School classrooms aren’t the best place to go if you’re looking for the cleanest air possible.
In fact, they’re pretty far away from it.
That’s why using an air purifier is highly advantageous in school environments where dozens of students and teachers mix up daily.
With that being said, not every air purifier can do the job.
So, to help you find the best air purifier for your classroom, I did a lot of research.
And in this guide, I’ll not only be showing you my top 3 picks but also things you should consider in an air purifier for a classroom.
But before I go ahead and do that, let’s look at how a school classroom can benefit from an air purifier in the first place.
How Can a School Classroom Benefit From an Air Purifier?
Classrooms aren’t known to have the cleanest air inside.
For one, they are filled with many people simultaneously for an extended period.
On top of that, it’s pretty standard for schools to be in relatively packed and polluted districts.
And as air purifiers are designed to eliminate that polluted air, it’s easy to see how they can benefit the teachers and students inside the classroom.
Fortunately, most air purifiers are equipped with a high-quality HEPA filtration system to capture the smallest solid particles in the air.
Some air purifiers have activated carbon filters, which remove harmful smells and odors such as smoke, VOCs, and more.
That said, not every air purifier is suitable for a school classroom.
You want to get a model that has the air purification capacity of the size of the classroom, is silent when operating, features a minimalistic design, and more.
You can read more about the different things you should consider in an air purifier for a classroom at the end of this article.
But now, I want to show you the three best air purifiers for classrooms that I came across while researching this guide.
The Best Air Purifiers for School Classrooms
Not every air purifier is a suitable option for a classroom.
You want to ensure it has a suitable air purification capacity, that it’s relatively quiet when it works, and more.
After extensive research, I found the best air purifiers for school classrooms.
BlueAir 411 Auto – The Best Overall Air Purifier for School Classrooms
The first pick on this list is the BlueAir 411 Auto.
This is my favorite model on the market for several reasons.
It’s a simple, effective, and very quiet air purifier that outperforms other models in its price range.
To start, let’s take a look at the design.
I really liked this air purifier because of its simple design.
The straightforward design allows this unit to fit almost any classroom without stealing attention.
That way, you can place the air purifier just about anywhere in the room without worrying about distracting the students.
A barely noticeable light indicates that it’s working even when it’s on.
Another reason I like this air purifier is because of how easy it is to use.
When you have this air purifier, you have to turn it on with a touch of a button and leave it that way.
You don’t need to adjust any settings or touch any extra buttons.
This is because the air purifier automatically adjusts depending on the air quality in the room.
This means that the air purifier will work harder when more particles are in the air.
But if the air is relatively clean, the unit goes on a lower setting to maintain the air quality in the room.
Regarding its filtration system, the BlueAir 411 Auto features an H13 HEPA filter, one of the best on the market.
An H13 HEPA filter can capture up to 99.97% of solid particles in the room in sizes as small as 0.3 microns.
This way, if there are any students with asthma or allergies, they have an extra layer of protection when they’re in the classroom.
The one risk about having an air purifier in the classroom is that the noise can distract the students.
With this unit, you don’t have to worry about that.
This model is rated at just 18 dBA, significantly quieter than a whisper.
This means it’s practically noiseless unless you’re right next to it.
Before buying, you need to know a few things about this air purifier.
Firstly, this unit isn’t the best for covering larger spaces.
It can handle a maximum area of 190 square feet, which is enough for most medium and small classrooms.
However, if you have a larger room with many students, this model isn’t a suitable choice.
Additionally, it’s a bit pricey, like many BlueAir products.
But since it’s very quiet, has a smart operation, and has a simple design, it’s a worthwhile investment.
Pros:
- Minimalist design that won’t distract students
- The low-noise operation won’t interrupt the class
- Turn it on and leave it, making for a much easier operation
- H13 HEPA filter
- Can reduce the risk of asthma attacks and allergic reactions
Cons:
- Relatively expensive for its size
- Not ideal for larger classrooms and spaces
Levoit Core 300S – The Best Budget Air Purifier for School Classrooms
You don’t have to bust the bank to ensure you and your students breathe clean air.
If you want to buy an air purifier for the classroom, there’s no harm in spending a premium for a top-tier model.
But if you’re on a tight budget, quite a few models offer a great bang for your buck, such as the Levoit Core 300S.
In fact, I found this to be the best budget model for classrooms on the market today.
It comes with a real HEPA filter, operates very silently, has a simple design, and outperforms many other models in its price range.
So, this is the right pick if you want to buy a budget air purifier and get a lot of value for your money.
To start, let’s check out the filter.
This air purifier has a built-in H13 HEPA filter.
The filter can capture up to 99.97% of solid particles in the air, as small as 0.3 microns.
This air purifier would be great if you or your students have asthma or seasonal allergies.
Thanks to the HEPA filter, the dust and pollen will be captured and trapped inside the filtration system before it ends up in someone’s lungs.
Another aspect I really like about this air purifier is the design.
It’s simple and relatively small, meaning it won’t catch eyes or distract while easily fitting into any classroom.
