The Best Air Purifiers for Allergies
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For as long as I can remember, allergies have kept me from fully enjoying time spent outside during the spring and early summer. But ever since I began testing air purifiers, I’ve noticed a reduction in the quantity of pills, drops, and sprays needed to keep my sinuses clear and my eyes from watering. “Air purifiers can help significantly in reducing the amount of irritants in the air,” said Dr. Amanda Furr, chief medical officer atZarminali Pediatrics. “They are particularly helpful in reducing animal dander, dust, or pollen that may enter the home through open doors and windows.” There are still times when trying every remedy in the medicine cabinet doesn’t feel like enough to get me through the day, but being able to recover in an allergen-free environment means I can at least start fresh the next morning.
To find the best air purifiers for allergies, I interviewed additional experts to determine what makes an air purifier better suited to dealing with allergens. Turns out they aren’t so different from the requirements of thebest air purifiers overall. But things like pollen-filtration performance and quietness (for bedroom use during sleep) are slightly higher priorities than they might otherwise be for the general population.
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Whatwe’relookingfor
HEPA filtration
“At a minimum, the air purifier should contain an actual HEPA filter,” said Dr. Furr. According to theEnvironmental Protection Agency, this means it can “theoretically remove at least 99.97 percent of dust, pollen, mold, bacteria, and any airborne particles with a size of 0.3 microns (µm).” Terms likeH13,H14,medical grade, andTrue HEPAindicate that the filter has undergone independent certification for HEPA compliance. But avoid anything sold as having a “HEPA-type” filter, which is meant to convey compliance without certification.
CADR Pollen
The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers developed the Clean Air Delivery Rate as astandardfor comparing purifier performance. Controlled tests are performed by independent labs on new machines on their highest settings using samples of tobacco smoke, dust, and pollen. The results for each sample are reported in cubic feet per minute and can reliably be compared across different makes and models. It’s rare for the scores to differ too much between these tests, but seasonal-allergy sufferers should pay closer attention to pollen performance.
A lower CADR score doesn’t mean an air purifier isn’t effective; it just means you should use it only in a suitably small room. Otherwise, as Dr. Furr warned, it won’t be able to clean the air efficiently. As a rule of thumb, AHAM recommends getting an air purifier with a CADR rating that matches the square footage of the room you plan to use it in (assuming standard eight- to nine-foot ceilings). For example, an air purifier destined for a small bedroom measuring ten by 15 feet with a nine-foot-tall ceiling should have a CADR score of 150 or higher. This will ensure that all the air in the room passes through the filter at least4.8 times per hour. But a higher score is better if you have the space since this means it can run on a lower, quieter fan setting to achieve the same result.
CADR testing is also a requirement for any machine seeking the EPA’s Energy Star certification, which maintains asearchable databasewith CADR scores and energy-consumption metrics for every machine that meets its standards.
Auto mode
Machines with particle sensors can automatically adjust their fan speed to suit the level of air pollution in a space. This means it’ll run on high when it senses an irritant in the air — after a door opens, for example — but then return to a lower, quieter setting once the air is clear. This saves power while reducing noise levels.
Filter lifespan
If an air purifier with a cheaper purchase price uses expensive filters that need to be replaced every six months, it could end up being a lot more expensive than a more expensive model with a five-year filter lifespan. Be sure to double-check this when shopping around.
Pollen filter
Pollen is actually a relatively large particle compared with smoke and many kinds of dust. A dedicated secondary filter specifically tuned to capture these larger particles may provide more relief from allergies — it’s hard to say for certain. However, it will definitely keep them from clogging up the main HEPA filter.
Washable prefilter
A washable prefilter keeps larger particulates, such as lint and hair, from clogging either the primary or secondary filters. It can be made from machine-washable fabric or sink-rinsable mesh.
Best air purifier for allergies overall
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HEPA:Yes |CADR Pollen:240 |Auto mode:Yes |Filter lifespan:1 year (HEPA filter), 6 months (secondary)|Allergen filter:separate|Washable prefilter:Yes
The Coway’s pollen CADR score of 240 is big enough for the vast majority of bedrooms and can even handle small and medium-size living areas. Unlike the cylindrical designs that are becoming increasingly popular, its dirty-air intake is at the front, and clean air is blown out the top, so you can place it right against a wall without worrying about blocking airflow. I keep mine by my cats’ litter box, and the automatic mode is sensitive enough to kick into high gear after they use the box — or after I scoop it.
Best less expensive air purifier for allergies
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HEPA:Yes** |CADR Pollen:167 |Auto mode:No |Filter lifespan:1-year |Allergen filter:No|Washable prefilter:No
I’ve found in my testing and research that a truly great sub-$100 air purifier doesn’t exist. Important features, like a washable prefilter and auto mode, are available only on slightly more expensive models, such as theBlue 511i Max. But if you must spend less than $100 on an air purifier, the Levoit Core 300-P is a thoughtfully designed, well-constructed air purifier from a reputable company, with some nice features that are missing from other cheap air purifiers, such as a child lock to prevent kids and pets from messing with the settings.
