it
- Compact size is easy to move
- Low power consumption is eco-friendly
- Night light function is ideal for nurseries and bedrooms
Drawbacks
- Only two speed options
- Covers a relatively small square foot area
Air Purifiers for Home, KOIOS H13 HEPA Air Purifier for Bedroom Small Room Office Desk, Air Filter for Pets Hair Dander Smoke Pollen, Night Light,100% Ozone Free
- TRUE HEPA AIR PURIFIER - Filters out dust, pollen, and pet dander. This air purifier filters particles as small as 0.3 microns and larger air pollution of PM 2.5, helping to improve overall health. Perfect for pet owners, babies, children, the elderly, or anyone wanting to improve the air quality in their home, office or hotel room. The perfect holiday, birthday, house-warming gifting choice for parents, adult children, colleagues, and friends.
- ENVIRONMENT-FRIENDLY AIR CLEANER - Equipped with 3-Stage Filtration system including Pre-filter, TRUE HEPA Filter, Activated Carbon Filter can effectively remove odor and smoke, such as pet odor, cigarette smoke and cooking odor around your living space.
- 360° DEEP PURIFICATION - Efficient air intake and discharge maximize fresh and healthy air provided to all directions, improving the air circulation in your room. It can clean 55 cubic meter air per hour in normal mode and consume less than 0.002 units of power.
2. ElecHomes Air Purifiers for Home
Specs
Product Dimensions: 6.3 inches by 6.3 inches by 9.3 inches
Range of Use: up to 215 square feet
Type: HEPA, activated carbon
Noise: 33dB in Sleep Mode
Range of Use: up to 215 square feet
Type: HEPA, activated carbon
Noise: 33dB in Sleep Mode
What we like about it
- Timers for 1, 2, 4, and 8 hours with auto-off
- Notification light for filter change after 3,000 hours of use
- Aromatherapy functionality
Drawbacks
- “Sleep Mode” ranks at 33dB of noise
Elechomes EPI081 Air Purifier for Home Pollen Dust Pet Dander Smokers, Upgrade H13 True HEPA Filter with 4-Stage Filtration, Efficient Air Cleaner (99.97%), 100% Ozone Free, White
- Purify Your Room: 100% Ozone Free, the perfect choice for bedrooms, living rooms, offices, and more.
- HEPA Filter: Including pre-filter, ATP-HEPA protective filter, activated carbon filter, and H13 grade true HEPA filter.
- Quiet: Sleep mode, advanced noise-reducing, double ball-bearing fan blade and industry-leading motor, all these help to keep the noise levels as low as 23dB, turn off the indicator light, providing a quiet environment for your family.
3. MOOKA Air Purifier for Home
Specs
Product Dimensions: 7.5 by 6.9 by 6.9 inches
Range of Use: Up to 300 square feet
Type: HEPA, activated carbon
Noise: 35dB in quiet mode
Range of Use: Up to 300 square feet
Type: HEPA, activated carbon
Noise: 35dB in quiet mode
What we like about it
- Night light feature
- Easy filter changes
- Energy-efficient in energy-saving mode
Drawbacks
- In quiet mode, sound level is 35dB
- Night light does not turn off during operation
Sale
Air Purifier for Bedroom Home with H13 HEPA Filter, Portable Size Small Air Cleaner for Home Office RV 300sq.ft, Odor Eliminator for Dust, Pets, Smoke, Pollen, MOOKA
- [TRUE HEPA AIR PURIFIER]: Filters out dust, pollen and pet dander. This air purifier filters particles to improve overall health. Perfect for pet owners, babies, children, the elderly, or anyone wanting to improve the air quality in their home or hotel room. The perfect holiday, birthday, house-warming gifting choice for parents, adult children, colleagues, and friends.
- [ENVIRONMENT-FRIENDLY AIR CLEANER]: Equipped with 3-Stage Filtration system including Pre-filter, TRUE HEPA Filter, Activated Carbon Filter can effectively remove odor and smoke, such as pet odor, cigarette smoke and cooking odor around your living space and zero Ozone emission certified by California Air Resources Board.
