Best Air Purifiers 2024 - Forbes Vetted

Oct 26, 2024

Poor indoor air quality can have a negative impact on your health, and the easiest way to improve your home’s air is with the help of the best air purifiers. These units typically use HEPA filters to remove particles like dust, pollen, smoke and pet dander from the air, and many also have activated carbon filters to help combat odors and volatile organic compounds. Our top recommendation for most spaces is the Levoit LV-H132, which is compact and quiet yet effective—not to mention well-priced.

The best air purifiers improve your home’s air quality by removing particles such as dust, pollen, ... [+] smoke and pet dander.

The best air purifier for your needs depends on several factors. The size of your space will determine what filtering capacity, power and air flow (a.k.a. clean air delivery rate or CADR) your device should have. “The higher the CADR, the more particles the air cleaner will remove,” says Michael Rubino, a mold and air quality expert and environmental wellness advocate. Based on these factors, the following are 11 of the best air purifiers you can buy today, seven of which have been tested by members of our team.

Amazon

Dimensions: 7.9 x 7.9 x 12.6 inches | Weight: 6 pounds | Coverage area: 129 square feet | Filter: True HEPA combination filter/pre-filter | Noise level: 25 to 50 decibels

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Small enough to fit on your desk and designed to filter up to about 129 square feet, this compact Levoit model is equipped with a HEPA filter that removes 99.97% of fine particles, including dust, pet dander and pollen. It’s an inexpensive option that uses a three-stage filtration system, which includes a pre-filter to capture large particles like hair and fur, as well as an activated carbon filter to eliminate odors and other VOCs. It has three fan settings that let you control the speed and volume of the purifier, and senior home and kitchen editor Amanda Arnold confirms that it works well on pet dander, helping to assuage her partner’s cat allergies.

While this air purifier was designed for use in the bedroom, it’s quite portable and can be moved from room to room if needed—Arnold says that its compact design and quiet operation makes it an inconspicuous option for any room. Though it has a smaller capacity than other air purifiers on this list, it’s hard to beat the price. That said, if you want a little more square footage, the brand’s similar Core 300 model (which we also recommend below) works in rooms up to 219 square feet and retails for around $100.

Senior home editor Amanda Arnold appreciates her Levoit LV-H132's quiet operation and soft blue ... [+] light, pictured here.

Amazon

Dimensions: 8.7 x 14.7 x 8.7 inches | Weight: 6 pounds | Coverage area: 225 square feet | Filter: Pre-filter, true HEPA and active carbon | Noise level: Not listed

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If you’re looking for a little more coverage but don’t want to break the bank, Clorox’s HEPA-equipped air purifier is designed for midsized rooms and a great value at under $100. It’s equipped with three-stage filtration that includes a pre-filter for larger particles and pet hair, as well as an activated carbon filter that reduces VOCs and deodorizes the air. The HEPA filter, meanwhile, can capture 99.97% of airborne particles that are as small as 0.1 microns (smaller than the typical 0.3 microns usually combated by filters in this price range). Its CADR scores for smoke, pollen and dust are all at least two-thirds of the device’s recommended coverage area of 225 square feet—the percentage experts recommend when choosing an air cleaner—and the gadget works extremely quickly, too. In Auto mode, this purifier starts to rev up immediately whenever we light a scented candle or start frying up something for dinner.

In addition to the efficient three-stage filter, we like how quietly it operates compared with similar models. It also has intuitive digital display that includes a child-lock option, manual fan speed settings (or an automatic option that responds to changes in indoor air quality), light dimness settings and a PM2.5 indicator that tells you in real time what level of unhealthy particulates are currently in the air. The air purifier also has a helpful air quality light that’s color-coded with six indicator levels, from bright green for “good” to maroon for “hazardous,” and we found the filter-change indicator light to be incredibly efficient. After using the Clorox purifier for almost two years, we noticed the light comes on after six months of daily use, like clockwork.

Updates writer Fran Sales likes the Clorox 11030 LED display's real-time feedback on air quality.

