Best Air Purifier 2021 – Buyer’s Guide

When you need to rid your entire room of pollutants, allergens and smoke particles, you need something which can work effectively and quickly.

This Dyson has an airflow rate of 361 m³/hour, and Air Multiplier Technology can send the air right around the room, so not a single corner is missed. Paired with the Hepa filters which trap almost every single particle (99.95 of all to be exact), it doesn’t just do the job as soon as possible, but it does a great job too.

There are a couple of modes which should make your life easier, as well. Night mode will automatically use the quietest and dimmest settings, too, so you won’t be disturbed when asleep. Auto mode senses the atmosphere in the room, adjusting the power accordingly. Perfect if you need the windows open as it is a warm day, so the purifier needs to work overtime to rid the room of the extra dust and pollen.

An app will allow you to control it from your smartphone, and you won’t have to hunt for the remote in amongst all of the other remotes either. It works with both iOS and Android, so you should be safe no matter what you’ve got. As it uses Bluetooth, you won’t need to hunt for a Wi-Fi signal either.

There are a huge ten speed settings, which is ideal when using it as a fan and you need to cool the house down quickly to increase comfort. It is a lot of money, but you can feel the difference. Should you suffer from health issues because of allergies, it is the price to pay for a much more comfortable life.

Seen by many as Dyson’s closest rival, this is a smart, clever air purifier which can do a lot of the monitoring and adjustment on your behalf.

The AeraSense technology automatically and continuously monitors the air, so you can rest easily knowing that it will adjust its settings if necessary. There is a little screen at the top of the model, which lets you know the air quality in real time via a numerical display.

Philips have actually partnered with Air Matters, the global air quality app, to make this appliance. They both work together in order to monitor the air, give you insights, let you know when the filter needs replacing. They can even give you the weather forecast a week in advance so you know if air pollution/hay fever is going to be particularly bad on any days.

The app also means you can control the purifier from anywhere. If you know you’re going to be home at half five, you can turn it on from work at five o’clock so the room is clear for when you get back. There is a sleep mode which quietens everything down without affecting quality, as well as an allergen mode and bacteria and viruses setting so you can target what is affecting you the most.

It is on the larger size, standing at around 70cm tall and around the size of your average kitchen bin, but it does sit nicely in the corner of the room without affecting performance. This is all understandable though when you see it will keep rooms up to 95m2 clean and clear.

Be aware that it will only work on 2.4ghz Wi-Fi connection, as opposed to the more modern 5ghz. It isn’t particularly cheap, but if you have your eye on the Dyson already, then the little extra jump is nothing in the grand scheme of things. We’d say this is better for targeting allergens and viruses.

Levoit is a big name in the air purification world, and this small yet powerful machine can remove everything from dust, pollen, and smoke to odours, mould spores, and pet dander.

It looks different to the others on our rundown, thanks to the rounded shape. There are three filtration levels too; Fine Preliminary, True HEPA and Activated Carbon filters. The first is great at clearing the air in general, removing constant issues such as dust. The second is what will make a difference when it comes to allergens, and the third removes smell and smoke from cooking, traffic fumes or cigarettes.

Low, medium and high settings will suit various conditions, whether you want it ticking over in the background or need something very powerful. If you are using it overnight, then the nightlight option could come in handy. You can choose from two brightness levels as well.

Because of the small and unique size/shape, it will comfortably sit on a bedside table or in the corner without taking up any room.

It can only really cover a small area, and even though it filters particles as small as 0.3 microns, some which are smaller than this are left behind. These can still have a negative effect on the atmosphere, which is particularly annoying if you seriously suffer from allergies or breathing difficulties such as asthma.

For this reason, it is best for anyone who wants the air cleaning generally, as opposed to full and targeted pollutant removal. It could easily become overwhelmed in harder to tackle environments, too.

Dyson changed the air quality game when they released their first ever purifying air tower, and this model is the latest in their best-selling range.

Understanding that their previous models were pretty mighty and best suited to controlling an entire room, this one is designed to be more personal and give you targeted results. It is a tabletop design, and perfect for boosting your comfort as opposed to concentrating on the entire room.

The Hepa filters give you the best filtration possible, making it suitable for any allergens and pollutants, including gases. 99.95% of all are trapped, which gives you cleaner air in almost an instant. The design also helps get cool, clean air into the room quicker, thanks to Core Flow™ technology.

The convex dome at the top forces out the air using high-pressure, and this direction can be changed by altering the dome manually. A handy sleep timer can be set anywhere between 30 minutes and 8 hours, so you can also enjoy a refreshing rest at night by setting it on your side table.