- [EFFICIENT AIR PURIFICATION]: The 360-degree air intake and discharge maximize fresh and healthy air provided to all directions, improving the air circulation in your room. It can completely purify 50 cubic meter air per hour in normal mode.
Best Premium Portable Air Purifiers
These premium portable air purifiers are worth the investment.
1. IQAir HealthPro Plus Air Purifier – Editor’s Pick
Specs
Product Dimensions: 16 by 15 by 28 inches
Range of Use: Up to 1,125 square feet
Type: HEPA (HyperHEPA), carbon
Noise: Ranges from 25dB to 69dB
Range of Use: Up to 1,125 square feet
Type: HEPA (HyperHEPA), carbon
Noise: Ranges from 25dB to 69dB
What we like about it
- HyperHEPA filters particles down to .003 microns
- Programmable operation via the remote
- Long-lasting filters (from 18 months to four years, depending on the type)
Drawbacks
- Replacement filters are expensive
- Most settings are quite noisy
IQAir HealthPro Plus Air Purifier - Medical Grade HyperHEPA filter for home large room up to 1125 sq ft - for Viruses, Bacteria, Allergens, Asthma Triggers, Smoke, Mold, Pets, Dust, Odor, Swiss Made
- Unrivaled Performance: The HealthPro Plus is the #1 Rated room air purifier for homes, offices, schools, hospitals, industrial, and commercial sites. Has received more top reviews and awards than any other air purifier. Chosen by the Hong Kong Hospital Authority for both SARS-CoV-1 & SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Superior airflow with the 320-degree EvenFlow Diffuser efficiently filters all the air in large rooms and bedrooms numerous times an hour.
- Medical Grade H14 HyperHEPA Filter: Proven and certified by a third-party testing lab to remove and trap 99.995% of all airborne particles down to 0.003 microns, the HealthPro Plus supplies unequaled protection against bacteria, dust, mold, pollen, pet dander, smoke from wildfires, odors, harmful chemicals like formaldehyde, and more. True HEPA filtration. Money Magazine named HealthPro Plus the “Best Air Purifier for your Money, according to doctors” in 2023.
- Long Lasting & Cost-Efficient Filters: Three different filters clean the air four different ways. Pre-filter traps coarse particles. Activated carbon adsorption and pelletized chemisorption filter odors and gasses. HyperHEPA traps fine and ultrafine particles. Long-lasting filters – 16 to18 months for the pre-filter, 2 years for the gas and odor filter, 3 years, 9 months to 4 years, 2 months for the HyperHEPA filter - helps save money over the air cleaner’s lifetime, and more eco-friendly.
2. Inofia Air Purifier with True HEPA Air Filter
Specs
Product Dimensions: 15 by 15 by 27 inches
Range of Use: up to 1,300 square feet
Type: HEPA, activated carbon
Noise: 27dB on Speed 1
Range of Use: up to 1,300 square feet
Type: HEPA, activated carbon
Noise: 27dB on Speed 1
What we like about it
- Automatically adjusts to address air quality issues (faster fan speeds)
- Controllable via app
- Timer button for auto-shutoff
- Low noise—maximum 52dB at top Speed 5
Drawbacks
- More difficult to move than smaller purifiers
Inofia HEPA Filter Air Purifier for Home Large Rooms (PM1608)
- ✔️【Composite Filter Performance】Highly efficient activated carbon and HEPA composite in the same filter. NOTICE: Replacement filter for PM1608 is available now, please search: inofia PM1608 filter.
- ✔️【Powerful Coverage】Inofia adopt 2 filter to purify the air around you at the same time, more quickly and powerful than normal air purifier with single filter. The air purifier will filter all the air in a room up to 1300 Sq Ft. perfect for bedrooms, family rooms, and other open-concept spaces.
