(Last Updated On: March 24, 2023)

Top 5 Living Room Air Purifiers For Allergies

Find Out Which Air Purifiers are Best for Preventing Allergies

By Becky Dotson

12 minute read

We’ve updated this buying guide to confirm availability and prices for recommended products. Due to current shipping volume nationwide, there are potential shipping delays for some products.

Most of us have experienced winter, spring, or a random summer or fall allergy. They’re a nuisance at best – miserable at worst. Allergy reactions occur when our immune systems determine something is harmful, even if it’s not. Our bodies produce antibodies to fight off the “invader.” The result can be sneezing, sniffling, red, itchy, watery eyes – and everything else that goes along with seasonal or continual allergy issues.

Wouldn’t it be nice if we could control allergies by getting rid of everything that triggers them? It’s an excellent thought, but an impossible endeavor; dust, pollen, and pet dander are just part of life. There are temporary things we can do to alleviate our symptoms ((link to an article on the best home remedies for allergy relief)). Still, it’s more important to find a long-term solution like buying an air purifier, especially if allergies are a yearly or chronic problem for you.

Purchasing an air purifier can be a significant investment, depending on the size and kind you choose. However, air purifiers are definitely worth the money. Air purifiers are designed to pull irritants out of the air, trap them in a filter, and recirculate cleaner air. And who doesn’t want to breathe in cleaner air? Using an air purifier regularly in your home goes a long way in helping create cleaner air in your living space and lessening the effect and chances of an allergy flare-up.

Top Pick

Alen
BreatheSmart 75i
Air Purifier
$749 Buy Now

Products in this article are independently selected and featured editorially. If you make a purchase using these links we may earn commission.  How We Rate

Best
Alen
BreatheSmart 75i
Air Purifier

$749 Buy Now
2nd Best
IQAir
HealthPro Plus
Air Purifier

$899 Buy Now
Better
Blueair
Classic 605
Air Purifier

$495 Buy Now
Good
Austin Air
Allergy Machine
Air Purifier

$765 Buy Now
2nd Good
Coway
AirMega 400
Air Purifier

$450 Buy Now
Best
Alen BreatheSmart 75i Air Purifier $749 Buy Now

Pros

B7 Pure filter
True HEPA filter captures 99.97 percent of airborne particles as small as 0.1 micron
Multiple color options

Cons

Weight
Features and Specs
  • Dimensions: 13 x 20 x 26 inches
  • Weight: 31 pounds
  • Cleans air every 30 minutes
  • True HEPA filter
  • 1,300 square feet room coverage
With five fan speeds, the Alen BreatheSmart 75i cleans large rooms up to 1,300 square feet every 30 minutes. Even better, you and your loved ones will breathe easier and cleaner air as the Alen BreatheSmart 75i comes with both a HEPA Pure filter and True HEPA filter. The HEPA Pure filter contains a compound that eliminates airborne bacteria, germs, fungi, and viruses, while the True HEPA layer captures 99.97 percent of airborne particles as small as 0.3 microns.
2nd Best
IQ Air HealthPro Plus Air Purifier $899 Buy Now

Pros

Super absorbent carbon filter
HyperHEPA filter captures 99.5 percent of airborne particles as small as 0.3 microns
Covers up to 1,125 square feet

Cons

Weight
Features and Specs
  • Covers up to 1,125 square feet
  • Dimensions: 32.25 x 17.83 x 15.38 inches
  • Weight: 50 pounds
  • Triple-Seal Technology
  • HyperHEPA filter
The IQAir HealthPro cleans large rooms up to 1,125 square feet. This air purifier not only filters harmful gases and chemicals in the home, but its HyperHEPA filter eliminates 99.5 percent of airborne particles as small as 0.3 microns. The IQAir HealthPro Plus air purifier also comes with a remote control, color-coded filter light indicator, and a 10-year limited warranty.
Better
BlueAir Classic 605 Air Purifier $495 Buy Now

Pros

Low noise operation
True HEPA filter captures 99.97 percent of airborne particles as small as 0.1 micron
WiFi capabilities

