Best Bedroom Air Purifier

Bedroom air purifiers are not cheap. It’s not uncommon for purifiers to cost in excess of $300. If you can’t afford to drop serious money on an air purifier, that’s ok. We’re here to help.

There are plenty of bedroom air purifiers available at a fraction of the cost of the more expensive brands that don’t require sacrificing quality.

What is a Bedroom Air Purifier?

An air purifier eliminates pollutants like cigarette smoke, mold spores, pollen, bacteria, pet dander from the air inside the home.

Air purifiers contain varying numbers of fine sieves that attract and filter microscopic particles from the surrounding air. Air flowing through the filter is adequately cleaned and becomes cleaner the more it cycles through the filter.

High Efficiency Particulate Air  (HEPA) filters are guaranteed to filter more than 99.9% of pollutants and particles from the air.

Why Would I Need A Bedroom Air Purifier?

Pollutants are everywhere, outside our homes, inside our bedrooms and in the air we breathe. Pollutants are bad for everybody, but people with allergies are far more vulnerable.

According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, “allergies are the 6th leading cause for chronic illness in the United States… More than 50 million Americans suffer from allergies each year.”

However, allergens such as dust, smoke, chemical vapor, pollen, and pet dander are not the only concern regarding air quality.

Asthma is integrally linked to air quality and affects nearly 25 million Americans, including 6 million children.

Doctors prescribe that people with asthma and allergies should minimize exposure to allergens and harmful pollutants from the air they breath, and remain indoors on days with poor air quality.

That’s bad news, because people spend approximately 90% of their lives inside. According to the EPA, evidence indicates that the air we breathe within our homes can be more polluted than outdoor air.

Pollutants invade the home as microscopic airborne particles. The human eye cannot see particles smaller than 10 microns, which makes the typical airborne particle (0.3 microns) invisible to the naked eye.

The best and most effective way to eliminate pollutants, allergens, and irritants from indoor air is by utilizing an indoor air purifier.

What Should I Look For In A Bedroom Air Purifier?

The best bedroom air purifiers effectively filter pollutants from the air with nearly 100% of all particles removed from the air.

Lower quality filters fail to remove even half of all pollutants from the air, regardless of how long they filter or their speed setting.

When shopping for a bedroom air purifier, it is always a good idea to consider the following:

Cost- It is not uncommon for high-quality air filters, that are HEPA certified to cost between $400 and $500. HEPA filters remove nearly 100% of pollutants from indoor air.

However, it is not necessary to spend hundreds of dollars to improve your indoor air quality. There are a significant number of low to moderately priced air filters that perform on par with the expensive brands.

Filter Cleaning- How is the filter cleaned, and how often does the filter require cleaning? Some filters are exceptionally easy to clean.

In many cases, the filter is simply removed from the housing, wiped down with a damp towel and re-inserted into the housing.

However, some bedroom air purifiers require a full cleaning and include a difficult filter removal process.

Consumers should avoid air purifiers that include a complicated and frequent cleaning process.

Though it is important to clean your air filter regularly, high-quality air filters do not require as many cleanings as low-quality filters to remain effective.

Depending on usage and air purifier type, filters generally require replacement every 3 months and the primary filter once per year.

Energy Star models are more energy-efficient compared to standard models and require less electricity to operate.

Sound- High-quality air filters function without emitting a significant amount of noise if they emit any sound at all.

For more efficiency and less noise manufacturers recommend purchasing a larger air purifier and running it on a lower setting, instead of running a smaller air purifier at high speeds.

Fan- The majority of air purifiers utilize a fan to circulate the surrounding air. Purifiers that do not feature a fan often do not perform at the same level as those that do.

Timer- Bedroom air purifiers are intended for use while the family is sleeping, and often feature timers, so they switch off on their own. Air purifiers with timers are more energy efficient than models that do not feature a timer.

Speeds- Bedroom air purifiers often feature variable speeds in which the fan circulates the indoor air faster or slower.

Slower speeds are more energy efficient but do not filter the air as effectively as the faster speeds.

Sensors- The highest quality air purifiers include sensors that alert those inside the home of when air quality is poor, or when the filter needs to be cleaned.

More Questions to ask

When purchasing a bedroom air purifier, it is also important to ask;

Is it washable? Different air purifiers require different cleaning methods. The best air purifiers are washable and do not utilize disposable paper filters.

