To find the best whole house air purifiers, you’ll need to examine a list of criteria to determine what is most important. We recommend the best whole house air purifier with a minimum 3-stage filtration process. This consists of a pre-filter for larger particles, a true HEPA filter for dust, spores, and allergens, and an activated carbon filter that blasts smoke, odors, and gasses to smithereens. Don’t forget digital controls, such as real-time air quality reminders and Away Mode settings for energy efficiency. These are the features that also make the best air purifiers.
After analyzing hundreds of reviews, we’ve determined that the Alen Breathesmart Classic Large Room Whole House Air Purifier is the best whole house air purifier you can buy. Keep reading about this and our other top picks to learn more and choose the best whole house air purifier for your home.
Top 10 Best Whole House Air Purifiers
#1 Alen Breathesmart Classic Large Room Whole House Air Purifier
Award: TOP PICK
WHY WE LIKE IT: This whole-house air purifier covers a monstrous up to 1100 square feet of a living area using four HEPA-type filters. It’s an excellent air purifier for the office and a great option for a large home.
- Four-layer filtration system
- Covers more than 100×100 square feet of space
- Intuitive lights-off mode for sleeping
- Highest of the four speeds is very loud
- May be too large for smaller bedrooms
This whole-house air purifier is very impressive across the board, starting with a 4-layer filtration system that uses a pre-filter, silver filter, HEPA pure filter, and an activated carbon layer that work together to cut down on allergens, dust, pollen, and other airborne contaminants as small as 0.3 microns. It uses an inner which works to release negative ions into the environment to bind to allergens, killing them on contact.
We love this whole-house air purifier’s impressive display panel, which uses sensors to indicate filter life, and air allergen sensing. An auto mode setting also allows different fan speed adjustments. Kudos for WhisperMax technology, which allows it to run very quietly without losing efficiency. Along with a 9 to 12-month filter life running 24/7, maintenance is very minimal. Compare that with the best personal air purifier that even has a filter life and maintenance information button.
#2 Coway Airmega 400 Whole House Air Purifier
Award: HONORABLE MENTION
WHY WE LIKE IT: This whole-house air purifier clears up to 1560 square feet of living space and includes a pollution sensor, great for people who want to gauge the level of indoor air quality.
- Includes timers (1,2,4,8 hours)
- Real-time air quality monitoring using four-color LED ring
- Intuitive lights-off mode for sleeping
- High noise level at the highest setting (43.2 dB)
- Slight learning curve
This whole-house air purifier is a juggernaut, combining an activated carbon and HEPA filter hybrid with its Max2 technology to kill close to 100% of airborne contaminants, both large and as small as 0.3 microns. Its dual suction system can change the air in a room up to two times per hour with efficient airflow that directs outside of the top of the purifier.
We love this whole house air purifier’s suite of smart technology features, which includes auto fan speed adjustment based on pollution levels, which helps save on energy bills. It’s very intuitive to use, with a four-color LED ring offering ‘good’, ‘moderate’, ‘unhealthy’, and ‘very unhealthy’ levels. A filter lifetime indicator also makes it easy to know when it is time to replace your filter. There’s also a smart filter change reminder from the best air purifier and humidifier that lets users know when it is time to replace the filter.
#3 Medify Air MA-112 V2.0 Whole House Air Purifier
Award: BEST CIRCULATION
WHY WE LIKE IT: This whole-house air purifier comes with a touch screen panel and 360° air distribution, an excellent choice for people who want equal airflow in an entire house.
- Monstrous 2000+ square foot coverage
- Child safety lock to prevent accidental touch
- 4 fan speeds and set time mode
- Filter needs frequency maintained
- Not the most energy-efficient
- Very built (28.3 inches by 15.7 inches)
This whole-house air purification system is a dependable workhorse, using a pre-filter, HEPA filter activated carbon filter, and an ionizer to remove up to 99.97% of airborne contaminants. It also uses a massive Advanced Air Chamber that is capable of clearing out up to 2,400 square feet using a bottom-to-top airflow system. A 360-degree air distribution system works to direct airflow from all sides, allowing more even distribution.
