Do air purifiers help with allergies
The 6 Best Air Purifiers for Allergies and Asthma in 2024
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Air purifiers can benefit those with asthma and allergies. Here are our top picks based on the most effective types of filters for dust, dander, and pollen.
Most of us spend a significant amount of the day inside, especially throughout the colder seasons. While it may be nice to snuggle up with pets or open a window to let in fresh air, it can also introduce a lot of or air impurities and trigger allergies.
Anyone can enjoy the benefits of an air purifier, but if you experience frequent allergies, you may be looking for one that specifically filters out particles that can cause allergic reactions to dust or dander.
To help you filter your options and help you breathe a little easier, we talked with an expert and compared several different brands to formulate our picks of the best air purifiers for allergies.
Pricing guide
- $ = under $250
- $$ = $250$450
- $$$ = over $450
Best air purifier for air circulation
- Maximum coverage: 400 sq ft
- Warranty: 2 years
- Weight: 10.25 lb
- Price: $$
Healthline's review
Its easy to spot a Dyson fan thanks to its iconic look and futuristic design. This purifying fan can help cool you off during warm days without the constant noise of whirling fan blades. Featuring a full 350-degree rotation, it can clean and circulate the air from almost any direction.
Pair this fan with your smartphone for real-time readings of what impurities are being pulled out of the air. It also has a filter tracker that can tell you how many hours of runtime your filter has before needing to be replaced. Each HEPA filter uses activated carbon to freshen up any room and can be replaced easily.
- wider oscillation allows for more of a full-room cleaning
- LED screen shows real-time air quality
- smartphone app compatible
- expensive
- replacement filters required
- Smart connectivity: controllable with Dyson LInk app, compatible with Alexa and Siri
- Particle retention size: 0.3 microns
- Certifications: Certified Asthma and Allergy friendly, Energy Star
- Returns: free returns for Prime members
- Shipping: free shipping for Prime members
Best portable air purifier
- Warranty: 2 years
- Maximum coverage: 250 sq ft
- Weight: 7.3 lb
- Price: $$
Healthline's review
Buying a large air purifier to cover a wide area can be very costly. So if youre looking for a smaller, portable unit to take from room to room, the Molekule Air Mini+ is a good choice.
Using a nanotechnology photo electrochemical oxidation (PECO) filter, this air purifier works to not only trap and capture impurities but also break them down and destroy them.
This mini purifier can cover 250 square feet (sq ft), is cleared by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for medical use, and comes with a vegan leather strap that makes it easier to carry.
Each filter lasts approximately 6 months. But if youre worried youll forget to change it, theres a subscription option to have filters mailed to your home via the Molekule website.
- vegan leather strap for easy carrying
- filters last up to 6 months
- smartphone compatible
- FDA cleared for medical use
- not good for large rooms
- pricey for some budgets, considering its smaller size
- Certifications: CARB certified, FDA cleared for medical use
- Smart connectivity: WiFi enabled app, compatible with Alexa
- Particle retention size: 0.3 microns
- Returns: free returns for Prime members
- Shipping: free shipping for Prime members
- Maximum coverage: 155 sq ft
- Warranty: 5 years
- Weight: 7.74 lb
- Price: $
Healthline's review
Honeywell is one of the most well-known, budget-friendly brands out there when it comes to products that can clean, cool, or heat your home. This Honeywell air purifier is intended for medium-size rooms (155 sq ft), but there are models that cover large rooms (310 sq ft) and extra-large rooms (465 sq ft).
Using an activated carbon HEPA filter, the air in your room is filtered through four cleaning levels to collect the microscopic particles that commonly trigger an allergic reaction, like pollen, dust, and pet dander.
It also features an easy-to-access control panel where you can set the cleaning level and the auto-off timer. Theres a light on the panel to help you remember to swap out the filter, so you know exactly when its time to install a clean one.
- affordable price
- filters have four layers of filtration
- includes four different cleaning speeds
- additional costs for replacement filters
- unit may be too loud for some users
- Certifications: Energy Star
- Smart connectivity: none
- Particle retention size: 0.3 microns
- Returns: free returns for Prime members
- Shipping: free shipping for Prime members
Best air purifier for pets
- Maximum coverage: 1,582 sq ft
- Warranty: 5 years
- Weight: 19.2 lb
- Price: $$
Healthline's review
Air purifiers for larger spaces often look bulky, oversized, and generally throw off your home decor. However, this smart air purifier from Bissell can clean large rooms and look stylish while doing it.