** Although this air purifier’s HEPA compliance has been verified over the years by both independent lab testing and professional reviewers, Levoit stopped advertising it as such after a competitor filed acomplaint to the BBB. Given Levoit’s established track record, all those tests, and the fact that this is one of the most positively reviewed products on Amazon of all time, I’m willing to give it a pass here.
Best air purifier for allergies in bedrooms
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True HEPA:Yes |CADR Pollen:174|Auto mode:Yes |Filter lifespan:6-9 months |Carbon filter:Yes |Washable prefilter:Yes
The Blue 511i Max squeezes a responsive auto mode, a washable prefilter, and quiet operation into a more compact, 14.5-inch-tall by 9.5-inch-wide cylindrical design about the same size as a small trash can. There’s no display, but it uses a color-coded LED to report on air quality. This makes it ideal for a bedroom where space is limited, and you don’t want to have to activate sleep mode to eliminate bright lights. Its respectable pollen CADR of 174 CFM is higher than that of other similarly sized air purifiers and should be enough to cover most bedrooms, with capacity to spare. And the machine-washable cloth prefilters can be swapped out for different colors to match any room’s décor.
I’m often skeptical of phone apps for controlling appliances, but Blueair’s is genuinely helpful and intuitively designed. It lets you easily set schedules so you can save money and filter lifespan when you’re not home. It also collects air-quality data over time and monitors your filter’s status based on actual usage data, reminding you when it’s time to replace it.
Best air purifier for allergies in larger rooms
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HEPA:Yes |CADR Pollen:450 |Auto mode:Yes |Filter lifespan:6-9 months |Allergen filter:Optional|Washable prefilter:Yes
This powerful air purifier is about the size of a Simplehuman kitchen trash can, but its powerful performance makes it worth the space. A CADR Pollen score of 450 CFM means it can efficiently remove allergens from the air in a 675-square-foot area in just 12.5 minutes. And it’ll do it quietly and automatically as needed. While some machines have only PM2.5 sensors, this one can also detect smaller PM1 particles and larger PM10 particles, which is great for allergy sufferers since pollen particles are larger than smoke particles. Any time a change is detected, the fan speed responds quickly and aggressively, kicking into its highest setting at the first sign of pollution and ramping down as it’s mitigated over time. The default filter should be fine for most people, but there’s an optionalAllergenBlock filterthat has additional allergen-removal certifications. It also supports the Blueair app.
Best premium air purifier for allergies (that’s also a table)
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HEPA:Yes |CADR pollen:450|Auto mode:Yes |Filter lifespan:1 year |Allergen filter:No|Washable prefilter:Yes
$450 is a lot to ask for an air purifier, especially when replacement filters cost $100 each. But it’s also among the most effective air purifiers I’ve tested so far. Despite being about five inches shorter than the 211i Max, its CADR of 450 CFM is just as powerful. And because it has a flat top, you can use it as a side table — you can even swap the washable prefilters for different colors or addwooden legsor achrome plinthto complete the look. While this has nothing to do with allergy relief, I was particularly impressed with how effective it was at reducing kitchen smells in its first few months of service (like any carbon filter, it clogs up more quickly than the HEPA filter, which lasts up to a full year). Otherwise, it has the same great app and quiet operation as the rest of the Blueair air purifiers.
Best low-maintenance air purifier for allergies
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HEPA:Yes |CADR:131 (not pollen specific) |Auto mode:Yes |Filter lifespan:5 years |Allergen filter:No|Washable prefilter:N/A
Dr. Furr told me that maintaining an air purifier is just as important as choosing the right one to begin with because a dirty or expired filter can’t do its job efficiently. That’s why Dyson decided to maximize filter life while minimizing maintenance requirements in its latest air-purifier design. The Hushjet is designed to run continuously in auto mode for up to five years between filter changes. All you need to do is vacuum the exterior from time to time to keep the perforated plastic shell from getting visibly dusty.
Its jet-engine-inspired look isn’t just for show. While its highest fan setting produces a noticeable whine akin to a white-noise machine, it’s still quieter than most air purifiers’ medium settings, according to my iPhone’s decibel-meter app. This makes it a great choice for bedrooms.
However, even with its five-year filter lifespan, the Hushjet’s relatively low CADR score of 131 keeps it from being a great value unless quiet operation and low maintenance are your top priorities. The similarly sizedBlueair 511i Maxhas a higher CADR of 174 and costs $140. Its filters last up to nine months before needing to be replaced at a cost of about $30 apiece. Assuming this happens about seven times over a five-year period, it ends up costing the same as the Dyson, but you don’t have to pay it all up front.
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