Even if you live in a major city center, the air inside your house may be more contaminated than the air outside, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Using an air purifier, which can filter air pollutants including smoking, dust, and pollen, is one way to enhance the quality of the air inside.
For years, NBC Select employees have filtered dust, pet hair, smoke from wildfires, and other pollutants using air purifiers. To better understand air quality and learn everything you need to know to purchase the best air purifier, we spoke with filtration specialists.
GO Ahead and SkipThe top air purifiers for 2025 | How to choose an air purifier | Why NBC Select is reliable?
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Editor’s pickBlueair Pure 511
$91.89$99.99Amazon
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For small spacesInstant AP 100
$undefined$104.10Amazon
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For large spacesBlueair Pure 311i+ Max
$undefined$299.99Amazon
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How we picked the best air purifiers
To learn more about the significance of air quality and purification techniques, we consulted with filtration specialists. Under their direction, we chose the best air purifiers with an average rating of at least four stars using the following standards:
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Filtration
: All of our recommendations have high-efficiency particulate air filtration (HEPA) and have a clean air delivery rate (CADR) equivalent of at least two-thirds the recommended room size. (You can learn more about HEPA and CADR in our FAQ section.) -
Independent testing
: We only picked air purifiers independently tested by theAssociation of Home Appliance Manufacturers
(AHAM), which certifies the performance of air purifiers through its
AHAM Verifide program
.
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Adjustability
: We only picked air purifiers with at least three adjustable speed levels. Air purifiers can be loud at their highest speed having a lower speed option is crucial for keeping spaces like bedrooms quiet, in my experience.
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The best air purifiers in 2025
The majority of our suggestions are either best-selling items from well-known air purifier manufacturers like Blueair and Honeywell or staff favorites.
Specifications such as the suggested room size based on AHAM, decibel levels, and clean air delivery rate (CADR) are shared beneath each guideline.
Editor s Pick:
Blueair Pure 511
Blueair Pure 511
- Small and quiet
- Fabric pre-filter
- Affordable
- Nothing to note at this time
When the brand’s air purifier was introduced in 2023, NBC Select commerce editor Lindsay Schneider received one. Upon observing the amount of dust it accumulated in her 400-square-foot apartment in New York City, she quickly purchased a second one. It is among the lightest and smallest purifiers on our list, making it suitable for any size room.
Unfiltered air is drawn into the purifier’s base from all directions, and clean air is forced out of the top. It is simple to remove and reinstall, and it contains a machine-washable fabric mesh cover that collects bigger particles of dust, lint, and hair.
Despite lacking any smart connectivity capabilities, the Pure 511 offers a fantastic mix between price, CADR, and room size. According to AHAM, it works best in small to medium-sized areas that are no bigger than 180 square feet.
AHAM recommended a room size of 180 square feet, with decibels of 24 to 49 dB, CADR (CFM) of 112 smokes, 112 dusts, and 112 pollens, no connectivity, 3 speeds, and 4.2 pounds of weight. AHAM certified that the space was indeed
For small spaces:
Instant AP 100
Instant AP 100
- Small and portable
- Smart auto mode
- Low CADR
NBC Select associate editor for updatesFor years, Zoe Malin has been using this small air purifier. “It’s completely hands-off; it senses the quality of the air in your room and modifies settings accordingly,” she explains. Auto mode is an unusual feature for air purifiers at this pricing.
The light sensor is yet another noteworthy feature. Malin claims that the air purifier automatically lowers its speed to its quietest setting, which is roughly as noisy as a bedroom fan, and dims its display lights when she shuts off the lights in her flat.
According to AHAM, this air purifier works best in offices and bedrooms that are no bigger than 126 square feet.
AHAM-recommended room size: 126 square feet; CADR (CFM): smoke: 81, dust: 85, pollen: 98; connectivity: no; speeds: 3; weight: 8 lbs; AHAM verified: yes; decibels: 24 to 50
For large spaces:
Blueair Pure 311i+ Max
Blueair Pure 311i+ Max
- Great filtration
- Fabric pre-filter
- Smart connectivity
- Nothing to note at this time
For years, even during the Canadian wildfire season of 2023, I have been using the Blue Pure 311i+ Max in my spacious bedroom since I received it from the business. While the NBC Select office smelled like a barbecue on a day with some of the worst air pollution in New York City, my apartment, which had this air purifier running, smelled perfectly normal.
It draws unfiltered air into its base from all angles, just like our editor’s pick. Mine is in my bedroom, next to the corner. I typically wake up with a stuffy nose or sneeze during the spring allergy season. I seldom ever experienced either symptom with this air purifier.
According to my phone’s decibel meter, I typically keep it on speed 1 or night mode, which is extremely quiet and only contributes one or two decibels to the overall atmosphere of my bedroom, raising the noise level from 32 to 34 dB.
The 311i+ Max’s cloth pre-filter is another feature I enjoy. It is simple to remove, clean, and reinstall, and it captures big clumps of dander and lint.
You have two options for controlling it: manually or through the Blueair app, which displays comprehensive statistics like filter status and indoor air quality. Every evening at around nine o’clock, I use the app to program the purifier to go to night mode, which is the lowest and quietest speed.