At first glance, you might think it looks like a large stereo speaker, with its large fabric front, but that is actually the first layer of the units large filter.
Pet owners will also find that each layer of this filter works to clear out pet hair, dander, and odor. The fabric filter layer is made to catch and capture larger allergens like pet hair and lint.
The second layer is a medical-grade HEPA filter that can catch small particles like pollen, pet dander, and smoke. The final layer is a carbon filter that filters out unpleasant odors, including pet odor.
- simple, stylish design
- large three-layered filter
- LED light that reports current air quality
- internal fan can be noisy
- replacing filters can be costly over time
- Certifications: AHAM Verified for Clean Air Delivery Rates
- Smart connectivity: none
- Particle retention size: 0.3 microns
- Returns: free returns for Prime members
- Shipping: free shipping for Prime members
Best wall-mounted air purifier
- Maximum coverage: 815 sq ft
- Warranty: 5 years
- Weight: 19.4 lb
- Price: $$$
Healthline's review
Many air purifiers take up a lot of floor space and can be a little noisy. The RabbitAir MinusA2 is designed to blend into almost any room, with a thin, lightweight design that can fit on a shelf, desk, or even mounted to the wall.
Its available in black or white, or theres an option to add popular art designs or cartoon characters to the faceplate. You can also order custom filters that target specific allergens and impurities, like a pet allergy, toxin absorber, germ defense, or odor remover filters.
While the filters need to be replaced, theyre built to last a long time approximately 2 years, even with it running for 12 hours per day. This air purifier can cover about 815 sq ft and runs quietly.
- customizable face plates
- long-lasting filters for specific allergies
- energy-efficient and slim design
- pricey
- may have trouble completely removing strong smoke or pet smells
- Certifications: Energy Star
- Smart connectivity: controllable with Rabbit Air app, compatible with Alexa
- Particle retention size: 0.3 microns
- Returns: free returns for Prime members
- Shipping: free shipping for Prime members
Best air purifier for large rooms
- Maximum coverage: 990 sq ft
- Warranty: 2 years
- Weight: 14.12 lb
- Price: $$
Healthline's review
This cylinder-shaped air purifier can give you a full 360 degrees of cleaning, which means you can maximize its reach by placing it in the center of any room for up to 1,005 sq ft of coverage. Using an active carbon HEPA filter, this air purifier is great for people with allergies.
This model is energy efficient and virtually whisper-quiet while in operation. The model is also compatible with your smartphone, smart Google device, or Amazon Alexa so that you can control it remotely.
I purchased this air purifier in the summer of 2023 when the Canada wildfire smoke came down to the New York area.
It sets up very easily in just a few steps and it utilizes a HEPA filter, which is necessary for pulling out a lot of the small, harmful particles from wildfire smoke. It has several extra features, too, like a power-off timer and adjustable fan speeds.
It even has a sleep fan option in case the other fan speeds are too loud for you while youre trying to get to sleep. Personally, I prefer some white noise at bedtime, so I actually enjoyed the higher fan speeds. I guess it could double as a white noise machine, too, for some people! It has also been effective at cutting back on pet dander, too.
Steven Rowe, Healthline editor
- covers large rooms and spaces
- 360 degrees of cleaning
- smart-device compatible
- large footprint
- some users having difficulty connecting it to Wi-Fi
- Certifications: Energy Star, FCC certified
- Smart connectivity: compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant
- Particle retention size: 0.3 microns
- Returns: free returns for Prime members
- Shipping: free shipping for Prime members
There are a lot of great air purifiers available, but for people with frequent allergies, a more targeted purification system is needed. So we looked for air purifiers with HEPA filters that used activated carbon or similar purification ingredients to help filter allergens like pet hair, pet dander, pollen, and smoke.
We prioritized products from trusted, proven brands with a significant number of strong customer reviews. Products that were energy efficient and generally quieter while in operation, were considered for our list.
Finally, we chose products at a variety of prices and room square foot coverage because everyones needs and budget are different. We wanted to build a list where most people could find something that worked for their homes.
*Prices accurate as of October 2023
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) refers to several studies that link the use of air purifiers to allergies and asthma symptom relief. The EPA cautions that these studies dont always point to significant improvements or a reduction in all allergy symptoms, though.
