If you are someone who is susceptible to allergic reactions, then you may be wondering about the best air purifiers for allergies. Poor indoor air quality can be a nightmare for those with allergies, with irritants in the air causing unpleasant symptoms that can be distracting and frustrating. An air purification system may help to eliminate allergens in the air, so we chose some of these models from our list of the best air purifiers due to their filtration systems.
The best air purifiers for allergies are generally those that contain a high-efficiency particulate absorbing (HEPA) filter, which uses paper, fiberglass or mesh to capture pollutants and then cycles clean air back into the room. These HEPA filters are expected to adhere to the highest standards, so they must remove 99.97% of particles from the air as small as 0.3 microns in size.
What the experts say
“Portable air cleaners have the potential to improve indoor air quality for any person who uses them properly. The longer the air cleaner runs, the more air it filters.” Tim Carroll, Environmental Protection Agency
Enesta Jones, spokesperson for the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) also told LiveScience that HEPA filters are the best for removing allergens from the air. “Multiple studies with portable air cleaners that use a HEPA filter have found improvements in one or more allergy and/or asthma symptoms,” she said. “Several studies suggest that using a portable air cleaner where people are spending time, such as in the bedroom while sleeping, may be more effective than leaving it in a central location, such as in the living room.”
Dust, one of the main airborne allergens, is generally smaller than five microns, making the best air purifiers for allergies those that contain HEPA filters. Pet dander, another common allergen, ranges in size from five to 10 microns, and even larger again are pollen particles, which range from 10 microns in size to 100. Although pollen is more often found in outside air, sometimes it can make its way indoors and cause problems for those with allergies. Due to its size, it is well within the scope of a HEPA filter to eliminate. Read our feature on do air purifiers help with allergies to find out more.
Jones also added that source control is important, as even the best air purifier for allergies will not be able to address the cause of allergens such as mold. “Large allergens, such as dust mite allergens in settled dust, generally settle out of the air quickly and accumulate on surfaces like furniture or floors, never reaching the portable air cleaner,” she says. “In addition, portable air cleaners do not address the cause of mold and musty odors. Mold is caused by a water or moisture problem in the building that allows the mold to grow.
“Portable air cleaners may remove some of the particles generated by mold or help reduce musty odors in some cases, but they will not resolve a mold and moisture problem. To solve a mold problem, it is necessary to get rid of the source of the moisture and clean up the mold.”
Air purifiers for allergies
(Image credit: Joanne Lewsley)
The most powerful air purifier for allergies.
Specifications
Height: 20.5 (in)
Diameter: 10.8 (in)
Weight: 11 (lb)
HEPA filter: Yes
Energy star certified: Yes
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Reasons to buy
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Powerful, yet affordable
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Simple to get up and running
The Levoit 400S is our top choice for an air purifier that effectively captures allergens in your home, and with good reason.
What the users say
The Levoit 400S scores a seriously impressive 5 stars out of 5 on Amazon. Reviewers commented on its ability to clean the air of odors and dust. Positive reviews were also gained thanks to the stylish look of the Levoit 400S, but some think it is a little bulky.
Not only did it perform well in all of our tests, it’s also an affordable option, meaning those on a budget don’t have to compromise their air quality. Thanks to its True HEPA H13 filter, this air purifier aced our tests under a number of conditions, removing 99.9% of particles smaller than 0.3 microns at certain times. The air purifier also captures some bacteria and viruses, and with an advanced activated carbon, the machine filters volatile organic compounds from the air.
Not only is the Levoit 400S a powerful air purifier, but it also gains points for its stylish design, with sleek edges and handles for easy maneuvering. Setting up this appliance is easy thanks to the intuitive controls, and there’s plenty of information accessible on the app connected to your purifier, which gives you statistics on historical and current air quality within your home.
(Image credit: Future)
The air purifier for allergies with the lowest energy consumption.
