6 Best Air Purifiers for Your Home and Kitchen in 2024

Nov 02, 2024

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Our editors weigh in on which purifiers are most effective for combatting cooking odors, smoke, and more.

In This Article

Food and Wine / David Hattan

A decade ago, an air purifier was a bit of an uncommon or niche purchase for most homeowners and renters. Due to rising air quality concerns, however, these small-but-mighty appliances have recently become much more prevalent (and essential) in our homes. Air purifiers do much more than rid the air in your home of common allergens like dust, pet dander, and pollen or pollutants like smoke. With the right type of filter, an air purifier can also combat cooking smells and lingering kitchen odors.

Of course, a kitchen fan — like the one under your microwave, or a more powerful hood vent — can help eliminate kitchen odors. But if you cook often (and we’re betting you do!), maintaining a fresh-smelling kitchen requires more than regular cleaning, and that’s where an air purifier comes in. We tested several popular and top-rated air purifiers in our own homes to find the best for every type of home and kitchen, including ones for large spaces, Wi-Fi-connected smart air purifiers, and budget-friendly picks. Below are our picks for the best air purifiers we trust to keep us breathing easy.

This air purifier is sleek and modern-looking, and works hard while still being incredibly energy-efficient.

The replacement filters are a little pricey, and will need to be refreshed frequently if you use the unit constantly.

Inside the Coway Airmega's sleek and slim profile are four separate filters that tackle visible particles like pet hair and dust, odors, viruses and bacteria, and molds. Plus, the smart technology lets you know when it’s time to change the filters, so you can ensure your unit will be operating at top capacity. We like its air quality indicator, which signifies "good" air with a blue light, and how it automatically kicks up to a higher speed when it notices more pollutants in the air.

"We bought two of these during the 2018 LA wildfire season when there was smoke in the air for months," says Senior Commerce Writer Jason Horn. "They worked incredibly well then, and they're both going strong [six] years later."

Associate Editor Lucy Simon agrees with its utility: “It’s quiet, efficient, and the sensor mode is great when your boyfriend fumigates the apartment with burnt steak."

The Coway Airmega’s pre-filter, the first line of defense, is washable, so you can reuse it. We've found that it’s very easy to clean. As for the carbon deodorization filter (which makes it ideal for use in the kitchen) and HEPA filter, those need to be replaced every six and twelve months, respectively. But Coway makes it simple with replacement filters sold in a package that will cover all your replacement needs for a year. Coway also sells a variety of other air purifiers, but we think the Airmega AP-1512HH is an ideal mix of power, efficiency, and value.

Filter type: Four filters: pre-filter for hair and dust; carbon filter for deodorization; HEPA filter for bacteria and viruses; vital ionizer for additional ultra-fine particles | Dimensions: 9.6 x 16.8 x 18.3 inches | Coverage area: 361 square feet in 12.5 minutes; 874 square feet in 30 minutes; 1,748 square feet in 60 minutes

Food & Wine / Jason Horn

This air purifier is smart technology-enabled and can connect to your smart home assistant.

This unit is small; for larger spaces, you’ll need to buy multiple or size up to a larger unit.

Smart connectivity is becoming increasingly common in home appliances, and Levoit’s take on the tech is super helpful with the “S” models in its Core series. Plus, they come with an affordable price tag, which isn't always the case with gadgets enhanced by smart technology. Download the Levoit-created app, and you can monitor and control the unit’s activity from anywhere. You can also sync the tech with your smart home assistant, so turning the air purifier on, or up, is as easy as asking Alexa — great for hands-off operation when working in the kitchen.

Associate Commerce Editor Arnesia Young, who also owns the 200S, has been using it to improve the air quality in her studio apartment for almost two years now. "Between pets, lingering food odors, and kitchen trash, things can get smelly pretty quickly in a space that's less than 400 square feet," she says. "This purifier helps clear up any unwanted aromas, keeps the air fresh, and also helps keep my allergies at bay."

Levoit’s Core series of air purifiers use a similar filter (and some of them are interchangeable between models), so ordering replacements and swapping them out is simple. You can also set timers or a custom schedule to refresh the air before you arrive home, or so it automatically switches to the lowest setting for whisper-quite operation at bedtime. The 200S, the model we tested, is petite and can’t handle a huge space — but Levoit sells beefier models, including their XL 600S.

Filter type: Three-part filter with a nylon pre-filter for large particles, a HEPA filter for bacteria and viruses, and a carbon filter for odors | Dimensions: 8.1 x 8.1 x 12.6 inches | Coverage area: 183 square feet in 12 minutes; 458 square feet in 30 minutes; 916 square feet in 60 minutes

This handsome air filter works fast and smart, with the ability to control and monitor air quality from your phone. You can customize your filtration system.

