As a concerned homeowner, you will always want to have a clean and safe living environment within your home for you and your family members. Given the ever-increasing number of Americans living in areas with declining air quality, you may find yourself asking, ‘how much are air purifiers?’ To assist you in your quest, we have compiled a list of the top 5 air purifiers in terms of value for money and features on offer. For those looking for a quality, feature-rich and efficient air purifier, we suggest you consider the Coway AP-1512HH, which we believe is the best air purifier for most homeowners in terms of value for money.
Just like a shop vac, air purifiers are a must for those into woodworking. As a busy woodworker myself, I get a lot of dust at my place and I find that air purifiers are one of the most effective ways of cleaning up my air space and reducing allergies. I tend to sleep at night better with them and wish I had started using them years ago. There are quite a few worthwhile ones on the markets and generally anything that is fitted with HEPA technology will give you the best result. The ones that we have chosen here are all best sellers.
**Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, with no additional cost to you, I can earn from qualifying purchases.
Coway AP-1512HH – Best Overall
The Coway AP-1512HH is an innovative air purifier – literally, a 1.4 by 1.5 feet machine that is hailed as the perfect solution for anyone serious about quiet, efficient, and effective indoor air cleaning.
It is designed primarily for rooms up to 361 square feet and is available in multiple color options, including black and white.
Coway has made extensive use of air filtration technologies, and the AP-1512HH is equipped with a sophisticated 4-stage air filter system that is capable of removing fine particles of dust, smoke, and other pollutants as small as 0.3 microns.
It claims to eliminate up to 99.97% of pollutants from filtered air. In addition, it is super effective in reducing nasty odors which is a plus. Best of all, it has an intuitive visual cue in the form of a brightly colored LED that tells you how clean or dirty the air in your home is throughout the day.
And to ensure you continue to get quality, clean air inside, AP-1512HH is equipped with a filter life indicator that shows you when you should be looking to replace your filter.
Coway is one of the best air filter brands for the home and features a convenient auto timer, which will keep the air cleaning process running while you are engaged in your work and can be scheduled with different timeslots to operate continuously throughout the day.
It also offers three fan speed control options that can be customized to speed up or slow down the operation manually, followed by a built-in automatic fan speed that will automatically change the fan speed at varying levels depending on the levels of pollutants detected and air quality.
Aside from performing exceptionally well for its small form factor, the Coway AP-1512HH is more economical and powerful than its comparable competitors. It is also super quiet at low-speed and only slightly noisy at 53.8 decibels when operating at maximum speed, making it the best air purifier on the market. Highly recommended.
To check the price of the Coway AP – 1512HH White HEPA Air Purifier, click here.
What We like:
high-performance
- energy-efficient HEPA air purifier
- four-stage filtration system
- pollution sensor
- quiet while running
high-performanceWhat we don’t like:
- The blue air quality indicator light is quite bright and it doesn’t come with a night mode to dull the brightness
2. Blueair Blue Pure 211 Air Purifier – A Premium Model
From its environmentally sensitive efficient power usage, to its breathable absorptive fabric, Blueair is a smart product with a killer design. It is more expensive than the Coway reviewed above, but the premium price tag reflects premium quality that you would expect from a Swedish product.
Blueair Blue is an award-winning air purifier that combines the efficiency of 3-stage breathable filters with Swedish Design, to actively scrub the air and help you fight allergens and odor.
Blueair Blue uses Carbon Filter Technology that not only protects your lungs, but also stimulates oxygen in your body by eliminating harmful particles from the air. The dual-sealed filtration filters are so efficient they are able to successfully filter up to 99 percent of pollutants. Likewise, it is fully capable of removing all offensive odors created from pets, smoking, cooking, VOCs, and more.
Blueair Blue air purifier with washable filter also comes in five minimalistic and innovative colors, which is a nice touch. At a time when conventional, non-proprietary technologies are available at much lower costs (and typically without as much of a degree of eco-friendly action), it has a tremendous sense of design and robustness.
