Which air purifiers are best for reducing microbial and smoke particles from room air?

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Air Purifier Reviewed

Written by Meredith Worthington, Ph.D. — Medically reviewed and edited by Tod Cooperman, M.D.

Updated November 21, 2024 ⓘ

Answer:

Some portable air cleaners can help remove microbial particles (i.e., viruses, bacteria, and fungi) and wildfire smoke from room air. These devices can be part of a strategy for protecting people indoors when used along with other recommended practices. Keep in mind that ventilating with clean, outdoor air (which can be done by opening a window, for instance) is typically the best way to improve indoor air quality.

To help you understand and compare air purifiers, sign-in for the complete answer in which we review dozens of products, showing which we recommend or don't recommend, and which devices are our Top Picks for use in different sized rooms based on their validated performances, certifications and other objective ratings. We also discuss and compare the main types of filters, including fibrous air filters (including true HEPA vs. HEPA-type filters), UVGI filters, electrostatic filters and ionizers (which are often used in personal or "wearable" air purifiers), filters for removing odors, DIY air cleaners, and humidifiers (including information about whether they can be used with air purifiers and how to avoid potential exposure to heavy metals emitted by humidifiers).

We review the following air purifiers:

AirDoctor 3000 Professional Air Purifier
Alen BreatheSmart 75i Air Purifier
Blueair Blue Classic 605 Air Purifier
Blueair Blue Pure 211i Max Air Purifier
Clorox Medium Room True HEPA Air Purifier
Coway Airmega 200M Air Purifier
Coway Airmega ProX Air Purifier
Coway AP-1512HH Mighty Air Purifier
Honeywell True HEPA 50250
Levoit Core 300 True HEPA Air Purifier
Levoit Vital 200s Air Purifier
Medify Air MA-25 Air Purifier
Mila Air Purifier with The Big Sneeze Filter
Nuwave OxyPure Smart Air Purifier
Rabbit Air BioGS 2.0 SPA-550A Ultra Quiet Air Purifier
Rabbit Air A3 Ultra Quiet Air Purifier
Winix C535 Air Purifier
Winix 5500-2 Air Purifier
Winix 5300-2 Air Cleaner
Winix 9800 Air Purifier

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