Looking for the best air purifiers for large rooms? You are doing the right thing!
Air pollution is associated with increased risks of lung cancer, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), and increased frequency of asthma. For long-term health, taking action to ensure indoor air safety is important.
One way of improving indoor air quality is by using an air purifier. Air purifiers are cheap, effective against a wide range of air pollutants (such as smoke, bacteria, or dust), and can leads to asthma and other lung conditions.
Did we pique your interest in air purifiers? If so, read on – we will suggest 10 great air purifiers below! After our overview of these 10 picks, we’ll also cover what to look for in air purifiers and what situations they can give you benefits in.
Comparison Table of Best Large Room Air Purifiers
Table of Contents
10 Best Large Room Air Purifiers That Really Works
Now, let’s have a look at our top 10 best large room air purifier picks. We’ll have a look at the key features and specs of the selected purifier models. We’ll briefly cover their upsides and downsides as well to give you a more objective idea of what you are dealing with.
1. LEVOIT Smart Wi-Fi Air Purifier
The LEVOIT Smart Wi-Fi Air Purifier is a great choice for smart homes, though it has some other goodies as well.
- Cleans 900 square feet rooms in 1 hour and 500 square feet at 33 minutes. Offers the best performance at up to 360 square feet where it does 4.5 air changes an hour.
- Pairs with Google Home Assistant and Amazon Alexa.
- Controllable via the mobile VeSync App. The app allows you to schedule purifying sessions, monitor air quality, keep track of the filter life, and more.
- The H13 True HEPA filter blocks up to 99.97% of harmful pollutants sized at 0.3 microns.
- The honeycomb activated carbon filter is great for dealing with odors.
- Automatically selects from the 3 fan speeds based on air quality.
- Operates at just 27 dB.
Pros
Cons
Related Article: Best air purifier under 100
2. Honeywell HPA300 True HEPA Air Purifier For Extra-Large Room
Honeywell HPA300 is an excellent choice for moderately-sized rooms.
- Does 5 air changes in 465 square feet rooms.
- The HEPA filter captures up to 99.97% of particles as small as 0.3 microns and can eliminate pet dander, dust, dust mite debris, and pollen.
- Tested to reduce up to 99.9% of certain bacteria, mold, and viruses, including E. coli or MS2.
- The pre-filter can capture VOCs, odor, and large particles.
- 4 cleaning settings.
- Has a touch panel for quick mode changes.
- Filter change indicator to help with maintenance.
- Timer with 2- to 8-hour settings.
- 5-year warranty coverage.
Pros
Cons
3. Hathaspace HSP001, 5-in-1 Large Room Air Cleaner for Allergies, Asthma, Pets, Smokers
The Hathaspace HSP001 air purifier boasts a 5-stage filtration system that is advertised to be capable of dealing with most air pollutants.
- Does 2 air changes per hour in 350 square feet spaces.
- The cold catalyst filter at the very first stage is intended to remove larger particles such as dust or pet dander to prolong the life of the other stages. This filter can also trap formaldehyde, ammonia, and benzene.
- The cellular-activated carbon filter is intended to absorb smoke, odors, gases, and VOCs (volatile organic compounds).
- The antibacterial filter captures bacteria and germs.
- The true HEPA filter removes 99.97% of airborne pollutants sized as small as 0.3 microns. Among the pollutants that this filter can catch are dust mites, allergens, pollen, and mold spores.
- The ionizer layer emits negative ions to electrically charge pollutants and odors, neutralizing them. This layer is advertised as ozone-safe and can be switched on and off independently.
- CARB-approved and can be shipped to California.
- The air quality sensor lets the air purifier automatically adjust the fan speed.
- Noise level of just 20 dB in sleep mode.
- 2-year warranty.
Pros
Cons
4. LEVOIT Air Purifier For Home Large Room
Vital 100 from LEVOIT is an excellent choice for those who are shopping on a budget.
- Covers 975 square feet in one hour, 500 square feet in 30 minutes, and 300 square feet in 18 minutes. Best for rooms sized at 300 square feet and smaller.
- Features a 3-stage filtration system.
