More than 50 million Americans suffer from some type of allergy each year, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, and hay fever (also known as allergic rhinitis) is particularly common in the spring, affecting about 8% of all American adults. Hay fever usually hits as the trees begin their annual growth in the spring—hence, tree pollen is a major trigger for many people. Grass pollen is also a common irritant around this time of year, so on top of the usual indoor triggers—including dust mites, mold, and pet dander—you’re probably feeling pretty lousy from all these spring allergies.
What does an air purifier do?
Unfortunately, it can be hard to safeguard against outdoor spring allergy triggers like pollen—and that’s where antihistamines or nasal corticosteroids can come in handy—but when it comes to those pesky indoor allergens, there’s a simple solution that’ll greatly improve your quality of life: an air purifier. An air purifier is a device that eliminates contaminants in the air, and they can be particularly good for clearing allergens.
“Air purifiers are most efficient for allergens that float around for longer periods of time, like pollen, pet dander, and mold spores,” says Stephen Canfield, M.D., Ph.D., an allergist at ColumbiaDoctors Midtown in New York City.
The best air purifiers for such a task, he says, are high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters, which can pluck out particles that are as small as five micrometers, or one-millionth of a meter.
How we chose the best air purifiers for 2020:
To find the best air purifiers, we started by selecting HEPA models that were independently tested by the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) and scored high marks (in most cases, over 200) on their ability to filter tobacco smoke, pollen, and dust.
Next, we narrowed down our list by choosing products that have been certified under the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Energy Star program. According to the EPA, Energy Star-certified air purifiers are 40% more efficient than the standard models, which could save people about $30 a year on their utility bills.
Lastly, we rounded out our selection by giving a slight edge to products that scored rave reviews on Amazon or Home Depot. Here are our top picks.
• Best Overall: Blue Pure 211+ Air Purifier with Allergen and Odor Remover
• Best Value: Febreze Tabletop HEPA Air Purifier
• Best for Allergies: Honeywell HEPA Air Purifier
• Best for Bedrooms: SheerAIRE Quiet Large Room HEPA Air Purifier
• Best for Small Rooms: Honeywell True Compact Tower Air Purifier
• Impressive Technology: Blueair Classic 205 Air Purifier
• Cool Features: Coway Mighty Air Purifier
• Multitasker: Febreze Tower HEPA-Type Air Purifier
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