Big points go to a touch screen panel loaded with features, using multiple fan speeds and a set timer for further energy savings. It also includes a sleeping mode, which places it in a quiet setting, excellent for overnight use in bedrooms. Kudos for a child safety lock, which also prevents children and pets from turning it on and on accidentally. For more child-friendly options, we do have a list of air purifiers for infants. All in all, this whole house air purifier’s combination of large coverage area, 4-stage filtering, and digital controls make it one of the best we’ve researched. For more of the coverage area, you should compare this with the best large room air purifiers.
#4 Hathaspace HSP001 Whole House Air Purifier
Award: BEST FOR STUDIOS
WHY WE LIKE IT: This electronic air cleaner comes with 5-in-1 filtration and replaces air twice an hour for rooms up to 350 square feet, an excellent choice for studios.
- Honeycomb design for smell prevention
- Kills airborne particles as small as 0.3 microns
- Auto Mode optimizes fan speed in real-time
- Air quality sensor not the most accurate
- Could use a longer cord
This whole-house air purifier leads with a 5-in-1 filtration system that consists of a cold catalyst filter, cellular activated filter, antibacterial layer, HEPA filter, and ionizer. All work to kill airborne contaminants such as dust, smoke, odors, pollen, and dust mites.
With 350 square feet of coverage, this whole house air purifier is good to replace air twice an hour. On the digital side, it is very formidable, coming with an air quality sensor for real-time updates, auto more for auto fan speed adjustment, and a handheld remote control to control it within range. And for more digital purifiers, check out the best smart air purifier with an air quality sensor for real-time updates
#5 Oransi Max Hepa Whole House Air Purifier
We’re sorry, this product is temporarily out of stock
Award: BEST FOR LIVING AREAS
WHY WE LIKE IT: This whole-house air purifier comes with three stages of filtration and works in rooms up to 600 sq ft, an excellent choice for a main living area.
- 4 fan speeds w/ auto mode
- Varied timing settings from 1 to 12 hours
- Excellent pre-filter life of 12 months
- Large and boxy (20 x 11 x 25.5 inches); may not fit in small spaces
- Bright LEDs cannot be dimmed or turned off
This whole-house air purifier offers three stages of filtration, which consist of a pre-filter for larger particles, a HEPA filter for allergens, and an activated carbon filter to weave its magic with smoke and odors.
One of our favorite features of this whole house air purifier is its Intelligent Air Quality Monitor, which helps monitor air quality in real-time with automatic fan speed adjustment to help save energy if needed. A filter replacement indicator also lights up an electronic display for regularly scheduled maintenance with a color-coded guide when it’s time for a replacement. And another air quality indicator unit that offers real-time status updates is the best air purifier with a washable filter.
#6 Germ Guardian AC4150BLCA Whole House Air Purifier
Award: BEST COMPACT DESIGN
WHY WE LIKE IT: This 4-in-1 desktop air purifier comes in a compact 7.5 x 6.5 x 11-inch build and offers coverage up to 78 square feet, an excellent choice for smaller spaces and tabletops.
- Small size for tabletops (7.5 x 6.5 x 11 inches)
- 3-speed settings
- High CADR ratings for dust, pollen, and smoke
- Small coverage area (up to 78 square feet)
- Not the quiet air purifier (e.g. 57 dB on high setting)
This best whole house air purifier HVAC cleans 99.97% of airborne contaminants as small as 0.3 microns with a three-stage filter, which uses a pre-filter for large particles, HEPA filter for smaller particles (dust mites, pet dander), and an activated carbon filter for smoke, odors, and gases. A UV-C light on this air purifier from Germ Guardian also wreaks havoc on bacteria and viruses for complete protection.