AHAM-recommended room size: 465 square feet; CADR (CFM): 300 smoke, 300 dust, and 300 pollen; connectivity: yes, Blueair app; speeds: 4; weight: 7.9 lbs.; AHAM verified: yes; and decibels: 23 to 50 dB
For powerful performance:
Honeywell HPA304
Honeywell HPA304
- High CADR
- Large room size
- Large and heavy
If you require powerful filtration for a broad area, this air purifier is a suitable choice. It has a very high CADR (particularly considering its price), which indicates that it can efficiently and rapidly filter out air pollutants, according to AHAM lab data. Additionally, it has an average rating of 4.6 stars based on more than 31,000 Amazon reviews.
There are four speed settings: turbo, high, medium, and low. Use the dimmer button to switch off the panel lights above the purifier if you intend to place it in a bedroom. Additionally, it features a timer button with two, four, and eight-hour intervals.
This purifier lacks an auto mode, a companion app, and a night mode, in contrast to the Blueair Pure 311+ Max.
AHAM-recommended room size: 465 square feet; CADR (CFM): smoke: 300, dust: 320, pollen: 300; connectivity: no; speeds: 4; weight: 17 lbs.; AHAM verified: yes; decibels: unknown
For a stylish design:
Bissell Air320
(out of stock)
Bissell Air320
- Elevated design
- Rear cord wrap
- Nothing to note at this time
The sleek design of the Bissell Air320 makes it appear more like a contemporary piece of furniture than an air purifier. Its four wooden legs raise it off the ground, making it simpler for you or a robot vacuum to clean below it. Similarly, the wrap-around groove on the back allows you to tuck the power cord out of the way.
The Air320 has a single dial that regulates speed and shows filter status in place of touch buttons. According to the manufacturer, this purifier, like our editor’s pick, features a fabric cover that collects bigger dust and hair particles.
AHAM-recommended room size: 363 square feet; CADR (CFM): smoke: 234, dust: 247, pollen: 264; connectivity: no; speeds: 5; weight: 19.2 lbs.; AHAM verified: yes; decibels: unknown
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How to shop for an air purifier
Fuel-burning appliances, cleaning supplies, heating and cooling systems, automobile emissions, smoke from wildfires, and everything else are all sources of indoor air pollution that air purifiers are intended to eliminate. According to Kenneth Mendez, president of the nonprofit Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, these indoor pollutants have the potential to irritate your lungs or create allergic reactions.
When selecting an air purifier, filtration is crucial. HEPA filters and a suitable CADR are two essential components for efficient filtration, according to our specialists.
Frequently asked questions
According to the EPA, pleated-fiber HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filters can eliminate at least 99.97% of airborne particles (such as dust or pollen) that are 0.3 microns in size. Since this micron size is the most difficult to capture, the EPA measures it specifically; other sizes are filtered at an even higher rate.
However, according to Michael Corbat, former president of the National Air Filtration Association and vice president of engineering for Rensa Filtration, HEPA is not a centrally regulated standard. According to him, it is the responsibility of brands and outside labs to test and reveal correct filter data.
According to our experts, consumers depend on manufacturers to reliably conduct and report on these filter testing. Our experts advise examining each air purifier’s CADR rather than depending solely on manufacturer claims and decentralized testing.
CADR (clean air delivery rating) is an indicator of how well an air purifier will clear a given space of contaminants (measured in cubic feet per minute). For pollutants like dust, pollen, or tobacco smoke, brands will display CADR. For example, a pollen CADR of 125 means that the air purifier can deliver 125 cubic feet of pollen-free air per minute.
According toAHAM, your air purifier should have a CADR rating equal to about two-thirds of the cubic feet of your space. CADR tests assume an eight-foot ceiling, so if you have a higher ceiling, you ll need an air purifier with an even higher CADR.
Corbat recommends air purifiers with tested and certified CADRs fromAHAM, otherwise, you are relying on the manufacturer s self-reporting. That s why all of our picks are AHAM certified, and we include AHAM s recorded CADR scores in each product recommendation.
A decibel (dB) is a measurement of sound a ticking watch is around 20 dB, a soft whisper 30 dB and a motorcycle 95 dB. According to theCenter for Disease Control(CDC), prolonged exposure to sound above 70 dB can bother you, while sound above 90 dB can damage your hearing, depending on how long it lasts.
It is largely up to the manufacturers and third-party laboratories to test and disclose accurate sound data around air purifiers. In our guide to thebest quiet air purifiers, we recommend cross-checking advertised air purifier decibel levels with data from consumer groups likeQuiet Mark, a UK-based independent global certification program that identifies the quietest products.
A smart or Wi-Fi-compatible air purifier can typically connect to a smartphone app where you can control the machine remotely. You can control theBlue Pure 311i+ Maxwith the Blueair app, for example, and adjust speeds, brightness or set a schedule.
I find smart connected air purifiers convenient I can use my phone from the comfort of my couch or bed to adjust the purifier or check my indoor air quality.
Meet our experts
At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
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Kenneth Mendez
is the president of the nonprofitAsthma and Allergy Foundation of America
.
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Michael Corbat
is the vice president of engineering forRensa Filtration
and former president of the
National Air Filtration Association
.
Why trust NBC Select?
I amreporterat NBC Select who covers technology including guides tosmartwatches,portable air conditioners, andover-ear headphones. For this piece, I spoke with filtration experts to better understand air purifiers and how they function. I leveraged NBC Select staff and personal experience using air purifiers to recommend the best ones certified by AHAM.
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