It’s undeniably pricey, and it’s not the lightest, smallest model on the market.

The A3 is Rabbit Air’s priciest air purifier, but this hardworking appliance delivers on all its promises. I got one last year when I moved into a tiny basement apartment because I was worried about mold and mildew, not to mention lingering cooking smells in the 450-square-foot space. It was the impressive six-stage filtration system that sold me, along with the ability to customize your filters. I opted for the odor remover filter, and it’s been crucial in keeping my kitchen project smells away from my clothes closet — which is roughly five feet away.

Cleaning and changing the filters is surprisingly easy: the washable pre-filter is good to go for about three months, by which point the machine will indicate that it's time to give it a quick clean for optimal performance. And the heavy-duty HEPA filter only needs to be replaced every 12 months, even with round-the-clock use. Although you can manually program this air purifier, it’s truly a smart machine, and I found that letting it run on auto was the best way to combat air pollution, smells, and toxins without overdoing the motor: it regularly adjusts throughout the day according to the real-time air quality. This unit can be wall-mounted, but I’ve opted to keep it free-standing so I can move it around my home.

Filter type: Six filters: pre-filter for large particles; medium filter for pollen, dander, and dust; carbon charcoal filter for odors; HEPA filter for allergens and bacteria; customizable filter; negative ions to capture and weigh down airborne particles | Dimensions: 8.4 x 18.9 x 19.7 inches | Coverage area: Up to 1,070 square feet (with two total air changes per hour)

Dyson’s air purifier is gorgeous, unique-looking, and doubles as a cooling unit, thanks to its fan.

Higher speeds are noisy, and can bring to mind a “sound machine,” according to our tests.

This sleek model houses a unique 360-degree HEPA and carbon filter that sits right at the base of the unit. But it’s more than just aesthetics that set this air purifier apart. It also doubles as a cooling unit, with the sleek tower acting as a purifying fan. Associate Commerce Editor Mary Lagroue has owned one of Dyson's older models since 2019 and says, “I’ve gotten a lot of compliments on its design.”

But does it work to purify the air? Definitely, says Lagroue, who calls it “pretty powerful,” and cites its ability to eliminate cooking odors as well as cool down the kitchen when the oven is running. Plus, she adds, "At 8.4 pounds, it’s light enough to move around your home." Unlike basic air purifiers, this oscillating model conditions and purifies the air: think of it as an air purifier and an air conditioner all rolled into one package. And thanks to the minimalistic, grill-free design, it’s very easy to clean.

Filter type: 360˚ HEPA and carbon filter | Dimensions: 7.7 x 8 x 41 inches | Coverage area: 999 square feet

Clorox’s air purifier is a no-frills, super-efficient model that’s great at annihilating viruses and bacteria.

It’s not the most aesthetically pleasing model we tested.

Clorox has a good brand reputation when it comes to spic-and-span households, so it’s no surprise their air purifier is a beacon of efficiency in ridding the air of pollutants and harmful particles (99.9% of viruses and bacteria, to be specific about it). The large model we tested is not unlike the rest of its products: efficient, easy to use, and affordable. It has a 360-degree three-stage filter that contains a pre-filter, HEPA filter, and carbon filter — unlike some of the other models we tested, the multi-stage filters are all contained in one unit, so replacing it is very simple.

The unit is also Energy Star-rated, which will save you money on your electric bill over time; it’s estimated to cost under $35 annually when run regularly, and setup is a breeze as well. Editorial Director Katie Macdonald says it took her under 10 minutes to take it from the box to operation. And in almost a year of constant use, she's only had to change the filter once. "Our Alexa notified us when we needed to swap it out and made it incredibly easy to reorder," she says.

She’s also a fan of the digital display which gives instant, real-time feedback about the air quality in your home. Watching it improve, she notes, is extremely satisfying. Run the machine on auto, and it will choose the correct setting to combat the current air toxicity level; Macdonald says it picks up fan speed when she’s cooking, even though the unit is placed in her living room.

Filter type: Three-stage all-in-one filter that includes a pre-filter for large particles; a HEPA filter for allergens, bacteria, and viruses; and a carbon filter for odors | Dimensions: 10 x 10 x 19 inches | Coverage area: Will completely refresh the air five times per hour in a 320-square-foot room, and one time per hour in a 1,500-square-foot room

Food & Wine / Katie MacDonald

Its sleek exterior, small footprint, and incredibly quiet operation make it a worthy pick.

Connecting to its WiFi capabilities can be challenging, and it can be cumbersome to move to some.

The LG PuriCare AeroTower Air Purifier Fan uses a NanoFiber True HEPA filter, a removable pre-filter, and an activated carbon filter in tandem to capture both large and small particles. Right out of the box, we were impressed with its sleek, modern design.

