I really enjoy living in my apartment. I have more than enough space for just myself, have a small space for work, and always feel cozy and at home.
However, my apartment is small and in a pretty polluted area, which means the air quality leaves a lot to be desired.
That’s why I decided to buy an air purifier. However, when I went on the internet to find an air purifier for my small flat, all I found were a bunch of options designed for larger settings. Not only were these options too big for my small bedroom, but they were way out of my price range as well.
So, I decided to go on Reddit and other forums with people who have actual experience with air purifiers to ask which option is the best for small rooms.
And luckily, I received a lot of replies with a lot of helpful advice and recommendations.
And today, I’ll be sharing everything I learned with you.
This is because I don’t want anyone to go through the same hassle I did when I originally decided to buy an air purifier.
So, if you’re looking for an air purifier for a small space, you’ve come to the right place.
Not only am I diving into some of the best options on the market today, but I’ll also be talking about some of the features to consider when buying an air purifier to make it even easier to make a choice.
Best Air Purifiers for Small Rooms
LEVOIT Core 300S – The Best Overall Air Purifier for Small Rooms
I’m going to start my list with my overall favorite air purifier for small rooms. In fact, during my search, this is the air purifier I eventually chose for my small apartment after testing a few, and up until now, I have no regrets. This was the top-recommended air purifier on multiple message boards, and I couldn’t go wrong trusting customers who actually use the product.
To start, this air purifier has a great design. One of the biggest reasons I ended up choosing this one for my apartment was the design. There are tons of air purifiers there that fit small rooms but have large and bulky designs that I didn’t want in my space. But this air purifier has a design closer to a speaker than an air purifier, which was a nice little detail.
Another cool feature was the fact that this is a smart air purifier. So, I can connect it to my phone to control the fan speed, set a timer, and do a lot more without touching the air purifier. If you’re looking for a convenient and modern option for your small room or apartment, this is a great choice.
While this is one of the smaller air purifiers on the market, it’s fully equipped to filter out harmful particles from the air. It has a true H13 HEPA filter which is one of the highest ratings for air purifiers this size. This allows the purifier to capture particles up to 1 micron in size, which is incredibly small.
With this air purifier, Redditors with allergies also stated that they don’t experience waking up feeling sick, which is another huge bonus I can feel the effect of. On top of that, it operates at a perfect noise level that can serve as white noise without annoying you.
My only problem with this model is that it doesn’t have an air quality sensor. But since my room and apartment are very small, I don’t really need this feature anyway. And plus, this air purifier offers a wide range of benefits that can easily outweigh the cons.
Pros:
- Easy to use
- Great for small rooms and apartments
- Equipped with a true H13 HEPA filter
- Balanced noise levels
- Smart features
Cons:
- Doesn’t have an air quality sensor
BLUEAIR Blue Pure 400 – The Best Silent Air Purifier for Small Rooms
While Blue Air seems like an excellent brand on the surface due to its popularity, the truth is that it doesn’t have the best reputation in the air purifier community.
Many people are dissatisfied with the brand’s air purifier selection, especially considering the price.
With that said, in the Blue Air catalog, this is a true standout and arguably one of the brand’s best purifiers.
The first thing that stood out to me was the low-noise operation. This is a great feature because for an air purifier to do its job, it needs to be kept on as long as possible.
So, this means leaving the air purifier on while you sleep. And if you’re a sensitive sleeper and wake up easily when you hear noise, doing so can be pretty hard.
But with this air purifier, you don’t have to worry about the fan or filter waking you up at night. All air purifiers will make noise.
At this point, it’s about impossible to find an air purifier that won’t create any noise at all due to how fans and mechanical filters work.
However, it’s evident that Blue Air put in a lot of effort to make sure this air purifier operates silently.
On top of that, it has a true HEPA filter, uses a 3-stage filtration system, and the pre-filters are washable, which means you won’t have to go out to buy new pre-filters anytime soon.
This is also one of the smaller Blue Air models available, which is why it’s great for smaller spaces. And since it’s so small, it isn’t as expensive as other Blue Air models on the market.
It’s still on the pricier side, but you won’t have to shell out the same amount of money that you usually have to do with other Blue Air models.
Pros:
- Comes with a great filtration system
- Easy to use
- Very low noise output
- One-button control
- Ideal for small rooms
Cons:
- On the pricier side compared to other small air purifiers
LEVOIT Core Mini – The Best Affordable Air Purifier for Small Rooms
During my search for an air purifier for a small room, I learned that Levoit is one of the top players in the game when it comes to small air purifiers. The LEVOIT range is packed with a bunch of air purifiers that are affordable and ideal for smaller spaces, which is something that’s pretty hard to find nowadays.
