Are air purifiers becoming an essential household product? "I would recommend an air purifier to anyone, even if you're just cooking at home, says Jie Zhao, head of Delos Labs, a human health tech company.This is especially true for anyone whos experienced smoke pollution. The wildfires in LA, for example, will leave behind air quality issues for some time. Since climate change and declining air quality is an ongoing problem anywhere on this earth, you might want to consider the benefits of an air purifier. We put dozens of popular air purifier models to the test to see which ones are the best at clearing smoke, dust, mold and allergens from your home. Our Picks Best overall air purifier, and best for smoke, allergies and dust BlueAir 311i Max View details $229 at Amazon View details Best air purifier for viruses, bacteria and mold Germ Guardian AC4300 View details $97 at Amazon View details Best air purifier for entire home Coway Airmega 400s View details $427 at Amazon View details Best air purifier for pets Blueair Blue Pure 511 View details $100 at Amazon View details Best budget choice and quietest air purifier Levoit Core Mini View details $47 at Amazon View details Table of Contents What is the best overall air purifier?CNET's pick for best overall air purifier goes to the Blueair Blue Pure 311i Max. During lab testing, Blueair outperformed the competition clearing smoke and particles from the air faster and more effectively in our controlled testing chamber. Its versatility, low energy draw and relatively low noise level while running even on the highest setting, combined with its median price, made the Blueair an easy choice for the best overall air purifier. Best air purifiers of 2025 Photo Gallery 1/1 Pros Automatically adjusts speed based on air quality Energy efficient Quieter than most models App tracking and remote scheduling Cons On the pricey side Size 12.5 x 12.5 x 19 in. (DWH)Weight 7.8 poundsFilter type Activated carbonCoverage area 1,858 sq. ft.Lab-tested noise level (high setting) 45-46dBColor options Gray and whiteCertifications AHAM Verifide In terms of smoke, seasonal allergens and dust, an important consideration in buying an air purifier is whether it has an automatic mode. Certainair particles do not remain consistent throughout the year or even throughout the day. Auto-mode purifiers can automatically ramp up the speed when the pollution is higher, says Zhao, which ensures they perform efficiently given real-time conditions and dont waste energy when more power isnt needed.Air purifiers such as the BlueAir Blue Pure 311i Max with automatic mode respond to the actual air quality, and adjust the speed accordingly.In addition to its automatic setting, BlueAirs Blue Pure 311i Max was the top finisher at both low and high fan settings, bringing the particulate count down to pre-smoke levels in 6.6 and 2 minutes, respectively. On top of that, the Blue Pure 311i Max was the second most energy-efficient unit for its capacity and surprisingly quiet too, reaching only 46.1 decibels when running at its highest fan setting -- a full 9 decibels lower than the loudest model among those we tested.The Blue Pure 311i Max also has voice controls and comes equipped with a five-color air quality indicator and a pollution-detecting particle sensor. Download the BlueAir App and youll be able to track air quality in your home in real time, control the air purifier remotely and even track filter usage so that you can order a new one when the time comes. Its a simple, well-designed air purifier that performs exceptionally well, both in terms of energy usage and particle removal. While a HEPA filter is an industry standard for air purification systems, an additional measure, a UV-C light, is specially equipped to handle pathogens such as viruses, bacteria and mold, and stop them from multiplying. The best way to destroy pathogens is just to expose them to sunlight, says Sha