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Nov 21, 2023

The 7 Best Air Purifiers for Allergies in 2023

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The Coway Airmega 230 is our best overall recommendation for reducing allergens in your home.

Whether it's due to the changing of the seasons or the quality of the air in your home, you might’ve already dealt with an onslaught of allergy symptoms like sneezing, coughing, and headaches this year. With earlier and longer allergy seasons each year due to climate change, your senses are liable to become irritated, even when you’re inside—that's where air purifiers come in.

Household allergens like pet dander and dust circulate throughout your home, making it difficult to find relief for your sinuses no matter where you are. Air purifiers use mesh-like HEPA filters to remove large and small particulates from the air, as well as common pollutants like odor and smoke.

While air purifiers might not completely eliminate allergy triggers, they can help boost the overall air quality of your space and reduce the odds of a sneezing fit mid-Zoom call.

Air purifiers for allergies have a common goal, but not all are designed the same and there are several factors to keep in mind to get the most out of your device.

Most air purifiers come with a high-efficiency particulate air filter, also called a HEPA filter. This type of filter can remove at least 99.7% of pollutants in the air, such as dust, pollen, bacteria and airborne particles. Our best overall pick from Coway uses a True HEPA filter, which is the only kind of HEPA filter that hits the Department of Energy's standards for efficiency and allergen removal.

Besides the filter type, the filtration system itself varies depending on the air purifier. Some have a two-stage purification system, like our best overall selection, which combines a pre-filter and a second filter to trap a range of particle sizes. Others have up to six layers of purification, and can target specific concerns like pet dander. Opt for an air purifier filtration system with more than two stages if you’re a serious allergy sufferer.

Air purifiers also vary in filtration range, which is why the room size is a very important consideration. Powerful and tech-heavy air purifiers have higher capacity and can filter over 1,000 square feet of air, while simpler versions might only be able to handle rooms up to 500 square feet.

If you live in a single family home and want to have the air purifier in a central area, like the living room or kitchen, snag a model with a larger scope to maximize your space. You can still get clean air from a tabletop or portable air purifier, but they work best in smaller rooms like bedrooms or bathrooms.

White noise can be distracting at any hour of the day, so air purifiers with low noise levels or are virtually silent might be the best addition to your home. Look for models between 10 and 25 decibels, which is about as quiet as any appliance gets. Some allergy air purifiers may offer a sleep mode, which reduces noise levels further at night.

We tried out several air purifiers for allergies with a range of filtration systems, room sizes, and savvy extra features. We considered how user-friendly the different models were, putting the remotes, control panels, and smartphone apps to the test. We also kept in mind other beneficial features, like air purifiers that double as rotating fans or filters that target specific issues like pet allergens. We’ve rounded up the best air purifiers to help minimize your allergy symptoms this warm-weather season.

On the lowest fan setting, I could hardly tell this air purifier was running because of how quiet it was. I tried out this air purifier in an area under 550 square feet—it's designed to filter all of the air in spaces up to 403 square feet every 15 minutes—so it offers very good coverage without a second purifier.

The machine is very minimalistic, and the control panel on the top is slightly raised for visibility while maintaining a simple and straightforward design. The indicator in the bottom left corner changes color to update you on air quality.

The purifier has two different layers of filter. The pre-filter traps larger allergen particles like dust and pet hair, which really comes in handy if you have furry friends. The second layer, the Max2 filter, combines carbon filtration and a HEPA filter to trap all those smaller allergen particles like germs, viruses, food smells, and other odors. This feature can be beneficial if you live in a duplex or apartment building, where scents from neighbors can make their way into your home.

For less than $110 at the time of writing, you can get filtered air in minutes with this purifier that is designed for rooms up to 500 square feet.

It will fight against common household allergens with its three-stage filtration system. You can remove the pre-filter and wash it to get rid of large particles like fur, hair, and lint. The carbon filter helps eliminate unpleasant odors like smoke or trash, and the HEPA filter traps airborne particles as small as 0.3 microns (true of all HEPA filters).

