3 Best Indoor Air Quality Monitors of 2026
The best monitors from CR’s tests detect a range of indoor pollutants, and some work automatically with air purifiers
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An indoor air quality monitor can help keep tabs on some types of indoor air pollution, including particulate matter associated with wildfires and truck traffic, and indoor pollutants emitted by products like certain new carpets and paint. But CR has found that these devices vary widely in what they actually measure.
In our labs, we examined monitors from popular brands like Airthings, Amazon, Awair, Inkbird, and others. While these models all track general air quality metrics like temperature and humidity, only some monitor the level of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and fine particulates (PM2.5). We go into more detail about what air quality monitors detect below.
Best Indoor Air Quality Monitors
Our top-rated home air quality monitors, listed below in alphabetical order, are all capable of measuring carbon dioxide and PM2.5 levels, but only some display an overall air quality score.
How CR Tests Air Quality Monitors
We focus on four distinct tests when evaluating air quality monitors: how easy monitors are to use, the number of important air quality metrics they analyze, whether they display some kind of overall air quality score, and how useful their screens are for viewing air quality readings.
Our ease-of-use tests judge how well each monitor’s app works and whether it allows you to easily view historical data. We also do a simple test on the sensors of each monitor to make sure they detect particulate matter, VOCs, temperature, humidity, and carbon dioxide. All of these results are compiled into an Overall Score for each model in our air quality monitor ratings. Note: Consumer Reports doesn’t evaluate the accuracy of the sensors.
In addition to testing air quality monitors in our labs, I also took some of them home to try out in a real-world setting. My biggest takeaway is that, like many smart home devices, they’re rather finicky to get up and running. It took me multiple attempts to complete the setup process on every air quality monitor I tried. So make sure to set aside plenty of time and approach the setup process with patience.
What Do Air Quality Monitors Detect?
Indoor air quality monitoring devices can detect a variety of pollutants. Typically, they also measure temperature and humidity. Here’s a quick rundown on common substances they may monitor.
Carbon dioxide is useful to track in your home. High levels can cause mild symptoms of headaches and fatigue. Too much carbon dioxide also indicates that not enough fresh air is circulating.
PM2.5 stands for particulate matter of various substances that are 2.5 microns or smaller in diameter. They can come from many sources, including truck traffic and wildfire smoke. When you breathe in these particulates, they can travel deep into your lungs and even enter your bloodstream, contributing to heart disease, asthma, low birth weight, and other health problems.
PM10 stands for particulate matter that’s around 10 microns in diameter. It can consist of dust, pollen, and pollutants from construction sites or wildfires. These particulates can worsen respiratory diseases.
VOCs, volatile organic compounds, can be found in a wide range of products. They include some mattresses, paints, household cleaners, building materials (such as new carpets), dry-cleaning agents, synthetic braiding hair, and more. Exposure to certain VOCs can cause headaches, nausea, kidney and liver damage, and potentially cancer.
Using an Air Quality Monitor With an Air Purifier
Some smart air quality monitors can be automated to turn on or adjust smart air purifiers when the air quality deteriorates. Some monitors and purifiers from the same manufacturer offer that functionality without the need for additional products. Otherwise, you can connect the two products to a common smart-home system, such as Apple Home or Google Home, and create automation linking the two devices.
For more information on air purifiers, see our air purifier ratings on almost 190 models and our comprehensive air purifier buying guide.
