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Household dust is unavoidable, but it’s easier to keep on top of banishing these dirty fine particles with an air purifier designed to remove dust. Effective air purifiers capture airborne dust, which also means less of it settles on surfaces. More importantly, less airborne bits means better air quality. The top air purifiers for dust filter out several other air pollutants as well, like pet dander, pollen, smoke, and mold spores.
When it comes to air purifiers nowadays, effectiveness is just the bare minimum. Features like different modes (including nighttime), fan levels, timers, schedules, and smart connectivity make air purifiers more pleasant to use. Plus, some even look stylish as well. Read on for the best air purifiers for dust to reduce airborne particles.
- BEST OVERALL: Coway Airmega AP-1512HH Air Purifier
- BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Levoit Core 300 True HEPA Air Purifier
- UPGRADE PICK: Dyson Pure Hot+Cool HP01 Purifying Heat + Fan
- BEST FOR SMALL SPACES: GermGuardian AC4825E Tower Air Purifier
- BEST FOR LARGE ROOMS:Honeywell HPA300 True HEPA Allergen Plus Air Purifier
- BEST FOR BEDROOMS: Blueair Blue Pure 411 Auto Air Purifier
- BEST DESIGN: Alen BreatheSmart FLEX True HEPA Air Purifier
How We Chose the Best Air Purifiers for Dust
The best air purifiers for dust help filter out dust as well as other airborne particles. We chose effective options, all suited for those with common airborne allergies to dust, dust mites, and pollen. We exclusively chose air purifiers with high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filtration, a highly effective option for trapping dust and other small particles.
Besides being effective, the top air purifiers on our list are convenient to use. With so many options on the market (most with highly effective HEPA filters), what really sets a good air purifier apart is its design. Through examining unit specs and air purifier reviews, we evaluated air purifiers for their user-friendliness. We chose air purifiers with a range of practical functions, such as various modes, fan options, filter stages, and smart connectivity. Lastly, since air purifiers for dust are often used in main living spaces, we also considered each unit’s noise level and overall aesthetic, choosing appealing options.
Our Top Picks
Remove airborne dust and a range of other pollutants from indoor air with one of the best air purifiers from our list below.
Best Overall
Coway Airmega AP-1512HH Air Purifier
Balancing effectiveness and a reasonable price, the Coway Airmega AP-1512HH is our top pick for the best air purifier for dust. In terms of operation, it has a four-stage filtration system with a prefilter, true HEPA filter, deodorizing activated carbon filter, and an optional ionizer. In short, it’s designed to truly clean the air.
Users can take advantage of three fan speeds, a shut-off timer, a more efficient Eco mode, and an Auto mode. The automatic mode monitors the air and adjusts the purifier fan speed based on the current air quality. To do so, it uses a built-in air-quality monitor, also displaying the air quality through an indicator on the control panel. The Eco mode uses the air-quality monitor as well, turning the unit’s fan off when it reaches an acceptable air-quality level.
This unit can purify small to large rooms; it’s powerful enough for rooms up to 361 square feet. Lastly, shoppers can’t miss this purifier’s distinctive design. It’s boxy but compact and comes in either white or black.
Product Specs
- Filtration: Prefilter, HEPA, and activated carbon filters, plus ionizer
- Room size recommendation: 361 square feet
- Noise level: 24 to 53 decibels
Pros
- Eco mode automatically cycles the air purifier on or off to conserve energy
- Built-in indicator displays the current air quality
- Powerful enough to purify large rooms up to 361 square feet
Cons
- Does not have a sleep mode
Get the Coway air purifier for dust at Amazon, The Home Depot, or Coway.
Best Bang for the Buck
Levoit Core 300 True HEPA Air Purifier
The quest for healthier air needn’t break the bank. For shoppers on a budget, the Levoit Core 300 True HEPA air purifier is an affordable model that still uses highly effective HEPA filtration. This podlike purifier actually has a three-stage filtration system with a prefilter, HEPA filter, and activated carbon filter. It’s suitable for rooms up to 219 square feet, so it will work well in many bedrooms, offices, or playrooms.
