Best Air Purifiers for 2025 — Guide & Picks

Indoor air can be up to five times more polluted than outdoor air. Energy-efficient homes trap pollutants from cooking, cleaning chemicals, fragrances, pets, smoke and off-gassing furniture. When outdoor air is clean, opening windows for at least 15 minutes a day dramatically improves indoor air quality. If outdoor air is unhealthy (wildfire smoke, heavy traffic pollution, or high pollen), a quality air purifier is the next best option.

What air purifiers can and can’t do

Air purifiers remove particulate matter (PM2.5/PM10) and—when equipped with activated carbon—can reduce VOCs and odors. HEPA (true HEPA) filters capture very small particles like dust, pollen, mold spores, smoke and some bacteria. No consumer air purifier can reduce CO2; ventilation (opening windows or mechanical ventilation) is required for that.

What to look for

• HEPA + activated carbon: HEPA for particles; carbon for VOCs and odors.
• Room size and CADR/CFM: Match the purifier’s rated room coverage to your space.
• Noise levels: Check low-speed noise if you’ll run it all day or use it in a bedroom.
• Filter costs: Factor ongoing replacement filters (many recommend replacing every 6–12 months).
• CARB certification: In California, air cleaners must meet CARB ozone limits. The notable models below are CARB-certified except where noted.

Top models (notes & links)

Below are the models mentioned in the review, with quick notes and an Amazon search link (affiliate tag applied) so you can check current prices and availability:

• IQAir HealthPro Plus SE — High-end, medical-grade filtration; CARB-certified. Find on Amazon
• Coway Airmega Icon S — Well-designed, quiet and reliable; CARB-certified. Find on Amazon
• Dyson Purifier Cool — Distinctive design, VOC + particulate sensing; CARB-certified. Find on Amazon
• Molekule Air Pro — PECO technology, premium price and filters; CARB-certified. Find on Amazon
• Sensibo Pure — Budget-oriented, integrates with Sensibo ecosystem; not CARB-certified and underperformed some tests. Find on Amazon

Practical advice

• When possible, ventilate rooms with outdoor air for quick improvements (15 minutes/day recommended by the American Lung Association).
• Run purifiers on low for continuous cleaning and switch to high during events that raise particles (cooking, smoke, heavy pollen).
• Keep purifiers away from walls or large obstructions; many models need ~1 foot clearance and perform best near center of the room.
• Complement purifiers with regular cleaning (vacuuming, dusting) and quality HVAC filters (MERV-13 recommended by American Lung Association).

More resources

For general shopping: Air purifier search on Amazon

Note: This summary is based on a consumer review roundup and testing of multiple air purifiers conducted in 2025. All links to the original Engadget RSS feed were intentionally omitted per instructions.