It is a lot more attractive than the larger tower models which Dyson are best known for and looks a lot less invasive too. Built-in reminders will let you know when the filters need replacing, so you always get the best out of them, too. The LCD screen will also inform you of the airspeed and which mode it is on.

There is a remote control, but no smart app connectivity which technically keeps costs down. It comes in at just under £300 and is much cheaper than the Dyson Tower, although do bear in mind it is for personal use. It is perfect if you really suffer from allergies, but the rest of your household is relatively nonplussed.

By far the most costly, and the largest and bulkiest in shape, but if you have a large room or very serious allergies, then it is the power which is probably required.

It is one of the most intelligent purifiers on the market. Despite there being a huge airflow, drafts and noise are kept relatively low. It is also Wi-Fi enabled, so you can control it from your smart device for a more comfortable life.

The HEPASilent technology will remove almost all airborne pollutants using the best in electrostatic and mechanical filtration. This combination gives for strong, noticeable results in the first minute.

Through the BlueAir Friend app, not only can you control the purifier remotely, but you can also monitor the room air quality and the outdoor air quality (for most urban areas) in real time. Say you live in the centre of London, and you need to see whether you can open your windows on a hot day without being overwhelmed with pollution – now, you don’t have to take the risk.

The LED icons give you an update on the status of the item, from Wi-Fi connection, speed and the filter quality. Combined with the touch controls, keeping on top of the workings is effortless. Everything is hidden under a flap to keep a clean design.

It is designed to tackle rooms up to 72m2, which is huge, and if your area is that size, you can easily leave it on low at all times to keep on top of the task. This setting is virtually silent. An Aware monitoring sensor can be bought separately if you’d like it to automatically adjust the settings in accordance with the quality, as well.

Three speed settings allow you to tackle everything with this purification device, from ridding the kitchen of the smell of burnt toast to helping you breathe easier in high pollen season.

It is ideal for medium rooms up to 30m2, and 360-degree airflow guarantees faster removal. Dust, pollen, pet hair and mould particles, which can all cause aggravation, are removed when the air is passed through the purifier, leaving nothing but fresh air behind and eventually completely cleaning your room.

If you are concerned about the replacement filter costs, then you don’t need to worry. This one is permanent, so you can just wash it every so often and pop it back into place, or even just give it a vacuum every week. Many other models’ filters need to be replaced, which affects both your purse and the environment.

There is an optional light, which gives out a blue hue and is nice for creating a bit of atmosphere. Perhaps you need a night light, or something subtle as you watch a movie.

The maximum speed is a little loud so perhaps not the one to have on as you try to sleep at night, but it is relative to the power it gives out. You do get used to the noise if it is on a lot of the time, though.

It is one of the more basic models, hence the price in comparison, but is still a machine which makes a notable difference.

About as stylish as you can get for a product of this type, but it isn’t just looks which make this a purifier worthy of our list.

Air quality affects all areas of our lives, from sleep and productivity to allergy symptoms and general respiratory condition. Boosting this air quality can make a massive difference. This is why this Stadler purifier is packed with the best quality components to tackle any issues.

There is an air quality indicator which changes colour to keep you up to date with any changes. Auto mode can immediately start rectifying these circumstances, but it also gives you the option to act by leaving the room until it is sorted. Perfect if you have allergies.

The risk of airborne illnesses is also reduced, such as the flu. So even in winter when hayfever and outdoor pollution aren’t making it into your home through open windows, you can tackle the other issues which replace those ones.

It is best for smaller rooms because of the size, up to 35m2, but as it is silent in operation, this could make it great for a bedroom throughout the night when you’re trying to sleep. Or, if you have a mould allergy, keep risks at bay in the bathroom. It is stylish, so won’t stick out like a sore thumb.

Pollutants aren’t the only issues which may affect your air quality. Bacteria and viruses can also linger in the air, and if they seem to constantly be rife in your home, then this is an ideal way to combat them.

Ultraviolet filtration is what tackles these issues specifically, but the Hepa filter will also reduce dust and allergens. It will clean a room up to 25m³ around 5 times per hour, so the air will always be as fresh as possible and it will continuously work away in the background to help you out.

Don’t panic if your room is much larger than this, however. It can actually still make an impact in rooms up to 78m³, so no matter how spacious everything is, you can still rely on it.

The noise levels at each power setting range between 30-50dB, so it is quiet enough to be ticking away as you sleep if you need help trying to get a full night as opposed to being disturbed with breathing difficulties.

It will let you know when the filter needs changing, as well as which stage the filtration process is at. The modern touch panel gives you plenty of control over the power you require, and the overall look isn’t too much of an eyesore either.