Initial setup can be tricky: It requires a little maneuvering to get it onto its base, but once it’s locked in, it’s fairly stable. And at 44 inches in height, it's tall. In fact, we think you’d need a very strong child or large pet to knock it over realistically. Air purifiers can be notoriously loud and bothersome, but we found it to be quiet, especially on the lower fan settings, and it has an app that’s really pleasant to use (but it takes a little tech-savvy ability to link the tower with the WiFi, so, beware!).

The LG PuriCare AeroTower measures the air’s cleanliness on three levels, from large to small particles/dust, and has modes that show the indoor temperature, humidity, or air quality on the little display. The fan can also go into “turbo” mode, which is loud but quite strong and acts nearly like an AC. During testing, we found this mode filters more quickly if you’re cooking something smoky or have other air quality concerns indoors.

"The tower also picked up when we accidentally burned bacon in the oven over the weekend," says Editorial Director of Commerce Megan Passaro. "It was two rooms away at that point, and it still turned from “Good” to “Moderate” on the display, and the air was filtered quickly."

It also comes with a remote if you don’t want to use the app on your phone to control it, but as we mentioned, we actually found the app to be quite enjoyable to use and even helpful; it has an indoor air quality history if you’re curious about how the air in your home fluctuates. You can also adjust the oscillation of the fan depending on where you have it placed, anywhere from 180 degrees to 60 degrees for a corner.

Filter type: NanoFiber True HEPA filter, a removable pre-filter for capturing larger particles, and an activated carbon filter to keep the air smelling fresh | Dimensions: 10 x 10.4 x 44 inches | Coverage area: Up to 744 square feet at one air change per hour or up to 155 square feet at 4.8 air changes per hour

Food & Wine / Megan Passaro

We love the Coway Airmega True HEPA Purifier for its sleek design, quiet operation, and smart features that adjust its output according to current air quality. If you need a model that cools the air as well as cleans it, we recommend the Dyson Pure Cool.

Food & Wine / Megan Passaro

To find the best air purifiers for your home and kitchen, we tested and continue to use several top-rated models in our own homes. By incorporating them into our daily lives and environments, we have been able to assess their effectiveness at combatting common air quality concerns firsthand over months and years of use. Taking care to make use of all their features and settings, we've taken into account how easy they are to set up and use, the types of filters they use and how easy they are to replace, and their footprint and noise level. While we've noted their success at combatting common allergens like dust, pet dander, and pollen — in addition to more temporary concerns like wildfire smoke — we were most concerned about their performance in the kitchen and how they fared with other pollutants like lingering food odors, smells from kitchen waste, and cooking smoke. We also noted any smart features they include that allow them to adjust automatically or be used hands-free, which is extra helpful when working in the kitchen.

All air purifiers should have, at minimum, a HEPA filter. Most also have a carbon filter, which is great for capturing odors. Many contain a washable “pre-filter” as well that captures large visible particles. So unless your search takes you to the furthest corners of the internet, you can be assured that whatever type of air purifier you buy, you’ll be getting at least those levels of protection.

The difference between models, then, is in the bells and whistles. Some, like the Dyson we tested, also have an included oscillating fan to cool a room. Others are outfitted with smart technology, and some have complex filtration levels for a truly squeaky-clean feeling.

In general, the smaller a unit, the less square footage it can purify. But that’s not the entire story: the nuance is in the time it takes to purify the air in a room. A petite air purifier can still refresh the air in a larger room (up to a point), but it will take longer than a larger-capacity model. Similarly, a large unit in a small room isn’t necessarily overkill: it will just refresh the air more frequently, which is, of course, not a bad thing.

Every air purifier we tested had multiple fan levels, which could all be adjusted manually or set on auto to allow the unit to adjust automatically according to real-time air quality feedback. All units run at the highest fan setting were pretty loud; some distractingly so. But their other end of the spectrum — the quiet or night modes — were whisper-soft. If you want to run your air purifier all night long, look for models that get down to 24 decibels.

Most of the air purifiers we tested came in at least two colors (white and black). Some of the pricier models were designed with an eye for aesthetics, like the Rabbit Air A3’s custom art panels, and the Dyson’s glossy visuals. But just about every air purifier on the market now is made to blend into your home decor, if not explicitly add to it. If you’re hoping to hide your air purifier (or at least make it less obvious) consider a petite unit that can be tucked behind a houseplant, or one that can be wall-mounted.

The most special feature of modern air purifiers is smart technology connectivity. We tested a few air purifiers that could be controlled via an app, or adjusted with the help of a smart home assistant. But we also liked lower-tech models with snazzy extra filters or cooling fans.

