AIR purifiers do exactly what they say on the tin, cleaning the air inside your home and removing pollutants, odours, gases and even pet hair.
Not only do these clever contraptions provide immediate relief from pollutants, they also offer long-term health benefits. According to the WHO, the air inside homes and offices can be up to five times more polluted than outside due to cleaning products, carpeting, smoke, dust and cooking.
By removing up to 99% of airborne particles, including dust, pollen and pet hair, an air purifier can significantly reduce your risk of developing health issues and help alleviate allergies.
So how does a purifier work? These machines draw air through a series of filters to remove contaminants and pollutants. The process typically starts with a pre-filter that captures larger particles like dust and pet hair. The air then passes through a HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) filter, which traps tiny particles such as pollen, mould spores, and bacteria.
Some models also include activated carbon filters to reduce odours. Finally, the purified air is circulated back into the room, improving air quality.
How to de-clutter if you have a beauty stash to last you a lifetime
Old-fashioned air purifiers tended to be bulky and noisy, but nowadays the best models are sleek and almost silent, and some will even connect with your smartphone.
When shopping for an air purifier, keep in mind the size of the space you need to pop it in. Look for a unit with a recommended room size that matches your room's dimensions.
Next, check the type of filter used—HEPA filters are highly effective at trapping fine particles, while activated carbon filters are great for removing odours and chemicals. Noise level is also key: opt for a quiet model if you plan to use your new purifier in a bedroom or office.
We’ve reviewed options to suit every budget and space, from compact units for small rooms and nurseries to powerful systems suitable for larger open-plan areas, and we reckon there's an air purifier recommended here that’s perfect for every home.
Best air purifiers at a glance:
- Best overall: Blueair Blue Max 3250i
- Best value: Levoit Core Mini
- Best mid-range: Midea SmartAir Pure Control
- Best premium: Dyson Hot+Cool
- Best for kid’s rooms: Maxi Cosi Clean 3-in-1 Smart
- Best for style: Russell & Hobbs Clean Air Compact 2
Dyson Hot+Cool
Dyson Hot+Cool Air Purifier, £400 from AO
Pros: Works brilliantly, looks smart, also a heater and cooler
Cons: Double the price of other decent models, heavier than some units
Rating: 5/5
Dyson’s Hot+Cool may be the priciest air purifier we tested, but it’s also one of the best and the sleekest-looking, too.
This efficient and quiet purifier quickly captures dust, particles and bacteria from the air and doubles up as a room heater and cooler, so if you like the idea of a one-stop-shop for cleaning the air and maintaining room temperature, this could be worth the spend.
I’m a savvy shopper – best time to shop for Xmas 2023 is sooner than you think
We like that it’s quiet, comes with a remote control and oscillates to project clean air around a big space.
Filter: HEPA 13 Recommended room size: 81m2 Smart app: No
Blueair Blue Max 3250i Smart Wifi
Blueair Blue Max 3250i Smart Wifi Air Purifier, £139 from Amazon
Pros: Quiet, smart phone compatible, air quality display
Cons: Too large for small spaces
Rating: 5/5
Keep it simple with this efficient and easy to operate air purifier. Blueair’s Blue Max can be paired with a smart phone app or controlled directly from the panel on top and we on test we liked the colour-coded air quality indicator, which, unlike many other models, makes it quick to check that the air in a room is safe.
This model uses a HEPASilent filter and it was indeed one of the quietest machines we tested.
The Blue Max is larger than some compact designs but its smart grey cover should blend in in most homes.
Filter: HEPASilent Recommended room size: 48m2 Smart app: yes
READ MORE:
- Best tower fans
- Best home fans
- Best air conditioners
- Best dehumidifiers
Maxi Cosi Clean 3-in-1 Smart
Maxi Cosi Clean 3-in-1 Smart Air Purifier, £89.99 from Maxi Cosi
Pros: Good looks, compact size, integrated night light
Cons: No recommended room size is given
Rating: 4/5
Maxi Cosi designed their Clean 3-in-1 Smart Air Purifier for use in nurseries, and Goldilocks style, we think it’s just the right size for a smaller room.
A HEPA filter cleans the air efficiently and we love that the Clean doubles up as a night light and even plays lullabies or white noise to help little ones drift off to sleep.
You can control all three options from your smartphone, so this model is great for checking the air quality in a child’s bedroom or for turning on the purifier before you get home from work. Smart, modern looks would work in any home.
Filter: HEPA13 Recommended room size: n/a Smart app: yes
Vitesy Natede Smart Natural
Natede Smart Natural Air Purifier, £239 from Vitesy
Pros: Lovely natural looks, doubles up as a house plant, silent, no filters required
Cons: Plant not included, still requires maintenance
Rating: 4/5
For something a little different, swap expensive filters for a more natural option and use a plant to purify your room.
The Natede Smart isn’t just a posh plant pot, though, this clever design employs phytodepuration, the ability of plants to absorb air pollutants and transform them into nourishment for the plant itself, to purify the air and water the plant in one go.
We like that you can control the power of the air purifier through your smartphone or by passing your hand over the pot’s control panel.
The filter can be popped out and washed, so no need to keep replacing it. This is also a totally silent option, great if a low hum would annoy you. The Sanseveria plant required isn’t included.
Filter: Own-brand filter Recommended room size: 20mq Smart app: yes
Vitesy Eteria Personal
Vitesy Eteria Personal Air Purifier, £169 from Vitesy
Pros: Small size, great for desks, no fiddly filters
Cons: Limited power
Rating: 3/5
Protect your own bubble with a personal air purifier designed to clean the space around you. Vitesy’s small but mighty Eteria is barely bigger than a pint glass but can still improve the air in a room up to 20 metres square in size thanks to a washable filter (so no expensive replacements are required).