- The washable pre-filter at the first stage captures large particles like hair, pet fur, fibers, or lint.
- The H13 true HEPA filter at the second stage traps 99.97% of particles as small as 0.3 microns, including pet dander, pollen, dust, and mold spores.
- The activated carbon filter at the third stage is designed to eliminate odors, fumes, smoke, and VOCs.
- Noise level of 23 to 50 dB, depending on the fan setting.
- Certified by CARB and eligible for sales in California.
- FCC-certified and ETL-listed.
- 1-year warranty.
Pros
Cons
5. Bissell Smart Purifier with HEPA and Carbon Filters For Large Room
The Bissell air220 air purifier is a nice option if you want something compact and space-efficient.
- Covers 800 square feet in one hour. Best for rooms sized at 200 to 250 square feet.
- The 3-stage filtration system handles odors and fine pollutants.
- The pre-filter at the first stage captures large particles and prolongs the life of the next two stages.
- The HEPA filter at the second stage captures 99.7% of particles down to 0.3 microns, like pollen, smoke, dust, and pet dander.
- The honeycomb-structured activated carbon filter at the last stage captures VOCs, gases, odors, and smoke.
- The CirQulate system monitors air quality (based on VOCs) and adjusts fan speed automatically.
- 5 fan speed settings.
Pros
Cons
6. Alen Classic Air Purifier For Extra-Large Rooms
The Alen BreatheSmart air purifier is a brilliant option for larger spaces. It supports a wide range of filter media as well.
- Covers 1,100 square feet in 30 minutes. Best for ~500 square feet spaces.
- Alen offers 4 filter configurations to choose from.
- The HEPA PURE configuration is intended for airborne allergens like dust, dander, and pollen. It consists of a pre-filter and a HEPA filter that captures 99.97% of particles down to 0.3 microns.
- The HEPA SILVER configuration is intended for dust, mold, bacteria, mildew, and light odor. It consists of (1) a pre-filter for large particles, (2) the Silver Filter for bacteria and mold spores, (3) a medical-grade HEPA filter for fine pollutants (removes 99.99% airborne particles down to 0.1 microns), and (4) carbon filter for odors.
- The HEPA FRESH PLUS configuration is intended for VOCs, odors, and allergens. It consists of (1) a pre-filter, (2) a HEPA filter, and (3) an activated carbon filter.
- The HEPA ODORCELL configuration is intended for strong odors and allergens. It consists of (1) a pre-filter, (2) a HEPA filter, and (3) Molecular Conversion Powder.
- All BreatheSmart Classic purifiers have an ionizer that may be turned on and off.
- Air quality indicator.
- 4 fan speed settings with automatic adjustment.
- CARB-approved and can be shipped to California.
- Lifetime warranty.
Pros
Cons
7. Coway Airmega 400 Smart Air Purifier
Coway Airmega 400 Smart air purifier is an excellent choice for huge spaces. Arguably, it’s the very best air purifier for large spaces on this list.
- Does 2 air changes per hour at 1,560 square feet and 4 changes per hour at 780 square feet.
- Features a 3-stage filtration system consisting of a pre-filter to deal with larger particles and hair, a HEPA filter for fine particles (up to 99.97% of 0.3-micron particles), and a deodorization filter.
- Provides air quality feedback.
- Can automatically adjust fan speed based on measured air quality.
- 5 fan modes, with the highest setting producing only 43.2 dB.
- Has a filter change indicator and a timer feature (1 to 8 hours).
- 5-year warranty.
Pros
Cons
8. IQAir HealthPro Plus Air Purifier
The HealthPro Plus air purifier from IQAir is suitable for applications that require hospital-grade filtration.
- Covers rooms sized up to 1,125 square feet.
- The Pre Max Micro-Particle pre-filter eliminates larger particles.
- The V5-Cell granular activated carbon & Pelletized Chemisorption layer effectively eliminates VOCs and harmful chemicals.
- The HyperHEPA filter – the highlight of this air purifier – is capable of capturing at least 99.5% of all particles down to 0.003 microns. This is 100 times smaller than what regular HEPA Filters can capture.
- Has casters for added portability.
