(Last Updated On: March 24, 2023)

5 Best Living Room Air Purifiers For COVID

air filter for pet allergies from dogs

By Becky Dotson

12 min read

We’ve updated this guide to include recent information related to COVID-19 and the Omicron variant. Please refer to the CDC’s website for the most current COVID-19 data and recommendations.

In the age of a pandemic, everyone’s looking for ways to stay as safe as possible, especially if you share a home with someone who is at a high-risk for contracting COVID-19. Because COVID-19 and its numerous variants, including the highly transmissible Omicron variant, are spread through the air, experts recommend air purifiers as additional protection to help combat the virus. In fact, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends air purifiers with a High Efficiency Particulate (HEPA) filter rating of at least H13 to effectively remove harmful airborne pollutants.

When looking for an air purifier, find one that fits your space. If the space you plan to put it in has a larger square footage area than the air purifier covers, it won’t work as effectively. It would also help if you included your ceiling height in your calculations. For example, if your ceiling height is 50 percent taller than the average nine-foot height in homes, be sure to choose an air purifier that can effectively clean that square coverage. In addition, your air purifier should be able to clean the air multiple times per hour. While recent research suggests six air exchanges per hour, AirPurifiers.com recommends a unit that can circulate the air two to three times per hour. As a result, you can run your unit at a slower and tranquil fan speed. If your living room is exceptionally large, consider running two air purifiers to effectively purify your air.

Moreover, make sure the one you choose has a Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) of 240 or better. The CADR indicates how often the air in your home is being purified. Most air purifiers with a high CADR clean the air more often than others with a lower rate. And be sure it has the ability to pull germs, bacteria, and viruses out of the air. You’ll be able to find that information out on the package and air purifier description.

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

It’s also important to choose an air purifier that has a HEPA 13 filter. While HEPA filters eliminate up to 99.97 percent of airborne particles 0.3 microns, a HEPA 13 filter is even better. How so? These filters were designed to capture 99.99 percent of airborne contaminants as small as 0.1 micron. This means that a HEPA 13 filter captures and eliminates even the smallest harmful airborne particles that a HEPA or True HEPA filter cannot.

Best Living Room Air Purifier for COVID

Alen Breathesmart
75i with Carbon
Air Purifier

$769 Buy Now

2nd Best Living Room Air Purifier for COVID

IQAir
HealthPro Plus
Air Purifier

$899 Buy Now

Better Living Room Air Purifier for COVID

BlueAir
Classic 605
Air Purifier

$498 Buy Now

Good Living Room Air Purifier for COVID

Austin Air
Healthmate Plus
Air Purifier

$850 Buy Now

2nd Good Living Room Air Purifier for COVID

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 $498 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
  • Dimensions: 13 x 20 x 26  inches
  • Weight: 31 pounds
  • HepaSilent technology
  • Dual protection filters
  • 698 square feet room coverage
The Blueair Classic 605 is the best bet for large living spaces like living rooms. With HEPASilent technology that captures up to 99.97 percent of airborne particles as small as 0.1 microns, the Blueair Classic 605 goes above and beyond to eliminate pet dander, pollen, dust, mold, allergies, hay fever, and more. Not only does the air purifier expertly clean the air in living rooms up to 698 square feet in size, but it also is a stylish unit that can match your decor. Additionally, it comes with a leek flip-top display and an indicator light to change the filter.
Good
Austin Air Healthmate Plus Air Purifier $855 Buy Now

Pros

Three fan speed settings
True Medical-Grade HEPA filter captures 99.97 percent of airborne particles larger than 0.3 microns
Specializes in the reduction of harmful airborne particles, chemicals, gases, and more

Cons

Weight
Features and Specs
  • Coverage Area: Up to 1500 Sq Ft
  • Dimensions: 14.5 x 14.5 x 23
  • Weight: 45 lbs
The Austin Air Healthmate Plus contains a true medical-grade HEPA filter that removes irritants that aggravate allergies and asthma symptoms. It also uses an activated carbon filter to remove smoke, gases, chemicals, and odors from the air. It comes with three fan settings and a four-stage filtration process. The Austin Air Healthmate Plus comes with a five-year warranty for parts and labor.
2nd 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.

Air Purifiers and COVID-19

If someone in your home has contracted the virus, the purifier will work best in the room with the infected person. Keep the door closed, the purifier no more than three feet from them, and let it run continuously. Please don’t put the machine behind anything that can obstruct it, like curtains or furniture, and safely clean it regularly. 

Unless you stay home all the time and never have anyone visit, there is no way to 100% prevent yourself or your family from being exposed to COVID-19 and Delta Variant. But there are ways to reduce your risk and slow down the spread. Air Purifiers help clear the air in homes, office spaces, and even schools by pulling the virus particles out of the air. HEPA filters used in purifiers pull in the droplets, kill them and keep them from spreading. The more often an air purifier cleans the air, the more effective it is. Our recommendations are great picks that fit any size space, and budget.