Though this purifier doesn’t boast many bells and whistles (there’s no air-quality monitor, for example), it does have great features for a budget-friendly unit. From the top control panel, users can choose from three fan speeds, a timer, a settings-lock feature, a display-off mode, and a quieter sleep mode. We also consider the Levoit Core 300 to be one of the best portable air purifiers for its lightweight design and small footprint.
Product Specs
- Filtration: Prefilter, HEPA, and activated carbon filters
- Room size recommendation: 219 square feet
- Noise level: 24 to 50 decibels
Pros
- Intuitive top control panel is clear and simple to use
- Lightweight and compact podlike design is easy to move around
- Display-off feature and sleep mode reduce the chance of disturbances at night
Cons
- Lacks an air-quality sensor and auto mode
Get the Levoit air purifier for dust at Amazon, The Home Depot, Target, or Levoit.
Upgrade Pick
Dyson Pure Hot+Cool HP01 Purifying Heat + Fan
The Dyson Pure Hot+Cool HP01 purifying heat and fan is more expensive than most air purifiers, but it’s packed with features that may justify its cost. It’s not just an air purifier: It’s also a tower fan and a space heater for convenient year-round comfort. This unit has a 360-degree filtration system, using HEPA filtration to capture small particles.
Once air enters the system, Dyson’s Air Multiplier technology projects it around the room. To circulate air (and to make the model more useful as a fan), the top fan section has 70 degrees of oscillation. Users can control settings, which include an auto mode, fan speeds, sleep timer, and night mode, all by using the included remote control. While it runs, this unit monitors and displays air quality.
Dyson does not share a clean-air delivery rate (CADR), recommended room size, or noise level for this purifier. However, reviews note that it is quiet and the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America vouches for its effectiveness—it is certified Asthma and Allergy-friendly, which is certification that means it passed the foundation’s testing for effectiveness.
Product Specs
- Filtration: HEPA filter
- Room size recommendation: Not specified
- Noise level: Not specified
Pros
- Multiple features in 1 unit: combined air purifier, tower fan, and space heater
- The sleek design has no obtrusive spinning fan blades
- Air Multiplier technology and oscillation feature distribute purified air around the room
Cons
- No Wi-Fi connectivity or smart features (although it does come with a remote control)
- Dyson does not specify important specs, like the CADR or noise level
Get the Dyson air purifier for dust at The Home Depot, Best Buy, Target, or Dyson.
Best for Small Spaces
GermGuardian AC4825E Tower Air Purifier
Air purifiers rated for larger rooms are even more effective in small rooms—but they are usually bulky and pricey. The GermGuardian AC4825 tower air purifier looks more like a tower fan than an air purifier. Its tall but very narrow design means it’s a great pick for cramped areas; it hardly takes up any floor space.
This purifier is rated for rooms up to 153 square feet and is priced accordingly, making it an economical choice for small to medium rooms. Plus, it’s Energy Star certified. Like the other purifiers on our list, it has a multistage filtration system. Air moves through an activated charcoal prefilter, a HEPA filter, and then an optional UV-C light sanitizer, which purports to zap some airborne bacteria and viruses.
Though this unit has three fan speeds and a UV-C light, it lacks many of the other convenience features found in other purifiers. It doesn’t have an auto mode, air-quality monitor, or timer feature. Nevertheless, it’s an affordable and space-saving choice for those who just need a simple purifier in a small room.
Product Specs
- Filtration: Activated charcoal prefilter and HEPA filters, plus UV-C light
- Room size recommendation: 153 square feet
- Noise level: Not specified
Pros
- Won’t take up much floor space due to tall and narrow design
- The design is suited for small- to medium-size rooms
- Optional UV-C light feature can kill some airborne germs
Cons
- Small base makes it easy to tip over
- Very basic operation and controls
Get the GermGuardian air purifier for dust at Amazon, The Home Depot, Wayfair, or Germ Guardian.