The performance you get with this beast is incredible. Not only is it one of the more energy-efficient air purifiers (utilizing just 60 watts at peak speed), it even operates while producing as little as 31 decibels and maxes out at 56 decibels. Therefore, you can feel free to run the air purifier without having to worry about disrupting your normal daily life (and the noise won’t keep you up at night).
The only downside to it would be its somewhat high cost relative to some of the more competitively priced purifiers on the market. That being said, it is easily one of the most aesthetically pleasing as it features an incredibly modern and minimalist compact design that you would expect from a Swedish founder.
If you would like to check the price or read reviews of the Blueair Pure Blue 211 Air Purifier, click here.
What we like:
- Swedish filter technology
- Gets rid of 99% airborne pollutants
- Eliminates odors
- Energy efficient
- quiet operation
What we don’t like:
- high price tag
- No timer included
3. Blueair Blue Pure 411 Air Purifier – Best Budget Option and Good For Small Spaces
Combined with physical controls and auto-calibration, it perfectly marries energy efficiency with the adaptive efficiency of an automated air purifier to push out clean, fresh air wherever you need it.
Using the same three-part filtration process as its larger cousin, (the 211 model) the 411, is capable of filtering out up to 99% of all pollutants that would otherwise be found airborne. With its activated carbon filter, it can effectively eliminate the unpleasant odors normally found in the home.
The Blueair Blue Pure 411 is an ideal air purifier for small spaces, rooms, or anywhere else under 170 feet where breathing is usually uncomfortable due to conditions like humidity, dust, and mold.
Therefore, it makes for one of the best options you can choose from if you are looking for a filter for a smaller bedroom or even a small office space. One of the noteworthy features of this little gem is the inclusion of a three-stage filter with whisper-quiet operation. Its sophisticated design enables it to operate at its maximum capacity at just 46 dB. Similarly, it is capable of operating at lower speeds with only 17 dB of noise.
It is Energy Star rated for best in class energy performance, which makes it a very solid air purifier in terms of efficiency standards.
What we like:
- low cost
- perfect for a small rooms
- Activate carbon filter to remove odor
- filters are recyclable
What we don’t like:
- Is more noisy on the highest settings compared to other models
4. Winix 5500-2 Air Purifier with True HEPA – Best For Pet Owners
Winix understand the day-to-day needs of an average homeowner and have built a product with a smart sensor that can measure the air quality and adjust the filter accordingly. This is perfect for those with animals who are worried about offensive odor filling up their air space including pet dander, dust mites, mold and pollen.
The body of the machine is durable and it’s affordably priced suitable for medium sized rooms (up to 360 ft).
This is the best absolute value you can find on the market if you are looking to get rid of high levels of volatile organic compounds or odors in general. Love how the LED indicator displays the indoor air quality on a scale of good to poor (Blue – Amber – Red). This is very handy. Basically, when the unit senses a change in air quality, it automatically adjusts the fan speed to clean up the surrounding air space.
It comes a HEPA filter capable of removing 99.97% of all particles larger than 0.3 microns. This product is listed as an Amazon best seller under their ‘medical air purifier’ category. That’s great, but this unit really shines when it comes to reducing odors and VOCs making it a favorite in busy households with dust and pets. Well worth checking out!
To check the price and read reviews of the Winix 5500-2 Air Purifier, Click here.
What We Like:
- Handy remote control
- HEPA filter captures 99.97% of airborne pollutants
- PlasmaWave technology
- Low cost and long lasting replacement filters
- Smart Sensors gauge
What We Don’t Like:
- No wheels on it and this would be a nice feature to make it easier to move about the house.
5. LEVOIT Air Purifier With H13 True HEPA Filter – Best For Large Spaces
The Levoit Air Purifier really is a little gem. It works super effectively, to produce fresh air making the whole room feel comfortable.
