KEY POINTS YOU’LL LEARN
- Small Air Purifiers are an attractive choice if you’re looking for portable purification to bring with you anywhere.
- Two main reasons why you might consider a Small Air Purifier – Easier to move around the house & to take it with you outside the house!
- Mini Air Purifiers have plenty of upside with only minor drawbacks when compared to larger Air Purifiers.
- In-Depth Reviews, recommendations, & notable features for the 5 Best Small Air Purifiers are given in this article.
Not everyone has the luxury of a lot of space in their living area.
With so much stuff around and so little space, you try and preserve every inch of free space you have. Students & big families definitely know what I’m talking about.
And downsizing? Pfffft, good luck.
It’s like every time you clean up, the mess is back within a month!
You know what doesn’t help this no-space problem?
Having a massive, heavy, clunky air purifier somewhere in your home taking up all this precious space!
And that’s why I’ve made this article for you, showing the best small air purifiers available right now! Picking up a smaller air purifier for situations like this will free up more space in your home without losing the clean, healthy air your air purifier gives!
Contents
Comparison Table of the Best Small Air Purifiers
Click the product name to skip to that review!| Product Name & Image | Blue Pure 411
| PureZone 3-in-1
| Wynd Plus
| IonPacific ionbox
| Levoit LV-H132
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 5/5 | 4.8/5 | 4.7/5 | 4.2/5 | 4/5 |
| Price | $$ | $$ | $$$$ | $ | $ |
| Coverage | 161 sq ft. | 200 sq ft. | 100 sq ft. | 500 sq ft. | 86 sq ft. |
| Power Consumption | 1.5-10 W | 60 W | 10-12 W | 1.5 W | 28 W |
| Filtration Technology | Pre, True HEPA, & Carbon Filter | Pre, True HEPA, & Carbon Filter + UV-C Light | Electrostatic Filter | Ionization | Pre, True HEPA, & Carbon Filter |
| Noise Level | 17-46 dB | 30-50 dB | N/A | Near Silent | N/A |
| Weight | 3.25 lbs. | 6 lbs. | 15.3 oz. | 4.8 oz. | 6.48 lbs. |
| Dimensions | 16.7 x 8 x 8 in. | 10.8 x 6.9 x 12.1 in. | 6.7 x 3.5 x 3.5 in. | 6.1 x 4.4 x 2 in. | 8.5 x 8.5 x 14.5 in. |
Why Should You Get a Mini Air Purifier? – The 2 Main Reasons
The main advantages of owning a small air purifier come from the convenience the size of it brings. When compared to owning a larger sized air purifier, you’ll find times where you’ll say to yourself “Thank goodness this thing is so light and small!”
The two main reasons why you should get a small air purifier come down to the following:
-
Easier to Move Around the House (Mobility)
Depending on the size of your mini air purifier and your financial situation, you might be looking to buy one to move from room to room in your house. Buying a larger sized air purifier is going to make moving it an awkward process. Buying a mini air purifier makes lifting & carrying it from room to room much easier!
-
Take it With You Anywhere (Portability)
Portability is the ability to bring your mini air purifier with you wherever you want. In the case of the Wynd Plus & the IonPacific ionbox, they don’t need to be plugged in to run! This lets you bring them with you to the office, on a hike, in your car… I could go on and on but I’m sure you understand the benefits of this!
Do Small Air Purifiers Work?
It’s okay to be skeptical of smaller air purifiers, especially if you owned a much larger air purifier in the past. You probably think something along the lines of:
“How can something so much smaller still do the same amount of work? Where do the filters even fit?”
Well, don’t worry! Small air purifiers work just as well as larger air purifiers do. They purify your breathing air just as effectively as a bigger air purifier would.
When you buy a mini air purifier there’s usually a couple of sacrifices you make compared to buying a bigger air purifier.
- Coverage Area – Most small air purifiers will effectively purify up to 200 square feet of space. Due to their size, it’s hard to find a small air purifier that will be able to efficiently purify beyond that.
- Filter Changes are more frequent (Not always the case) – Because the air purifier is physically smaller, the size of the filters inside have to match that. It follows that the smaller filters aren’t able to catch & store as many pollutants as the bigger ones do. Unfortunately, this means you have to change the filters out just a little more often. Usually, mini air purifiers require filter changes every 3-6 months. Large air purifiers require filter changes every 6-9 months.
