September 2022
Air Purifiers: Meta Ranking Report
This report contains an aggregate consensus of Air Purifier rankings posted by key online experts, as of September 2022.
Summary
As of 7 Sep 2022, Coway AP-1512HH takes the cake as the most critically-acclaimed air purifier with 5 expert endorsements. 2 experts out of 5 recommended it as the '#1 air purifier' this month. It is followed by Blueair Pure 211+ and Honeywell HPA300 , with 5 and 4 expert endorsements respectively.
At a glance - September 2022 Ranking
| Rank | Change | Price | Air Purifier |
Wirecutter
|
Business Insider
|
WIRED
|
NBC News
|
Forbes
|
Popular Mechanics
|
CNET
|
The Spruce Pets
|
This Old House
|
Tom's Guide
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
+1 | $190 |
Coway AP-1512HH
|
1
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
4
|
1
|
3
|
-
|
-
|
4
|
|
2
|
-1 | $317 |
Blueair Pure 211+
|
7
|
-
|
-
|
2
|
-
|
4
|
1
|
-
|
-
|
1
|
|
3
|
- | $219 |
Honeywell HPA300
|
-
|
1
|
-
|
3
|
-
|
-
|
2
|
-
|
-
|
2
|
|
4
|
- | $525 |
Coway Airmega 400
|
-
|
-
|
7
|
-
|
-
|
3
|
5
|
7
|
3
|
-
|
|
5
|
- | $310 |
Coway Airmega 200M
|
2
|
-
|
1
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
6
|
+2 | $220 |
Levoit Core 400S
|
6
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
3
|
2
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
7
|
-1 | $532 |
Blueair Protect 7470i
|
-
|
4
|
-
|
4
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
3
|
|
8
|
+1 | $90 |
Levoit LV-H132
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
8
|
1
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
9
|
+2 | $204 |
Winix 5500-2
|
3
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
10
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
5
|
|
10
|
-3 | $109 |
Blueair Pure 411
|
-
|
-
|
5
|
-
|
-
|
8
|
4
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
11
|
+1 | $250 |
Blueair Blue Pure 311 Auto
|
5
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
2
|
-
|
|
15
|
+1 | $273 |
Winix AM90
|
4
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
5
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
16
|
-1 | $260 |
Bissell Air320 Max Smart
|
-
|
-
|
4
|
6
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
17
|
- | $100 |
GermGuardian AC4825
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
7
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
5
|
-
|
|
18
|
- | $140 |
Blueair Pure 411 Auto
|
-
|
-
|
6
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
6
|
|
19
|
- | $100 |
Levoit Core 300
|
8
|
5
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
We ranked Coway AP-1512HH #1 in September 2022 because:
- 5 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Air Purifiers” rankings.
- Out of those, 2 experts ranked Coway AP-1512HH as #1.
Forbes
Best Compact Air Purifier
|
Pros
Compact design
Four-step filtration process
|
Cons
Expensive for the coverage space
|
Popular Mechanics
Best Overall
|
Pros
Affordable
Well reviewed
Display lights turn off
|
Cons
Needs some upkeep
|
Tom's Guide
Most energy-efficient air purifier
|
Pros
Small footprint
Eco mode available
Energy efficient
Three year warranty
|
Cons
Loud
Heavy to move around
Expensive replacement filters
|
We ranked Blueair Pure 211+ #2 in September 2022 because:
- 5 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Air Purifiers” rankings.
- Out of those, 2 experts ranked Blueair Pure 211+ as #1.
Popular Mechanics
Great for Larger Rooms
|
Pros
Ideal for big bedrooms or small offices
Very quiet
Performs well
|
Cons
Pricey
|
Tom's Guide
Best air purifier overall
|
Pros
Cleans air efficiently
Uses power well
Great for large spaces
|
Cons
Larger footprint
Night mode lacks power
|
Methodology: combine opinions of key experts
Identify Experts
We identify key publishers and experts that consistently review and recommend Air Purifiers.
Capture Rankings
For each publisher we find a currently recommended "top 10" list of Air Purifiers, it must be updated in the last 9 months.
Aggregate Rankings
We put all those lists together and aggregate them. The more frequently a product is recommended, the higher it is in our ranking
Experts chosen for September 2022 ranking
Wirecutter
Business Insider
WIRED
NBC News
Forbes
Popular Mechanics
CNET
The Spruce Pets
This Old House
Tom's Guide
We ranked Honeywell HPA300 #3 in September 2022 because:
- 4 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Air Purifiers” rankings.
- Out of those, 1 expert ranked Honeywell HPA300 as #1.
Business Insider
Best air purifier overall
|
Pros
Operates quietly, widely available filters, performed the best in our air purifying tests, low upfront cost, Energy Star-certified, easy to set up and maintain
|
Cons
High energy consumption, no auto mode
|
Tom's Guide
Best value for a large room
|
Pros
Strong performance
Cheap replacement filters
Easy to use
|
Cons
Noisy
High energy consumption
No auto mode
|
We ranked Coway Airmega 400 #4 in September 2022 because:
- 5 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Air Purifiers” rankings.
