(Last Updated On: March 24, 2023)

Top 5 College Dorm Room Air Purifiers for Students

air filter for pet allergies from dogs

By Bianca Herron

12 min read

With the fall college semester right around the corner, it’s time to start making a list of dorm room essentials. If you’re a parent of incoming freshmen, they’ll need items like bedding, including twin extra-long sheets — school supplies, laptops, refrigerators, and cleaning supplies. In the age of the coronavirus, your child will also need hand sanitizer, disinfectant spray, and protective masks.

Although dorm rooms are an excellent choice because of their proximity to students’ classes, they can also raise concerns about health and cleanliness. Dorm rooms are typically small, enclosed spaces and often shared with multiple people. This means that your college-aged child will spend most of their time in a room where personal hygiene may not be a priority for all students. In fact, in a recent study of 50 used pillows and nine used mattress pads of college students, SleepBetter.org found hundreds of thousands of bacteria, yeast, fungi, and mold

During these challenging times, indoor air quality is more important than ever. Recent studies by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have found that indoor levels of harmful airborne pollutants are two to five times — and frequently more than 100 times — higher than outdoor levels. This is why an air purifier should be on every student’s list of back-to-school essentials.

Luckily, here at airpurifiers.com, we’ve researched for you. We understand that cleaning products and washing laundry only go so far, especially if your incoming freshmen have a roommate. An air purifier will not only help your college-aged freshman breathe healthier, cleaner air but also help improve their quality of sleep and eliminate other allergens, mold, dust, and more.

Top Pick

Alen BreatheSmart 45i
Air Purifier
$430 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 45i
Air Purifier

$430 Buy Now
2nd Best
Austin Air
Bedroom Machine
Air Purifier

$995 Buy Now
Better
Rabbit Air
BioGS 2.0
Air Purifier

$370 Buy Now
Good
Coway AirMega
AP-1512HHS
Air Purifier

$230 Buy Now
2nd Good
Sharp
Plasmacluster Ion
Air Purifier

$230 Buy Now
Best
Alen BreatheSmart 45i Air Purifier $444 Buy Now

Pros

2.4 lbs of carbon
H13 grade of HEPA
Multiple color options: White, Expresso, Graphite, and more
Sleep Score.com certified, proven to produce better sleep
Lifetime warranty
Great value

Cons

Weight
Features and Specs
  • Dimensions: 8.5 x 15 x 25 inches
  • Weight: 21.4 pounds
  • Four-stage filtration system
  • Medical-Grade True HEPA filter and B4-Pure filter
  • 800 square feet room coverage
The Alen BreatheSmart 45i Air Purifier is a sleek and sophisticated air purifier that can clean bedrooms up to 800 square feet in size every 30 minutes. It’s True HEPA filter can remove airborne particles including allergens, dust, orders, pet dander, bacteria, and mold spores. It also comes with a HEPA Silver filter, which helps kill airborne bacteria, germs, viruses, and more. Additionally, the Alen BreatheSmart 45i’s Laser Smart Sensor can not only detect airborne particles, but also automatically adjusts to your environment. With four fan speed options, its WhisperMax Technology allows you to sleep peacefully. Moreover, its LED color display allows you and your loved ones to check the air quality at a glance.
2nd Best
Austin Air Bedroom Machine Review
Austin Air Bedroom Machine Air Purifier $995 Buy Now

Pros

Five-year warranty
True Medical-Grade HEPA filter captures 99.97 percent of airborne particles larger than 0.3 microns
Multiple color options: Sandstone, Midnight Blue, and White
Metal body and paint do not off gas and VOCs as Plastic bodied units do
Made in USA

