6 Best Air Purifiers for Wildfire Smoke, Tested by Experts
With forest fires on the rise, a capable air cleaner should be part of your defense plan.
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The list of contaminants that can compromise a home’s indoor air quality — from dander and dust mites to mold and mildew — has gotten longer by one in many parts of the country. Due to the effects of climate change, namely severe heat and drought, wildfire smoke is now a clear and present danger for a growing percentage of U.S. homeowners. In hardest-hit California, the fivefold increase in summer burn areas in recent years means more than 2 million residences are now at risk.
While homes catching fire is the biggest wildfire threat, breathing in smoke is another serious health risk. Fine particles in the fumes can aggravate chronic heart and lung diseases, and they’re even linked to premature deaths in people with these conditions, reports the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. People who are otherwise healthy might experience burning eyes, runny noses and illnesses such as bronchitis.
A capable air purifier will help mitigate these risks by capturing fine particulates that make it to the air inside your home. Only some models are up to the task, however, based on the continuous air purifier tests that take place at the Good Housekeeping Institute. As part of our evaluation, we look for air purifiers with filtration systems that can pull even the tiniest particles from the air in your home.
Our experts say these six air purifiers are best at protecting against wildfire smoke, along with a litany of other indoor air pollutants.
Pros
- Fast, effective capture of particulates
- Quiet operation
- Smart controls
Cons
- Not ideal for large spaces
Through more than a decade of air purifier tests, we’ve found that devices with multi-stage filtration tend are best at capturing a wide range of contaminants, including the fine particulates found in wildfire smoke. The Blue Pure 311i+ Max was the best of the best in our latest tests. With a coverage area of 465 square feet, this unit will do an exceptional job of keeping a small apartment or living room's air smoke-free; larger homes or open-air spaces may require a more substantial unit.
The multi-stage cleaning starts with a washable fabric pre-filter that encases the device, where it captures fur, dust and other large particles. This first line of defense puts less strain on in its interior components, namely the true HEPA filter, which in our Lab tests reduced concentrations of PM2.5 and PM10 particles in less than half the time of the next-best model.
Like most Blueair purifiers our experts evaluate, the Blue Pure 311i+ Max scored well for usability with consumer testers. The device features simple controls and an on-unit indicator light that changes color in accordance with the air quality.
Tech-savvy testers liked the more granular data accessible through the Blueair app, like the ability to track pollutant levels over time. The app also makes it easy to set up the auto shut-off and turn-on features that activate the purifier when you're home and turns it off when you leave.
Our experts also liked that this machine is backed by a Quiet Mark certification, meaning it effectively cleans the air in your home without being unduly noisy.
Coverage area: 456 sq ft (recommended) | Filter type: Pre-filter and true HEPA | Dimensions: 23.5" x 14.5" x 14.5" | Weight: 12 lbs | Filter replacement cost: $50 | CADR Smoke/pollen/dust: 300 | Noise level 23–50 dB
Pros
- True HEPA filters particles down to 0.1 microns
- Activated carbon filter adsorbs smoky odors and some harmful chemicals
Cons
- Noisy
In addition to extensive Lab tests, we sent this well-priced air purifier into the homes of expert testers during three days of severe air quality alerts in June 2023, when smoke from Canadian wildfires blanketed New York City. Even under those extreme conditions, one tester noted that her apartment felt “normal and livable’ after running the unit for just one hour.
Given that many homes will require multiple air purifiers during wildfires (one for the kitchen, one for the family rooms, one for each bedroom, etc.), it's nice to know that several GermGuardians can be purchased for the price of just one of the more expensive models on the market, without compromising your health.
Credit the AirSafe + Intelligent Air Purifier’s superb air cleaning with its true HEPA filter that snags particles down to the size of 0.1 microns. The machine also features an activated carbon filter, which removes bad odors and some harmful chemicals through the process of adsorption. However, our experts note that if you live in a humid climate, you won't reap the full benefits with this one because chemical adsorption is less effective when air moisture content is high.
Another caution: Testers noted that the machine gets noisy on the highest fan setting, so if you’re looking for whisper-quiet operation, you should consider one of our other picks.
Coverage area: 215 sq ft (recommended) | Filter type: Activated carbon pre-filter and true HEPA | Dimensions: 9.75" x 9.75" x 12" | Weight: 7.2 lbs | Filter replacement cost: $33 | CADR Not listed | Noise level 24 dB
Pros
- Robust cleaning power
- Sleek front panel
Cons
- Ionization setting not recommended by our experts
If you’re dealing with a lot of smoke — not just from wildfires, but also regular high-heat cooking or maybe a pack-a-day smoker in the apartment below — you need an air purifier with serious air cleaning ability.
The Alen gets the nods from our testers in those scenarios. You'll pay top dollar for the top performance, and it's a beast of a unit, but the Alen is the rare machine that can capture contaminants down to .1 microns. It combines that advanced filtration with a powerful fan for massive cleaning power across 1,300 square feet.