Specifications
Height: 21 (in)
Diameter: 13 (in)
Weight: 5.5lbs
HEPA filter: Yes
Energy star certified: Yes
Reasons to buy
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Perfect for larger spaces
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Performed well in our tests
Reasons to avoid
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Not smart enabled
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Bulky
If you suffer from allergies and need a unit in order to cover larger rooms in your home, then the Blue Pure 211+ is the ideal choice for you.
What the users say
The Blue Pure 211+ scores an excellent 4.8 out of five stars on Home Depot. Those who left positive reviews were impressed by this air purifiers ability, as well its sleek design. Some less impressed users commented on the expense of replacing filters.
While it’s a larger and bulkier model, the outcome is that it can cover rooms up to 600 feet large, which is seriously impressive. Handily though, this increase in coverage doesn’t mean that running the Blue Pure 211+ is going to break the bank. Instead, this air purifier is also economical to run and is available in a range of colors to make it a little easier to camouflage into your home.
The performance of the Blue Pure 211+ in our range of tests proves its place in the top ranks of air purifiers of its kind; it was able to absorb particles in a number of conditions in the most effective way we’ve seen. If you’re a smart home fan then the lack of features with the Blue Pure 211+ might be a little lacking for you, but for simple, straightforward running, this appliance should be an excellent fit.
(Image credit: Future)
The air purifier for allergies for aesthetic value.
Specifications
Height: 41 (in)
Diameter: 8.7 (in)
Weight: 11 lbs
HEPA filter: Yes
Energy star certified: Yes
Reasons to buy
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Classic sleek Dyson design
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Powerful performance in our tests
Reasons to avoid
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Pricey
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Sometimes prone to nosiness at high levels
As with any Dyson product, a sleek and well-engineered design was to be expected of the Dyson Purifier Cool.
What the users say
The Dyson Purifier Cool has an average score of 4.2 out of five stars on Home Depot. Unimpressed reviewers cite problems with the sensors’ baseline readings and noisiness when in use. On the other hand, positive reviews praise the purifier’s ability to improve the symptoms of allergy sufferers, as well as getting rid of bad smells. Of course, customers also particularly like the integration with smart devices, the auto setting, and the purifier’s cutting-edge design.
This appliance definitely doesn’t disappoint on those grounds, and has a practical edge too, doubling as a cooling fan. Beyond aesthetics, this purifier also performed exceptionally well in our testing protocol, with our tests concluding that it often captured more than 95% of monitored particles when used at its highest setting for at least 30 minutes.
When it comes to assisting with cleansing the air of allergens, the Dyson Purifier Cool aims to pick up microscopic particles smaller than 2.5 microns, including smoke, bacteria, and allergens – shown as PM 2.5. If you want your home to be a relief from allergy symptoms – especially in peak pollen season for example – then another neat trick with the Dyson Purifier Cool is that you can set your machine to start working remotely, all from the comfort of your machine’s app. Though this air purifier might not be within everyone’s price range, it has a lot to deliver, and an eye-catching design to sweeten the deal.
(Image credit: Rabbit Air )
Rabbit AirMinus A2 Spa-780a
The air purifier for allergies for larger spaces.
Specifications
Height: 20 (in)
Diameter: 7 (in)
Weight: 19.4 lbs
HEPA filter: Yes
Energy star certified: Yes
Reasons to buy
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Low cost operation
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Six stage filtration system
Reasons to avoid
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An expensive investment
If you struggle with allergies and are looking for an inconspicuous air purifier to add to your home, then the Rabbit AirMinus A2 Spa-780a has a design that’s made for sleek, stylish homes.
What the users say
The Rabbit AirMinus A2 Spa-780a has an average score of 4.7 out of five stars from reviews gathered on the Rabbit Air website. Some unimpressed reviewers complained of a fiddly set up, but many positive reviews praised the capability of this air purifier for cleaning the air in large areas.
Able to be wall-mounted or used as a portable purifier, this appliance is impressive on many counts. It has a standard coverage of 700 square feet, which is perfect for larger spaces, and a CADR capable of trapping pollen, dust and smoke in your designated space within that size. It’s crucial when shopping for an air purifier for allergies that you look out for a solid clean air delivery rate (CADR), and this air purifier claims to have high delivery rates with all of those allergens.
