The 9 Best Air Purifiers for Removing Pet Hair, Odors, and Dander from Your Home

Amina Lake Abdelrahman
·16 min read

Courtesy of Amazon

Best Overall

bhg - 130 Available at Amazon

Best for Pet Hair

bhg - 300 Available at Amazon

Best With UV-C Light

bhg - 130 Available at Amazon

Best Customizable

bhg - 149 Available at Amazon

Best Value

bhg - 65 Available at Amazon

Best for Large Rooms

bhg - 474 Available at Amazon

Best for Small Rooms

bhg - 118 Available at Amazon

Best Design

bhg - 280 Available at Amazon

Best Smart

bhg - 550 Available at Target

As much as we love our cats and dogs, pets can often negatively affect the air quality in our homes. In addition to the unpleasant smells (think: accidents on the carpet and litter box odors), all the pet hair and dander floating around can be almost unbearable for allergy sufferers. That's where air purifiers come in.

These appliances generally use multiple layers of filtration to remove particles from the air. But the best air purifiers for pet owners capture everything from tiny flecks of dander to clumps of loose fur. Because there are so many types of air purifiers available online, it can be difficult to figure out which ones are the most effective for households with pets. To come up with this list of air purifiers for pet owners, we extensively researched the category and looked at things like filter type, room size, and customer satisfaction to inform our recommendations.

These are the best air purifiers for pets:

Keep reading to learn more about each of the best air purifiers for pets from brands like Levoit, GermGuardian, Coway, and more.

The Best Air Purifiers for Pets

Best Overall: Levoit Core P350 Air Purifier

View at Amazon, Levoit ($120)

Who it's for: Anyone who needs a reliable air purifier that won't break the bank.
Who it isn't for: People who want a reusable or washable filter.

The Levoit Core P350 air purifier is specially designed for pet owners. The True HEPA filter (which means it's been tested to meet the U.S. Department of Energy's standards) also includes an activated carbon filter, which absorbs pollutants like pet odors, breaks them down, and traps them so they don't get redistributed into the air. Keep in mind that it's not a reusable filter, so you'll have to replace it every six to eight months, depending on use. The filter also reduces the amount of pet dander, fur, and allergens in the air because it traps fine particles floating around in your home.

The air purifier works best in small rooms up to 219 square feet, and its compact size (8.7 x 8.7 x 14.2 inches) means it won't take up too much floor space. It has a Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) of 240, which is a number that indicates the volume of air it can change 4.8 times per hour. Your air purifier should have a CADR that's at least two-thirds the area of the room it's in, but putting it in a larger room just means it'll clean the air at a slower rate (and therefore be less efficient).

It's also packed with helpful features, including four timers, a sleep mode, and a lock button that prevents your furry friends from messing with the settings. When you activate the sleep mode, the display's brightness will dim and the noise levels will get as low as 24 decibels, which is as quiet as a whisper.

Filters: Fabric pre-filter, True HEPA filter, and activated carbon filter | Recommended Room Size: 219 square feet | CADR: 240

Best for Pet Hair: Blueair Blue Pure 211+ Air Purifier

View at Amazon, Target ($300)

Who it's for: People with pets that shed a lot or anyone who often finds fur floating in the air.
Who it isn't for: People who want an air purifier with a True HEPA filter.

The color-block pattern on Blueair's air purifier isn't just for aesthetic purposes—the gray fabric base is actually a washable pre-filter that's designed to catch large particles (like fur) floating in the air. Once it's inevitably covered in pet hair and dust, simply throw it in the washing machine, let it air dry, and reattach. You can even purchase replacement pre-filters in fun colors like blue and pink so that you always have extras on hand.

Designed to handle medium-to-large areas, the appliance filters out the air five times per hour in a 540-square-foot room. Even though it doesn't have a True HEPA filter, the air purifier uses its own comparable filtration method called HEPASilent technology, which the brand claims can capture 99.97% of particles as small as 0.1 microns.

Filters: Washable fabric pre-filter, HEPASilent filter, and activated carbon filter | Recommended Room Size: 540 square feet | CADR: 350

Best With UV-C Light: GermGuardian True HEPA Filter Air Purifier

View at Amazon, Walmart ($149–$170)

Who it's for: People who want an extra layer of protection against bacteria.
Who it isn't for: People with large rooms to purify or people who want a modern-looking option.

This GermGuardian air purifier is a great choice for people who struggle with pet dander allergies because it has multiple layers of protection. There's a True HEPA filter that removes particles of pet dander, dust, and other allergens as small as 0.3 microns from the air. Along with an antimicrobial finish that helps prevent bacteria from growing on the filter, the GermGuardian air purifier has an optional UV-C light that helps kill germs.

Other features include three speed settings for the fan and an eight-hour timer that's adjustable in one-hour increments. The air purifier is most effective in 189-square-foot rooms, where it can change the air nearly five times per hour. It technically still works in larger rooms, but it takes a lot longer to clean the air. In a 915-square-foot space, the air will filter out just once per hour. One downside is that it's not the most aesthetically pleasing model on this list—the air purifier actually looks like it could be a tower fan or heater.