Similar to our other Levoit pick, this air purifier also has a sleep-friendly setting that turns off display lights and reduces noise. You can preset the timer for up to eight hours, and there is a "Check Filter" indicator to let you know when it's time for a filter replacement.

For someone who can't fall asleep without white noise, I love the fact that this air purifier from Dyson doubles as a fan (and oscillates up t0 350 degrees.) It cools down your space while filtering air, but there is also a backward airflow mode so it doesn't blow on you while you sleep. The machine itself is fully sealed to meet HEPA13 standards, so the purifier does a very good job of keeping allergens trapped inside.

Setup was very simple. I just clicked the half-moon air filters into the base and it was ready to go. You can register your device through the MyDyson app to control and monitor airflows, and the purifier is also compatible with voice assistants like Alexa and Google.

The included remote (which is magnetic so you don't lose it) has an information button so you can view air quality levels on the front panel. You can also program the air purifier to run at specific intervals, and there is a night mode for running the device while you sleep.

You can bring fresh air with you no matter where you go with this portable air purifier. The PureZone from Pure Enrichment weighs less than a pound and is under nine inches in length, so it packs easily and doesn't take up much space on the countertop. Plus, it's cordless and has a rechargeable lithium battery built in that can last up to 12 hours with continuous use.

It has three different fan speeds, and the handle (which is also removable) doubles as a stand if you’d prefer to use the air purifier horizontally. It has a two-stage filtration system, with a compact carbon filter and an H13 HEPA filter. The base of the purifier twists off to make changing out dirty filters a breeze.

Our deputy editor Zoë Hannah likes that the MinusA3 purifier has a very fast air intake, so if you have smells like smoke or food odors floating around, they won't linger for very long. She also notes how incredibly quiet the device is when it's running—the quietest one we recommend here.

The air purifier works best in large rooms as it can cover over 1,000 square feet. The machine has different filtration options depending on the pollutant you’re trying to tackle, such as odors, germs, or pet dander.

There are six stages of filtration, including a HEPA filter for small particles, a carbon filter for odors, and then the custom filter of your choosing that can target a specific concern. Zoë found one of the coolest features of the air purifier to be the varying installation methods.

"You can hang it on the wall upside down or right-side up, so it's a really good option for mounting permanently," she says.

Suffering from congestion and sneezing due to seasonal allergies? Finding some relief might be easier than you think with an air purifier like this. This machine from Levoit has a 360-degree air intake and can filter air contaminants in spaces up to 1,095 square feet in a very short amount of time.

It uses three different types of filters for a variety of particle sizes—a pre-filter, a carbon filter, and an H13 HEPA filter. Levoit offers replacement filters that target other needs like toxin absorption, smoke removal, and pet allergens.

Since it's small and compact, you can even set it on your nightstand to filter air throughout the night. There is an option to turn on Sleep Mode to reduce noise levels and shut off the display lights for less distraction while you rest.

In addition to filtered air, this purifier also has heating and cooling settings to help soothe your allergies no matter what the season. It comes equipped with an air sensor that measures the air quality and then auto-adjusts the power level to maintain airflow throughout your home.

The control panel is user-friendly, easy to read, and updates in real time with the temperature of your room and the percentage of clean air that is circulating. The sealed HEPA filter traps particles from a variety of irritating allergens such as pet dander, fumes, and dust.

If you use the air purifier in your kitchen, there is a guard on the filter to prevent unpleasant odors like trash and cleaning products from permeating your house.

Amber is the Digital Content Producer for Popular Mechanics, Runner's World and Bicycling, where she covers a range of tasks for the commerce team. She also writes fashion and beauty content for Best Products. Her work has been featured across all of the Enthusiast Group sites. In her free time you can likely find her watching horror movies, reading a good thriller book, or listening to a comedy podcast.

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