These Are the 7 Best Air Purifiers on the Market Right Now

Since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic in early 2020, we've come to appreciate the comforts of home—from interiors infused with nostalgia and better-organized closets to sanity-saving modern kitchens, year-round outdoor living, and even calming paint colors—more than ever. As we prepare to spend more time at home, and inside, during the winter months at the start of 2021, we've become laser-focused on the basic-sounding yet at times elusive comfort of indoor air quality. Indeed, in the face of changing environmental conditions that include more intense wildfires, rising temperatures, and more frequent hurricanes, many of us have become keenly aware of how indoor air quality affects our wellbeing, regardless of whether or not we suffer from allergies or asthma.

Enter the air purifier, one of the hottest home appliances to buy this year. Most air purifiers work by using filters and fans to remove particles from the air and then recirculate filtered air back through a room. Understanding their fundamental technology, however, may not be enough to navigate the plethora of air purifiers available on the market today.

For example, if you or someone in your household suffers from allergies or asthma, you'll want to make sure to select an air purifier with High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters, which are considered the gold standard in the industry and are certified by the U.S. Department of Energy to eliminate 99.97 percent of particles as small as 0.3 microns (including dust, mold, and pet dander). Furthermore, if you live in a place where wildfires are common, you'll want to consider air purifiers that neutralize smoke and odor. Three other variables to think through when shopping for an air purifier are energy efficiency, noise, and, of course, budget.

We've rounded up the best seven best air purifiers to buy right now based on the criteria outlined above. Here's to breathing cleaner air—and having greater peace of mind—in 2021.