Amazon

Dimensions: 11.4 x 6.8 x 5.9 inches | Weight: 2.8 pounds | Coverage area: 90 square feet | Filter: Pre-filter, true HEPA, activated carbon layer | Noise level: 20 to 44 dB

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This Blueair Blue Pure Mini Max is an unobtrusive, quiet and no-frills model for the bedroom—deputy editor Rose Gordon Sala says the brand’s air purifiers are whisper quiet. This unit is designed for rooms about 92 square feet in size and features a true HEPA filter for guaranteed removal of 99.97% of airborne particles down to 0.1 microns, and Sala confirms that it helps with her dust allergies. Its three-layer filter also comes with an activated carbon layer that targets odors and smoke, as well as a washable fabric pre-filter that you can customize with the Swedish-inspired color of your choice.

The Blue Pure Mini Max is also one of the most user-friendly picks on this list. The control panel on the top of the unit only has two buttons that turn the device on and off and adjust its three fan speeds. And at just under 3 pounds, the petite unit is easily movable, so you can use it in your home office and nursery, too. While the filter should be replaced every six months, washing the fabric pre-filter helps extend its life, and you can buy two pre-filter colors to help the air purifier blend in whatever space you’re clearing.

Amazon

Dimensions: 16.8 x 18.3 x 9.6 inches | Weight: 12.3 pounds | Coverage area: 326 square feet | Filter: Pre-filter, deodorization, true HEPA, bipolar device, honeycomb activated carbon | Noise level: 24.4 to 53.8 decibels

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The Coway Airmega AP-1512HHS (the Wi-Fi–connected version of the Coway Airmega AP-1512HH) is a top choice for clearing smoke. Its smoke CADR score is 210 CFM, which is on the high end for devices of its size. It employs a four-stage filtration process that includes a pre-filter, a deodorization carbon filter and a true HEPA filter that helps remove up to 99.7% of contaminants—including particles down to an impressive 0.01 microns in size, which is smaller than most allergens, bacteria, mold and viruses. Air quality expert Rubino notes that this is key for handling smoke particles: "Tobacco smoke particles are sized between 0.1 microns and 1 microns, with a peak between 0.2 microns and 0.25 microns. This means that consumers should purchase units that can remove particles as small as 0.1 microns to eliminate these contaminants effectively.”

While it’s filtering, the Coway Airmega communicates air quality in real time through its brightly colored LED display, and thanks to its Auto mode, the fan will automatically shut off if it doesn’t sense any pollution for 30 minutes, helping to conserve energy. This particular Airmega can also connect to the Mobile IoCare app via Wi-Fi, so you can perform tasks like scheduling and remote control.

We also recommend the Airmega AP-1512HHS for smoke because of its extra layer of activated carbon filtration, which experts say reduces fumes, gases and other VOCs compared with just HEPA alone. Note that if you already have the Airmega AP-1512HH, you can install the AP-1512HHS’s carbon-equipped filter in that one (with a few tweaks) to add that extra layer of protection. (Note: This compact model’s non–Wi-Fi version was also chosen as the best overall in our Best Air Purifiers For Smoke roundup.)

The Coway Airmega AP-1512HHS has a CADR rating of 234 CFM, which meets experts' recommendations for ... [+] air purifiers.

Amazon

Dimensions: 5.9 x 12.8 x 16 inches | Weight: 7.47 pounds | Coverage area: 991 square feet | Filter: Pre-filter, H13 HEPA, activated carbon | Noise level: 24 decibels (and up)

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If you like being able to integrated electronics into your smart home ecosystem, it’s worth investing in a smart air purifier like this one from Govee. It’s easy to sync up to the Govee app, where you can then put the purifier on a set schedule, monitor your home’s air quality or adjust other settings, such as the unit’s mode, display settings and filter life. It can also be connected to digital assistants like Amazon Alexa, allowing you to control the unit via voice commands.

In addition to its Wi-Fi enabled design, this air purifier has a three-stage filtration system with a pre-filter, H13 HEPA filter for fine particles and activated carbon filter to control odors. Its energy-efficient design is Energy Star certified and uses less than 1 kWh of electricity per day, and it even has a special sleep mode that turns off its outer lights and slows the fan down so it’s virtually silent. Just keep in mind that this model isn’t recommended for high-humidity locations where the humidity level is often above 85%.

alen

Dimensions: 27 x 18.5 x 11.5 inches | Weight: 27 pounds | Coverage area: 1,300 square feet | Filter: True HEPA H13 | Noise level: 25 to 49 decibels

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The Alen BreatheSmart 75i Large Room Air Purifier cleans up to about 1,300 square feet twice an hour without making a lot of noise. It features a medical-grade HEPA filter (called Pure) that works in combination with a smart sensor to detect airborne particles down to 0.1 microns, effectively ridding your air of dust, pollen, allergens and dander. Additional models—which use either a double HEPA-and-carbon filter or a HEPA filter with an odor neutralizer—can also capture smoke or reduce odors, respectively. Those models, however, carry a higher price because of those features.

