Air purifiers

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Room air purifiers

Home air purifiers

What's behind our air purifier Ratings?

Experts at our National Testing and Research Center tested 36 models in air purifiers to see which ones perform best.

We look for:

Overall score
Overall score is mainly how well models removed dust and smoke from a test chamber, plus quietness.
Dust/pollen/smoke removal (high)
Dust/pollen/smoke removal is how well a model cleared air of fine clay dust and cigarette smoke when operating at its highest speed. A model that scores well for dust removal should perform comparably for pollen.
Dust/pollen/smoke removal (low)
Dust/pollen/smoke removal is how well a model cleared air of fine clay dust and cigarette smoke when operating at its lowest speed. A model that scores well for dust removal should perform comparably for pollen.
Noise (high speed)
Noise is based on instrument measurements with the model running at its highest speed.
Noise (low speed)
Noise is based on instrument measurements with the model running at its lowest speed.
Annual cost
Annual cost is a combination of yearly filter and energy costs.
Room size
Recommended size for Small room 100-300 sq/ft, Medium room 250-400 sq/ft, Large room 350-650 sq/ft.

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Recommended air purifiers

Recommended air purifiers are standout choices with high scores. They include CR Best Buys, which offer exceptional value. When narrowing your choices, weigh features, price, and attributes that matter to you.

Recommended air purifiers

Air purifier buying guide

To find the air purifier that is right for you, read our expert advice on which features to consider and how to find the best value.

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Air purifiers Ratings

Find out which Air purifiers scored the best on our tests. Our tests are based not only on government and industry standards but also on standards our specialists think should apply, which re-create the experience you will have with the product.

Latest air purifier ratings

Most people buy air purifiers to ease asthma or allergies. But despite product claims, there's little definitive medical evidence that air purifiers help to relieve respiratory symptoms. If you're looking for information about air purifiers, Consumer Reports is your best resource. Consumer Reports’ air purifier reviews will give you honest buying advice that you can trust. Use our air purifier buying guide to discover which features are most important to consider. We also provide unbiased Ratings and air purifier reviews to help you choose the best air purifier for your needs.

Ratings & recommended air purifiers

Room air purifiers (30)

Because of leaks from windows, doors, and elsewhere, the air in the typical house is replaced by outside air every 2 hours. (Newer homes are tighter.) So minimizing sources of indoor pollutants can make more of a difference in indoor air quality than any air purifier can. Still, the better performers can help those with asthma and allergies who have exhausted other options or cannot, say, part with a beloved pet.

Home air purifiers (6)

Air purifier buying guide

Before you buy an air purifier, try some simple, common-sense steps to reduce indoor air pollution. Begin by vacuuming often, banning smoking indoors, minimizing use of candles and wood fires, and using exhaust fans in kitchen, bath, and laundry areas. Test your home for radon gas, which can cause lung cancer (test kits cost about $15). Don't store chemicals, solvents, glues, or pesticides in your house. Minimize the risk of deadly carbon monoxide gas by properly maintaining heating equipment, wood stoves, fireplaces, chimneys, and vents--and by installing carbon-monoxide alarms on all levels of your home. And don't idle your car, run fuel-burning power equipment, or light a barbecue grill in your garage, basement, or in confined spaces near your home.

Air-purifier models with an electrostatic precipitator remove pollutant particles by charging them as they pass through and collecting them on an oppositely charged metal plate or filter. In the process, they produce some ozone as a byproduct. You'll also find dedicated ozone generators, which produce relatively large amounts of this gas by design. While ozone in the upper atmosphere protects us from the sun's ultraviolet rays, ground-level ozone is an irritant that can worsen asthma and compromise your ability to fight respiratory infections. We believe that air purifiers that emit even small amounts of ozone are a poor choice if someone in your household has pulmonary problems or allergy symptoms. We also suggest that you avoid dedicated ozone generators entirely, given their high ozone emissions.

The very best portable models we tested were effective at cleaning the air of dust, smoke, and pollen at high or low speed. For whole-house purifiers, our recommended models did best at filtering dust and pollen without impeding airflow of forced-air heating and cooling systems. The worst models weren't terribly effective at any speed.

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