- A 2018 study found that using a HEPA air purifier in the bedroom improved peoples allergic rhinitis symptoms by reducing the concentration of particulate matter and dust mites in the air.
- A
2018 study following 46 people using air purifiers with PECO filters found that their allergy symptoms decreased significantly over 4 weeks. - A 2018 study concluded that air purifiers were a promising therapeutic option for people with asthma brought on by dust mites.
- A 2020 study indicated that using HEPA air purifiers may significantly reduce particulate matter levels and the need for medication among people with allergic rhinitis.
- A
2022 study suggested that a portable HEPA air purifier with an adequate CADR can significantly reduce particulate matter and cat, dog, and dust mite allergens from indoor air.
To select the best air purifier for your needs, consider the following:
- Filtration system: Decide which types of air pollutants and odors you plan to filter. To target allergies, consider HEPA and activated carbon filtration.
- Room size: Choose a model suitable for the size of the room or area you want to filter. Check the device dimensions and consider how it will fit into the space.
- Budget: Consider the initial cost as well as filter replacements.
- Company reputation: Choose a company with a solid reputation that provides quality products and excellent customer service.
- Customer reviews: Read online reviews to get an overall feel for customer satisfaction and find out what people say about your specific concerns, including noise, energy efficiency, and smart features.
If you frequently experience symptoms such as coughing, sneezing, and head congestion, it may be time to see an allergist. They can identify triggers and create a treatment plan that helps prevent, alleviate, and manage symptoms to enhance your overall quality of life.
Additional reasons to see an allergist include:
It comes down to the type of filter. Its important to consider what air pollutants you want to filter and the size of the room youll be using it in.
There are many types of air filters that can remove particles at varying degrees. For example, HEPA filters, UV air filters, and ion filters are very good at removing dust, dander, pollen, and mold, but they are not great at removing odors, said Dr. Alana Biggers, assistant professor of medicine at the University of Illinois-Chicago.
Carbon-based filters are good at filtering some particles and odors, but are not as effective in removing dust, dander, pollen, and mold, she said.
Above we created a table that breaks down the different types of air filters and how they work.
Air purifiers and humidifiers are very different devices. An air purifier removes particles, gases, and other pollutants from indoor air, making the air cleaner to breathe. A humidifier adds moisture or humidity to the air without cleaning it.
In most air purifiers, the filter does all the work, so if its not working at its usual capacity or you notice and increase in allergy and asthma symptoms, the filter is probably to blame. However, if the mechanical hardware like the fan, control panel, or air quality sensors breaks down, youll want to get a new purifier.
Using an air purifier can remove many allergic triggers. While theres no official recommendation for the use of air purifiers for allergies, many medical experts and research studies point to their effectiveness.
Mold can grow quickly in humid areas with a lot of moisture and limited airflow. If youre worried about your purifier growing mold avoid using it in rooms that tend to retain moisture, like the bathroom.
You can also remove the filter from time to time to check for mold and clean it as needed. If you live in an area where its difficult to manage humidity, consider using a dehumidifier.
Not only will it decrease the chances of your purifier growing mold, but it can make any room more comfortable.
Yes, air purifiers help the lungs by improving the air quality. The devices help reduce exposure to indoor particles, allergens, and pollutants, which may positively affect respiratory health.
However, research from 2021 suggests that indoor air filters may reduce indoor particulate matter but dont significantly affect respiratory symptoms.
Sleeping with an air purifier on may help you breathe better and improve your sleep quality. You can choose a low setting to minimize noise and dim or turn off the light.
A small 2023 study suggests that using a HEPA-filtered air purifier may improve air quality and positively affect sleep for people without clinical sleep disturbances. Compared with the placebo group, the HEPA-filtered air purifier group slept an average of 12 minutes longer and spent 19 minutes more in bed.
However, there were no significant changes in other sleep and mood outcomes, and the HEPA filter group experienced more time awake after falling asleep.
The best place to put an air purifier is the area where you spend the most time or that is a source of pollution. Choose a space with plenty of ventilation that provides adequate space around the unit. Typically, you can place small models on a surface a few feet from the floor and put large models on the floor.
If youre experiencing allergy or asthma symptoms inside your house, an air purifier may help reduce your symptoms by cleaning the air.
There are many different brands and models of air purifiers. Determine the size of your room and your specific filtration needs before purchasing an air purifier.
