The best air purifiers: remove allergens and improve the air quality in your home

As concerns about air quality and airborne allergens rise, and with people spending more and more time at home, the popularity of air purifiers is higher than ever. But do you need one, and do they really work?

Firstly: yes, they work. Operating in a slightly different way to air filters, air purifiers not only remove particles from the air but can sanitise them too. So, when they claim they can improve air quality and reduce potential allergens, it’s true. They can’t strip your home of all unwanted particles, but they can certainly sanitise and neutralise the air flowing through it.

So then the question is, do you need one? Could you benefit from an air purifier? For most people, the answer is yes, though, for some, the benefits would be more significant.

If you suffer from allergies as a result of airborne particles, for example, pet dander or seasonal pollen, then an air purifier has the potential to remove these irritants from the air before you even have a reaction. They may also be able to reduce or remove particles of mould, smoke, and leftover toxins from toiletries, cleaning products and so on.

All these things can potentially affect the health of any of us, particularly those of us with weakened immune systems or respiratory conditions such as asthma. Another potential benefit of an air purifier is improved sleep, and many people find that their sleep hygiene is improved through the use of one.

So, if any of the above apply to you, perhaps it’s time to see what an air purifier can do for you. Our pick of ten of the best air purifiers offers something for everyone, whether you’re looking to manage your allergies, improve your sleep or simply breathe fresher air at home.

The best air purifiers at a glance:

• Best affordable smart air purifier: LEVOIT Smart WiFi Air Purifier for Home
• Best smart air purifier: LEVOIT Smart Air Purifier for Home Bedroom
• Best for pet lovers: LEVOIT Air Purifier for Home Bedroom, Ultra Quiet
• Best aromatherapy diffuser: LEVOIT Air Purifier for Home Bedroom, Dual H13 HEPA Filters with Aromatherapy Diffuser
• Most adaptable filter types: Levoit Air Purifiers for Home Bedroom with H13 HEPA & Carbon Air Filters
• Best for portability: Philips Series 800 Compact Air Purifier
• Best for allergies: Levoit Air Purifier for Home, Quiet
• Best high-performance model: WINIX Air Purifier ZERO Pro
• Best volume options: Blueair Blue Pure 411 Air Purifier
• Best for bedtime: Silentnight Air Purifier with HEPA & Carbon Filters

The best air purifiers

Best affordable smart air purifier: LEVOIT Smart WiFi Air Purifier for Home

Great features at a bargain price

This high-quality purifier has a great companion app and a voice control option. It helps remove allergens such as dust and pollen in rooms of up to 35 square metres.

For a smart air purifier that won’t break the bank, the Levoit Core 200S is our best bet. It purifies the air in a room twice an hour and is suitable for areas of up to 35m2. Use the free companion app to customise its settings or simply go with what it suggests for your home. Whisper-quiet at night, it also has a ‘display off’ option, so no lights disturb your sleep. The touch display allows you to choose between four speed levels.

Best smart air purifier: LEVOIT Smart Air Purifier for Home Bedroom

High spec with free companion app

This high-end air purifier has multiple features, including a free companion app to customise and track your settings and a super quiet sleep mode.

If you like smart tech and are in the market for an air purifier, take a look at this Levoit model, which comes with a free companion app for IOS and android that connects easily with Alexa, and Google Assistant-enabled devices. Suitable for rooms of up to 40m2, it features an efficient 3-stage filter system to target everything from dust and dander to pollen and smoke.

Best for pet lovers: LEVOIT Air Purifier for Home Bedroom, Ultra Quiet

Great at reducing pet dander

Eliminate bad smells and reduce levels of fur and dander in the air with this pet-friendly air purifier, which features an advanced 3-level filtration system.

We think this Levoit air purifier is great for pet lovers because it combines 3-level filtration to effectively remove pet fur and dander with an aromatherapy option that can help to neutralise or mask odours around your home. Suitable for any room in the house, it can also be used as a sleep aid and has an ultra-quiet setting for nighttime.

