The 7 Best Air Purifiers For Dust Of 2023

This Energy Star–certified air purifier uses a three-stage filtration system that takes air through a prefilter for larger gunk, a HEPA filter for particles, and an activated charcoal filter for odors and gases. The second is key to removing dust from the air, ultimately helping to keep up to 547 square feet smelling fresh. The budget-friendly device also has a timer option for regular air cleanings and a sleep mode that quiets operation and dims lights. Plus, it's budget-friendly, at least less than $200–and even refills are relatively inexpensive at $30 (with changes required every six to eight months).

What customers say:

This air purifier has over 60,000 five-star ratings on Amazon and gets rave reviews from people with dust allergies, pets, and smoke sensitivities. According to one reviewer, "You can feel and breathe the difference in the air after a few hours of running it. I live in a very tiny apartment with a cat and lots of upholstery and surfaces that hold dust and dander. I have noticed an extreme difference in air quality even after about two months now." Some negative comments speak to the durability of this purifier, with several folks saying it got louder over time.

A budget-friendly pick, the My Happi purifier is a great small-space option. It uses a vacuumable pre-filter, a carbon filter for odors, and a HEPA filter for pollen, dust, and pet dander. It has three super-quiet fan speeds, and there's also a small LED display that tells you the air quality status in real time. Happi doesn't offer a CADR rating for this purifier, but they claim you can run it in spaces up to 500 square feet.

What customers say:

There aren't a ton of reviews of this purifier, but most of the reviews that do exist are positive. One reviewer writes, "My Happi works to make certain that lingering odors or dust are always under control! This air cleaner really and truly is very quiet, which in my book makes it a winner! I think this is a perfect choice for smaller rooms; utility, laundry, extra bedroom or office." On the con side, some people say the "change filter" notification goes off earlier than six months and makes an annoying beep sound.

While an air purifier can't actually eliminate stagnant mold (you'll need to tackle mold separately), it can remove mold spores from the air and help make a once-moldy space smell fresh again. The Blueair Blue Pure 211+ is a solid, Energy Star–rated purifier that aims to do just that. Its washable fabric pre-filter, which comes in a handful of color options, is the first line of defense, followed by the main HEPA filter that grabs smaller particles like mold spores, dust, and pollen. Finally, there's a layer of activated carbon that focuses on odors and VOCs. This quiet filter does the job but doesn't come with a lot of bells or whistles. There's only one button that lets you switch between three speeds and an LED light that tells you when it's time to change your filter.

What customers say:

This filter gets great reviews from customers—82% of the 11,000 ratings give it five out of five stars. "I was having great difficulty breathing after a then-unknown mold exposure. Between the time the mold was discovered and the time it took to get a contractor out to take care of it, I could not breathe indoors. This purifier allowed me to breathe almost immediately." Some negative reviews from people say they wish the 211+ had a timer, and some people complain that it's expensive for the lack of features.

Hence the "Smart" in the name, you can control this purifier from OxyPure with an app. It has six fan speeds, several timer options, and a display to show the air quality status in the room. In Auto mode, it measures the air quality in the room and adjusts settings—you guessed it—automatically. With a high CADR rating and five-stage filtration, this pick is great for larger rooms. In fact, while the baseline coverage is 515 square feet; several reviews comment on it being really effective in rooms up to 1,200 square feet. It also comes on wheels so you can move it around your space.

What customers say:

There are a ton of rave reviews for this purifier, including this Amazon shopper: "The air quality has changed so much in my home. The unit is large enough to purify the air throughout the entire home. My home is three stories and you can tell the difference on each floor." On the con side, it's a bigger unit (14 by 14 by 26 inches) and not the most aesthetically pleasing design. But while some people find this device expensive, others say the higher price tag is worth it for the coverage and the fact that the filters are designed to last longer.

This option sounds (and looks) like something out of a Star Wars movie. Whether that's a good or a bad thing for you, the Winix 5500-2 is a great, effective pick that boasts both a washable pre-filter and carbon filter in addition to the HEPA filter. It also features a timer, four fan speed settings, and an optional ionize, which the brand calls PlasmaWave.

Coolest of all, this Energy Star–certified pick automatically activates "Sleep Mode" when the room is darkened for a quieter run and changes back to "Auto Mode" when it senses light. In terms of upkeep, Winix recommends washing the pre-filter every two weeks and the carbon filter every three months. You'll also need to get a new carbon and HEPA filter every 12 months.

What customers say:

This pick from Winix gets rave reviews on Amazon, where it has 23,000 ratings and 4.7 out of 5 stars. People rave about the longevity of this device thanks to the washable filters. A longtime user says, "5 years of literal constant use. I have absolute confidence stating that this is a solid piece of machinery." Less glowing reviews mention the bright lights on this device, and some people complain about the cost involved to replace the carbon filter in addition to the HEPA filter.

For something a little more design-friendly, check out Mila. This high-tech but aesthetically pleasing device is a super-customizable pick. Complete with an app that gives you live status updates on your air quality, Mila works with Amazon Alexa and Google voice assistants, has a "Quiet Mode" that senses when you're in the room, and even warns you about poor air quality outdoors.

Mila can also act as a carbon monoxide detector and monitors the humidity level in your room to alert you about possible mold growth.

What customers say:

Mila is relatively new to the purifier market, and the only reviews on the Mila website are glowing. Amazon has a few reviews, most of which are positive with regards to the features and design. "There are so many functions to choose from. Mila even has a sense of humor! The app works perfectly and gives us great updates," a satisfied reviewer writes. Some folks experienced issues with app connectivity, and a couple of people say it isn't the most powerful purifier they've owned.

While it's not super design-friendly, the models under Honeywell's Allergen Plus series are popular purifiers for tackling dust and smoke. This is the HPA200, which is rated to 310 square feet, but Honeywell sells a smaller and larger model of this purifier as well. With solid features like a timer, four fan speeds, and the ability to dim or turn off the display lights, it has just the right amount of frills.

The pre-filter captures large particles such as dust and pet fur and includes carbon to reduce VOCs & odors from smoke and cooking—the HEPA filter picks up the rest.

What customers say:

Honeywell's Allergen Plus series gets great feedback on Amazon, with 4.7 out of 5 stars across over 29,000 ratings. This reviewer raves, "We have a lot of problems with hazardous smoke this time of year. The HPA300 works great. We have one positioned in our hallway so the purifier is blowing up to the ceiling right where our central HVAC intake is. We also have an HPA200 unit that we move around to whichever room we are in."

One downside, though, is that Honeywell suggests you replace the pre-filter every three months. Some reviewers also say it's rather loud compared to other purifiers.