Best for Large Rooms
Honeywell HPA300 True HEPA Allergen Plus Air Purifier
An air purifier rated for small rooms just can’t cut it in larger spaces. The Honeywell HPA300 HEPA air purifier is able to purify the air in rooms up to 465 square feet, so it’s suited for extra-large areas.
This air purifier uses a prefilter and a HEPA filter to reduce dust and allergens in the air. It’s a simple unit and has a utilitarian look, but it gets the job done. Users can choose from three cleaning levels or a Turbo mode to breeze through whole-room air cleaning. This unit also has an automatic shut-off timer, dimmer for the control panel lights, and filter-change indicator.
Due to its purifying power, we consider this unit to be one of the best air purifiers for mold. Another plus: It’s Energy Star certified, so it won’t use up too much power while cleaning large volumes of air.
Product Specs
- Filtration: Activated carbon prefilter and HEPA filter
- Room size recommendation: 465 square feet
- Noise level: Not specified
Pros
- Powerful enough to clean the air in extra-large rooms
- Use of the Turbo setting helps cycle air through the unit faster
- Filter-change indicator helps keep track of when it’s time for a clean filter
Cons
- Not the nicest-looking design
Get the Honeywell air purifier for dust at Amazon, Best Buy, or Honeywell.
Best for Bedrooms
Blueair Blue Pure 411 Auto Air Purifier
An air purifier is an excellent asset for a bedroom—as long as it doesn’t keep people up at night. The Blueair Blue Pure 411 auto air purifier is an excellent choice for the bedroom since it operates at a mere 18 decibels on low—almost half as quiet as a whisper. Even on its highest setting, it runs at 48 decibels, which is not much louder than the hum of a refrigerator. An auto-dimming LED light is another plus for sleeping, and its compact size should fit even a small bedroom.
This air-purifier system consists of a machine-washable prefilter, a particle filter, and an activated carbon filter. Blueair doesn’t use traditional HEPA filters but the brand’s HEPASilent dual-filtration technology instead. Blueair claims it is just as effective as regular HEPA filtration, but quieter—which does reflect in this unit’s very low decibel rating. Other convenient features in this purifier include an air-quality indicator and auto mode; it’s also Energy Star certified, so it won’t add too much to the electric bill.
Product Specs
- Filtration: Prefilter, activated carbon, and particle filters
- Room size recommendation: 190 square feet
- Noise level: 18 to 48 decibels
Pros
- Machine-washable prefilter is easy to remove and maintain
- Very quiet operation at 18 decibels on lowest setting; ideal for sleeping
- Auto-dimming LED light reduces to 10 percent of brightness when not in use
Cons
- Lacks automatic shut-off timer feature
Get the Blueair air purifier for dust at Amazon, Best Buy, Target, or Blue Air.
Best Design
Alen BreatheSmart FLEX True HEPA Air Purifier
The Alen BreatheSmart FLEX True HEPA air purifier is the choice for those looking for a stylish and customizable air purifier. Shoppers can choose from a few finishing panels, including white, gray, or a faux-wood look. This decorative panel covers the entire front side of the air purifier to make it look sleek.
This purifier is more than attractive; it’s also effective. We consider it among the best air purifiers for allergies because of its HEPA filtration system, multiple speed settings, and Energy Star certification, which makes it reasonable to run all day and night. It does have a shut-off timer feature as well. Shoppers can also choose from different filter types to target odors or smoke (each type still has a HEPA filter to catch dust).
Alen recommends this air purifier for rooms up to 700 square feet based on two air changes per hour. However, we think it’s better suited for rooms up to 337.5 square feet, based on its CADR rating of 225.
