The 10 Best Small Air Purifiers For Stale Air & Dust

• Also available on Best Buy, $100

It may look unsuspecting compared to other purifiers, but this one from Honeywell is surprisingly powerful. It can tackle molecules that are 250 times smaller than the average human hair, all thanks to its true HEPA filter. In a 310-square-feet room, it can filter and circulate the air an impressive five times in an hour. If you have a specific issue you're trying to fix, Honeywell is also one of the few models that gives you different modes — germs, general clean, allergens, and turbo. "I'm in an apartment, so it's more than enough to handle my living room," says one reviewer who saw a difference in their allergies less than an hour after setting it up. No wonder it has a 4.7-star overall rating. Plus, it’s the most commonly recommended brand by allergists.

Helpful review: "A friend of ours suggested buying one of these after a serious bout with a respiratory illness - it really helped him. After trying one, I now own 3 of these. A big one in the living area, a medium sized in the bedroom, and small one in the RV. I'm also buying one for my elderly father for use in his house. I am amazed at the amount of dust and stuff that this unit catches in just the prefilter. It has seriously cut down on our nasal symptoms due to allergies and colds.”

Thanks to its fine preliminary layer, true HEPA filter, and activated carbon layer, this air purifier is especially effective when it comes to trapping airborne allergy triggers like dust mites, pollen, smoke, mold, and pet dander — and at less than $100, that's a huge value. Combine the reasonable price with its three different speeds and its discreet design, and you understand why it's a best-seller on Amazon with a 4.6 star rating. It even has a built-in nightlight function if you're using it in hallways or kids bedrooms. According to customers, it’ll cover about 100 square feet.

Helpful review: "Bought this product for my son because he is allergic to my cat. I read the reviews and decided to invest in one for my son's sake. I have to say we were both surprised by this air purifier. We got the black one, it looks great in his room, it's also quiet and works very well. I have a small kitchen so I decided to put it through the ultimate test, can this product remove odors as stated in the reviews? Well it sure did, not only from the kitchen but there wasn't any lingering bacon smell anywhere in my apartment.”

• Also available on Coway, $152

Combining style and function, the Coway Airmega 150 has three filters including a HEPA filter as well as a handy pollution sensor so you know how clean your air is. It can cover up to 214 square feet and operates nearly silently on the low setting. “I have pretty bad allergies in the spring, and this has made a huge difference for me. Plus, it’s really quiet and light enough to move around the house when you need to,” according to Bustle editor Jen Fiegel. Plus, it has won multiple design awards and even comes in three colors to suit your style. At just 7-inches thick, it’s also super easy to fit into your home.

Helpful review: “I have been using the 150 for about one month now and I am very pleased with the performance. I was surprised at how quiet it is when running. The pre-filter was very easy to clean. [...] The Coway Airmega 150 air purifier and monitor is well designed, easy to use, and does the job. I would definitely recommend it for a smaller space.”

• Also available on Walmart, $200

In addition to a HEPA filter, activated carbon filter that’s great for odors, and ionizer to catch pollutants, this air purifier also has a built-in UV-C light, which can help with viruses, bacteria, and mold, making it a great choice for those concerned with the spread of germs. The touch-button technology allows you to set timers and choose among four fan speeds and a sleep mode. This popular small room air purifier has an impressive 4.7 star rating. It can also circulate air in spaces as large as 1,276 square feet.

Helpful review: "I have found that the purifiers with the ionizer and uv light are much more effective. This air purifier from the very first night I had it on and in use I noticed an immediate difference. The air in my bedroom was clean and much more fresh.”

• Also available on Bed Bath and Beyond, $340

With an overall score of 89, the Blue Pure 211+ air purifier is the highest rated air purifier on Consumer Reports. According to their experts, this small room air purifier is "especially effective at removing dust, smoke, and pollen at its highest speed," which is vital in cleaning your entire space. It utilizes a three-part filtration system (a fabric pre-filter, a particle filter, and a carbon filter) to remove everything from pollutants to common allergens. Furthermore, the fabric filter is totally washable and can be changed to a different color to suit any decor. Even though it can handle spaces up to 540 square feet and has a 360-degree air intake, its square edges and short height make it one of the more compact units for smaller homes.

Helpful review: "This thing is easy on the eyes, very straightforward setup, you plug it in click a button and go on with your day. We have this in our bedroom, and within 4 hours there was a VERY noticeable difference in air quality, total 180 by the next day. [...] People comment on the size- we have it behind the baby’s chair and in our small room (10x12) it’s very unobtrusive.”

• Also available on Pure Enrichment, $40

This portable air purifier fits just about anywhere but still packs a two-stage HEPA filter and a carbon filter for unwanted odors. The lithium-ion battery is rechargeable via USB and works for up to 12 hours on a charge. Plus, it weighs less than a pound and you can get it in your choice of four different colors: black, blue, Starlight blue, and white.

Helpful review: “Don't let the size full you, it does everything a larger unit will do. It's quiet, has three different speeds depending on what room you are using it in, and it works! The smaller design makes it so easy to use in any space.”

If you’re purifying a room that’s 183 square feet or smaller and want a smart device, shoppers love the Levoit smart air purifier. You don’t need a hub to operate it — it can work with just the app — but it can also be connected to Alexa or Google Assistant for voice command and more. It features a HEPA filter and is small enough to sit on a side table or nightstand.

Helpful review: “It replaces one of my very large Holmes HAP8650 EPA purifier which was in my bedroom since 2017 and recently failed. Set up was very easy. Just remove the filter cover plastic bag, plug it in and that's all. [...] For a small to medium bedroom this should be fine. Smart features are very good and easy to master immediately.”

• Also available on Coway, $270

With 325 square feet of coverage, the Coway Airmega is a smart air purifier that’s still able to handle large rooms and maybe even whole apartments. It comes with three filters including a HEPA filter. There’s also a light that lets you know how clean the air is. Connect it to the app and control the device as well as get alerts.

Helpful review: “Works great. I like the several modes and the cleaning sensor is very sensitive. We use it in the room with all our litter boxes for the cats. It detects when one of them goes to the bathroom with the air sensor and starts the fan slightly higher to clean the air. I've noticed a drastic improvement in air quality.”

• Also available on Home Depot, $60

It might be less than $50, but this Levoit air purifier can still cover up to 161 square feet. It has a true HEPA filter for dust and allergens as well as a carbon filter for unwanted smells, but the thing that sets this one apart is its essential oil pad that’ll fill your room with freshness. Plus, it’s super-small size makes it great for countertops.

Helpful review: “Works great!! It was the first night in months that I woke up without allergies. You can also add essential oils. I can’t believe how well it works and for a great price!”

If you're really limited on space (or you're looking for a convenient way to purify your office), there's the Holmes air purifier. This one can be placed vertically or horizontally on virtually any desk or table, making it the most space-savvy unit on this list. Despite its size, this small room air purifier has three speeds and manages to remove up to 99% of dust, pollen, smells, and mold spores. You can use it alongside any Holmes AER1 series filter (like Smoke Grabber or Total Air) to better personalize it to your needs. It even has an optional ionizer to bind with smaller pollutants, improving the quality of your air even further. It’s best for rooms 109 square feet and smaller.

Helpful review: "I love these little air cleaners. I have one in each of our bedrooms. They are small, compact and do a great job cleaning the air.I love that you can set them upright or flat on the ground. I sometimes move it to a different position depending on where I want to place it. It works well either way.”