Cons

Cost
Features and Specs
  • Coverage Area: Up to 800 Sq Ft
  • Dimensions: 13 x 20 x 26
  • Weight: 31 lbs
The BlueAir Classic 605 Air Purifier will change the air in the room up to five times an hour. It uses a True HEPA filter to capture dust, mold, pet dander, and pollen essential for allergy sufferers. It also removes bacteria and viruses from the air and contains dual protection filters that help remove smoke and other odors. It's equipped with three fan speeds, is Wi-Fi enabled, and can be controlled through the BlueAir app or Amazon's Alexa. All the filters are recyclable and should be replaced every six months. The BlueAir Classic 605 comes with a two-year warranty.
Good
Coway AirMega 400 Air Purifier $450 Buy Now

Pros

Cleans the air at least twice per hour
True HEPA filter captures 99.97 percent of airborne particles as small as 0.3 micron
WiFi capabilities

Cons

One color option: White
Features and Specs
  • Covers up to 1,560 square feet
  • Dimensions: 14.8 x 22.91 x 14.8 inches
  • Weight: 25 pounds
  • Smart and energy efficient
  • Five fan speeds
The Coway AirMega 400 air purifier includes the Coway AirMega Max2 filter, a combined activated carbon and True HEPA filter, which captures up to 99.97% of airborne particles as small as 0.3 microns. This includes pet dander, pollen, dust, and mold. It also comes with a washable pre-filter, which helps catch larger airborne particles. Designed for large bedrooms up to 1,560 square feet, the Coway AirMega 400 is a smart, energy efficient air purifier that comes with a smart mode (three settings). This feature automatically adjusts the fan speed based on your bedroom’s air quality. Additionally, The Coway AirMega 400 also has a timer, filter change light indicators, and a five-year warranty.
2nd Good
Austin Allergy Machine Air Purifier $765 Buy Now

Pros

Cleans the air in large rooms up to 1,500 square feet
Four stage mega filter
360-degree perforated steel intake housing

Cons

Weight
Features and Specs
  • Covers up to 1,500 square feet
  • Dimensions: 14.5 x 23 x 14.5 inches
  • Weight: 33 pounds
  • Designed for allergy and asthma relief
  • Removes viruses and bacteria
The Austin Air Allergy Machine air purifier delivers clean air fast and efficiently with its 4-Stage Mega filter. Not only does it contain activated military carbon cloth, but also more than 30 square feet of True medical-grade HEPA. Designed specifically to help those who suffer from allergies and asthma, the Austin Air Allergy Machine eliminates airborne particles including allergens, asthma irritants, and more. It also comes with a five-year warranty.

Air Purifiers and Living Spaces

Deciding where to put the air purifier can be a difficult decision. The good news is most air purifiers are reasonably portable, so you can move them around based on where you think you need them most. When it comes to choosing a fixed place that offers maximum benefits for you and your family – your living room is probably your best bet.

The living room is easily one of the most trafficked spaces in our homes. It’s where we entertain, relax, watch TV, and spend time with our family and friends. It is used space. There are windows and usually an outside entrance connected to the room, making it easy for irritants from outside to come in. Add that to all general movement and high traffic in the room, and you can understand how easy it is for particles that trigger allergies to enter and circulate in the air.

What to Consider in an Air Purifier

There are a few things to consider when looking for an air purifier. The first thing you’ll want to do is determine the size of your living room. All air purifiers have a certain amount of square footage they cover. If your room is bigger than the maximum amount, the air purifier won’t work as effectively. Be sure to consider your ceiling height, as well. Lofted and vaulted ceilings and open floor plans can contribute to the total area you’re trying to purify.

Make sure the air purifier you choose works with a HEPA filter. HEPA filters are high-efficiency filters that trap more than 99 percent of the particles out of the air. Dust mites, pet dander, pollen, and other common allergens are too small to see with the naked eye, but they aren’t too small to be trapped by HEPA filters in air purifiers. Our list of recommended air purifiers are solid performers for removing dust, pollen, pet dander, and other things that trigger allergies.

If word of mouth or internet reviews isn’t enough to convince you of the effectiveness of an air purifier in your home, the Environmental Protection Agency references several studies that show air purifiers help relieve allergy and asthma symptoms. The machines are more expensive than short-term treatments and solutions, but they can go a long way in making sure the air you breathe in your home during allergy season and beyond is much cleaner.