8 Best Air Purifiers of 2022

✔️In short, yes, air purifiers work. In order to clean the air, these appliances use filters and fans to remove particles and circulate the purified air back into the room. They can improve air quality and help you breathe easier. People suffering from allergies or asthma might find air purifiers with High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters particularly helpful, because they remove fine particles (99.97% of those measuring 0.3 micron diameter in a lab setting, according to industry standards) and common allergens from air. Not all air purifiers meet that high bar. For example, the much-hyped, sleek-looking IKEA Förnuftig can only capture 99.5% of smaller airborne particles.

Even air purifiers that excel at removing particles like dust, smoke and pollen are limited in their ability to capture smaller toxins, such as those from cleaning products and paint. One more thing to note: the effectiveness of air purifiers in real-world situations likely won’t mimic those of controlled conditions in a lab. That means it can be difficult to measure an air purifier’s true efficacy of how it will perform in your home.

Since we first published our findings, concerns around indoor air quality have grown significantly — as have some manufacturer claims. First and foremost, the pandemic has more consumers looking for ways to safeguard their homes, offices and other indoor spaces against airborne viruses. Some other FAQs:

✔️ Do air purifiers protect against COVID-19? An air purifier with a HEPA filter will capture particulate matter down to the size of airborne viruses, including COVID-19. That’s why you often see manufacturers claiming their products remove 99% (or more) of particles in the air. The Molekule air purifier, another model that’s generating a ton of buzz on social media (but which misses our picks list) goes so far as to claim it “destroys COVID-19 virus by over 99% in under one hour.” Unfortunately, the science simply isn’t clear enough on how quickly droplets containing the COVID-19 virus can be transmitted from person to person. That’s why our advice is to follow CDC guidelines for COVID protection, including getting vaccinated and wearing a mask indoors if you’re in an area of substantial or high transmission.

✔️ Do air purifiers protect against smoke from wildfires? Microscopic particles in smoke can trigger a range of health issues, from burning eyes to chronic lung disease, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, but "generally, outside pollution or smoke or temporary bad air isn't a constant concern for bystanders," says Ryan Roten, D.O., an emergency medicine doctor with Redlands Community Hospital in California. If you're still concerned, Dr. Roten notes that a HEPA filter-equipped purifier is once again your best bet: "Anything that has a true HEPA filter in it is probably adequate enough to filter out most all the large particles that would be concerning,” he says. "Most of the smoky smell will also be addressed as well."

Air purifiers are not a cure-all for every possible air quality issue. Yes, they can be part of your overall strategy. But they become a disadvantage if they give you a false sense of security that keeps you from combating indoor pollution in other ways — for example, vacuuming regularly and running the kitchen range hood while cooking (or at least cracking a window to allow fumes to dissipate). It’s also critical to maintain and upgrade your home’s heating and cooling equipment. “[Whole-house] filtration is the easiest retrofit opportunity by installing high-capture filters in HVAC systems,” says Sam Rashkin, chief architect of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Building Technology’s Office.

Another possible concern is with air purifiers that use ionizers to help attract particles like static. In some cases, these purifiers can end up producing ozone in the process. While some manufacturers claim that the gas helps break down pollutants, it can also be a lung irritant and further aggravate asthma conditions. If you're interested in buying an air cleaner that uses ionizers, make sure it meets the California Air Resources Board (CARB) limit of 50 per parts per billion; the CARB website includes a list of approved air purifiers, and the information is usually listed in marketing material as well. For certified units with ionization, we still recommend that you operate the device with this function turned off until more research is done on the effectiveness and safety of these types of machines.

✔️ Cleaning: Apart from wiping down the housing every now and then, cleaning the exterior of the device is minimal. However, the filters that do the dirty work inside an air purifier require regular attention. Whether made of paper, fiber or mesh, the filters should usually be cleaned and/or replaced every few months or so (check the owner’s manual for specific recommendations). Some filters are reusable, but they require meticulous maintenance, so you don't usually find them on the most effective air purifiers. An exception is models with a washable pre-filter, designed to capture large particles before they reach the primary filter; this feature can cut operating costs by extending the life of the main inner filter.

✔️ Operation: For maximum air cleaning, you should run the air purifier all the time when you’re home. Our picks are all UL-certified for safety, though as with any electrical device, be mindful of fire hazards, for example frayed wires. Where noise is a factor, like the bedroom, you could operate the machine on high when you’re out of the room, then drop it to a lower fan setting before going to sleep. It’s also best to keep windows and doors closed, so the unit isn’t cleaning air from outside or other parts of the home. And make sure airflow to the device isn’t obstructed by furniture, curtains or other objects.

Dan DiClerico is the Director of Home Improvement & Outdoors at the Good Housekeeping Institute. For more than two decades, he has written about all things home-related, from big-ticket remodeling projects to routine home maintenance. During his time at GHI — as well as prior stints at This Old House, Martha Stewart Living and Consumer Reports — Dan has reviewed thousands of consumer products across a wide range of categories, including appliances, building materials, fixtures, outdoor power equipment, home technology, and more. Dan also has extensive hands-on experience in home improvement; he worked as a roofer for many years and he has completed multiple home remodels, including the gut renovation of the Brooklyn brownstone where he lives with his wife and kids. The total experience has made Dan a sought-after thought leader in the space; he has spoken at such industry events as KBIS and CES and he has been quoted in The New York Times, Washington Post among other publications.

Rachel Rothman, Chief Technologist and head engineer, has a B.S.E. in mechanical engineering and applied mechanics with a mathematics minor from the University of Pennsylvania and has been at GH for 14 years. She leads efforts for the constant evolution of GH’s technical and testing protocols, responding both to market drivers and growth opportunities.