The best air purifiers are worthwhile investments. How do they work, and what value do they have in cleaning the air in your home? You may think that your house is clean the air because there are pollutants that can come into it from the outdoors or from the appliances in your home.

The Medical Director of Cosmedics skin clinics told LiveScience that pollutants in the air can be harmful to our health. Air quality in the home can be affected by air fresheners and candles. Paints, glue and craft supplies can be problematic as can mold, pollen, pet dander, dust mites and wood burning fireplaces.

The experts say what they say.

Portable air cleaners, also known as air purifiers or air sanitizers, can be used to improve the indoor air quality in a single room or area. The small particles of greatest health concern are those that are less than 2.5 microns in diameter. There are air cleaners that can clean the air. The U.S Environmental Protection Agency is headed by Enesta Jones.

This may seem like a lot, but the best air purifiers can help to keep the air cleaner and less full of potential allergens and irritants. This is important for people who suffer from asthma or allergies, who may find that their conditions are triggered by dirty air.

Most of the air purifiers listed in our guide have a high-efficiency particulate absorbing (HEPA) filter. The majority of indoor air pollutants can be removed with a HEPA filters, which remove 99% of air pollutants. Most dust particles are less than five microns in size, and pollen is 10 to 1000 microns in size, all of which a HEPA filter is capable of trapping without any problems.

The best air purifiers can help to clean the air in your home. It works by having a fan that sucks the air in the home into filters that remove the pollutants before releasing the cleaned air into the room. It is not possible to get rid of all particles which can live on walls, carpets, bedding and hard surfaces.

We've rounded up the best air purifiers you can buy right now. For a more in-depth look at how an air purifier can help you, read our feature on do air purifiers help with allergies.

Best air purifiers

Levoit 400S air purifier review

(Image credit: Joanne Lewsley)

The Levoit 400S captured at least 99.5% and up to 100% of airborne particles in our at- home testing.

Its sleek and stylish cylinder shape with a neutral color makes it an easy addition to any room, while a color-coded display gives users a great visual on air quality at any given moment.

The users say what they say.

85% of reviews give the Levoit 400S the full 5 stars. There are problems with the VeSync app, according to negative reviews. Positive reviews praise the ability of the purifier to manage and remove unpleasant odors, dust and pet dander. Some customers say the Levoit 400S feels a little big, but they like the look of it. The purifier runs quietly on its lower settings.

The air purifier is easy to move from room to room because of its indented handles.

A companion app that users can download gives useful data on air quality and allows users to schedule and time the air purifier to fit around a busy family schedule. The VeSync app wasn't always reliable. We had to uninstall the app twice when it crashed during our testing. The most powerful setting on the Levoit 400S is only 52 decibels, while the quietest setting is barely noticeable.

The Levoit 400S is our top pick because of it's stylish, quietly powerful, and easy-to-use interface. If you're looking for an effective air purifier that's big on performance but doesn't blow the budget, this could be the appliance for you.

  • Read the full Levoit 400S review 

Dyson Purifier Cool: Image shows the air purifier and its power cord.

(Image credit: Future)

One of the most stylish air purifiers on the market is the Dyson Cool Purifier. It's unusual design makes it a talking point in any room, while simple but genius extras, such as a magnetic remote control, make it a step up from your average air purifier.

The users say what they say.

The Dyson Purifier Cool scored an average of 4.2 out of five stars. The sensors have problems with baseline readings, poor fan quality, and noisiness. Positive reviews praise the ability of the purifier to improve the symptoms of allergy sufferers, as well as removing unpleasant odors. Customers like the integration with smart devices, the auto setting and the stylish design, with one user commenting that it looks like a piece of art.

The purifier doubles up as a fan in hotter weather, but it isn't as powerful as some users would like. Users can use the Dyson app to schedule and monitor their purifier, as well as set fan speed, timers and air quality.

An auto-mode senses air particles and adjusts fan settings to suit, while a clever display flicks between icons that show air quality data in real time.