Product Specs
- Filtration: HEPA filter
- Room size recommendation: 700 square feet (2 air changes per hour)
- Noise level: 25 to 50 decibels
Pros
- Slim, sleek, and stylish look, with various finishes to choose from
- Various filter options to target different concerns (each with HEPA filtration)
- Front panel design makes it very easy to access the filter
Cons
- Alen exaggerates the ideal room size for this unit
Get the Alen air purifier for dust at Amazon, The Home Depot, Wayfair, or Alen.
Jump to Our Top Picks
What to Consider When Choosing the Best Air Purifier for Dust
Shopping for a new air purifier can feel overwhelming. There are plenty of options to choose from and a lot of jargon to learn, some of which we break down ahead. When choosing an air purifier for dust, consider the purifier’s filtration system certifications, intended room size, purifier noise level, maintenance needs, and any additional features.
Filtration System
The best air purifiers for dust have a multistage filtration system that filters out large and small particles of dust and other pollutants. Filtration systems usually start with a prefilter to capture larger dust particles. These filters are typically easy to clean, either with a vacuum or by hand-washing, and don’t need replacing. By trapping the big stuff, they can help extend the life of the other filters in the system.
Next come finer filters to trap smaller particles that get past the prefilter. When it comes to an air purifier with dust, look for one with a HEPA filter. They remove over 99.97 percent of airborne particles, which means they can trap airborne dust, pollen, mold, bacteria, and smoke. This air filter type is in most of the best air purifiers for a reason—it’s great at trapping airborne dust.
To tackle odors, which is not a necessity in a dust air purifier but is certainly nice, many purifiers have a carbon filter that can help remove smells and gasses. Odor control may be extra appealing for shoppers looking for an air purifier for pets.
Certifications
Air purifier brands make a lot of claims. To really get to the bottom of air-purifier performance, consider looking for a purifier with one of the certifications ahead.
- AHAM Verifide: All air purifiers can list a CADR rating (which we explain ahead), but only some are certified by the Association of Home Appliance (AHAM), an organization that helps develop standards for home appliances. AHAM-certified air purifiers are independently tested and shown to meet their advertised CADR score. AHAM certification is voluntary.
- CARB certification: Shoppers looking for an extra layer of certification can look for California Air Resources Board (CARB) certification. All portable air purifiers sold in California must be certified by this organization, which checks that the units are tested for electrical safety and minimal ozone emissions. Ozone is a harmful gas that is emitted by air purifiers with ionic or ultraviolet light technology.
- Energy Star certification: Air purifiers are meant to be run as often as possible to improve air quality. While they are generally pretty efficient, shoppers looking for the most energy-efficient models should look for Energy Star certification. The Energy Star program is run by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and indicates that the product meets the group’s high energy-efficiency standards.
Room Size
Portable air purifiers are generally intended to be used in one room. Air purifiers will include a recommended room size, expressed in square footage, which lets consumers know the maximum room size that the purifier will work effectively in.
For those with allergies who really need to make sure a purifier is effective, consider the CADR score as well as the recommended room size. Manufacturers do sometimes exaggerate the room coverage, so consider the CADR and look for AHAM certification.
CADR stands for “clean-air delivery rate.” This rating is a measure of how much filtered air the purifier can deliver, usually expressed in cubic feet per minute. It’s often broken down into individual ratings for tobacco smoke, dust, and pollen. When shopping for the best air purifiers for dust, consider the dust CADR score.
The CADR is used to calculate the appropriate room size for an air purifier. The AHAM recommends the CADR score of a purifier should be at least two-thirds of the intended room’s area. For example, for a 120-square-foot room, choose an air cleaner with a CADR of 80 cubic feet per minute or more.
The AHAM also recommends that an effective air purifier circulates the air inside the room 4.8 times an hour. This metric is also referred to as “air changes per house.” Some manufacturers exaggerate the recommended room size by listing lower air changes per hour, for example, advertising a purifier can cover 800 square feet at one air change per hour. Look for the room coverage spec that corresponds with the AHAM’s 4.8 air changes per hour recommendation.