This option measures about 27 inches high and 18 inches wide. It has a control panel on top that includes an air quality indicator light, which always reflects the real-time purity of the room’s air with an easy-to-read display. Plus, you can choose from among six different colors and panels to find one to match your home’s interior. It’s available on Amazon and the brand’s site in three versions: Allergies, Allergies + Odor and Allergies + Odor + Smoke.

The Alen BreatheSmart 75i has an easy-to-read control panel with an air quality indicator light, ... [+] which reflects the real-time purity of the room’s air.

levoit

Dimensions: 8.7 x 8.7 x 14.2 inches | Weight: 7.5 pounds | Coverage area: 219 square feet | Filter: Pre-filter, HEPA, activated carbon | Noise level: 24 to 50 decibels

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Another pick from the fan-favorite air purifier brand Levoit, the aptly named Core P350 Pet Care is designed to keep homes with furry friends extra fresh, making it the top pick in our best air purifiers for pets story. It’s equipped with a HEPA three-stage pet allergy filter, including a non-woven pre-filter to capture reaction-causing irritants, like dander, dust and floating wisps of pet hair. For smaller particles, an activated carbon filter prevents stale or stinky odors from lingering in the air—including litter box smells, according to several reviewers. Of note is Levoit’s Arc Formula, which it claims helps extend the life of the carbon filter, as well as curb secondhand pollution, by chemically decomposing molecules trapped within it.

Other pet- and people-friendly features include a sleep mode that quiets the motor and dims the setting lights, plus a pet lock to prevent curious or clumsy paws from changing the controls. The Core P350 can purify rooms up to 219 square feet, making it ideal for most bedrooms and home offices. However, it may be louder than the Core 300, which can be bothersome in an office setting.

levoit

Dimensions: 8.7 x 8.7 x 14.2 inches | Weight: 7.5 pounds | Coverage area: 219 square feet | Filter: Pre-filter, HEPA, activated carbon | Noise level: 24 to 50 decibels

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If you’re looking for a straightforward option with a medium-sized coverage area, an affordable price tag and a quiet operation, the Levoit Core 300 is an excellent choice. In fact, deputy Sala likes it so much that she actually purchased two for her home—one for each of her children’s bedrooms. The compact unit can cleanse spaces up to 219 square feet, making it suitable for most bedrooms and office spaces. It’s equipped with a multi-filtered system, which includes a HEPA filter that captures 99.97% of airborne particles between 0.1 and 0.3 microns, and Sala confirms it’s helpful for her son’s dust, mold and dog allergies.

The Levoit Core 300 comes with a couple of bonus features, too: The sleep mode reduces noise level and dims the display lights—a feature that Sala particularly likes. There’s a timer you can set at two-, four-, six- and eight-hour increments. It’s also incredibly user friendly, with an intuitive LED display and a simple setup process.

Forbes deputy editor Rose Gordon Sala likes this model so much, she purchased a second one.

Medify

Dimensions: 28.3 x 15.7 x 15.4 inches | Weight: 33.5 pounds | Coverage area: 2,228 square feet | Filter: pre-filter, true HEPA H13, activated carbon | Noise level: 35.8 to 56.5 decibels

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Between its advanced H13 HEPA filters and incredible coverage, the MA-112 Air Purifier is excellent for cleaning the air on an entire floor or potentially throughout your whole home if it’s open enough. The advanced filters are capable of removing 99.9% of even the smallest particles (down to 0.1 microns), and its powerful technology can make your space fresher within a half hour. It also has wheels so you can easily move it when needed. It has bonus features like a sleep mode, timer and child lock, and users appreciate how quietly it operates on its lower settings, considering its size and power. In addition to open-space homes, it’s a great option for open office spaces, warehouses and the like.

However, while you could opt to use the Medify Air for your whole house if it’s a relatively open space, Rubino recommends a dedicated whole-home purification system if you truly want to cover every room: “Whole-home purification systems are installed at the home’s entry point, helping circulate filtered air throughout the building. They also add a layer of protection for the HVAC system by filtering out small particles before they reach it, avoiding potential problems like microbial growth,” he explains.