Though the Alen has a hulking housing, it helps that it's one of the better-looking air purifiers to pass through our Labs, with its sleek front panel available in six colors.
Aside from the steep upfront price, filter replacement costs are several times as much as other models. Our safety experts also point out that the Alen has an optional ionization setting designed to combat even more pollutants. We don’t recommend this feature on any air purifier since it can produce ozone, a lung irritant. But even without the use of the ionization setting, the Alen should capture plenty of smoke, while looking good in the process.
Coverage area: 1,300 sq ft (maximum) | Filter type: True HEPA and carbon-activated | Dimensions: 11.5" x 18.5" x 27" | Weight: 27 lbs | Filter replacement cost: $100 | CADR 357 | Noise level 25–50 dB
LEVOIT Core 400S Smart True HEPA Air Purifier
Pros
- Excellent air cleaning
- Remote operation
- Quiet
Cons
- Not suited for large spaces
Wildfires coincide with the summer travel season, so there’s a chance you’ll be away when the smoke from one infiltrates your home. That’s the nice thing about this Wi-Fi-connected air purifier from Levoit — it can be turned on from anywhere via the Levoit VeSync app, which also gives you the ability to monitor real-time air quality, view filter life and set schedules.
As for its smoke-busting performance, the Levoit’s three-stage filtration, including a true HEPA filter, helps it effectively capture airborne pollutants down to .3 microns in rooms up to approximately 400 square feet. “We also liked its built-in precision laser sensor during testing, which accurately monitors particles in the room and auto-adjusts fan speeds as needed,” said Good Housekeeping Institute Data Engineer Nikolas Greenwald.
The purifier is incredibly quiet, operating at just 24 dB, which you’ll appreciate if it’s stationed in your bedroom. As one tester reported, “I’ve been running the unit for several months in my bedroom and I find the light hum to be quite peaceful at night.”
Coverage area: 403 sq ft (maximum) | Filter type: Fabric pre-filter, true HEPA and carbon-activated | Dimensions: 10.79" x 10.79" x 20.47" | Weight: 12.79 lbs | Filter replacement cost: $50 | CADR 260 | Noise level 24 dB
Pros
- Reduced PM2.5 and PM10 particles by 99.5% in half an hour in our climate chamber
- Intuitive controls
Cons
- Air-quality monitor is difficult to see or read
You don’t need to shell out top dollar on a large-capacity air purifier if you only need to clear the air in a studio apartment or other confined space — say, 250 square feet or less. Though this Coway lacks some of the convenience features of other picks, it’s a highly effective air purifier in spaces up to 214 square feet.
In our Lab tests, the Airmega 160 impressed our engineers with its ability to remove PM2.5 and PM10 particles, reducing them by 99.5% in 30 minutes in our test chamber. Setup was simple and the controls fairly intuitive, though we found the air-quality monitor on the unit not as easy to navigate because it's difficult to see or read. This air purifier also had one of the highest fan speeds of all of the models we tested, meaning it does an excellent job circulating air.
The Airmega 160 has the same rectangular shape that our experts have come to expect from Coway. Though the design maximizes surface area for the filters, it means air can only be drawn in from the side of the machine, which slows down the process of purifying. Coway recently released its first cylindrical model, the Airmega 100, which draws air from 360 degrees, for even faster air cleaning. It’s optimal for areas up to 405 square feet.
Coverage area: 214 sq ft (recommended) | Filter type: Pre-filter, carbon filter and true HEPA | Dimensions: 13.4" x 18.5" x 6.5" | Weight: 12.1 lbs | Filter replacement cost: $50 | CADR 138 (smoke), 161 (dust), 219 (pollen) | Noise level 20 dB
Pros
- Sleek, space-efficient design
- Easy to operate
- Superb, multi-level filtration
Cons
- Costs more to buy and operate
- Has an ionization mode, which we don't recommend
The RabbitAir is one of the latest air purifiers to come into the Home Improvement and Outdoor Lab for testing. Our experts like its wall-mounted design and sleek finish, which combine to make it one of the best-looking models we’ve reviewed.
Of course, air cleaning performance matters most, and the RabbitAir impressed our testers there as well. It’s engineered to pull a range of pollutants from the air with its multiple levels of filtration, including a customizable filter that can be matched to specific pollutants in the home.
In the case of wildfire smoke, there’s the “odor removal filter,” which traps bad smells from fires, as well as cooking, mildew and pets. That’s after the true HEPA filter traps particles 0.3 microns in size at 99.97% efficiency and over 99% efficiency for particles less than 0.1 microns, according to the brand.
While on the expensive side, the Rabbit Air also lives up to its ultra-quiet claim, especially in silent mode, when its fan is literally whisper-quiet. Even on the highest "turbo" setting, the fan only gets up around 49 decibels, or as loud as a soft conversation.
