Welcome to the future, where clean air is a luxury. From pandemics to wildfires, air purifiers have become the gotta-have-it home appliance. Buildings let in a lot of particulate matter, volatile organic compounds, and vaporous chemicals. Indoor plastics, furniture, paint, and flooring off-gas noxious fumes too. There’s also evidence that air filters can help clean Covid-causing virus particles from the air.
Since your home might be your workplace, playground, meditation studio, dine-in restaurant, neighborhood bar, refuge, and movie theater, you want to ensure that the air you’re breathing for most of the day is clean. These are our top air purifiers. We ran them in a New York City apartment, a Long Island apartment, a Dallas-area apartment, and a Portland, Oregon home. We tested them during wildfire season and in living rooms, kitchens, and bedrooms. All of these purifiers provided significant anecdotal benefits, from stopping persistent coughs and allergy symptoms, to helping us wake up with clearer sinuses and less raspy throats.
Not sure if you need an air purifier or something else? We have a guide to all the different devices that can help you improve your indoor air quality. For more home tips, take a peek at our other guides, including the Best Robot Vacuums and the Best Mesh Wi-Fi Routers.
Updated May 2022: We’ve added the Bissell Air320 Max and Aura Air, and removed the Dyson Pure Humidify+Cool, as it’s been discontinued.
Special offer for Gear readers: Get a 1-year Subscription to WIRED for $5 ($25 off). This includes unlimited access to WIRED.com and our print magazine (if you’d like). Subscriptions help fund the work we do every day.
If you buy something using links in our stories, we may earn a commission. This helps support our journalism. Learn more. Please also consider subscribing to WIRED
Kijangwin is your brand-new go-to destination for all things internet gaming. Whether you're an informal…
Hey there, fashion enthusiasts! Are you ready to dive into the world of trendy clothes…
Hey there! If you're reading this, there's a good chance you've found yourself in the…
Hey there, hemp enthusiasts! If you've been on the hunt for the next big thing…
Hey there! Have you ever found yourself tangled up in the world of communication and…
Are you worried that hidden critters might derail your home sale? Selling a house can…