Amazon

Dimensions: 19.7 x 18.9 x 8.4 inches | Weight: 20.3 pounds | Coverage area: 1,070 square feet | Filter: Pre-filter, medium filter, 6-stage BioGS HEPA filter, activated carbon, custom filter | Noise level: 20.3 to 51 dB

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If you’re looking for an air purifier that’s stylish and effective, covers large spaces and targets specific contaminants—and if money is no object—we recommend the RabbitAir A3, which impressed us with its capacity and filtering abilities. The gadget can clear an area of 1,070 square feet in 30 minutes using a five-layer filter: a pre-filter and medium filter that tackles large particles; a high-grade activated carbon filter that tackles VOCs, greenhouse gases and cooking odors; a true HEPA filter; and a customizable filter that you can tailor to the pollutants you’re targeting.

Its BioGS HEPA filter is particularly impressive—it not only captures up to 99.97% of allergens and particles 0.3 microns in size, but it can also trap particles less than 0.1 microns in size at higher than 99% efficiency. Further, it builds on the four trapping methods by adding electrostatic charge to its fibers, which helps to draw in more particles. (We recommend consulting the independently tested data available on the brand’s website.) Meanwhile, the RabbitAir A3 also comes with your choice of customizable filter, which include options like an Odor Remover, which adds extra activated carbon to reduce odors from pets, tobacco and mildew, or the Germ Defense, which consists of two anti-bacterial agents and one anti-mold agent.

The RabbitAir A3 comes equipped with an intelligent light sensor that detects particles and odors and adjusts its speeds automatically, and you can also choose to connect it to Wi-Fi and Bluetooth and control it with RabbitAir’s app or your smart voice assistant—though we found we barely needed to operate the controls once we set it up in our living room on Auto mode. We can also vouch for how quiet it is—we actually checked it multiple times to confirm it was actually on, even when cooking. Lastly, we’d be remiss not to mention that the A3 is also available in an Artist Series version that features artist designs, like “Vase of Flowers,” pictured below.

Sales and her roommates like the RabbitAir A3's quiet operation and customizable filter and design.

Amazon

Dimensions: 13.2 x 13.2 x 22.5 inches | Weight: 12.27 pounds | Coverage area: 1,400 square feet | Filter: Debris-defense pre-filter, pet particle barrier, activated carbon filter and HEPA filter | Noise level: Up to 52 decibels

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One of the downsides of air purifiers is that they may need their filters replaced every few months, which can become pricey. If you want a model that can operate for longer between filter replacements, the Shark NeverChange Max is a large air purifier that can be used in spaces up to 1,400 square feet. It has a four-stage filtration system, and thanks to its “DebrisDefense” pre-filters, fewer particles make it into the central HEPA filter, allowing it to last longer. According to the brand, the HEPA filter will only need to be changed every five years (based on 12 hours of daily operation on max fan speed).

Contributor Camryn Rabideau uses this air purifier in her family room, which has 15-foot vaulted ceilings, and she says it’s incredibly effective at clearing the air, responding immediately when a candle is lit or the windows are open during allergy season. The unit’s display screen can be set to show real-time particle levels, and the pre-filters are easy to vacuum off with a dusting attachment when they get clogged up with dust and pet hair.

The Forbes Vetted home team editors have written dozens of articles on household appliances from humidifiers to dehumidifiers to, of course, air purifiers.

We also tapped the following six medical and air quality experts for advice:

To select the best air purifiers, we evaluated a range of top-rated models that are suitable for a variety of room sizes and needs, based on specific criteria from our air quality experts.

When comparing different air purifiers, there are several features you’ll want to consider to ensure you’re picking an efficient and effective option for your home.

Make sure to check how large of a space an air purifier—and the filter capacity and power it’s equipped with—can handle, something that’s indicated in square feet. Note that this figure is typically based on how much space the filter can cover at max capacity. “You usually will not have your filter on max capacity; therefore, I like to buy a filter that has square footage about half of the max square footage listed,” says Dr. Jennifer Dunphy, a doctor of public health based in Los Angeles. “For example, if your filter can cover a room up to 500 square feet, I will aim to put that filter in a 250-square foot room.”

