Best Air Purifiers for Wildfire Smoke in 2024

Concerned about the quality of the air you and your family breathe at home? Air purifiers are great tools for filtering air pollutants and improving the air quality in your home. They help reduce dust, pet dander, dust mites, and allergens, making them especially useful during allergy season or when pollution levels increase.

Air purifiers are especially important during events like the Wildfires ongoing in Californiawhere smoke particles can compromise indoor air quality. By trapping airborne particles in their filters, air purifiers ensure that you and your family can breathe cleaner, fresher air. Some advanced models even detect and remove harmful chemicals like formaldehyde, providing an extra layer of protection.

It’s not easy to understand all the air purifier options available. That’s why we, the experts At CBS Essentials, we’ve researched the best air purifier options in 2024 to help you narrow down your search.

Best Air Purifiers for Smoke, Allergies, and Pet Dander

Check out the best air purifiers in 2024 for smoke, pet dander, and allergies. All of the following options are rated four stars or higher.

Best Smart Air Purifier: Molecule Air Pro

Molekule air purifiers were developed over 25 years ago to “break down pollutants at the molecular level, including viruses, bacteria, mold, ozone, allergens and chemicals.” This large-room air purifier (up to 1,000 square feet) claims to detect and destroy pollutants 1,000 times smaller than standard filters must meet to qualify as HEPA.

Want to know how clean the air in your home is? The Molekule app can track six types of pollutants in real-time (in 5-minute increments) and show you how your home’s air quality has changed over the past month.

“I’ve had my Molekule for four years now, and it has been a game changer for allergy relief!” says one reviewer.

The Molekule Air Pro costs $1,015, or $980 when purchased with a filter subscription.

Best designer air purifier: Samsung Bespoke Cube Air Purifier

The Samsung Bespoke Cube air purifier is quiet and features enhanced HEPA filtration, a pet mode to reduce hair and odors, and five-way suction that draws air from every corner of the room. The display lets you monitor your home’s pollution levels in real time.

The Samsung Bespoke Cube air purifier purifies the air 360 degrees, so it’s not meant to be tucked away in a corner. Luckily, thanks to its Bespoke design, it won’t look like an eyesore in your home. It’s recommended for rooms up to 350 square feet.

You can get this 4.2-star rated air purifier on Amazon for $439.

Ideal for removing formaldehyde: Dyson Purifier Cool Formaldehyde TP09 Fan

This Dyson air purifier and fan goes above and beyond most, destroying even the formaldehyde your furniture can release into the air. It also has a carbon filter that removes gases and odors. This True HEPA air purifier diagnoses the air quality in your room as it runs and lets you know as it cleans. It also doubles as a powerful oscillating fan.

One Amazon reviewer says of this 4.4-star rated air filter: “The filter is so easy to install, [the] “The mobile app is very handy and the little screen on the fan itself showing different levels of particles, NO2, HCHO, etc. is also very handy. Honestly, I didn’t think I needed a formaldehyde filter, but to my surprise, my room had high levels of it!”

You can buy this air purifier on sale right now at Dyson and Amazon.

Best Budget Air Purifier: Airtok Air Purifier Twin Pack

Get two air purifiers with this budget-friendly True HEPA kit recommended for 100 square feet. They feature an aroma pad that you can add essential oils to, as well as a night light. Set them on a timer if you like.

“Great in a bedroom, office, or kitchen,” says one Amazon user. “Quiet even on high settings. Extremely easy to use… Having two for such a great price is a great bonus.”

With a list price of $117, you can get this two-piece air purifier set for $60 after a coupon.

Another economical choice to consider: Germ Guardian Air Purifier

This Germ Guardian small room air purifier has four speeds. It features a HEPA filter that removes 99.97% of dust, pollen, pet dander and mold, and a carbon filter that helps reduce odors.

It claims to circulate air more than four times per hour in rooms up to 105 square feet, with a timer that can be set for up to eight hours. We like that it operates 360 degrees, allowing you to place it just about anywhere in the room.

This 4.5-star rated air purifier costs $40 at Walmart.

What does HEPA mean? Is it different from true HEPA?

Many air purifiers use the term HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) to describe their air filter, but you should be aware that not all air purifiers that use this term are the same. Some brands use this term misleadingly.

HEPA is a federal standard for the efficiency of air filters. To be HEPA certified, an air filter must be able to remove at least 99.97% of dust, pollen, mold, bacteria and all airborne particles down to 0.3 microns in size, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

HEPA filters are not generally available to the public for residential use. HEPA filters, commonly found in hospitals and industrial environments where decontamination is critical, require certification from the Department of Energy (DoE) to be called HEPA. Commercially available air filters are not eligible for official government testing.

Don’t confuse HEPA filters with True HEPA filters: They are not the same. Unlike HEPA filters, there is no federal standard for True HEPA filters. The EPA states that True HEPA filters “are likely not equivalent in performance to HEPA filter systems used in health care buildings and industrial processes, but they do have very high removal efficiencies (i.e., typically 99 percent or greater) for the particle sizes tested.”

What to look for in an air purifier?

It’s also a good idea to consider the noise level. The best air purifiers are relatively quiet, but some can be a bit loud. We scoured customer reviews to find nice, quiet options for our list of the best air purifiers.

Finally, Energy Star certified air purifiers will have the lowest impact on your electricity bill. Energy Star certified units are energy efficient, making them better for the environment and your electricity bills.

Can an air purifier cover a large room?

Many air purifiers, including relatively compact ones, can provide clean air for a large room, but the coverage area of ​​each air purifier varies. Some are designed for smaller rooms or can be used in pairs. Be sure to check the coverage area listed before finalizing your air purifier purchase.

How often should you replace air purifier filters?

Air purifier filters should be replaced regularly to get the best air purification results. Most manufacturers recommend replacing filters every 12 months, but some need to be replaced more often, especially in homes with a lot of dust and animal hairBe sure to check the instructions that came with your air purifier.