Pros
Cons
9. AZEUS UV Light Sanitizer & Ionizer True HEPA Air Purifier For Home
The AZEUS 7-in-1 air purifier is a great purchase if you want an effective unit for not too much money. Thanks to its good coverage, this machine is also perhaps the best air purifier for office spaces.
- Cleans 540 square feet rooms 2.5 times per hour and 380 square feet 5 times per hour.
- Boasts a 7-stage filtration system with a pre-filter (1), true HEPA filter (2), activated carbon & VOC absorber (3), formaldehyde absorption layer (4), anti-bacterial treatment (5), UV-C bulb for germs (6), and a negative ion stage (7). All in all, this thing should be able to deal with anything as long as the pollution isn’t too severe.
- The ionizer and UV bulb may be turned on and off independently.
- Color-coded air quality indicator.
- Adjusts fan speed based on air quality.
- 4 fan modes and timer feature.
- Certified by CARB, ETL, FCC, and CE.
Pros
Cons
10. Alen BreatheSmart FLEX Air Purifier
Alen Flex is an excellent option for dealing with allergens and bacteria – at a very good price!
- Cleans 700 square feet in 30 minutes. Best for ~350 square feet rooms.
- CADR of 230 (pollen), 208 (dust), and 191 (smoke).
- The medical-grade H13 HEPA filter removes 99.99% of particles down to 0.1 microns.
- Multiple filter configurations available for odors and smoke.
- 4 fan speed settings and a timer feature.
- CARB-certified.
Pros
Cons
What To Look For In The Best Large Room Air Purifier
When shopping for a large room air purifier, there are a few things that you should consider. Air purifiers are pretty much all the same regardless of room size, but when you are dealing with huge spaces, you should pay careful attention to a number of specs.
What To Consider For a Large Room?
Here’s what to consider when looking for an air purifier for large rooms:
- Advertised coverage in square feet: Your air purifier should be able to cover the size of your room or office at least. Most manufacturers list their purifier’s maximum coverage, so make sure to consider it.
- CADR (Clean Air Delivery Rate): CADR measures the amount of air in CFM (cubic feet per minute) that is cleared of particles of different types and sizes. Essentially, CADR is calculated by multiplying the device’s airflow by the efficiency of the filter. For example, a device with 200 CFM and 50% filter efficiency would have a CADR of 100. Higher CADR is better. CADR allows you to more directly compare the performance of different air purifiers. It’s more objective than CFM alone because it takes into account filter efficiency as well.
- ACH (air changes per hour): As a rule of thumb, ACH of 4 is the minimum you should go for. To calculate ACH, you need to know the square footage and ceiling height of your room. Once you find those out, plug them into an online calculator along with the purifier’s CFM to find ACH.
How To Measure a Large Space?
When shopping for the best air purifier for large spaces, you should have the area of your room in mind.
To calculate the area of your room, you need to measure its length and width and multiply them together. You don’t need to be too accurate in your measurements, so don’t think about it that much.
To measure volume, you need to measure the ceiling height in your room as well. Then, multiply it by the area of the room.
If you have an irregularly shaped room or want more accurate measurements, you may consult this guide from wikiHow.
Why Do You Need An Air Purifier? What Are The Benefits of An Air Purifier?
An air purifier can be quite a considerable investment – well, why would you want to dig into your pocket for such a device?
Air purifiers won’t be right for everyone, but in some cases, they are a must-have. Below, let’s have a look at a few situations where we think an air purifier would be a great investment.
You Have Respiratory Issues, Allergies, or Asthma
Research has shown that air purifiers and filters can relieve the symptoms of asthma, allergies, and respiratory issues. If you suspect that dust or allergens in your home are triggering allergies or asthma, then you should certainly consider investing in an air purifier.
Aside from relieving symptoms of an existing condition, air purifiers may also help with long-term health.
You Are Pregnant or Have an Infant
Air quality may be associated with the health of children after birth.
One study conducted by researchers at Simon Fraser University has found that women who had used HEPA air purifiers during pregnancy gave birth to babies that on average weighed 85 grams more than women who did not use any air purifiers.