One important caveat: Like the Alen, the MinusA2 has an ionization setting, which our experts don't recommend because of the potential health factors. While we prefer purifiers without any ionization mode, at least with the MinusA2, the process for turning it off is straightforward and an indicator light on the face of the unit clearly indicates if it’s in active ion mode.
Coverage area: 815 sq ft (recommended) | Filter type: Pre-filter, true HEPA, carbon-activated filter and custom pet filter | Dimensions: 7" x 21.4" x 20" | Weight: 19.4 lbs | Filter replacement cost: $105
How we test air purifiers
Even before the recent rise in wildfire activity, air purifiers were among the products that our experts test year-round in the Home Improvement and Outdoor Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute. To put together this list of top-performing units, we spent more than 60 hours of researching and testing and we’ve examined 50 different models to date.
When testing air purifiers, our experts start with an extensive review of technical data provided by manufacturers on different units' ability to filter air and remove harmful materials like particulate matter (PM), volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other harmful chemicals. We then pick models for in-Lab testing, which includes un-boxing the units and reviewing the setup instructions, controls and any accompanying apps for smart purifiers.
Next, we conduct thorough performance evaluations. We measure the maximum fan speed of each purifier with an anemometer and record the sound level of each using a decibel meter (pictured) to find the quietest ones. We set each air purifier up in our climate chamber where we run a controlled test to see how quickly each can remove specific pollutants like smoke and VOCs in a 30-minute period and compare the results across the board.
We also evaluate air purifiers in homes to see how they perform in real-world conditions, including homes with smoke from wildfires, cigarettes and fireplaces. Additionally, we use feedback from consumer testers on the ease of setting up and maintaining the units to help us choose the best ones.
What to look for when shopping for the best air purifier
Consider these key factors when choosing a model for your home.
✔️ Coverage area: How large a space are you looking to purify? Manufacturers usually list the square footage that an air purifier can cover and for which it can provide effective air cleaning. As a rule of thumb, opt for air purifiers that feature a coverage area equal to or greater than the area of the space you're looking to purify in order to ensure effective operation. When two coverage areas are listed, we recommend checking the lower number since you'll likely want a device that delivers quick purification.
✔️ Filter type: Air purifiers that have true HEPA filters (as opposed to "HEPA-style" or some other designation) deliver the best protection. Manufacturers will also list the size of particulate matter that an air purifier can defend against, sometimes listed as a PM value. The lower the size of the particulate matter, the better you'll be protected against smaller, often more harmful pollutants. We also recommend air purifiers with activated carbon filters which can adsorb foul odors and other chemicals that may evade the HEPA filter for applications involving smoke.
✔️ CADR: This acronym stands for "clean air delivery rate." It's an industry measure of how much clean air the purifier delivers in a given test environment for various pollutants, and it's typically reported in cubic feet per minute. In general, the CADR should be at least two thirds of the area that the air purifier will be cleaning. So if your room is 300 square feet, look for a CADR of 200 or higher. Not all manufacturers list CADR, but we included it in our product reviews for those that do.
Do air purifiers protect against smoke from wildfires?
Our standard advice with air purifiers is that the device alone can’t give you perfect indoor air quality. For that, you'll also need to follow other best practices, like vacuuming regularly and running exhaust fans. But with an event-based source of indoor air pollution, like that caused by a wildfire, an air purifier is one of the best defenses. In fact, “consider purchasing a portable air cleaner” is the EPA’s first directive in its tip sheet for protecting against wildfires.
Ryan Roten, D.O., an emergency medicine doctor with Redlands Community Hospital in California, agreed, though he stressed the importance of making sure the air purifier is equipped with a HEPA filter. “Anything that has a true HEPA filter in it is probably adequate enough to filter out most of the particles that would be concerning,” he said. "Most of the smoky smell will also be addressed as well."
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
Dan DiClerico has extensively tested and written about air purifiers for nearly 25 years. He has also spearheaded numerous investigative reports on the topic of indoor air quality, working closely with outside experts from government, industry and the home services spaces. As director of the Home Improvement and Outdoor Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute, DiClerico oversaw the latest round of air purifier testing in our Labs and the continuous in-home, survey-based consumer testing that allows us to evaluate these devices in real-world conditions.
Nikolas Greenwald, data engineer at the Institute, contributed in-Lab testing of air purifiers for this report. Greenwald regularly evaluates the top performers and newest entries in the sector to find the best ones on the market. He has a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering and applies his knowledge of fluid dynamics and filtration processes to finding strong contenders in the home HVAC space.
Having written thousands of product reviews and how-to articles on all aspects of home ownership, from routine maintenance to major renovations, Dan (he/him) brings more than 20 years of industry experience to his role as the director of the Home Improvement & Outdoor Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute. A one-time roofer and a serial remodeler, Dan can often be found keeping house at his restored Brooklyn brownstone, where he lives with his wife and kids.
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