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The list of contaminants that can compromise a home’s indoor air quality — from dander and dust mites to mold and mildew — has gotten longer by one in many parts of the country. Due to the effects of climate change, namely severe heat and drought, wildfire smoke is now a clear and present danger for a growing percentage of U.S. homeowners. In hardest-hit California, the fivefold increase in summer burn areas in recent years means more than 2 million residences are now at risk.
While homes catching fire is the biggest wildfire threat, breathing in smoke is another serious health risk. Fine particles in the fumes can aggravate chronic heart and lung diseases, and they’re even linked to premature deaths in people with these conditions, reports the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. People who are otherwise healthy might experience burning eyes, runny noses and illnesses such as bronchitis.
A capable air purifier will help mitigate these risks by capturing fine particulates that make it to the air inside your home. Only some models are up to the task, however, based on the continuous air purifier tests that take place at the Good Housekeeping Institute. As part of our evaluation, we look for air purifiers with filtration systems that can pull even the tiniest particles from the air in your home.
Our experts say these six air purifiers are best at protecting against wildfire smoke, along with a litany of other indoor air pollutants.
Most Innovative
Best for Small Spaces
Blueair Blue Pure 311i+ Max
GermGuardian AirSafe + Intelligent Air Purifier
Alen 75i Air Purifier
LEVOIT Core 400S Smart True HEPA Air Purifier
Coway USA Inc Airmega 160 True HEPA Air Purifier
Rabbit Air MinusA2 Air Purifier
The RabbitAir is one of the latest air purifiers to come into the Home Improvement and Outdoor Lab for testing. Our experts like its wall-mounted design and sleek finish, which combine to make it one of the best-looking models we’ve reviewed.
Of course, air cleaning performance matters most, and the RabbitAir impressed our testers there as well. It’s engineered to pull a range of pollutants from the air with its multiple levels of filtration, including a customizable filter that can be matched to specific pollutants in the home.
In the case of wildfire smoke, there’s the “odor removal filter,” which traps bad smells from fires, as well as cooking, mildew and pets. That’s after the true HEPA filter traps particles 0.3 microns in size at 99.97% efficiency and over 99% efficiency for particles less than 0.1 microns, according to the brand.
While on the expensive side, the Rabbit Air also lives up to its ultra-quiet claim, especially in silent mode, when its fan is literally whisper-quiet. Even on the highest "turbo" setting, the fan only gets up around 49 decibels, or as loud as a soft conversation.
One important caveat: Like the Alen, the MinusA2 has an ionization setting, which our experts don't recommend because of the potential health factors. While we prefer purifiers without any ionization mode, at least with the MinusA2, the process for turning it off is straightforward and an indicator light on the face of the unit clearly indicates if it’s in active ion mode.
Coverage area: 815 sq ft (recommended) | Filter type: Pre-filter, true HEPA, carbon-activated filter and custom pet filter | Dimensions: 7" x 21.4" x 20" | Weight: 19.4 lbs | Filter replacement cost: $105