Noise
The top air purifiers for dust use fans to force air through the filtration system. Of course, these fans make some noise. Noise level is another factor to consider when choosing an air purifier, especially if it’s placed in a bedroom, child’s room, or living room.
Not all air purifiers display a noise-level rating, but some do. The noise level of air purifiers is measured in decibels. For reference, a whisper usually registers at 30 decibels, the hum of a refrigerator at 40 decibels, and the sound of a normal conversation or average air conditioner at 60 decibels. Most air purifiers run within this range and don’t get much louder than 60 decibels. There are options that are quieter than 30 decibels, which means they are literally quieter than a whisper. These models are excellent for homes that need a nondisruptive air purifier.
Maintenance
All good air purifiers for dust have a filtration system, which means maintenance is necessary. As the purifier runs, dust and other pollutants build up on the filters, and they’ll eventually need to be cleaned or replaced. Prefilters are usually washable, but HEPA filters and carbon filters will need eventual replacing, which is both an extra maintenance and extra cost consideration.
Manufacturers will recommend a filter replacement schedule. It can be easy to forget though, so consider an air purifier with a filter-replacement indicator. This can be an onboard indicator or a notification through a smartphone app. It’s important to replace the filters when needed or else the air purifier will not effectively capture dust.
Additional Features
The top air purifiers today include a range of additional features. Pretty much all air purifiers will have manual settings, which allow users to control the purifier speeds and mode, but some units also have built-in air-quality monitors, which help users keep track of indoor air pollution. These purifiers often have automatic modes, which use sensors to check air quality and adjust the air purifier’s settings accordingly.
Other modes and settings are available too, such as timer options, scheduling options, more energy-efficient eco modes, and night modes that run extra quietly or emit a soft night light. Onboard controls are standard, but for extra convenience, some air purifiers come with remotes or are able to connect to a smartphone.
FAQs
Air purifiers have a simple job: to remove airborne contaminants. But with so many factors to consider, shopping for a dust-reducing air purifier doesn’t always feel simple. We’ve compiled a few frequently asked questions and their answers to help you find the right air purifier for your needs, as well as some usage and maintenance tips.
Q. Where should you keep an air purifier for dust?
A portable air purifier is designed to purify the air in one room, so keep it in a room where you want to control dust. Since many people buy air purifiers to improve air quality, you’ll reap the most benefits by placing it in a room you frequently use, such as the bedroom or living room.
Q. How long do air purifiers for dust last on average?
Like many small appliances, air purifiers can last a long time since their filters are washable or replaceable. With proper maintenance, like cleaning and filter changes, they even have the potential to last for over a decade.
Q. How effective are small air purifiers?
It’s not the size of the air purifier that determines performance but rather the amount of air it can purify in a given time (also known as the CADR score). Most air purifiers display a recommended room size, which will tell you more about its effectiveness than the air purifier’s physical size. That being said, usually smaller air purifiers are rated for smaller rooms and larger air purifiers for larger rooms.
Q. How much maintenance do air purifiers require?
Air purifiers are relatively low maintenance. Most of them just require occasional prefilter cleaning and replacement of the HEPA or other filters, which is usually every 6 months to a year.
Q. How often should you change the filter on an air purifier?
It really depends on the filter type, usage level, and air purifier itself. Since there are so many variables, it’s best to follow the manufacturer’s directions on how often to clean or change the filter. Or look for an air purifier with a change-filter indicator, which will let you know when the air purifier needs a new filter.
Why Trust Bob Vila
For decades, Bob Vila has been helping Americans build, repair, and renovate their homes. As the host of two TV series, “This Old House” and “Bob Vila’s Home Again,” he’s shared his home improvement advice with a wide audience. The Bob Vila team continues the spirit of distilling expert home advice into accessible product guides, how-to articles, renovation tutorials, and much more.
Jasmine Harding has been writing commerce content since 2020. She dives deep into the background of every product category that crosses her desk. She thoroughly researched air purifiers for this guide, using EPA, AHAM, and CARB resources to find the most accurate and up-to-date information.