On top of that, it’s a smart air purifier that can connect to your digital assistants like Alexa or Google Assistant.
This is great for classrooms as you won’t have to touch any buttons on the air purifier to adjust the settings.
All you have to do is use your phone or a smart device to change the settings.
Aside from that, it has excellent automatic settings.
So, even if you don’t want to use the digital assistants to control the settings, you can use the automatic mode, which adjusts depending on the air quality.
That way, you can turn the air purifier on at the start of the day and leave it until class ends.
And while this is also an affordable air purifier, it does have a downside.
This is a reasonably small air purifier, so it’s not a good fit for larger classrooms.
Besides that, it’s one of the best air purifiers for a classroom that you can get at this price.
Pros:
- Very affordable
- Comes with a true HEPA filter
- Silent operation
- Simple design
- Automatic functions
Cons:
- Not suitable for large classrooms
Coway Airmega AP-1512HH – The Best Premium Air Purifier for School Classrooms
The last entry on the list is my top recommendation if your school’s budget allows it.
You don’t have to pay a premium price for an effective air purifier, but there are some perks to buying some of the more expensive models.
This Coway air purifier is an excellent example of that.
The thing about this air purifier is that you can use it for larger spaces and move it from room to room.
This air purifier is designed for spaces up to 361 square feet, which is the most of any air purifier on this list.
And even if it’s a premium air purifier, it doesn’t have an overly complicated design.
As a result, this air purifier can blend in very nicely with any classroom in terms of size and design.
And for its size, this is a very quiet air purifier, averaging around 53 dB at its most powerful setting.
On top of that, this has a 4-stage filtration system, which means it will do a great job of purifying every aspect of the air.
That said, if there’s one downside to this air purifier, it has to be the price.
This is a fairly expensive air purifier. It isn’t the best option for those trying to buy an air purifier on a budget.
But if you’re looking to pay a premium for quality, this is one of the best picks.
Pros:
- A great product with tons of cool features
- Automatic operation
- Ideal for medium and large spaces of up to 361 square feet
- Very quiet for its size
- Features a 4-stage filtration system
Cons:
- One of the more expensive options on this list
What You Need in an Air Purifier for School Classrooms
There are a ton of benefits to using an air purifier.
I’ve already laid out some of the best air purifiers for school settings.
However, just knowing about the best choices isn’t enough.
It’s also crucial for you to understand the different features that make an air purifier suitable for a school classroom.
It also gives you a clearer picture of what makes an air purifier good in the first place.
So, here are some of the key considerations to keep in mind when buying an air purifier for the classroom:
A HEPA Filter
A true HEPA filter is a primary feature you need in any air purifier for a school classroom.
HEPA filters are high-grade mechanical filters made out of fiberglass.
They are specifically designed to capture solid particles as small as 0.3 microns or 99.97% of all particles in the air.
When your air purifier has a HEPA filter, you won’t have to worry about dust, pollen, and other pollutants circulating in the air.
However, it’s also important to understand that there are quite a few types of HEPA filters.
Most HEPA filters are graded, and I only recommend getting air purifiers with an H13 HEPA filter or better.
These HEPA filters can offer some of the best protection against different pollutants.
And as a result, they are one of the best choices for anyone looking to improve the air quality of a classroom.
Low Noise Operation
Though breathing clean air will benefit you and your students, the noise the air purifier will produce as a result certainly won’t.
That’s why you need to go for a silent air purifier.
This is especially true if you work in elementary schools or around children that can get easily distracted.
When I was back in school, the slightest noise outside would distract me, which is the case for most young people.
So, if you have a loud air purifier inside the classroom, you can imagine the harm it can do to the student’s focus.
Luckily, there are many low-noise air purifiers available on the market.
If you want an air purifier that doesn’t distract your students, I recommend getting one that operates at 30 dBA or less.
The lower the decibel rating, the quieter the unit will be.
You want your air purifier to benefit the people inside the classroom, not distract them.
This is why noise needs to be a primary consideration if you’re buying an air purifier for your classroom.
Smart Features
Smart features aren’t an absolute necessity, but they are a nice luxury to have.
If you have a smart air purifier, you’ll find it much easier to incorporate it into the classroom.
Smart air purifiers can be controlled remotely, meaning you won’t have to walk across the room just to adjust the settings.
That way, you don’t have to interrupt the lesson or momentum if the air purifier needs an adjustment.
My favorite smart feature is the automatic mode.
Essentially, the air purifier will automatically turn off when the air is as clean as it can be.
And when the air quality drops, the unit will turn back on.
That way, you can just let the air purifier be and not have to deal with it.
Conclusion
Getting an air purifier for a classroom is a great idea.
For one, it makes the air inside the classroom much safer for both yourself and your students.
As a result, children with allergies and asthma will have a much easier time, allowing them to focus on their studies solely.
That said, you must buy an air purifier with the right features.
In this guide, I’ve provided you with the best air purifiers for a school classroom.
And honestly, whichever one you decide to go for, you won’t be making a mistake.