Is it ionized? A significant number of modern air purifiers now feature ionization. Ionization refers to the process by which microscopic particles acquire a charge.

When particles are charged, they cling to any surface with the opposite charge. Air purifiers use ionization to cause particles such as allergens and pollutants to cling to its filter.

What do I need it to perform well? This is an important question as it will ultimately determine the type of air purifier that you purchase.

For those who have asthma, an air purifier that is highly effective at removing cigarette smoke, wood smoke, chemical vapor and irritants from the air is the recommended option.

Individuals with allergies and those who are sensitive to allergens should purchase an air purifier that is effective at removing allergens such as mold spores, pollen, bacteria, dust and dirt from the surrounding air.

Does it work on pet dander? Pet Dander is a common complaint among animal owners. It floats in the air and clings to surfaces. Many pet owners are even allergic to their pets but deal with the symptoms for the love of their animal.

Pet owners should purchase an air purifier that is designed to remove pet dander from the air, and have a large capacity filter, as pet dander is never far from pet hair which can clog an air filter in no time.

How Long Do Bedroom Air Purifiers Last?

The lifespan of a bedroom air purifier significantly depends on the type of air purifier, how often it is used, and the duration of each use.

How Long Should You Let An Air Purifier Run? Air purifiers are intended for use over an extended period.

One to two hours of runtime is not a long enough duration to entirely clean the air in a particular room of pollutants and particles.

Manufacturers recommend a run time of between five and eight hours at a time.

When Should You Run Your Air Filter? The short answer to that question is; whenever you are home.

Air purifiers need to run for an extended duration to cycle the air in a particular room enough times to remove all the pollutants in the air.

It is never recommended to run an air purifier while not in the home as some tend to gain a static charge that can spark.

Additionally, it is more energy efficient to only run an air purifier while inside the home.

How Long Do Air Purifiers Run Before They Need Cleaning? Different air purifiers can function for different lengths of time before they require a thorough cleaning.

However, the majority of bedroom air purifiers can run for approximately three months without requiring a replacement filter or thorough cleaning.

Where Does A Bedroom Air Purifier Work Best?

The bedroom of course, however the exact location within the bedroom may change depending on the layout of the room.

Whole Room- Positioning an air purifier in an unobstructed place within the bedroom is the best way to circulate the air around the room. However, that positioning will only circulate air around the whole room if the air purifier is large enough to move that much air.

Positioning a smaller air purifier in front of an air conditioning unit or air vent is one way to increase its range.

Behind Door- Air purifiers placed behind or near a door from a type of malleable barriers that filters out pollutants and allergens before they can enter the bedroom.

Near door, placement is the recommended air purifier position for those who have asthma.

Behind Furniture- A significant number of bedroom air purifiers also serve as smoke eaters.

In homes where cigarette smoke is an issue placing an air purifier behind the furniture where most smoking occurs can prevent the smoke from reaching the bedroom.

In a Corner- Though most air purifiers will work better when placed in the center of the room, for most homes that position is not an option.

Placing the air purifier in the corner of the bedroom is a great way to remove a tripping hazard and still improve the air quality of a room.

In Bedroom Bathroom- Bathrooms are more susceptible to the growth of bacteria; therefore it is never a bad idea to utilize an air purifier in a bedroom bathroom to prevent bacteria from entering the bedroom.

A Note About Price

Air purifiers are available online for as little as $100 and can soar to over $700 for high-quality in-store models.

It is not necessary to purchase an overly expensive air purifier to ensure the cleanest air inside your home.

The air purifiers feature here are not only entirely effective at removing pollutants from indoor air, but they are also moderately priced and a great choice for any consumer on a budget.

Rabbit Air MinusA2 – Our Top Pick

The Rabbit Air MinusA2 is so quiet you forget it is even in the room cleaning the air better than any other air purifier.

The design of the Rabbit Air MinusA2 is exceptionally sleek, and can even be customized with panels featuring artwork from famous artists.

The unique and artistic design of the MinusA2 does not subtract from its performance as a high-quality air purifier.

The Rabbit Air MinusA2 includes features that effectively cleans the air in rooms up to 300 square feet.

The Rabbit Air MinusA2 operates on a 6 filter system in which particles pass through a washable pre-filter, then through a series of consecutively finer filters until they are captured within the purifier and effectively removed from the air.

