9 Best Air Purifiers (2019): HEPA, PECO, and More

Indoor air is dirty. Homes aren’t impenetrable fortresses of boxed air. Particulate matter, volatile organic compounds, and vaporous chemicals seep in through HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) systems and the weatherstripping around windows. Indoor plastics, furniture, paint, and flooring off-gas noxious fumes, and that’s before you talk about the wildfire smoke that has become a seasonal hazard in many parts of the country. An air purifier won’t do much good if you’re not vacuuming regularly and changing the filters in your home’s HVAC system, but if you live where there’s a lot of pollution or wildfires, it could help a lot.

These are our top air purifiers. We ran them in a polluted, poorly-sealed New York City apartment and throughout Oregon during the wildfire season, in a series of living rooms, kitchens, and bedrooms. All of them saw significant anecdotal improvements, from stopping persistent coughs to waking up with clearer sinuses and less-raspy throats.

If you’re looking for more home tips, check out our guides to the best smart displays or best cleaning supplies, and take a peek at all of our buying guides for more.

Updated December 2019: We’ve added new options like the Honeywell Bluetooth Smart Air Purifier.