Food & Wine / Megan Passaro

The best air purifiers for kitchens are ones with activated carbon filters and HEPA filters, which are “highly effective” at reducing odors, according to Olivia Raya, Rabbit Air’s customer service lead. While HEPA filters trap airborne particles, carbon filters capture odors. In terms of design and style, a wall-mounted air purifier is a good choice for most kitchens. Wall-mounted air purifiers won’t clutter your countertops and are so slim that you’ll barely notice them once they’ve been installed - though you may need a step stool to access the filter for cleaning.

“Wall-mounting an air purifier in a kitchen may be the best option for safety reasons, as it's a highly-trafficked area,” says Raya. She adds that it’s unnecessary — and unsafe — to place it directly next to a heat source, like your stove. And remember that these appliances are made to refresh the air in an entire room. Says Raya, “An air purifier can be positioned at any distance within the kitchen, provided it is not obstructed in any way, and it will effectively capture odors and particles.”

Most kitchens are small enough that air purifier placement doesn’t matter. However, you can increase its effectiveness by setting or installing the air purifier in a place with high airflow (not a corner or closed-off pantry). Of course, the closer your air purifier is to the offending agents, the better results you’ll see. In the kitchen, that may mean keeping it near your trash can, compost, or range. Just be mindful not to situate the air purifier too close to the stove, or you’ll be cleaning food and oil splatters from it.

When it comes to cooking odors, prevention is key: Always use your ventilation hood when frying or sautéeing on the stovetop. In mild weather, you may even open the windows when cooking high-odor foods, like garlic or fish. But no matter how many preventative measures you take, cooking will always leave an “aftersmell.” You can remove it by running your ventilation fan for half an hour after cooking, and, of course, by regularly taking out the trash and compost. An air purifier with an activated carbon filter will be a big help, too. Be sure to change the filter regularly, and choose a model that’s large enough for your kitchen.

Regular maintenance is key to an effective air purifier. Says Raya, “Most air purifiers require cleaning every 1-3 months. This typically includes vacuuming or washing a pre-filter and wiping down all surfaces outside the unit and some components inside. As far as replacement, many companies recommend that you replace filters in less than a year, but some last longer.”

Yes, they can — with the right technology. “For air purifiers that use HEPA filtration, this technology will filter out harmful particles associated with wildfire smoke. Gasses produced by wildfires, such as VOCs and carbon monoxide, can be trapped by an activated carbon filter,” says Raya. The good news here is that every air purifier on our tested list has the right equipment.

Our air purifier tests were conducted on a smaller scale than some of our more rigorous lab trials, so we only chose models to try out firsthand that we were confident would perform well. Although only five of the models we tested made it into our top picks, we were still pleased with the rest of the air purifiers we tried. The machines we chose as our top performers were simply the ones we felt were most relevant to practical application in the kitchen, as well as any other area of your home. To learn more about some of the other models we tried, read on for our list of strong contenders.

Levoit Core 300 True HEPA Air Purifier ($100 at Amazon)

The Levoit Core 300 is efficient (and affordable), and it uses a unique, patented vortex system to maximize efficiency power. While it isn’t the most rigorously constructed air purifier on our list — it has an “all-in-one” three-stage filtration system, in contrast to some of the other models that boast more refined levels of filtration — this cylindrical model is still a hard worker.

Levoit Core P350 Pet Care Air Purifier ($130 at Amazon)

Levoit’s P350 air purifier is crafted to get rid of unpleasant pet odors and allergens in minutes flat (it can purify a 350-square-foot room in under half an hour). The only downside is that the filters can’t be washed and reused, but they are easy to swap out. Hot tip for owners of the Levoit Core air purifier series: the 3-stage pet filter is compatible with the basic Core 300 model (which we listed above), so you can upgrade your current unit to be pet-friendly with the change of a filter!

Medify Air MA-14 Air Purifier with H13 True HEPA Filter 2-Pack ($108 at Amazon)

The Medify's petite footprint makes it ideal for small living spaces, as you can set it on a tabletop or shelf without it looking obtrusive. It’s not the flashiest or most intricate model we tested, but it certainly has the tools to get the job done. It has three different fan speeds, including a sleep mode which is extra quiet. Like many “all in one” filtration models, the Medify uses one completely exchangeable filter with three levels of filtration, and its HEPA component captures up to 99.7% of particles as small as 0.1 microns.

Rochelle Bilow is a food writer and editor with over a decade of professional experience. Previously a senior associate editor and social media manager at Bon Appétit and Cooking Light magazines, Rochelle is also a novelist, a culinary school graduate, and a former professional baker and line cook. This article was written from extensive tested insights, and with the aid of an air purifier expert.