The Rabbit Air MinusA2 effectiveness at removing pollutants from the air is due, in part to how many times it purifies the air per day. The Rabbit Air MinusA2 produces 3 air cycles per hour which means the air in the room is filtered entirely every 18 minutes.

Pros

• HEPA Certified
• Exceptionally quiet
• Can be hung on the wall

Con

• Does not include timer
• Heavy weight can make it difficult to position

Levoit Compact Air Purifier – Runner-Up

The Levoit Compact Air Purifier is designed to purify small rooms which makes it ideal for use in bedrooms.

We like the Levoit Compact Air Purifier because it is exceptionally quieter than its competitors, yet it has the power to completely clean the air in rooms up to nearly 90 square feet.

Additionally, the Levoit Compact Air Purifier only requires cleaning every six months, which is more than double the time of the next leading brand.

The Levoit Compact Air Purifier includes several fan speeds (Low, Medium and High) and enables the user to adjust the air-exchange rate.

The Levoit Compact Air Purifier is HEPA certified and more than capable of removing up to 99.9% of airborne particles.

Pros

• HEPA Certified
• Rated for rooms up to 300 square feet
• Includes Charcoal

Con

• Not ionized
• Air filters are not washable/reusable

Honorable Mention

GermGuardian AC4100 – Best Budget Option

The GermGuardian AC4100 is the best budget option we could find, and we stand behind our pick with confidence.

The GermGuardian AC4100 is a medium-size air purifier that is packed with particle fighting power. The GermGuardian AC4100 can outperform the more expensive brands, and it can do so for less than $100.

The GermGuardian AC4100 features three filtration types, Hepa, UV-C, and photocatalytic which remove 99% of the common air pollutants.

Additionally, The GermGuardian AC4100 is suitable for use in any size room, yet is compact enough to use in small bedrooms. What’s more, the GermGuardian AC4100 is also extremely energy efficient and quiet.

Pros

• Less than $100
• Compact size
• Includes UV-C light to remove germs and bacteria

Con

• Slightly noisy
• Not Energy Star certified

Honeywell HPA300 True HEPA Allergen Remover – Best Air Purifier for Allergies

We select the Honeywell HPA300 as the best air purifier for allergies because it is specially designed to remove irritable airborne particles and allergens.

The Honeywell HPA300 True HEPA Allergen Remover eliminates allergens and ensures that they have no chance from spreading from room to room.

The Honeywell HPA300 True HEPA Allergen Remover is excellent for large bedrooms and is even designed to remove odors from the air and circulate fresh air around the room.

We love the Honeywell HPA300 True HEPA Allergen Remover because it removes more than  99.9% of airborne contaminants and pollutants and is engineered to trap particles as small as 0.3 microns.

Pros

• Very quiet
• Exceptionally effective at removing alergians.
• Effective range up to 500 square feet.

Con

• More expensive than other allergan models.
• Reports of defective parts.

Fellowes Quiet Air Purifier with True HEPA Filter – Best Quiet Air Purifier

The Fellowes AP-300PH is our pick for the best quiet air purifier because… you guessed it; the Fellowes AP-300PH is exceptionally quiet.

The Fellowes AP-300PH is designed to efficiently clean up to 300 square feet of space and hardly emit a sound.

Using its true HEPA filter, the Fellowes AP-300PH can over 99% of airborne particles up to 0.3 microns.

Our favorite feature, however, is the PlasmaTRUE technology that the Fellowes AP-300PH uses to ionize the air it cleans, safely collecting and removing all airborne particles and contaminants.

The Fellowes AP-300PH removes all allergens, mold, smoke, pet dander, and pollutants from even the largest rooms and is compact and quiet enough to be used in the smallest bedrooms.

Pros

• Exceptionally quiet.
• Ionized
• Compact

Con

• Often sold out on Amazon.
• Not asthma & allergy friendly certified.

Final Thoughts

Poor air quality outside is bad enough, but when airborne particles and pollutants make its way into the air we breathe at home, then there is a real problem.

The air we breathe is directly correlated to our health, that is why it is improving the air quality inside your home is essential.

Choosing any one of the bedroom air purifiers featured here is the best way to improve your home air quality and not break the bank.

However, it is the Rabbit Air MinusA2 that exceeds all of our expectations. The Rabbit Air MinusA2 is not only affordable it works flawlessly, it’s quiet, and removes more allergens and pollutants than the next leading competitor. If you are searching for a low cost, high quality bedroom air purifier the Rabbit Air MinusA2 is your answer.