#1 – The Best Small Air Purifier – Blue Pure 411
Coverage: 161 sq ft.
Power Consumption: 1.5-10 W
Filtration Technology: Pre, True HEPA, & Carbon Filter
Noise Level: 17-46 dB (based on fan speed)
Weight: 3.25 lbs.
Dimensions: 16.7 x 8 x 8 in.
Warranty: 1-year default. If registered on Blueair within 60 days of purchase the warranty extends to 2 years!
The Blue Pure 411 gets the #1 spot for its extremely high-quality filtration and equally fast purification rates! The 360-degree air flow means it won’t be missing a single spot in your rooms. Not to mention the Energy Star certification means you won’t have to worry about what it’ll do to your electricity bill!
This is one of those purchases where you’ll never go wrong buying it.
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| - Super quiet - Excellent CADR - Purifies a room 5x in an hour - Easily movable around the house - One button operation - Energy Star certified | - Can't provide air quality readings |
Grade-A Purification
The 3-stage filtration system consists of a washable/reusable pre-filter, a HEPA filter that captures 99.97% of particles as small as 0.3 microns, and an activated carbon filter to deal with odor elimination.
Using this 3-stage system, the Blue Pure 411 has a top-quality purification rate. It can purify rooms as big as 161 square feet FIVE TIMES in a single hour!
Simple to Use & Maintain
The Blue Pure 411 has a big appeal to people who aren’t too familiar with air purifiers. There are two big reasons for this:
- There’s only one button you can press to control it! No way anyone can mess that up! The single button’s function is to change the speed of the fan. (Settings pictured on the right).
- It’s easy to remove & replace filters! This air purifier comes equipped with a filter indicator light that’ll let you know when it’s time to change out the HEPA filter.
How Do I Replace The Blue Pure 411 HEPA Filter?
The replacement process is simple. Simply unscrew the top as if it were a thermos mug, pull out the rigid, white, HEPA filter and put your new one in where the old one used to be! Here’s a step-by-step guide from Blueair:
Usually, the HEPA filter will need replacing every 6-9 months depending on usage.
#2 – Best Budget Small Air Purifier – PureZone 3-in-1
Coverage: 200 sq ft.
Power Consumption: 60 W
Filtration Technology: Pre, True HEPA, & Carbon Filter + UV-C Light
Noise Level: 30 dB (Low), 40 dB (Medium), 50 dB (High)
Weight: 6 lbs.
Dimensions: 10.8 x 6.9 x 12.1 in.
Warranty: 5 years.
The PureZone 3-in-1 is an excellent all-around pick because of its ability to thoroughly purify & maintain clean air within your environment. It was a really tough decision to give the PureZone the #2 spot because it’s one of my personal favorites! This air purifier shares many of the same features found on the Blue Pure 411.
My recommendation: Because the PureZone 3-in-1 is priced under $100 it’s a great buy if you’re on a budget!
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| - Quiet as a whisper on lowest setting - HEPA filter for top quality purification - UV-C light destroys and actively prevents germs, mold, and virus growth - Affordable - 5 year warranty | - Doesn't provide air quality readings |
UV-C Keeps The Air Sickness Free
The PureZone 3-in-1 comes equipped with the same 3-stage filtration we saw in the Blue Pure 411 – Washable pre-filter, true HEPA filter, and activated carbon filter. We know their functions and how efficient they are at purifying the air in your environment.
However, the PureZone comes equipped with something no other air purifier on this list has, a UV-C light.
The UV-C light on this air purifier safely breaks down, destroys, and proactively prevents the growth of harmful micro-organisms like germs, viruses, bacteria, and fungus.
This bulb really helps to eliminate the germs we breathe daily in our home’s environment that can contribute to us getting the flu or common cold.
The thoroughness of the PureZone’s filtration system is why it’s one of my favorites. You’ll never have to worry about your air quality with this thing!
And when it’s time for a change, the PureZone’s filter life indicator will turn on to let you know!
Set & Forget
If you’re someone who’s always busy and has trouble keeping track of things because you have everything else on your mind, then boy are you ever going to love this feature!