The handy app so you can check air quality anywhere you take the Eteria. This lightweight design has neutral looks and comes in a carry bag; ideal for taking to work to pop on your desk.
Filter: Own-brand filter Recommended room size: 20mq Smart app: yes
Russell & Hobbs Clean Air Compact 2
Russell & Hobbs Clean Air Compact 2, £69.99 from Curry’s
Pros: Affordable, unobtrusive, great looks, timer
Cons: Small recommended room size, no smart app
Rating: 3/5
While the design of an air purifier shouldn’t be the top of your list of requirements, good looks don’t hurt either, and we think the newly launched Russell Hobbs Clean Air Compact 2 is super smart and eye-catching, with a sleek black or white casing and a wood-effect top dashboard.
A HEPA filter goes to work on pollutants and airborne allergens and on test we liked the three fan speeds (the lowest is pleasingly quiet), and timer that can be adjusted from two to eight hours (although it’s a pity you can’t do this from your phone).
The recommended room size is quite small, though.
Filter: HEPA Recommended room size: 11m2 Smart app: no
Midea SmartAir Pure Control
Midea SmartAir Pure Control, £89.99 from High Street TV
Pros: Efficient, great responsive mode, charcoal filter
Cons: Big and bulky
Rating: 3/5
Midea’s SmartAir is big and bulky, so it’s only suitable for larger rooms, open-plan living and offices unless you want it to compete with the furniture.
If you don’t mind a bigger design, this is a very efficient option. It quickly purifiers the air in a big space and the MSmartHome app was one of the easiest to use on test.
A charcoal filter whisks away cooking odours and pet smells and we liked Automatic Mode, which measures the air purity in a room and adjusts the speed of the purifier, so you can leave it to get on with its job.
Filter: HEPA Recommended room size: 36m2 Smart app: Yes
Levoit Core Mini
Levoit Core Mini Air Purifier, £49.99 from Amazon
Pros: Affordable, works with a smart app, aromatherapy option
Cons: Limited room size
Rating: 3/5
The most affordable purifier in our roundup is a popular choice with lots of good reviews, so if you’re a bit discombobulated by the sheer number of air purifiers on the market and the complicated jargon they use, this is a fuss-free purchase.
The Levoit Core Mini may be pocket-friendly but it still ticked the boxes on test, quietly purifying the air in an averagely-sized room using a HEPA filter.
You can also control it with a smart app. On test we loved the unique aromatherapy option; pop your favourite essential oil in to scent your space.
Filter: HEPA Recommended room size: 17m2 Smart app: yes
Solenco Air Purification Pal
Solenco Air Purification Pal, £69.99 from Amazon
Pros: Looks cute, doubles up as night light, affordable
Cons: Strong smell out of box, not silent
Rating: 2/5
Aimed squarely at use in a baby’s bedroom, Solenco’s Air Purification Pal with night light is the cutest air purifier we tested.
Customise the front with the included stickers before you pop it in a nursery; does your little one prefer a cat with a crown or a friendly tiger?
While this design is marketed for babies and toddlers, there’s no reason why you couldn’t remove the stickers and use the Air Purification Pal in any smaller room in the house.
We had a few little niggles with this model on test: the stickers are fiddly, the purifier does make a low hum, which might not be suitable for babies easily disturbed by noise, and the purifier has a strong plastic-y smell straight out of the box (but this does dissipate with time).
Filter: HEPA13 Recommended room size: 10m2 Smart app: no
How we tested out these air purifiers
We tried out each of these air purifiers continuously for two days in different rooms of a standard family home.
We looked for ease of setup and use, simple filter changes, low noise levels and good looks, as well as a noticeable difference to the air around us.
Why do I need an air purifier?
An air purifier improves indoor air quality by removing pollutants, allergens, and toxins. It reduces the risk of respiratory issues, allergies, and asthma by filtering out dust, pollen, pet dander, and mould spores.
For those living in areas with high pollution or suffering from allergies, an air purifier can offer significant health benefits.
They also eliminate unpleasant odours. Do you absolutely need an air purifier? No – but if you live in a city, suffer from allergies or just want to ensure that your family’s indoor space is safe, they can be worth the spend.
How do I use an air purifier?
Using an air purifier is pretty straightforward. First, choose the right size for your room. Position the purifier centrally, ideally away from walls and obstructions, for good airflow.
Keep doors and windows closed while running the purifier to prevent outdoor pollutants from entering. For best results, run the purifier continuously; four hours is recommended as a minimum.
Regularly replace filters according to the brand’s recommended schedule if required; typically every three to six months.
Where to buy air purifiers in the UK?
Air purifiers are readily available from a range of brands, retailers, department stores and stockists. However, with so many options, it can be tricky to find the right model.
We'd first recommend reading our review above, where we've put nine models to the test and rated them on everything from noise to looks and purifying power.
If you're keen to shop now, we'd recommend the following:
Amazon
Curry’s
Argos
B&Q
How much does an air purifier cost?
The cheapest personal air purifier in our roundup is the Levoit Air Purifier at a pocket-friendly £49.99, while if you fancy splashing some cash you can invest in Dyson’s spendy but high-performing Hot+Cool Air Purifier for £400.
Air purifiers are also popular choices for nurseries – our top pick for little ones is the Maxi Cosi Clean 3-in-1 Smart Air Purifier, £89.99.