Popular Mechanics
For Really Big Spaces
|
Pros
Fit for large rooms and whole apartments
Strong design
Smart features and sleep settings
|
Cons
Pricey
|
The Spruce Pets
Best for Large Rooms
|
Pros
Can filter spaces up to 1,560 square feet
Dual air intake design
Sleep mode
|
Cons
Expensive
|
This Old House
Best For Large Rooms
|
Pros
Has an LED ring that indicates the air quality
Comes with a timer for-, four-, and eight-hour settings
Has auto, sleep, and eco modes
|
Cons
Doesn't make sense for small spaces
Can be expensive to replace the filters
|
We ranked Coway Airmega 200M #5 in September 2022 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Air Purifiers” rankings.
- Out of those, 1 expert ranked Coway Airmega 200M as #1.
We ranked Levoit Core 400S #6 in September 2022 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Air Purifiers” rankings.
Forbes
Best Air Purifier For Smoke
|
Pros
App- or voice-controlled
App monitors air quality inside and outside the home
Works in rooms up to 403 square feet
|
Cons
May seem too complicated if you’re not technologically inclined
|
Popular Mechanics
For Hands-Free Control
|
Pros
Hands-free control
Ideal for mid-sized rooms
Very quiet
|
Cons
Pricier than competing models
|
We ranked Blueair Protect 7470i #7 in September 2022 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Air Purifiers” rankings.
Business Insider
Best quiet air purifier
|
Pros
Among the best at reducing VOCs and particulate matter from the air
affordable and widely available filters
quiet operation
easy to clean
powerful enough or medium-size rooms
useful and data-rich app
voice control
|
Cons
Heavy
lacks handles
app didn't connect easily and sometimes lags
|
Tom's Guide
Best smart air purifier
|
Pros
Great performance
Offers lots of features and data
Modern and sleek appearance
Quiet
|
Cons
Can be difficult to move around
High energy consumption
|
We ranked Levoit LV-H132 #8 in September 2022 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Air Purifiers” rankings.
- Out of those, 1 expert ranked Levoit LV-H132 as #1.
Forbes
Best Air Purifier Overall
|
Pros
Three-stage filtering
Compact
Inexpensive
|
Cons
No wireless or connected features
Filter replacement can be expensive over time
|
We ranked Winix 5500-2 #9 in September 2022 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Air Purifiers” rankings.
Popular Mechanics
Cheap But Effective
|
Pros
Cheap
Strong performance
|
Cons
Imposing design
Loud
|
Tom's Guide
Best air purifier for technology buffs
|
Pros
Unique technology
Air quality indicator
Remote control included
|
Cons
Expensive filters
Large and plain design
|
We ranked Blueair Pure 411 #10 in September 2022 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Air Purifiers” rankings.
Popular Mechanics
Sleek and Cheap
|
Pros
Ideal for kids bedrooms
Very affordable
|
Cons
Louder than comparable purifiers
|
We ranked Blueair Blue Pure 311 Auto #11 in September 2022 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Air Purifiers” rankings.
This Old House
Quietest Setting
|
Pros
Has a circular shape that intakes air all the way around
Comes in different sizes colors
Has a fabric pre-filter that catches large particles
|
Cons
Doesn't include a timer
Has only one button to cycle through the settings
|
We ranked Winix AM90 #12 in September 2022 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Air Purifiers” rankings.
Popular Mechanics
Alexa-Compatible
|
Pros
Wi-Fi enabled hands-free control
Very affordable
|
Cons
No display shut-off
|
We ranked Bissell Air320 Max Smart #13 in September 2022 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Air Purifiers” rankings.
We ranked GermGuardian AC4825 #14 in September 2022 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Air Purifiers” rankings.
This Old House
Best Value
|
Pros
Uses an activated charcoal filter to reduce odors from smoking, cooking, and pets
Provides three speed settings
Has a slim design that tucks into a corner
|
Cons
Filters only larger allergen particles
Produces a lot of sound on its highest setting
|
We ranked Blueair Pure 411 Auto #15 in September 2022 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Air Purifiers” rankings.
Tom's Guide
Best value for small spaces
|
Pros
Ideal for small spaces
Easy to set up
Good value for money
|
Cons
Wouldn't suit larger rooms
|
We ranked Levoit Core 300 #16 in September 2022 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Air Purifiers” rankings.
Business Insider
Best small room air purifier
|
Pros
Excellent at removing VOCs, good at removing particulate matter, low energy consumption, app control and air quality monitoring, operates quietly on low speed, affordable and widely available filters
|
Cons
Average noisiness on high speed, not suitable for larger rooms
|