Again, another feature that only the PureZone has out of the all mini air purifiers on this list – auto shut off timer! With the PureZone 3-in-1, you’re able to set a timer for either 2, 4, or 8 hours of continuous use, after that the PureZone will shut itself off.
The benefits that come from this timer are super convenient!
Leaving for work and want to come home to a fresh house? No problem, 8-hour timer, see you when you get home!
Cooking in the kitchen, don’t want to deal with smoke? Boom, 2-hour timer takes care of it.
Want to breathe clean while asleep? A 4/8-hour timer should do the trick! Speaking of sleep, the PureZone (for its purification strength) is a very quiet air purifier.
At its lowest speed, it produces only 30 dB of noise which is equivalent to a quiet rural area. Even at it’s highest setting, it’s still hardly noticeable. It produces 50 dB of noise which is about the same noise level as your refrigerator! You’ll hardly notice this machine working diligently.
#3 – Best Small Air Purifier For an Office – Wynd Plus
Coverage: 100 sq ft.
Power Consumption: 10-12 W
Filtration Technology: Electrostatic Filter
Weight: 15.3 oz.
Dimensions: 6.7 x 3.5 x 3.5 in.
Warranty: 1 year.
The Wynd Plus has made such a big splash in the air purifier market because of its utilization of newer technologies.
Where most air purifiers still feel like low-grade tech, the innovative Wynd Plus stands out among the rest! A huge part of this innovation comes from the app that ties in with this air purifier (more on this below).
If you’re somebody who’s always on the go, whether it be working or traveling, and don’t have much time to sit around the house then the Wynd Plus is PERFECT for you! The included kickstand lets you set it up and point it wherever you want.
The Wynd Plus filter is an electrostatic filter that claims it filters out 99.97% of particles as small as 0.3 microns. If that sounds familiar that’s because that’s what the standard true HEPA filter does!
The electrostatic filter was also built with antimicrobial silver to prevent the growth of mold, bacteria, and viruses on the filter!
However, for some reason, Wynd doesn’t call this filter a HEPA which leads me to believe it’s either A) not performing to true HEPA standards (otherwise it would be called a HEPA filter) or B) Wynd just hasn’t bothered to get it tested and approved (which seems unlikely).
Regardless, the ratings and results of this air purifier speak for themselves… it’s an excellent unit.
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| - Innovative technology + app gives you so much control! - As small as a water bottle - Built-in, rechargeable battery lets you take it anywhere - Detachable air quality tracker - USB-C charging cord - Super lightweight | - No HEPA certified filter - Costly |
Wynd + Tracker + App = Air Quality Feedback in the Palm of Your Hands
What makes the Wynd Plus such a well-renowned air purifier is the Wynd app & detachable Wynd air quality tracker that pairs with it.
Here’s a list of all the features you can control with your Wynd app:
- Track air quality using the detachable Wynd Tracker.
- See the air quality in the Wynd app.
- Control your air purifier’s fan speed. (Can also put it on auto-mode and let it run by itself, using the Wynd air quality tracker to decide what speed should be used)
- Monitor your Wynd’s filter usage.
- Be notified when your Wynd needs a filter replacement (and also order one through the app!)
- Turn on Night mode, turning off all the lights on the air purifier.
Take It With You Anywhere
Part two of the greatness that is the Wynd Plus comes from how ridiculously portable it is! Weighing less than a pound and resembling the shape of a water bottle, this air purifier was specifically designed to be able to fit in a car’s cupholder.
The Wynd Plus is able to be used without needing to be plugged in, letting you take it anywhere you want! This is because of the rechargeable battery that lasts about 8 hours on medium speed! Recharging time is only 2 hours to get back to full battery.
Did I mention that you don’t even need a wall outlet to power or recharge this air purifier?
Because it comes with a USB-C cord and wall charger, you have the flexibility of charging it anywhere you could put a USB! You could charge the Wynd Plus from your computer, laptop, car, or RV.
#4 – IonPacific ionbox
Coverage: 500 sq ft.
Power Consumption: 1.5 W
Filtration Technology: Ionization
Noise Level: Near silent.
Weight: 4.8 oz.
Dimensions: 6.1 x 4.4 x 2 in.