- ✔️【Smart Air Monitoring】Adopts advanced sensor continually analyzes ambient air quality, a colored LED visually shows indoor air quality.
Best HEPA Portable Air Purifiers
Check out our top choices for the best HEPA-equipped purifiers.
1. Pure Enrichment PureZone Air Purifier – Editor’s Pick
Specs
Product Dimensions: 10.8 inches long and 12.1 inches tall (6.9 inches wide)
Range of Use: up to 200 square feet
Type: HEPA, UV
Noise: 30dB on Low
Range of Use: up to 200 square feet
Type: HEPA, UV
Noise: 30dB on Low
What we like about it
- Auto-off timer settings for 2-, 4-, and 8-hour intervals
- Extremely portable with a built-in handle
- Low noise output at the lowest setting (50dB at highest)
Drawbacks
- You can’t replace one filter at a time (three-piece construction)
- The LED lights do not shut off
Sale
Pure Enrichment® PureZone™ Air Purifier for Medium-Large Rooms, UV-C Light, 3 Stage Filtration, H13 HEPA Filter Helps Remove up to 99.97% of Bacteria, Allergens, Germs, Smoke, Dust (White)
- 3-STAGE AIR PURIFICATION: Perfect for medium to large rooms, safely clean your home, bedroom, living room, nursery, or office air from 99.97% of particles dust, pollen, pet dander, smoke, and household odors. Stage 1: Washable Pre-Filter and Activated Carbon Filter; Stage 2: True H13 HEPA filter; Stage 3: UV-C Light
- ELIMINATES VIRUSES & BACTERIA: The built-in UV-C light adds a deeper level of cleanliness and safely eliminates up to 99.9% of viruses and bacteria. (Staphylococcus albus (95.8%), Escherichia coli (96.6%), Aspergillus niger (88.2%), H1N1 (99.9%) independent testing)
- 3 FAN SPEEDS & QUIET OPERATION: Use the easy touch-button control panel to find your optimal fan setting with low, medium, and high options. With a soothing white noise level at just 30dB, it’s quiet enough to sanitize while you sleep.
2. Germ Guardian True HEPA Filter Air Purifier
Specs
Product Dimensions: 22 inches tall
Range of Use: up to 167 square feet
Type: HEPA, UV
Noise: Low
Range of Use: up to 167 square feet
Type: HEPA, UV
Noise: Low
What we like about it
- Combination of HEPA filter and UV light helps kill germs
- Energy Star certified and carb compliant
- AHAM verified for CADR calculations
- Charcoal helps reduce odors
Drawbacks
- Only the lowest speed is “quiet”
- Filters are not washable/reusable
GermGuardian Air Purifier with HEPA 13 Filter, Removes 99.97% of Pollutants, Covers Large Room up to 743 Sq. Foot Room in 1 Hr, UV-C Light Helps Reduce Germs, Zero Ozone Verified, 22", Gray, AC4825E
- ✅【HIGH PERFORMANCE AIR PURIFIER】Circulates the air 1x per hour in 743 square foot rooms and 4.8x per hour in 153 sq. ft rooms, ensuring thorough purification. Ideal for medium to large sized rooms such as: dorm rooms, bedrooms, and other living areas!
- ✅【TRUE HEPA FILTRATION】This air purifier for home features a True HEPA air filter that captures up to 99.97% of harmful germs, dust, pollen, pet dander, mold spores, and other allergens as small as 0.1 microns from the air
- ✅【FIGHTS GERMS】Equipped with UV-C light technology and Titanium Dioxide, this air purifier helps reduce airborne viruses, such as influenza, staph, and rhinovirus, while also targeting volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
Best Air Purifiers for Severe Allergies
For allergy sufferers, a robust filtration system is a necessity—here are our top picks.