The matches were burned to see how well the purifier captures particles. We found that 98% of particles were removed from the air at a level 6 setting. Almost 100% of particles measuring less than 10 microns were captured by the purifier at a level 10 setting.

Our results weren't consistent enough to support Dyson's claim that it can remove 99% of particles. When used at its highest setting for at least 30 minutes, it captured more than 85% of monitored particles.

The sleek design and smart, connected functions of the Dyson Purifier Cool are impressive, even though it is too expensive to suit everyone's budget.

  •  Read the full Dyson Purifier Cool review.

Image shows the Blue Pure 211+ next to a green houseplant.

(Image credit: Future)

The Blue Pure 221 is an excellent choice for homes with more than 600 square feet. The key to simplicity is the three power settings.

The users say what they say.

The Blue Pure 221 has been reviewed hundreds of times by satisfied customers on Home Depot. Positive reviews praise the performance of the purifier, saying it helps them sleep better, feel less congested, and enjoy cleaner air in their home. Many users are happy with how quiet the unit is. Some reviewers complain that the higher settings are too noisy, while others cite problems with performance.

The Blue Pure 221 was consistently better than the other air purifiers we tested. It performed better than a purifiers at almost double the price.

The matches were burned to see how well the purifier absorbed particles. We found that the purifier absorbed 99% of particles that were less than a millimeter in size, and 99% of particles that were less than 2.5 microns. We found that the purifier absorbed 99% of particles smaller than 0.25 microns, 99% of particles smaller than 2.5 microns, and 100% of particles smaller than 10 microns.

Users may be put off by the unit's weight and bulk. It is still a stylish machine that is thoughtfully designed. It is easy to pair the unit with any home's color scheme.

Our verdict? An air purifier that puts performance above presentation. It is energy star certified and cheap to run.

  •  Read the full Blue Pure 221 review.

Coway AP-1512HH air purifier

(Image credit: Joanne Lewsley)

It may not be as stylish as other air purifiers in our round-up, but our testing found it to do a remarkable job of removing particles in just.

The users say what they say.

It's fair to say that the Coway AP 1512 HH Air Purifier is a total winner with users, with reviewers praising its quiet running, affordable replacement filters and its economical performance. The included instructions did not go far enough in instructing users how to use their air purifiers, according to negative reviews. Positive reviews were sold by how lightweight and easy to maneuver the air purifier was, as well as the design which was easy to integrate into their home.

For an initial cost of under $300, you can get a four-stage purification system, a high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter and coverage of up to 361 square feet. The air purifier is packaged in a sleek design and available in two different colors.

When it comes to dust and odors, this air purifier has a pre-filter and odorization filter for reducing contaminants in the air. It's a good addition to any bedroom when it's smaller, because it's quiet when it's loud.

The Coway-AP-1512HH air Purifier has a built-in particle sensor. The color coding system on the top of the device will give you an idea of the air quality in your home. It will show a blue light when the air is clean, purple to flag pollution and red for high pollution. The Coway AP- 1512HH has sensors that can adjust the fan speed to keep the air clean, so that you don't have to mess with the settings.

The Eco mode on the Coway AP-512HH worked well to power down the air purifier when air pollution was low, saving energy and money. The auto mode worked well toggling between fan settings depending on indoor air quality.

The Coway AP-1512HH is suited for small spaces of rooms up to 361 square feet, making it suitable for smaller spaces and bedrooms. If you need something for a larger room, then you might want to look elsewhere, because this is a great choice for smaller spaces.

  • Read the full Coway AP-1512HH review

Levoit H132 review: Image shows the air purifier on a windowsill.

(Image credit: Joanne Lewsley)

The Levoit H132 is the ideal air purifier for someone looking to try their first air purifier at home because of its small size and low price. If you have a small apartment or just want to use an air purifier in one room, this might be the product for you.

The users say what they say.

Home Depot gave the Levoit H132 a score of 4.7 out of 5 stars. One customer found problems with the motor whine after a few weeks, with only a few negative reviews. Users praise the purifier for being convenient and efficient at reducing the symptoms of allergies. Even at the highest setting, customers like how quiet the purifier is. Users say that the purifier improved indoor air quality so much that they bought a second one.