And the LEVOIT Core Mini is probably one of the smallest air purifiers in the LEVOIT collection. This means that it’s also one of the most affordable. In fact, you can find these air purifiers well within the sub-$75 price range, which means it’s a great option for anyone that’s trying to shop on a budget.
Like the LEVOIT model I have at home, this one still sports a unique design. It’s cylindrical, and since it’s small, it resembles a speaker even more than the Core 300S. So, if you’re looking for an air purifier you can place somewhere in the room that won’t look like a traditional air purifier, this is a great pick.
But the design isn’t the only good part of this air purifier.
I was really surprised to learn that this LEVOIT air purifier comes with a real HEPA filter. While I couldn’t find the exact grade of the filter, it’s said to be able to capture particles of about 3 microns. This is a bit larger than PM2.5 pollutants, which can cause a range of problems. So, this air purifier won’t be the best option for that.
But when it comes to dust, mold, and other larger particles, this model can handle it without any problem. This is why this is a favorite for people on a budget in need of a high-quality air purifier, and if you have a small space, this could be all you need.
Granted, since it’s such a small and affordable air purifier, it comes with a couple of disadvantages that need to be acknowledged. But overall, this is a great air purifier and is arguably one of the best air purifiers in its price range.
Pros:
- Available at a very affordable price
- Easy to use
- Great low-key design
- Comes with a true HEPA filter
- Great for small apartments
Cons:
- Doesn’t come with any smart features
Westinghouse 1804 – The Best Portable Air Purifier for Small Rooms
This isn’t the air purifier I have at home. However, I did end up buying this air purifier as a gift for my sister because it works really well and is great for people who travel a lot. My sister and I have struggled with the same types of allergies, so whenever she travels to a new hotel room in a dusty area, her allergies act up like crazy, which can get in the way of her trips.
This is why I decided to buy her a travel-friendly air purifier to help her out. And out of all the options I found, this one was the one that ticked all the boxes. To start, it has a great portable design with a carrying strap that makes it much easier to bring around. On top of that, it lays down flat. So, you can easily load it in the car, pack it in your suitcase, and take it with you wherever you go.
And despite its portable and lightweight design, it still comes with a true HEPA filter. This is one of the biggest reasons I chose this as most of the other portable air purifiers I found on the market had sub-par air filters that won’t exactly be able to do the job.
In fact, this sports a 3-stage filtration system, just like all of the non-portable options on this list. So, if you only use it in small spaces, you can get all the same benefits as you do with the air purifier at home, and the entire device isn’t even that expensive!
Granted, the second you move to a medium-sized room, this air purifier is going to have a hard time. This is why I only recommend using this in small spaces if you want to get the most out of the device.
Pros:
- Portable and easy to use
- Can work as a car air purifier
- Really strong for the size
- Great design
- 3-stage filtration system
Cons:
- Won’t be able to handle medium and large rooms at all
Molekule Air Mini+ – The Best Premium Air Purifier for Small Rooms
I already talked about the best affordable air purifier for small rooms. Now, it’s time to go to the other side of the spectrum. I’ll be showing you the model I found to be the best premium option on the market, and that’s the Molekule Air Mini+.
As the name suggests, this is a small air purifier. The benefit of the size is that it won’t use too much power while still being able to clean the air in small rooms. This is an FDA-cleared medical air purifier, which makes it great for people who need an air purifier to deal with certain conditions.
It doesn’t use a HEPA filter. But this isn’t a bad thing as it uses a PECO filter, which is largely considered an even better option than HEPA filters. So, if you really want to eliminate harmful particles in the air, this is a great choice.
With that said, there is a major downside to this model, and that’s the fact that it’s expensive. This isn’t an option for people shopping on a budget, but it’s great if you’re looking to spend some extra money to get a truly premium device.
Pros:
- Premium design
- Comes with a PECO filter
- FDA-cleared
- Comes with auto mode
- Comes with an indicator to tell you when to change the filter
Cons:
- Fairly expensive for the size
Best Air Purifiers for Small Rooms Buying Guide
It can be hard to find air purifiers for small rooms since the market is dominated by larger options. However, if you look hard enough, you can find a bunch of models that can do the job efficiently.
With that said, the search will be much easier if you know how to look for an air purifier for small rooms. That’s why I’ve created this quick buying guide that can paint a clear path for you to find the best air purifier for small rooms.
And the first thing I recommend doing when buying an air purifier for a small room is:
Measure Your Room
Firstly, you need to measure your room. This is because everyone, from customers to manufacturers, has a different definition of “small room.” So, instead of using vague descriptions of your room size, it’s best to take exact measurements so you get the exact square footage of the room.