With room coverage of up to 78 square feet, this best whole house UV air purifier is best reserved for smaller bedrooms and offices, with ideal placement on tabletops to maximize airflow and coverage space. All in all, this compact air filter offers an excellent combination of three-stage filtration, UV-C light for germ-fighting, and a compact size for smaller spaces. This is also another UV light unit for germ-fighting and is also among the best UV air purifier as it has a minimum 3-stage filtration system that works to battle airborne contaminants as small as 0.3 microns.
#7 IQAir Healthpro Plus Whole House Air Purifier
Award: BEST FOR STUFFY NOSES
WHY WE LIKE IT: This whole-house air purifier covers areas up to 1,125 sq ft with HyperHEPA filtration technology, an excellent choice for people suffering from allergies and asthma.
- Large area coverage (<= 1,250 sq ft)
- Catches particles as small as 0.003 microns
- Includes handheld remote control for fan speed adjustment
- May encounter slightly off smell when starting unit
- Not the quietest unit on market
This whole-house air purifier is very effective in clearing allergens using a HyperHEPA filtration proven to cut airborne ultrafine contaminants down by 99.5% and 0.003 microns. It uses several technologies to make this work, starting with pre max micro-particle filtration for larger particles, a V5-cell activated carbon filter for odors and smoke, and HyperHEPA filtration for ultrafine particles.
Unlike most whole-house air purifiers, this one comes with a handheld remote control with six fan speeds and a filter-life monitor. We like how easy it is to replace filters with this unit. A modular tower design snaps open in two seconds using locking arm mechanisms to remove and replace filters. Fan noise is also kept at a minimum, which allows for uninterrupted sleep by children and adults. Just like the Ultra Quiet mode that automatically defaults to the lowest setting in the best plug-in air purifier.
#8 Winix 5300 Whole House Air Purifier
Award: BEST FOR KITCHENS
WHY WE LIKE IT: This whole-house air purifier features a 4-stage filtration system and PlasmaWave to help cut down on odors, an excellent choice for people who want to eliminate messy kitchen smells.
- 3-stage cleaning for effectiveness
- Smart Sensor for real-time air quality updates
- Specialized technology to neutralize bacteria and viruses
- Does not include a remote control
- On the heavy side (about 18 pounds)
Air purification is very thorough with this unit, starting with a pre-filter for larger airborne particles, a carbon filter for odors/smoke, a HEPA filter for pollen and other ultra-fine particles, and a PlasmaWave layer to help kill bacteria and viruses. It is also very good with neutralizing odors, a must for busy kitchens.
This whole-house air purifier is good for up to 360 square feet of coverage. Other digital features include a Smart Sensor for real-time air quality updates and Auto Mode for optimal running. All in all, this whole-house air purifier is very well rounded with a neat combination of 3-stage filtration, Smart Sensor, and a focus on eliminating bacteria and viruses. But if you’re not interested in installing a permanent cooling or heating system in your home, the best portable air conditioner and heater is the perfect solution.
#9 GT 3000 Whole House Air Purifier
Award: BEST FOR BOATS AND RVs
WHY WE LIKE IT: This whole-house air purifier covers a list-best 2,500 to 3,000 square feet of living space using GT300 technology for effective mold protection, making it an excellent mold air purifier for large homes, boats, and RVs with regular exposure to high moisture.
- Covers 2,500 to 3,000 sq. ft.
- Remote controls for Normal Mode, High Mode, and Away Mode
- No need for HEPA filter replacement
- On the expensive side
- Steep learning curve setting up the unit
This hospital-grade whole-house air purifier uses several filtration technologies, starting with photocatalytic oxidation cell technology for the molecular breakdown of bacteria, ionization for negative ion output to battle allergens, and a combination of scalable and electrostatic filtration to cover mold and odors. It could be considered a great ionic air purifier. And, if you’re curious, you’ll want to know how an electromagnetic air purifier works, since it’s different than an electrostatic one.