This study also found that HEPA purifiers decreased fine particulate matter in the air by 29%.
You Have Children
In children with asthma, air purifiers have also been found to reduce the need for anti-asthma medications. So if your kids have asthma, an air purifier could be a worthy investment.
Aside from that, an air purifier would be a must for parents who are smoking. Air purifiers can be effective at catching smoke particulates. Though needless to say, one could argue that if you have children, you better stop smoking.
If you are living in a polluted area, then an air purifier may be able to help you as well. According to the World Health Organization, about 93% of children aged under 15 breathe polluted air, which puts their health and development at considerable risk. About 600,000 children died from acute lower respiratory infections triggered by polluted air in 2016.
All in all, air purifiers can be effective at protecting children and may be a worthy investment. However, keep in mind that the level of pollution, type of filters, and maintenance patterns can considerably impact the effectiveness of air purifiers.
You Have Pets
Pets shed a lot of hair and dander. All in all, you should minimize the amount of shedding with regular grooming, but there is no denying that there is only so much you can do. Well, an air purifier could help you get rid of the remaining allergens in the air.
Aside from allergens, air purifiers with charcoal filters are great for handling odors. Although you should obviously occasionally bathe your pet, an air purifier could help you keep your home odor-free between the bath sessions.
There Is a Smoker In The House
When it comes to smoke, air purifiers can help in two ways:
- Eliminate smoke particles from the air.
- Get rid of the smoke odor.
You will need a combination of a fine HEPA filter and charcoal filters to achieve these two goals. Additionally, keep in mind that if you or someone else at home is a heavy smoker, your air purifier filters may need more frequent replacement. Smoke contaminates filters really quickly.
Needless to say, not smoking or smoking less would work the best. But stopping smoking can be extremely challenging, and it’s perfectly understandable that it’s not feasible for many people.
You Live in an Industrial Area or Area With Heavy Traffic
It’s no secret that polluted air contributes to decreased lung function and an increased risk of lung cancer. Well, if you live in an industrial area or an area with heavy traffic, an air purifier might be able to help you reduce the risk of lung disease.
Now, in the long term, perhaps the best solution would be moving to an area that is safer in terms of lung health. However, moving is associated with huge costs that not everybody can afford. In contrast, an air purifier is cheap and is an achievable purchase for most people.
If you do get yourself an air purifier, then be sure to get the right type of filters and be sure to properly maintain your purifier down the line.
You Are Thinking of Renovating Your House
Air purifiers could help you keep indoor air healthy during renovation and remodeling.
Harmful substances released during renovation may include:
- Wooden dust.
- Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from primers, paints, and surface finishes.
- Formaldehyde.
- Off-gassing from foam insulation.
Protective equipment is a must when you are dealing with construction materials. Air purifiers can add another layer of protection as well. If you want to safeguard yourself from pollutants as much as possible, then strongly consider investing in an air purifier.
You Have a Fireplace or a Wood Stove
Wood smoke contains a bunch of toxic pollutants:
- Acrolein.
- Benzene.
- Formaldehyde.
- Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).
These pollutants may cause health issues and complications such as burning eyes, runny nose, asthma attacks, bronchitis, and heart failure. If you have heart or lung conditions, then smoke is going to aggravate their symptoms too.
Well, HEPA air purifiers appear to be quite effective against wood smoke. One study found that HEPA filters can reduce indoor PM2.5 (particulate matter) and levoglucosan concentrations by 60% and 75% respectively.
More research is necessary to validate the long-term health benefits of air purifiers, but these results already seem promising.
Different Types Of Air Purifiers
So we’ve mentioned several times throughout this post that there are different types of air purifier filters. Each of these filters is designed for a specific type of contaminant. If you want your air purifier to be effective, you need to correctly choose filters for your air purifier.
To help you make the right choice, let’s now briefly cover the main types of filters found in air purifiers.
HEPA Filters
HEPA meaning High-efficiency particulate air filters are designed to trap extra-small contaminants in the air. The U.S. Department of Energy requires that HEPA filters be able to remove at least 99.97% of particles sized at 0.3 micrometers in diameter. European standards require efficiency of at least 99.95%.