The size of this unit is great with wide coverage in rooms up to 881 ft. It’s always good to get units that are bigger rather than smaller if you’re worried about performance. Higher circulation is always good and will clean up your air in minutes.
The air purifier makes as little noise as 25dB on its lowest setting, which is perfect for night time operation.
This model is particularly good at drowning out offensive odors like cigarette smoke and pet dander. It’s probably due to the sheer size of what it can filter out.
It also comes fitted with HEPA filtration which is the best type of system when it comes to getting rid of unwanted nasties in the air such as mold and bacteria. The activated carbon filter absorbs cooking odors, household odors, smoke, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). It’s also effective in reducing humidity levels within the home.
There’s a handy LED display and timer to create a darker sleeping environment at night time. You can also set a timer for up to 12 hours, keeping your air fresh while you sleep.
Levoit is quite a popular brand in terms of air purifiers and are known to last the distance. The filters are a bit on the expensive side, but should only need to be replaced once a year and you can machine wash them.
To check out the price and read reviews of the Levoit, Air Purifier with H12 True HEPA Filter, click here.
What we like:
- wide coverage (up to 881 ft)
- real time air quality updates
- washable filters
- delivers air free of 99. 97% of 0. 3 micron airborne particles such as dust, bacteria, and pollen
- LED display and timer
What We Don’t Like:
- It’s a bit noisy on the high setting
- It’s large and takes up space in your room as a result
- Replacement filters are a bit expensive
What to Consider When Buying an Air Purifier
1. Why Do You Need an Air Purifier?
Numerous research and publications such as CNBC suggest that the air inside your premises can be deadlier than the air outside. In fact, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, PPMs inside your home can be 2 to 5 times higher than outdoor air and, in some cases, can be up to 100 times higher, which is not only toxic to the people residing therein but can, in fact, be lethal with immediate action required.
And one of the best actions you can take today to ensure a safe living environment within your premises is to purchase a quality air purifier. The following are some important factors you should consider before purchasing an air purifier.
2. Your Needs
Although the main purpose of an air purifier is to clean the air around you, some purifiers are equipped with a specialized filtration system that can be of considerable help in particular cases. For example, if you are sensitive to chemicals, you will want to invest your money in an air purifier that can absorb gases, odors, and chemicals from your environment. These types of purifiers are usually equipped with activated carbon filters and are often affordable.
3. Size
Air purifiers are available in a variety of sizes, each with a unique set of features and the ability to effectively clean a specific area.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What is an Air Purifier?
Air purifiers are electromechanical devices designed and engineered with a specific purpose of aiding in the removal of harmful airborne pollutants from your premises without interfering with your daily activities. Air purifiers from different manufacturers employ different technologies to quickly and efficiently remove pollutants. Some may be equipped with multiple clinical-grade, high-efficiency particle filters, while others may be equipped with additional activated carbon filters to further purify the ambient air by removing any odor.
Q2. Where to Place an Air Purifier?
The positioning of your air purifier depends on the very reason you purchased it. If you bought a purifier to get rid of odors in your kitchen or open office, it is recommended that you place your purifier where the odor is strongest.
If you bought it for personal use, that is, to make sure the air around you is safe to breathe, you should keep it in your bedroom or the room where you spend the most time.
For maximum efficiency, it is always recommended to keep your air purifier at least 10 cm away from all kinds of obstacles. This is to ensure that it has unrestricted access to the ambient air and that the clean air is not concentrated in any specific area.
Final Thoughts…..
Air pollution from indoor sources continues to be a serious problem, and according to ECO Watch, air pollution is a major contributed on deaths each year in the U.S. All too often, this pollution is becoming a major problem for households, especially with children or old, sick people.
With the world becoming more industrialized every day, our environment is also getting more polluted with it. As a woodworker myself, my place is often filled with dust and other particles that drive my wife a bit nuts! Air filters certainly help to make life more liveable especially for those suffering from various respiratory ailments.
They are certainly a low cost way to off set the health benefits that come from clean air that’s odor free!