The clean air delivery rate (CADR) score of the air purifier will also indicate how effectively it can clear spaces of a certain size, says Peter Duncanson, senior director of training and development at restoration service provider ServiceMaster Restore. A unit’s CADR is measure in cubic feet per minute, or CFM. “A larger room requires a higher CFM to efficiently filter the air. Smaller rooms or more confined spaces can use a lower CFM unit, which might also save on energy costs,” he says. Dunphy notes, however, that she doesn’t put as much weight on the CADR compared with other indicators. “While CADR measures air flow, it doesn’t necessarily measure how well the filter cleans—which to me is more important than how fast it cleans,” she says. We advise looking at multiple measurements to guide your decision.

High efficiency particulate air filters (HEPA) filters are considered the gold standard when it comes to air purifiers. “This filter captures both large and small particles that move through it,” explains Dr. Catherine Monteleone, a professor of medicine, allergy and immunology at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Jersey. “This type is usually best for allergens [like dust and pollen] and best for use in a single room.” If you’re more concerned about fumes, tobacco smoke or other volatile organic compounds (VOCs), however, look for an air purifier that uses an activated carbon filter, says Dunphy. Best practice: “If you are looking for an all-around good filter, I always recommend a double filter that has both HEPA and carbon,” she adds.

Note that when it comes to various types of smoke, in particular, the weight of the activated carbon filter (in pounds) will have an impact on how effective and efficient it will be. “Because cigarette smoke has a variety of chemical and compounds that may also be filtered by HEPA, in order to further reduce odor, I would recommend a HEPA filter. ... If you are dealing with wildfires, I recommend at least 15 pounds of activated carbon in your filter,” says Dunphy.

Deputy editor Sala appreciated the Levoit Core 300's efficacy at tackling allergens in her son's ... [+] room.

HEPA filters and carbon filters tackle different classes of particles and compounds. The best air purifiers tackle a diversity of these pollutants, says Michael Rubino, a mold and air quality expert and environmental wellness advocate. “The best air purifiers should have technology that allows them to remove a range of particles and gases,” he says. “Having a carbon filter helps with gases like VOCs, so it’s a good idea to have this as an added layer of protection.”

Furthermore, air purifiers that can filter particles smaller than 0.3 microns are ideal, he says. “Mycotoxins, for instance, are 0.1 microns and could pass through a HEPA filter and back into your air. Certain species of mold produce these tiny toxins, which are incredibly harmful to the human body.” Steer clear, however, of devices that say they only “sometimes” remove certain pollutants: “You want one that almost always removes microscopic particles,” says Rubino. “Dig deep into the machine's air-quality testing to ensure it fits the brief.”

As a general rule of thumb, it’s recommended that you replace your filters every three to 12 months—but you’re going to need to consult with the manual to determine the specifics for your device. If your indoor air quality and environmental factors aren’t overly compromised, you could get more time out of your filters prior to a change. Dunphy tells us, “I prefer filters that require an annual cleaning, but only require full filter changes every four to five years. This makes keeping your filters clean a lot easier, particularly when you have filters in multiple rooms.”

Air purifiers typically have a range of decibel ratings listed on their product page; note, however, that the lowest levels (which are sometimes labeled “whisper quiet”) are typically when an air purifier is set to the lowest fan speeds. We advise doing your due diligence and looking at customer reviews and Q&As, as well as factoring in where you’ll be placing the device, to help with your selection. This is particularly important for spaces like your bedroom, where the noise emitted by the device might impact your sleep. “Whether you prefer a background hum or absolute silence, choose a machine that aligns with your preferences for undisturbed rest,” says Rubino.

Some purifiers go beyond the basics mentioned above, offering features like app connectivity, smart home integration, laser sensors, night lights, ionization and UV features. But if you don’t prefer or need those extra features, it doesn’t make sense to spend extra on them. Evaluate whether—or which—additional features you’ll actually use, whether that’s an app capability (such as remote control or schedule settings), an air quality or odor sensor, a filter-change indicator.

For what it’s worth, Dunphy says there are “excellent” air purifiers without all those frills. “I would go with a classic model, without a remote control, Bluetooth, ionization, or UV—simply a sturdy, low-maintenance, well-built air filter that has both activated carbon, HEPA and low to zero ozone emissions,” she says.

