6 Best Air Purifiers for Allergies, Tested and Reviewed

An air purifier with serious filtration is needed to snag all the tiny allergens floating through indoor air. Blueair's 311i+ Max cleaned up in our rigorous Lab tests, thanks to its advanced multi-level protection against contaminants of all sizes — not just dander and pet hair, but also cooking fumes, dust mites and pollen. "It was exceptionally fast at clearing the air in our test chamber, plus it was among the quietest models, even on its higher fan speeds," says Good Housekeeping Institute data engineer Nikolas Greenwald, who tested many of the air purifiers for this report. The device is also certified by Quiet Mark, an outside organization that evaluates consumer products for sound.

The 311i+ Max's washable fabric pre-filter that encases the device (available in five colors) captures fur, dust and other large particles. Next, a true HEPA one for smaller particles down to .1 micron, the smallest of all tested air purifiers. That's enough to clear up to 99.97% of pet-generated pollutants across 465 square feet in under 13 minutes. "It's perfect for a family room or studio apartment," says Greenwald, adding that "larger spaces will be better served by one of our more powerful top picks." Our testers were also impressed by the 311+Max's connectivity and smartphone app, which lets you monitor your home's air quality remotely. You can also program the air purifier to kick into standby mode when you leave the house and turn on when you're close to returning.

Allergy sufferers often need more than one air purifier to manage air quality throughout the house: one for the bedroom, one for the kitchen and so on. Shoppers on a tight budget can buy three or four of these GermGuardian's for the price of a single model from a premium brand, without sacrificing much in the way of performance.

The purifier's true HEPA filter can filter particles down to the size of 0.1 microns. It also features an activated carbon filter, which removes bad odors and some harmful chemicals through the process of adsorption. Just note that if you live in a hot or humid climate, you won't reap the full benefits here as chemical adsorption is less effective when temperature and air moisture content is high.

Though we didn't get to run our intensive air quality tests of this model in the Lab, our testers put it through the wringer with at-home road tests in New York City during several air-quality alerts. One tester remarked that after just one hour of operation, "the room felt normal and livable." Another tester found that it could be relatively noisy at the maximum setting, so those seeking ultra-quiet purification should consider our top pick instead.

Air purifiers tend to be more about function than form. That's what we like about the MinusA2 from RabbitAir. First and foremost, it does a darn good job of pulling a slew of pollutants from the air, thanks to its multiple levels of filtration. On top of that superb performance, it features a sleek, streamlined design. “It’s the first unit we’ve had in the Lab for testing that can be mounted to the wall," explains Greenwald. "The unit installed easily in our tests, so it should save floor space in your home, especially compared with the largest standing models, which can get quite bulky.”

The MinusA2's multi-stage filtration includes the all-important true HEPA filter, rated to capture 99% of particulates less than 0.1 microns in size. A pre-filter snags pet hair and other larger allergens, while its activated carbon filter neutralizes odors. RabbitAir is unique in that it also lets you choose a customizable filter based on the most prevalent pollutants in the home. If dander is your main trigger, the pet allergy filter is probably the best option. If you're allergic to mold spores, you might opt for the germ defense filter.

You're paying a premium for the MinusA2, but in addition to the stellar performance, it is also living up to its ultra-quiet claim, especially in silent mode, when its fan is literally whisper-quiet; even on the highest "turbo" setting, the fan only gets up to around 49 decibels, or as loud as a soft conversation.

One important caveat: The MinusA2 has an ionization setting, which our experts don't recommend with any air purifier, since ionizers can release small amounts of ozone (an irritant that can exacerbate existing respiratory conditions) and the science on ionizer efficacy and safety is still inconclusive. While we prefer purifiers without any ionization mode, at least with the MinusA2 the process for turning it off is straightforward and there is an indicator light on the face of the unit that clearly indicates if it's in active ion mode.

Honeywell is an established brand in the home comfort space, with picks from our experts across many product categories, from evaporative coolers to whole-house humidifiers. Our experts tapped this air purifier in part because it comes in five different sizes that target rooms ranging from small to extra large. That makes it a good model line for households with multiple allergy sufferers. Each purifier uses a pre-filter and a true HEPA filter to snag contaminants down to .3 micron. That's not the smallest capture rate we've seen in our tests, but it will handle many types of allergens, especially those associated with pets.

The large-sized model shown here claims to clean the air as often as five times an hour and remove up to 99.97% of airborne particles. We also like the relatively low cost of the replacement filter, which you'll appreciate if you need to run more than one air purifier at the same time, or if there's high-level pollution in the home, say from a heavy-shedding dog or cat.

Our experts say this Coway is one of the best air purifiers for allergy sufferers who live in city apartments and other smaller residences. "It challenged the top-ranking BlueAir for performance, though fell short of the winner's circle because of its less-than-average coverage area," says Greenwald. (It quickly cleans 361 square feet versus the 465 square feet of the Blue Pure.) The Airmega's four-stage filtration system includes an activated-carbon layer that’s designed to capture odors, including those from pets. Our testers also like the easy-to-clean pre-filter, which captures large particulates before they reach the inner HEPA filters. Indicator lights give the heads up when filters need to be cleaned or replaced.

Want an air purifier that looks as good as it performs? Coway recently launched a limited edition of its 250 series, the Airmega 250 Art, which lets you choose from a trio of decorative front panels by contemporary artist Haily Hills. In preliminary Lab tests, the 250 Art performed similarly to its 200 brand mate and boasts a larger coverage area of 930 square feet.

Got a lot of house and bad allergies? The 751i Air Purifier combines advanced filtration technology with a powerful fan for massive cleaning power across 1,300 square feet. It's the only other model in our round-up (along with the Blue Pure 211) that can capture contaminants down to .1 microns. Not for nothing, this is also one of the better-looking models to pass through our Labs, with its sleek front panel available in six colors. Despite its robust cleaning power, it's fairly quiet; even at its top fan speed, it's only as loud as the sound of soft music playing in the background.

The combination of peak performance and high design doesn't come cheap: Besides the steep upfront price, filter replacement costs are several times that of other models. One other note: Our safety experts point out that the Alen has an optional ionization setting designed to combat even more pollutants. We don’t recommend this feature on any air purifier since it can produce ozone, a lung irritant. But even without the use of the ionization setting, the Alen should capture plenty of allergens, while looking good in the process.