Best Air Purifiers of 2023
We've tested dozens of models. Here are the ones that blew us away.
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Do you cook on a stove or use cleaning products? Do you own a pet that sheds or have people in your home who often get sick? Do your surfaces collect dust? Then the air in your home might not be as squeaky clean as you think it is. This is particularly true if you rarely open the windows to let fresh air circulate, or if the air out there isn’t the freshest to begin with. And that may be okay if it doesn’t bother you. But if you often find yourself coughing or feeling itchy-eyed, or simply wish the air were more pristine, then you might consider an air purifier.
An air purifier can remove very small particles, such as dust, pollen, and particulate matter that’s in smoke. It can also tackle viruses and suspicious-smelling volatile compounds. The best air purifiers can do this at any speed, says Misha Kollontai, who oversees air-purifier testing at Consumer Reports. And the worst, he says, will struggle, even when it’s at the highest speed, “accompanied by a lot of noise.”
How We Pick the Best Air Purifiers
Our engineers find that many of the models we run in our labs can ace our tests at high speed, with no problem. It’s often how much debris these machines can capture when not on full blast that’s a challenge. The best air purifiers in our ratings are capable of clearing the air even on low settings—and they do it without making a racket and at a reasonable annual cost. What’s more, they feature an intuitive design, so you don’t need a PhD in particle science to operate them. And it’s a breeze to move them from room to room, maneuver the controls, and change filters.
How Consumer Reports Tests Air Purifiers
To test air purifiers, we inject smoke and dust particles into a sealed chamber and assess how well each model removes particles between 0.1 and 1 micron. (Human hair has a diameter of 100 microns.) Using a particle counter, we measure the change in particle concentration as the air purifier runs for 15 minutes at the highest speed, and then at a lower speed. And because these machines are designed to run day and night, we measure noise levels, in decibels, at every speed, and calculate annual operating costs for filter replacements and energy use to run the machine 24 hours a day.
Here’s a look at the five top-scoring air purifiers we’ve tested, in alphabetical order. For more options, explore our comprehensive air purifier ratings, where you can read about more than 100 models and filter them according to your needs (including by price, brand, and weight). To learn more about how air purifiers work, check out our air purifier buying guide.
Best Air Purifiers
CR’s take: The Alen BreatheSmart 75i Pure proves to be top-notch at capturing and removing dust and smoke while running at both high and low levels. It’s not too loud either, so holding a conversation or getting work done while the unit runs should be easy enough. Another reason this model receives high marks? Its energy and operating costs, including filter replacements, run roughly $140 annually, which is lower than that of many of the standout models in our ratings. Plus, the machine covers up to 1,300 square feet, much more than the others highlighted here.
CR’s take: The reasonably priced Blueair Blue Pure 211+, designed for floor use in a large room, is one of the very few portable air purifiers that aces our test for particle removal at both high- and low-speed settings. Plus, it has a machine-washable fabric prefilter for capturing larger particles (like pet hair), which can prolong the life of the main filter. However, expect some noise when the unit is running at high speed; it gets a mediocre score on that test. You’ll also have to shell out about $200 each year for energy and operating costs.
CR’s take: This Blueair machine removes particles impressively at both high- and low-speed settings. While it hums along pretty quietly on low, it’s downright noisy on high—though it will clean a room quickly at that setting. Filter replacements and energy use will set you back around $260 per year. The machine weighs a hefty 30 pounds but has casters that make it easy to move from room to room. Its claimed capacity is a room of 775 square feet.
CR’s take: The portable Blueair Protect 7470i features a handy filter indicator to alert you when you need to change or clean the filter. It also has a dirt sensor and three speeds. On its highest setting, it’s terrific at removing dust, pollen, and smoke, but expect a bit of noise. Try it on low and you’ll have more quiet while still experiencing solid results. This model is designed for floor or tabletop use in a space that’s about 420 square feet. It costs about $140 a year to maintain and weighs just under 28 pounds.
CR’s take: This recommended Winix model deftly clears away dust, pollen, and smoke at all speeds, particularly when set on high (at which point it will make a racket). Weighing only 19 pounds, it’s designed to be placed on the floor or tabletop in a 500-square-foot space. It has a helpful filter indicator and four speeds, but its annual operating cost will set you back $148.
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