The Levoit H132 might not have the wow factor of a more stylish purifiers. What it lacks in style, it makes up for in affordability. This is one of the best air purifiers for those on a budget.

It is an ideal air purifier for a nursery or child's bedroom because it does not have a HEPA filter, but it does have an in-built dimmable nightlight. It's not possible to pre-program the unit, but a memory function means that previous fan settings are still active.

The Levoit H132 didn't live up to expectations when it came to testing how well it absorbed particles, consistently falling well below the 99.91% expected from a device with an H13 HEPA filter. For longer periods, the purifier may yield better results.

The Levoit H132 is an entry-level indoor air purifier that performs well in small to medium-sized rooms because of its affordability and compact size.

  •  Read the full Levoit H132 review.

KOIOS EPI810 air purifier: image shows KOIOS EPI810 air purifier

(Image credit: Future)

The smallest air purifier we have reviewed is the KOIOS EPI810. It is light enough to travel and will sit comfortably on any office desk or shelf.

The users say what they say.

The Koios EPI810 has 4.5 stars on Amazon.com. Users who gave it the full five stars praised the purifier's performance as well as its compact size. Others rate its ability to remove odors from food. Reviewers have bought multiple purifiers to use in multiple rooms. The purifier can be noisy at its highest setting, or that it can't switch off the night light. The quality of the unit is criticized as having a cheap feel and the replacement filters are too expensive.

A simple one-click button control makes it one of the easiest air purifiers to operate straight out of the box. A built-in night light is a good choice for a room.

The test evaluated how well the purifier performed after burning five incense cones at the same time. 99% of particles measuring 10 microns were absorbed by the KOIOS, but only half of them were less than 2.5 microns.

It doesn't have the wow factor when it comes to design, or the sophistication of a smart, connected air purifier, but it may work well if you want something easy to operate. Some users may be put off by a noisy higher setting and poor performance in our at- home tests.

  • Read the full KOIOS EP1810 review.

Are air purifiers worth it?

Improving the air space around you and your family is something the best air purifiers can do. Those without specific concerns will have peace of mind that the right air purifier will make their environment cleaner, as well as protecting those with health issues from the multitude of air pollutants that gather indoors.

The best air purifiers that are most likely to give you the most benefit, for example those with a HEPA filter, tend to be at the higher end of the budget. The larger the unit, the higher the price.

Keeping pollutants out of your home is a good idea if you have health concerns or have an allergy. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, Americans spend most of their time indoors. It is here that potentially harmful air is able to build up, meaning there are up to five times higher levels of pollutants indoors than outdoors. An air purifier can help reduce these levels, but not completely.

Air purifiers can be used to help reduce the amount of particles in the air that cause allergic reactions, which can in turn cause asthma attacks. During times of high humidity, dehumidifiers on sale have been shown to help asthma sufferers. If you are looking to tackle smoke and the resulting odor in your home, air purifiers can be useful.

It's not clear whether air purifiers can prevent the spread of COVID-19 indoors. The CDC says that you should open doors and windows if you want a good flow of air inside. Some viruses can be removed from the air with the help of high efficiency particulate air filters.

The EPA says portable air cleaners can improve indoor air quality for anyone who uses them properly.

He said that it is always important to reduce or remove the sources of indoor air pollutants.

Air purifier benefits

If you have respiratory problems, such as asthma or allergies, clean air can mean the difference between living comfortably in your home or suffering with intense symptoms. We may be more concerned about the quality of the air we breathe and whether it contains airborne viruses that could make us sick as we wave goodbye to a global Pandemic.

  • Related: Do air purifiers help with asthma? 

It makes sense that the cleaner the air, the better for asthma sufferers. Asthma needs to be managed as prescribed by your GP because an air purifier won't get rid of all the pollutants.

It is dependent on the time of year when the pollen count is higher, but the cleaner the air and being able to manage allergies is going to help.

The best air purifiers deals are available today.