HEPA filters can capture pollen, pet dander, tobacco smoke, dust mites, and fine dust particles. As such, they can help you with dealing with allergies and asthma. So for most use cases, HEPA filters are more than enough.
Most air purifiers have HEPA filters or support them. However, you should still be wary of cheap air purifiers that have “HEPA-like” filters. If you want a HEPA purifier, look for an air purifier that is advertised as “true HEPA”.
Ionizers and Ozone Generators
Ion air purifiers work by charging the contaminants in the air and making them fall onto the floor. A similar type of air purifier – ozone air purifiers – emit ozone (O3), which attaches itself to germs, bacteria, and odors, effectively eliminating them.
Although ionizers and ozone air purifiers can be effective, the ozone they emit is associated with health risks. Aside from that, at concentrations that do not exceed public health standards, ozone is ineffective at controlling air pollution.
With that, ozone and ionizing air purifiers shouldn’t be used continuously. Aside from that, these machines should be used in rooms that are unoccupied during the purification. After you are done, you’ll also need to ventilate the room to make it safe for people and pets.
Electrostatic Filters
Electrostatic filters use electricity to capture dust and other airborne contaminants. This is in contrast to HEPA filters where the particles are physically blocked by the filter media.
In practice, electrostatic filters are great for small and light particles. However, electricity is not enough for larger particles like mold spores. HEPA filters would work better for these.
Electrostatic filters may produce ozone as well, so all the precautions we’ve mentioned regarding ionizing/ozone air purifiers apply here as well.
Finally, electrostatic filters require frequent cleaning – perhaps more frequent than with other filter types.
UV Light Air Purifiers
UV light purifiers typically use UV-C light to kill airborne pathogens and microorganisms, including mold, bacteria, and viruses.
To achieve their goal, UV light air purifiers employ a UV bulb installed along the air’s path. As microorganisms pass under the light, they get irradiated and killed. On the exit, you get much cleaner and safer air.
UV lamps are typically combined with HEPA filters. This is because UV-only air purifiers cannot decontaminate air from dust, smoke, or allergens.
Activated Carbon Filters
Activated carbon or charcoal filters work by absorbing contaminants in the air. They are most effective at removing taste, odor, VOCs, sediment, or chlorine from water or air. Most commonly, activated carbon filters are used for eliminating odors.
FAQs
Do air purifiers really work?
This depends on what kind of air purifier we are talking about. Research has shown that air purifiers can filter out allergens, mold, smoke, and indoor toxins.
However, the type of filter plays a huge role in air filtration. HEPA filters tend to do the best when it comes to smoke or allergens, while UV bulbs are effective against microorganisms.
Air purifiers may be unable to make the air in the room fully sterile, but they can significantly improve air quality.
How do air purifiers work?
Air purifiers employ several types of filters to purify the air. These work differently:
- HEPA filters, for example, physically block fine particles. Only those particles that are small enough to pass through the filter media are allowed through – the rest is captured by the filter.
- Ionizing purifiers impart a charge to the contaminants in the air, making them heavier and forcing them to fall onto the ground.
- UV light kills airborne bacteria, germs, and viruses that pass through the air purifier.
Can air purifiers make you sick?
Air purifiers can indeed make you sick if you don’t take proper care of their filters. Aside from that, ozone air purifiers can be dangerous as well since ozone is toxic.
Before choosing an air purifier, you should carefully consider the safety aspects of this type of device in general. Although air purifiers can be effective against asthma, allergies, or whatnot, they won’t do any good if they aren’t maintained properly.
Where should I place my air purifier?
Air purifiers perform the best when they have clearance from the sides and top. So corners, shelves, or against walls aren’t good placement options. Your air purifier shouldn’t be obstructed by furniture, doors, windows, and anything else. Otherwise, the air purifier will not be able to perform effectively.
Conclusion
Air purifiers can be a worthy investment. Hopefully, our review of the best air purifiers for large rooms has been helpful!
As a last tip, make sure that your expectations are realistic. Air purifiers can do wonders, but they may not be able to treat heavy air pollution. Aside from that, remember that proper maintenance is important for effective air purifier operation.