If you can get the room’s exact measurements, you will have a much easier time finding the right air purifier. This is because most of the features you need to consider when buying an air purifier are specific for certain room sizes, and having the square foot measurements of your room gives you a great reference point.
And if you’re unsure how to find the square footage of a room, simply multiply the length of the room by the width of the room. Easy!
Filtration System
Once you get the measurements of your room, the next step is to look for the right filtration system. Modern air purifiers don’t just have one filter. Most of the models you’ll find on the market today contain two to three different filters. However, the number of filters doesn’t matter as much as the type of filters present.
Ideally, all air purifiers should have a HEPA filter at the very least. When shopping for an air purifier, ensure it has a true HEPA filter with a fairly high rating. Ideally, you’d want a HEPA filter with a grade-8 rating, but if you can find a model with a higher rating, that would be much better.
HEPA filters are the most effective at removing very small particles from the air, and if you get a high-grade model, you can capture particles as small as 1 micron. For context, human hair measures about 50 microns wide, so you can imagine how small 1-micron particles are.
On top of the HEPA filter, you would also want an activated carbon filter. This is a filter that can absorb harmful gases from the air like foul odors and VOCs (volatile organic compounds). If you find an air purifier with these two types of filters, you’re good to go.
However, some air purifiers would also have a pre-filter, which doesn’t really capture small particles but can filter out pet hair and other larger things floating in the air. That way, the HEPA filter doesn’t have to work as hard, extending its lifespan. You won’t exactly need the pre-filter, but it would be a nice addition.
ACH & CADR
The ACH (air changer per hour) & CADR (clean air delivery rate) are the two ratings you need to know with your air purifier. The ACH represents how many times the air purifier can replace the air in a room in one hour, while CADR refers to how many cubic feet of clean air the purifier delivers every hour.
The thing about small rooms is that you won’t need a high ACH or CADR. In fact, buying an air purifier with 10ACH or a high CADR would actually cause you to spend more money than you need for the room.
For small rooms, an ACH of at least 4ACH is more than good enough. But to make sure, always refer back to the measurements of your room, as most of these measurements are geared toward certain square footage.
Consider Maintenance
Another thing to consider is the maintenance of the machine. The thing about HEPA and carbon filters is that they don’t last forever. After some time, you will have to change them. And if you want the air purifier to work effectively for a long time coming, changing the air filters as needed is always a great choice.
With that said, you don’t want to be changing things up too much, as this can be expensive as well as a hassle. If you’re looking to get the best of both worlds, I recommend looking for a “permanent” HEPA filter. While you still have to replace these filters eventually, you can wash them a couple of times to extend the lifespan by a couple of months.
Build Quality
On top of the other qualities, you want the machine to be built well. This is where you can start considering the design and the materials used in making the machine. Most of the time, air purifiers are just fans and filters encased in a plastic mold. This is how most purifiers are made, so it would be best to learn what exact type of plastic was used in the mold to make sure it’s a material that can last you a long time.
For this quality, it’s best if you can go see and feel the air purifier yourself. I didn’t have the privilege of doing this when I bought my air purifier. That’s why I decided to go to Reddit and other similar message boards, as these sites tend to have real-world information from customers with actual experience with the product and its build quality.
Extra Features
There are tons of extra features available with most air purifiers, and while they are cool extras, they aren’t necessary. However, that doesn’t mean that some of these features aren’t useful.
Some examples are an air quality detector, which can check the air quality in a room and adjust accordingly. Some models will even be able to show you the current air quality in the room through a screen or an LED.
One thing I noticed when I was checking out the different options on the internet was that the current air purifier market is packed with extra features. You aren’t going to run out of smart features, sensors, and other extras when searching for an air purifier for you.
So, it’s important not to get blinded by all these extras. Before choosing a certain air purifier just because of a cool sensor or smart capabilities, I highly recommend asking yourself why the feature is useful to assess if it will actually be of use to you.
Why You Should Trust This Review
I take my air purifiers seriously. This is because, without an air purifier, I end up sneezing and developing allergies, and I can even get sick at times. So, without an air purifier, my home wouldn’t be habitable. That’s why I made sure to do all the research necessary to find a high-quality air purifier for my small room.
I ended up choosing the LEVOIT model.
However, there were tons of great options that could have served me just as well; it’s just the Core 300S is the one that satisfied my needs the most.
This means you can choose just about any of the options on this list, and rest assured that you get a capable air purifier.
So, now that you have all the best options laid out in front of you and read about how to find the best air purifier for a small room, all that’s left to do is choose the model for your home.
And from there, you’ll be enjoying clean air at home sooner than you know it!