Warranty: 1 year.
If you think the mobility and convenience of the Wynd Plus are great but you can’t justify the price, then let me introduce you to the IonPacific ionbox.
This air purifier is just as portable as the Wynd Plus, but at a fraction of the cost!
And don’t let the size fool you, even though the ionbox fits in the palm of your hand, it can still cover an area up to 500 square feet big!
Check Price On Amazon
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| - Extremely lightweight & small - Surprising coverage area for the size - Can be plugged into a USB outlet - Super portable! Can be used in the car, office or any room in the house - Affordable - Extremely low power consumption | - Can get noisy if not cleaned occasionally - No true filtration, just negative ion production |
Purification via Ionization
The IonPacific ionbox is the only air purifier on this list that uses ionization to purify the air in your surroundings.
The way this air purifier works is it pumps 2 to 20 million negative ions into the air per second. These negative ions bind to positively charged harmful pollutants in the air, causing them to break apart, with the remains falling to the floor.
This method isn’t as efficient at purifying as say a HEPA filter would be. The trade-off, or what makes up for it is the massive coverage area that the ionbox is constantly pumping negative ions into. Did I mention it’s just as mobile as the Wynd Plus?
No Wall Outlet? No Problem
The IonPacific ionbox includes a USB-C cord and wall outlet adapter. Here’s where the ionbox becomes super useful!
If you’re not near a wall outlet, you’re still able to keep your ionbox up and running! Using just the USB-C cord you’ll be able to plug into any USB outlet.
Just like the Wynd Plus, you’ll be able to run the ionbox by plugging it into your computer, laptop, car, or RV.
When comparing the ionbox to the Wynd Plus, the only difference (and downside) is that the ionbox can’t run without being plugged in. The good news is that the USB-C makes it much easier to stay plugged in!
Quality Assured
One last thing that I really appreciate from IonPacific when it comes to the ionbox is their quality assurance.
Before each ionbox is shipped out, it gets tested to ensure that when it gets to you it’ll be working right up to the high standard IonPacific sets for itself! And by chance, if it doesn’t you’re covered by a one year warranty!
#5 – Levoit LV-H132
Coverage: 86 sq ft.
Power Consumption: 28 W
Filtration Technology: Pre, True HEPA, & Carbon Filter
Weight: 6.48 lbs.
Dimensions: 8.5 x 8.5 x 14.5 in.
Warranty: 1 year (with a free option to extend another year, why wouldn’t you?)
The Levoit LV-H132 is an excellent, simple air purifier that covers all the high-end filtration necessities that most air purifiers have now. It comes with the standard 3-stage filtration found in most high-end air purifiers (Pre, True HEPA, & Carbon filter).
Since it is equipped with the HEPA filter it’ll be able to filter out 99.97% of particles as small as 0.3 microns. This’ll deal with an overwhelming majority of particles so don’t think this air purifier will underperform compared to the others here!
The fan speed can also be toggled between low, medium, and high so you’re able to tailor it to your needs!
One of the other things I appreciate with the LV-H132 is its look. It’s not common you get an air purifier that looks as sharp as this one! Being able to choose between a sleek black or a clean white is a hard choice to make but it’s better than making no choice at all. (Personal opinion: Go for the black, looks almost like a matte black. Super gorgeous!)
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| - HEPA filter ensures top quality purification - Design looks great in any home setting - Soothing blue nightlight - Sized perfectly for a bedroom | - A little noisy - Very small coverage area - Lacking any notable, big features |
The Levoit LV-H132 can best be described as an average high-end air purifier.
It’ll do exactly what you need it to do, but there’s not much beyond it. It doesn’t come equipped with many of the extra features or feedback unlike some of the other air purifiers ranked higher up in this list of the best mini air purifiers.
Blue Light in the Bedroom
One of the nicer features of the LV-H132 is the nightlight included with two different brightness settings.
It’s a very calm, soothing blue light that can be switched between a brighter/darker setting. It’s great because it’s not an overpowering brightness that’ll light up the whole room. Instead, it’s just a faint light to help you sleep easy! 🙂
Pairing the nightlight with the Levoit’s ability to stay quiet plus its smaller coverage area makes it a great unit to take into the bedroom!
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