1. Medify Air Purifier – Editor’s Pick
Specs
Product Dimensions: 13 by 15 by 28 inches
Range of Use: Up to 2,500 square feet
Type: HEPA, carbon
Noise: About 70dB at highest setting
Range of Use: Up to 2,500 square feet
Type: HEPA, carbon
Noise: About 70dB at highest setting
What we like about it
- Has hidden wheels for easy maneuvering
- Easy to operate touch screen panel
- Filters particles down to .1 microns
Drawbacks
- Can get noisy at higher speed settings
Medify Air MA-112 Air Purifier with H13 True HEPA Filter | 2,500 sq ft Coverage | for Allergens, Wildfire Smoke, Dust, Odors, Pollen, Pet Dander | Quiet 99.9% Removal to 0.1 Microns | White, 1-Pack
- QUALITY TESTED & BACKED: CARB, ETL, and Energy Star certified. Backed by a USA registered Lifetime Warranty when genuine Medify replacement filters are used. The replacement filter (B07MTQKJ14) lasts 3,000 hours or about 6 months
2. LEVOIT Vista 200 Air Purifier for Home Allergies
Specs
Product Dimensions: 7.9 by 7.9 by 12.9 inches
Range of Use: Up to 161 square feet
Type: HEPA, carbon
Noise: 26dB at lowest speed
Range of Use: Up to 161 square feet
Type: HEPA, carbon
Noise: 26dB at lowest speed
What we like about it
- Nightlight function that toggles on and off
- Dual filtration and CARB/ETL certified
- Compact size fits anywhere easily
Drawbacks
- Is quite loud on the highest setting (52dB)
LEVOIT Air Purifiers for Home Allergies and Pets Hair, HEPA Filter for Allergies, Quiet Filtration System in Bedroom, Removes Wildfire Smoke Odor Dust Mold, Night Light & Timer, Vista 200 , White
- AFFORDABLE & EFFECTIVE: Let the Vista 200 True HEPA Air Purifier meet your needs at an affordable price; Refresh your air using the 3 fan speeds, Sleep Mode, Check Filter Indicator, Display Off Button, and more
- TRAP ALLERGENS: The 3-stage HEPA filtration system helps you combat dry throats, nightly congestion, allergies, and asthma
- ULTRA-QUIET: No light, little to no noise, just air purification. Sleep soundly while the air purifier works as quietly as 26dB for light sleepers; Sleep Mode automatically dims display lights and reduces noise levels for uninterrupted rest
3. Blue Pure 211+ Air Purifier
Specs
Product Dimensions: 16.7 by 8 by 8 inches
Range of Use: Up to 540 square feet
Type: Fabric, carbon
Noise: 31dB to 56dB
Range of Use: Up to 540 square feet
Type: Fabric, carbon
Noise: 31dB to 56dB
What we like about it
- Three-stage filtration with machine-washable fabric filters
- Customizable color options make it a conversation piece
- Energy-efficient with low draw
Drawbacks
- Only three fan settings
Sale
BLUEAIR Air Purifier Large Room, Air Cleaner for Dust Pet Dander Smoke Mold Pollen Bacteria Allergen, Odor Removal, for Home Bedroom Living Room, Washable Pre Filter, HEPASilent, Blue 211+ (Non-Auto)
- SIMPLE ONE-BUTTON CONTROL: Easily adjust fan as-needed with one button to ensure optimal air quality, including lowering fan speed at night for uninterrupted sleep
- CLEAN AIR IN MINUTES: Blueair's HEPASilent technology, delivers clean air, faster, and much more quietly than traditional HEPA filtration alone; Quickly cleans 540sqft large room in about 12.5 min or up to 2592sqft XL space in 60min, on high
- ONE OF THE QUIESTEST AIR PURIFIERS: Quieter (31 dB) than whisper on low; ENERGY STAR rated - uses less energy (30W) than an incandescent lightbulb on low
Final Thoughts
Breathing safe and healthy air is crucial whether you’re at home or away from it. With these top picks for budget, premium, HEPA, and severe allergy air purifiers, there’s a system that can help clear your environment and even improve your health. You can start breathing easier by buying now.
Last update on 2023-09-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