The sheer number of technological features of this whole house air purifier is remarkable. Features to purify the air in your home include an Away Mode with four timer settings, and a handheld remote control for light dimming. LCD screen reminders also indicate when it is time to change the filter. If you can accept its sky-high price point, it’s good to go. But also remember that some other units are cheaper and have LCD screen indicators, like the best ductless mini-split air conditioners. And, also check out our Clarifion review, which features a unit at an affordable price.
#10 Alexapure Breeze Whole House Air Purifier
We’re sorry, this product is temporarily out of stock
Award: BEST QUALITY
WHY WE LIKE IT: This whole-house air purifier uses IonCluster technology to release negative ions into the atmosphere, binding and killing airborne contaminants, great for people who want a well-rounded machine good for up to 800 square feet area.
- Spacious 800 square foot coverage
- No ozone emissions for safety
- Kills small airborne contaminants as small as 0.3 microns
- Too large for some tabletops (7 x 13.5 x 21.5 inches)
This whole-house air purifier HVAC does an exceptional job across the board starting with a True HEPA filter capable of killing up to 99.97% of airborne particles in rooms up to 800 square feet. It uses a four-stage setup, including a pre-filter, activated carbon fiber, an advanced true HEPA filter, and an ion cluster module that kills microbes.
Big points go to this unit’s Intelligent Auto Mode, which automatically adjusts fan speeds based on air quality in real-time. This also helps with energy efficiency, with a max of 0.5KWH power usage. Color-coded lights from red to blue also indicate air quality well. Kudos for an exceptional sleep mode, only hitting 16 decibels in silent mode. One of the quietest options we’ve seen, and also recommend, is the best central air conditioner.
How We Decided
In determining the best whole house air purifiers to buy, we explored efficiency, versatility, and digital controls.
Whole-house air purifiers vary drastically in terms of square foot coverage. Look for whole-house air purifiers with a minimum 3-stage filtration system that uses a pre-filter for large particles (e.g. dust mites),. true HEPA filter for smaller particles (0.3 microns), and an activated carbon filter to ease up smoke, odors, and gasses. Multiple stage filtration systems are capable of removing up to 99.97% of airborne contaminants that can exacerbate asthma symptoms, and develop allergies, and illness if not treated in time.
In terms of versatility, we are big fans of high-quality whole-house air handlers that clean the air well. Other technologies that could provide a boost include UV lighting to kill bacteria and germs, an ionizer to release negative ions into the atmosphere to capture airborne contaminants, and filter life indicators to note when it’s time to replace your filter-based on a regular schedule. We are also big fans of multiple fan speeds that allow for energy efficiency based on real-time air quality and the size of the room the unit is in.
See Also: Take a look at the best air purifier for the basement if you wish to get something for your basement too.
Best Whole House Air Purifiers Buyer’s Guide
The Most Important Features to Consider
- Efficiency
Look for the best whole house air purifier that can eliminate up to 99.97% of airborne contaminants using a minimum 3-stage filtration system, consisting of a pre-filter, true HEPA filter, and an activated carbon filter. Each is responsible for performing a wide range of functions, including trapping gasses, neutralizing odors, and charging airborne particles to kill them on contact. Square footage coverage varies wildly, anywhere from 75 square feet upwards to 3000 feet. - Versatility
In terms of versatility, smaller units are more capable of being allowed to mount vertically or horizontally to preserve tabletop or desktop space. Others have more neutral, minimalist tones to blend in well with home decor. Whole-house air purifiers come in all shapes, sizes, and proportions. - Digital Controls
Full-scale digital controls are key to best managing your whole-house air purifier. We are big fans of filter life indicators, LED color-coded real-time status updates on air quality, auto fan speed adjustment, and other features designed to make it easier to manage your air quality. Don’t forget a whisper-quiet operation, like the Blueair Blue Pure 211, that does not exceed 20 decibels, regardless of setting. Note, that larger units are less likely to adhere to this requirement, so noise levels may be sacrificed for larger units from time to time.