While most residential air purifiers use HEPA and/or activated carbon filters, there are a few additional types of air purifiers available today. However, several of them aren’t recommended for at-home use due to potentially harmful byproducts during operation.

HEPA, or high efficiency particle arresting, filters are a type of pleated mechanical air filter that are used in most of today’s best air purifiers. These filters are able to capture 99.97% of dust, pollen, mold, bacteria and any other airborne particles with a size of 0.3 microns. HEPA filters are an affordable and high-effective option to remove these contaminants from the air in your home, and they’re used in all the air purifiers that we recommend.

Many air purifiers also have an activated carbon filter in addition to a HEPA filter. Activated carbon, also called activated charcoal, undergoes processing that creates millions of tiny pores within the material, and when pollutants pass through the filter, they stick to the carbon molecules in a process called adsorption. Activated carbon filters are particularly effective at trapping VOCs and odors, but they cannot trap particles like pollen or dust, which is why they’re almost always used alongside a HEPA filter.

UV air purifiers are also called UV germicidal irradiation (UVGI) air purifiers, and they use short-wave ultraviolet light (UV-C) to neutralize bacteria and viruses. These models are only effective on these types of pathogens, so they typically contain a HEPA filter, as well, to capture other particles like dust from the air.

However, UV air purifiers may produce ozone as a byproduct of their operation. Ozone can cause coughing, shortness of breath, throat irritation and other respiratory symptoms, and it may also worsen respiratory diseases such as asthma. As such, experts don’t recommend the use of UV air purifiers in your home.

Air ionizers are another less-popular style of air purifier, and they work by emitting ions with a negative electrical charge into the air. These molecules attract small particles like smoke, mold and viruses, which then clump together and fall out of the air to be cleaned up. However, ionizers are not effective on odors or larger particles like dust or pollen, and similar to UV purifiers, they may produce ozone during operation, which is why they’re not typically recommended for at-home use.

The short answer is “yes,” as long as you’re selecting the right type of filter, the right model for the size of your space and the right pollutant targets. “An air purifier can filter particles down to a specific size,” says Dr. Purvi Parikh, M.D., an allergist with Allergy & Asthma Network. “This is helpful for allergens like mold and animal dander as well as certain viral, bacterial, fungal and other irritants and pollutants.” Air purifiers also typically feature a fan that moves air through a filter, weeding out impurities in the process, says Dr. David B. Corry, M.D., vice chair for immunology in the Department of Pathology & Immunology at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. In addition to HEPA filters, which usually have a “woven material of differing weaves that can remove things as small as 0.3 microns,” according to Corry, some air filters are also electrostatic, meaning air is passed over an electrically charged series of plates that trap particles.

Yes, certain air purifiers have downsides: “Not all air purifiers are built the same,” says Rubino. Both Rubino and Dunphy mention air purifiers that use ozone (e.g., those that use ionizers and UV light to trap viruses) as potentially being harmful for certain demographics, such as young children and individuals with asthma and COPD. Rubino explains, “Those with asthma are at greater risk of developing health issues because their respiratory systems are already compromised.” Some air purifiers that use the above technologies do test whether the amount of ozone they produce is negligible enough to be harmless, but Dunphy says she tends to “never recommend ozone-producing air filters—even if they are more efficient.” Further, many of these air purifiers don’t require you to use the ionization feature.

You should place an air purifier in the most highly trafficked areas of your home or close to sources of pollutants, but not directly against a wall or behind a chair so that it’s exposed to as much airflow as possible, says Rubino. Dunphy likes to put air purifiers on the floor and at least 3 feet from the walls on all sides so they can suck in air properly. “I would prioritize family rooms and bedrooms, and if you have a gas stove, I would also make sure you have an excellent air filter in or near the kitchen to absorb those fumes,” she says.

For a HEPA air purifier that’s powerful enough for a room between 200 and 400 square feet, you can expect to pay between $80 and $300. However, for spaces over 800 square feet, the price increases, and you’ll likely pay between $500 and $1,000 for an appropriately sized air purifier.

HEPA filters are a type of mechanical filter made from super fine mesh that’s able to trap particles like dust, dander and pollen. To qualify as a HEPA filter, it must be able to trap 99.97% of airborne particles with a size of 0.3 microns. During operation, HEPA air purifiers pull air in from the room around them and direct it through the mesh. Air pollutants are trapped in the filter, and the clean air is then expelled back out into the room.