Cons

Heavier than other competitor products
Features and Specs
  • Dimensions: 14.5 x 14.5 x 23 inches
  • Weight: 53 pounds
  • Five-stage filtration system
  • Three fan speeds
If you or a loved one suffers from a sleep-related problem, the Austin Air Bedroom Machine Air Purifier is a wise choice. Be confident that you will not only sleep better, but also continuously breathe clean air. Its True medical-grade HEPA filter eliminates up to 99.97 percent of all airborne particles larger than 0.3 microns. This includes dust, pet dander, pollen, gases, and other allergens. With three speed settings for its fan, the Austin Air Bedroom Machine air purifier boasts a 360-degree intake system and a five-stage filtration system. Additionally, its High Efficiency Gas Arrestance (HEGA) carbon cloth absorbs gases, chemicals, bacteria and other viruses. With 15 pounds of carbon, this unit will do the job - even if it does so noisily. It's recommended that the filter be changed once every five (5) years under normal conditions, and more often under harsh air conditions.
Better
Rabbit Air BioGS 2.0 Air Purifier $370 Buy Now

Pros

24/7 lifetime technical support
BioGS HEPA filter and Activated Charcoal filter captures 99.97 percent of airborne particles as small as 0.3 microns
Energy Star rated

Cons

One-color option: white
Features and Specs
  • Dimensions: 16.6 x 9.8 x 22.2 inches
  • Weight: 16.8 pounds
  • Energy Star Rated
  • 625 square feet room coverage
The Rabbit Air BioGS 2.0 air purifier cleans bedrooms up to 625 square feet twice every hour. As an Energy Star-rated air purifier, the Rabbit Air BioGS 2.0 is very quiet. It also comes with a four-stage filtration system, washable pre-filter, and childproof feature, which pauses the air purifier's operation when you remove the front panel. It also comes with a five-year warranty as well as 24/7 lifetime support. 
Good
Coway Airmega AP-1512HHS HEPA Air Purifier $230 Buy Now

Pros

True HEPA filter and Activated Charcoal filter captures 99.97 percent of airborne particles as small as 0.3 micron
Works with Alexa
Coway IoCare Mobile App

Cons

Covers up to 325 Sq Ft
Features and Specs
  • Dimensions: 22.5 x 22.2 x 12.4 inches
  • Weight: 19.76 pounds
  • Three-stage filtration system
  • 325 square feet room coverage
  • Energy Star Rated
The Coway Airmega cleans the air up to 325 square feet and comes with a washable pre-filter. This air purifier is energy-efficient with a True HEPA filter and an Activated Charcoal filter, capturing airborne particles. If you enjoy smart devices' convenience, its Coway IoCare mobile App allows you to monitor the air quality indoors and outdoors. The air purifier also works with Alexa showing the indoor air quality in real-time.
2nd Good
The Best Air Purifier for Bedrooms
Sharp Plasmacluster Ion Air Purifier $200 Shop Now
The Sharp Plasmsacluster Ion Air Purifier comes with a high-efficiency HEPA filter and 15 pounds of activated Carbon to eliminate odors and harmful chemicals in the bathroom. The unit’s three-stage filtration system includes a long-life True HEPA filter and Activated Carbon filter, which captures up to 99.97 percent of airborne particles as small as 0.3 microns. With a coverage area of 259 square feet, the Sharp Plasmacluster Ion air purifier is whisper quiet and has a Plasmacluster Express Clean mode, which provides an extra boost of cleanness. Additionally, the Sharp Plasmacluster Ion air purifier comes with a washable pre-filter for larger airborne particles, which helps extend the overall life of your filters. 
Features and Specs
  • Dimensions: 8.2 x 15.1 x 21.3 inches
  • Weight: 11 pounds
  • Three-stage filtration system
  • True HEPA filter eliminates airborne particles traditional filters cannot trap
  • 259 square feet room coverage

Why We Love It

Low noise operation
True HEPA filter captures 99.97 percent of airborne particles as small as 0.3 microns
Authentic HEPA and active carbon filters last up to two years

Take Note

One-color option

The Bottom Line

An air purifier captures the air particles that trigger your allergies, reducing the annoying and dangerous symptoms during allergy seasons. It’s essential to find an air purifier that expertly captures all allergens with an excellent HEPA filter, activated carbon, longevity, and one that protects the square feet of your living room.