Best aromatherapy diffuser: LEVOIT Air Purifier for Home Bedroom, Dual H13 HEPA Filters with Aromatherapy Diffuser

Purifies while creating calming aromas

Get two for the price of one with this air purifier, which doubles up as an aromatherapy diffuser, spreading the delightful aromas of essential oils through your home as it purifies your air.

Fill your home with beautiful, relaxing smells using the amazing aromatherapy diffuser feature on this air purifier. Add a few drops of your favourite essential oil to the aroma pad under the cover, and soon your home will be filled with air that’s not only purified but also smells incredible.

Most adaptable filter types: Levoit Air Purifiers for Home Bedroom with H13 HEPA & Carbon Air Filters

Four filters to suit different needs

This flexible air purifier adapts to changing needs. Three specialised filters target allergens from pets, airborne toxins, or mould and bacteria, while the original suits any situation.

It's a great option if you are looking for an air purifier for various uses or to be used by various people. There are four types of filters available that work with this purifier: original, pet allergy, toxin absorber, or mould and bacteria. Choose the one that works for you, or chop and change according to your needs.

Best for portability: Philips Series 800 Compact Air Purifier

Easily moved from room to room

Make the most of this air purifier in any room in your house, or even take it with you when you travel. Its compact size makes it highly portable.

A highly effective purifier with great features, we love the fact that you can easily move this model from room to room and that its compact size means you can use it anywhere – from your bedside table to your desk. Its colour display gives great detail about the current air quality, while its high-grade filters get to work quickly on improving it.

Best for allergies: Levoit Air Purifier for Home, Quiet

Helps ease hay fever and pet allergies

This air purifier is a great addition to your anti-allergen routine, helping you to reduce airborne particles that trigger difficult symptoms such as sneezing, congestion, coughing, and even breathing difficulties.

If you regularly suffer from allergies, the advanced filtration of this air purifier – which can remove airborne contaminants as small as 0.3 microns – is a great tool to help you rid them from your house. It can remove pollen, fur, pet dander and much more from the air in your home, helping you to breathe more freely and hopefully reducing symptoms such as coughing and sneezing.

Best high-performance model: WINIX Air Purifier ZERO Pro

Designed for larger rooms and offices

An air purifier designed for use in large spaces, offering high-quality filtration across up to 120m2. Ideal for large or open-plan houses or office use.

Whether you’re living in an open-plan household or looking for an air purifier that can be used in the office, too, this high-performance model from Winix is suitable for spaces of up to 120m2. The touch display control panel is surprisingly intuitive and user-friendly and gives you a real-time analysis of your air quality.

Best volume options: Blueair Blue Pure 411 Air Purifier

Still works while whisper-quiet

The four volume options on this air purifier make it perfect for anyone with sensitive ears. It’s highly energy efficient and removes 99.99% of pollen particles.

One of the most common complaints made against air purifiers is that they’re noisy, and while every option in our list is quieter than you’d expect, this one’s our pick for those with sensitive ears. Not only does it have four distinct volume settings, but it also explains them in user-friendly terms: normal conversation, soft whisper, quieter than a whisper, and normal breathing.

Best for bedtime: Silentnight Air Purifier with HEPA & Carbon Filters

Designed to improve your sleep

A great choice if you’re looking to reduce the allergens and other airborne particles that can interfere with your sleep. Starts working within just 10 minutes.

The Silentnight Air Purifier was specifically designed with bedtime in mind, and its compact size fits easily on a bedside table. The advanced filtration system removes some of the most common airborne contributors to bad sleep, including dust, pollen, fur and dander, smoke and odours. The inbuilt timer allows you to turn it on for one, two, four or eight hours should you not want it running all night.

If you want to read more expert-recommended round-ups and product guides, check out our Household page, where you’ll find more home recommendations, including the best energy efficient heaters, the best hooded blankets, and the best alarm clocks.