Air purifiers for pets
Editor-favorite air purifier: Coway Airmega AP-1512HH Mighty Air Purifier
Air purifier for large rooms: Honeywell HEPA Air Purifier for Large Rooms
Any pet parent will tell you pet ownership is pure bliss, but similarly, the allergies and discomfort that often accompany them may require some help from one of the best home air purifiers for pets. Whether you frequently host guests with dander sensitivities or suffer from allergies to your own pet yourself (it’s me, hi!), an air purifier for pets can do wonders for improving overall quality of life and reducing your risk of chronic inflammation or compromised lung function.
Luckily, choosing the right air purifier doesn’t have to add to the financial or emotional stress of cohabitating with a live fur ball. “I am generally not a fan of all those fancy gizmos that come with some air cleaners like particle measurements. These often add unnecessary cost,” says Dr. Richard Corsi, an indoor air-quality expert and the dean of the College of Engineering at the University of California, Davis. “Just focus on a good filtration system with a pre-filter for removing pet fur.” The key takeaway: Don’t overthink it, but do consider a few handy expert-approved tips on how to select the right air purifier for your pet-parenting purposes.
Now let’s look at the best air purifiers for pets from trusted brands like Shark, Dyson and Honeywell.
Our all-time favorite, editor-approved air purifier can blend in with its surroundings, so it’s a solid bet for those without tons of counter or floor space (it’s all covered in dog beds and chew toys anyway). It automatically adjusts its fan speed as needed, requires minimal maintenance and removes at least 99.7% of particles, like pet dander, sized up to 0.3 microns or more.
As part of the brand’s Allergen Plus series, this air purifier with three air-cleaning levels is your saving grace when confronting allergens and odors associated with pet ownership. And you don't have to have a pet or dander allergy to benefit. This purifier for larger spaces captures 99.97% of microscopic airborne particles, including bacteria, viruses, odors and dust mites your pets might be carrying into your sacred space.
The combination of its 141 CFM and its CADR rating that can cover areas of nearly 1,100 square feet makes this air purifier a true winner for pet owners in homes of all sizes. It comes with three different filtration options that allow you to tackle everything from pet allergens to toxins and smoke, and it has a timer function for sweeter dreams.
Breathe easier with this popular air purifier that effectively targets areas of over 1,800 square feet (but in as little as 12 minutes, it’ll clear rooms of up to 387 square feet). This one’s got a fabric pre-filter to take care of larger particles, a main filter to clear your air of pet dander and an activated carbon layer to rid your space of pet odors.
Featuring 360-degree HEPA filtration and a built-in activated carbon filter to eliminate odors, this air purifier for pets does it all. Thanks to its UV-C technology, you also get the benefit of bacteria, virus, mold and fungi removal. With its essential oil tray, keeping your home dander- and irritant-free also becomes a spa-like experience.
This pet-friendly air purifier blends seamlessly with your decor, thanks to its minimalist aesthetic and compact size. Where it truly shines are its two HEPA filters, active carbon filters and reusable metal pre-filters that all work to capture over 99.9% of irritating particles associated with your furry friend.
Thanks to an odor-neutralizing cartridge, a three-layer HEPA filter and a self-adjusting PM2.5 air-quality sensor, this air purifier is perfect for pet owners. A digital display features air-quality stats, filter life, fan speed and more. With up to 1,200 square feet of coverage, it suits larger rooms and entire apartments alike.
This three-stage air purifier features everything you need to keep your airways clear: a pre-filter, a true HEPA filter and an active carbon filter to rid your space of irritating pet dander and odors. Elements like Sleep mode, a low-decibel setting, a child lock and an eight-hour timer all contribute to its convenience.
Between the brand’s Critter Cuddler filter that clears nearly 1,600 square feet per hour to the Mila Sock pre-filter designed to capture pet fur, this genius HEPA air purifier for pets and their families creates a harmonious atmosphere in more ways than one. Use the associated app to track live air-quality updates.
A timer and Sleep mode make this all-around winner convenient for busy and tired pet owners. A HEPA filtration system with a washable pre-filter, an activated carbon filter and a real-time air-quality sensor solidifies it as a worthy investment for your health and home. With its 237 CFM and CADR rating of 360 square feet, it’s a strong pick for your bedroom or living room.
How to choose the right air purifier for pets
Multistage HEPA filter
Pet fur isn’t only unsightly on your furniture or dark clothing but is one of the main respiratory irritants emitted by pets. Your best defense? A multistage high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter. “Keep in mind that pets in the home means an increased volume of particles and particulate matter in your environment,” says Nicole Backus, a product manager of home environment for Clorox Home Appliances. “The number-one air purifier must-have for pet owners, or anyone in the market for an air purifier, is a multistage HEPA filter. HEPA filters are the most effective at capturing pet dander, which is most often the cause of pet-related allergies. They also do a fantastic job at capturing other airborne allergens.”
CADR and CFM values
For an air purifier that tackles dander, Corsi explains the key parameter to look for is the clean air delivery rate (CADR) with units of cubic feet per minute (CFM). This measurement is a balance between the cleaner’s airflow and its filtration efficiency. The higher the CADR, the more clean air the purifier can emit. Air purifiers might also have several CADR ratings for different contaminants, such as pollen or dust. “In the case of particles emitted by pets, one should consider the CADR for dust if there are several CADRs listed for the device,” he says. This is because pollen is typically larger than dust and pet allergens, so you need to ensure your purifier can quickly and effectively clean those smaller particulates out of the air.
Square footage
Size matters when it comes to your air purifier for pets. “For a small bedroom, a portable air cleaner with a CADR of 100 CFM might be sufficient, but if you can afford it and have space, I would recommend a portable air cleaner with a CADR of 300 CFM,” Corsi says. Your appliance will list the size of the space it can accommodate (like 800 or 1,200 square feet for example); however, Corsi notes brands often determine these values with the assumption that you’ll be using your device on the highest setting. Since many folks avoid the highest setting due to excessive noise, divide that square footage in half to be safe. If you’re unsure of the square footage of your home or the room you need to cover, “it’s best to err on the side of purchasing an air purifier recommended for a larger room,” he says.
Activated carbon
If odor is an issue, look for an air purifier with a layer of activated carbon, which typically helps tackle odorous gasses. Corsi says this feature might deplete far quicker than the particle filtration function, so aim for at least 5 kilograms of activated carbon per unit.
Air-quality sensor
Your air purifier should work harder than you do. “A smart air purifier should automatically respond to changes in air quality by increasing fan speed whenever there’s a rise in airborne particulate matter related to pets,” says Mike Feldstein, founder and CEO of Jaspr. “This could happen when cat litter is stirred up; a dog brings in dirt from outside and shakes, which releases particles into the air; or even when a pet sheds heavily.”
For this type of hands-off purifying power, Backus recommends looking for a PM2.5 air-quality sensor, which continuously monitors air quality. “If a change is detected, it will adjust cleaning speed automatically, whether you’re home or not,” she says.
The best air purifiers for pets
If you’re new to either pet or air purifier ownership, don’t stress too much. There’s not too significant of a difference between the air purifier you should use with or without pets, according to Feldstein, “as all homes experience various air-quality issues. Pets add an extra layer to these challenges. One important consideration, however, is to avoid using a device that ionizes and creates ozone, as pets are smaller than humans and have a higher sensitivity to chemicals.” While an air purifier for pets with both a mechanical and carbon filter can certainly lessen the load of irritants, according to Nick Gromicko, founder of the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors, it’s crucial to “keep your pet properly bathed and groomed and perhaps vacuum your home more frequently” as a first line of defense.