When it comes to selecting an air purifier for your home, there’s a number of practical features to think about too. This Rabbit Air AirMinus A2 Spa-780a has been engineered to be ultra quiet, which is bound to be a top consideration for light sleepers. The design of this air purifier means you probably won’t even notice that it’s there, but you’re bound to feel its benefit when it comes to air quality.
- Our Rabbit Air AirMinus A2 Spa-780a is currently underway.
(Image credit: Kasandra Brabaw )
The air purifier for allergies for monitoring your air quality.
Specifications
Height: 18.5 (in)
Diameter: 8.3 (in)
Weight (lbs): 20.5 lbs
HEPA filter: Yes
Energy star certified: Yes
Reasons to buy
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Ultra-stylish design
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Real-time air quality monitoring
The Coway AirMega 250 is a popular air purifier due to its high-end design and claims that it can capture 99.99% of fine airborne particles.
What the users say
The Coway Airmega 250 has an average score of 4.7 out of five stars from 92 reviews gathered on Amazon. Fans of this air purifier were impressed by the quiet running of this unit, but others were left a little confused by the setup process of this model.
It has a three-stage filtration system, which makes it a good choice for allergy sufferers, and gives you helpful indications of when to change your filters, as well as filters that are in themselves easy to clean. It’s also thorough in its performance, with a capability of covering up to 930 square feet, one of the most impressive coverages we’ve seen.
Although it’s pretty pricey, the Coway AirMega 250 doesn’t have the smart-enabled features you might expect. Despite not being able to control this device via your phone, there are smart features though. We like the ability to set the air purifier on a Smart mode that adjusts the fan speed based on the quality of the air in the room, ultimately saving energy and time. Rapid mode is a unique feature of the Coway Airmega 250, which we liked because it helps to quickly clear the air in cases when your air quality turns bad — for our tester, that often happens when she’s searing a steak. Rapid mode circulates the air at maximum power until the air is clean.
(Image credit: Kasandra Brabaw)
The air purifier for allergies for those on a budget.
Specifications
Height: 10.25 (in)
Diameter: 6.75 (in)
Weight: 8.55 lbs
HEPA filter: Yes
Energy star certified: Yes
Reasons to buy
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Very affordable option
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Charcoal filter to remove odors
Reasons to avoid
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Only coverage to 152 feet
If you’re on a budget and need an air purifier to tackle your allergy symptoms, then the GermGuardian AC4825E will be an inexpensive purchase that can go a long way to help you breathe easier.
What the users say
The Germ Guardian AC4825E has an average score of 4.7 out of five stars from a huge 34,876 reviews gathered on Amazon. Many users said this smaller air purifier was great for everyday use, and helped alleviate allergy symptoms. Other less impressed reviewers said they felt they needed a more complex filtration system.
Complete with a HEPA filter and a charcoal filter to filter odors, this appliance can make your living space a nicer place to be. It’s also ultra-quiet, meaning it can work away in the background without alerting you.
As you might expect with a smaller unit, the coverage of this air purifier is not quite as extensive as bulkier models. It would be suitable to single rooms, rather than expansive spaces, and stands at just 22 inches tall, meaning it won’t be too disruptive to your room’s decor. There are some other handy features too, including a light to indicate a filter change is due and three speeds including an ultra-quiet sleep mode so that you can keep your machine running into the night.
We were impressed by how much it reduced particles in our match and incense tests, especially for its price point. If you want a no-frills, but a very effective air purifier, we’d recommend the GermGuardian.
How to maintain your air purifier for allergies
Remember to keep your air purifier clean, and change your HEPA filter as recommended to ensure that it keeps running correctly. You can buy reusable filters that only require cleaning, but these do have a limited life expectancy and will still need to be completely replaced eventually.
Try to adhere to the room-size specifications that come with your air purifier for the most effective air cleaning possible. If placed in rooms with high foot traffic or rooms too large for their capacity, air purifiers will not clear the air of irritants as well as if they are used correctly. Don’t forget to wipe down the outside of your machine with a dry or slightly damp cleaning cloth.
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