Best Air Purifiers for Allergies

What separates the best air purifier for allergies on this page?

Particle removal carries the most weight in our scoring (35 points), and the numbers here show why the top picks sit where they do. The Coway Airmega AP-1512HH Mighty scores 8.6 at $229.99, clearing our room to 90% in 14 minutes on high, with filters about $45 a year and 25 W on medium. The Levoit Core 600S scores 8.4 at $299.99 and was the fastest we timed at 9 minutes to 90%, rated for 635 sq ft with CADR 410.

Noise and running cost split the field. The Blueair Blue Pure 211i Max scores 7.9 at $349.99 and cleared the room in 11 minutes at only 50 dB, but its $80 filters every 6–9 months make it the most expensive to run. The Honeywell HPA300 scores 6.8 at $249.99 with CADR 300, yet it is the loudest here on every setting — 33 dB on low, 62 on turbo — and has no sensor or auto mode.

What should you check before buying an air purifier for allergies?

Match the rated coverage to the room, not the price tag. The Levoit Core 300S scores 8.2 at $149.99 and is inaudible at 24 dB on sleep mode, but it took 24 minutes to clear our 400 sq ft room because it is a 220 sq ft unit.

Then weigh the two costs our scoring rewards: energy and filter cost (20 points) and value (20 points).

• Filter cost: the Coway Airmega 400 runs $130 a year in filters; the Core 300S has the cheapest five-year running cost here.
• Smells and smoke: the Winix 5500-2's granular carbon filter removed cooking smell where thin filters did not; the Blueair has little carbon and is not for smoke or smells.
• Noise: the Coway Airmega 400 is the quietest low setting at 22 dB for a unit this size; the Core 600S hits 58 dB on high.
• Smart features: the AP-1512HH Mighty has no app or Wi-Fi; the Core 600S and Core 300S add app scheduling and auto mode.

Bedrooms and small rooms

The Levoit Core 300S suits a bedroom: 24 dB on sleep mode, app control and a display-off setting at $149.99.

Open-plan living spaces

The Levoit Core 600S is rated for open-plan spaces and cleared our room in 9 minutes. The Blueair Blue Pure 211i Max fits the same 635 sq ft coverage if quiet operation matters more than filter cost.

Whole floors

The Coway Airmega 400 covers 1,560 sq ft with dual filters that last a year, at $449.99 and $130 a year in filters.

Value and smells

The Coway Airmega AP-1512HH Mighty is the best per dollar at $229.99. The Winix 5500-2 handles cooking smell and is regularly on sale well below $200.

For a bedroom, the Levoit Core 300S at $149.99 is quiet at 24 dB on sleep mode and cheap to run. For open-plan rooms, the Levoit Core 600S cleared our room in 9 minutes, while the Coway Airmega AP-1512HH Mighty at $229.99 is the best per dollar. If you need a whole floor, the Coway Airmega 400 covers 1,560 sq ft.