Filters: Pre-filter, activated carbon filter, True HEPA filter, and UV-C light | Recommended Room Size: 189 square feet | CADR: 122

Best Customizable: Alen BreatheSmart Classic Large Room Air Purifier

View at Amazon, Walmart ($629–$719)

Who it's for: People willing to splurge on a model that gives them plenty of flexibility.
Who it isn't for: People with small rooms, since it'd be unnecessarily big.

This splurge-worthy air purifier from Alen can be customized to your preferences in two ways. There are seven different finishes available, including classic white and brushed stainless, so you can choose one that matches your aesthetic. But most importantly, you can pick from one of four filter types that target specific issues like pet dander and odor or mold and bacteria.

The pet-specific version consists of an odor neutralizer that reduces smells from accidents or litter boxes and a True HEPA filter that relieves allergy symptoms by capturing 99.99% of particles bigger than 0.1 microns. At the highest setting, it's capable of filtering the air every 30 minutes in spaces up to 1,100 square feet. There's even a built-in air quality sensor so you can see that it's working.

Filters: OdorCell (True HEPA filter and odor neutralizer) | Recommended Room Size: 1,100 square feet | CADR: 300

Best Value: Hamilton Beach TrueAir Air Purifier

View at Amazon, Target ($68–$70)

Who it's for: Anyone who needs an affordable, budget-friendly option.
Who it isn't for: People who want an air purifier with a True HEPA filter.

This air purifier from Hamilton Beach is a fraction of the price of most models, but it has plenty of features that make it stand out. Its compact and versatile design (it can be placed vertically or horizontally) makes it great for small spaces, and the brand says it's most effective in rooms up to 140 square feet. But if you want to purify the air in bigger spaces or entire apartments, you'll need more than one model (like one in each room, for example).

There are three fan speeds and three levels of filtration: a permanent pre-filter for large particles, like cat or dog hair; replaceable odor-eliminating carbon filters; and a permanent HEPA-grade filter that captures small particles like dust. Plus, you can simply vacuum the two permanent filters every so often instead of buying new ones, which cuts down on recurring expenses.

Filters: Permanent pre-filter, permanent HEPA-grade filter, and replaceable carbon filters | Recommended Room Size: 140 square feet | CADR: N/A

Best for Large Rooms: Coway Airmega 400 Smart Air Purifier

View at Amazon, Walmart ($500–$649)

Who it's for: People who have big rooms or open floor plans in their homes.
Who it isn't for: People with limited floor space or mobility issues, since it's on the bigger side.

Coway's Airmega air purifier is your best bet if you want to purify the air in large rooms or entire floors of your home. In a 780-square-foot room, the air purifier changes the air four times per hour, while in a 1,560-square-foot room, it changes the air twice per hour. It uses three layers of filtration (including a washable pre-filter, activated carbon, and a HEPA filter) to clean the air at least twice every hour. Dirty air goes in through the sides and clean air pushes out the top.

It even keeps you posted on air quality: The LED ring on the front changes colors (from blue to red) depending on how clean or dirty the air in your home is. Thanks to its smart mode, the air purifier can automatically adjust its settings based on detected air quality.

Plus, the filter indicators tell you when they need to be replaced or cleaned, so you don't have to keep track of it on your own. The air purifier has a modern white design, but it takes up quite a bit of space (it measures 14.8 x 22.91 x 14.8 inches) and weighs nearly 25 pounds.

Filters: Washable pre-filter and Max2 Filter (True HEPA filter and activated carbon filter) | Room Size: 780–1,560 square feet | CADR: 328

Best for Small Rooms: Filtrete Air Purifier

View at Amazon, Target ($96–$110)

Who it's for: People who want a no-frills model that works in small rooms.
Who it isn't for: Anyone primarily concerned about pet odors because the carbon filters are sold separately.

Filtrete's air purifier has a CADR of 107, so it's ideal for small rooms (like a home office). This model is designed to cover 170 square feet, but there's also a version designed for 250 square feet if you need one for medium-sized rooms. The air purifier uses a True HEPA filter to capture pet dander, dust, and other airborne particles, but if you need to reduce pet odors, you'll need to purchase a carbon filter separately.

It has a simple, no-frills design, and it's very easy to use, especially because it has intuitive buttons for changing settings, setting the timer, and turning off the LED lights. Bonus: The replacement filters, which last about six months each based on 12 hours of daily use, are less expensive compared to other brands. Plus, the Filtrete air purifier is even a favorite of Better Homes & Garden's digital home editor, Caitlin Sole, who appreciates that it works well in small spaces. "It's super compact, so it fits discreetly in a corner, and the affordable filter is simple to replace without any special tools or instructions," she said.

Filters: True HEPA filter | Room Size: 170 square feet | CADR: 107

Best Design: Bissell air320 Smart Air Purifier

View at Amazon, Target, Bissell ($250–$351)

Who it's for: People who want a design-forward air purifier that doubles as decor.
Who it isn't for: People who need their air purifier to be super quiet on all settings.

If you're worried about yet another appliance clashing with your decor, consider Bissell's three-stage air purifier. It has a sleek design that'll seamlessly blend in with any mid-century modern furniture already in your home, and the cord wrap on the back of the purifier keeps it looking clutter-free. It's most effective in rooms up to 327 square feet (where it changes the air every 12 minutes), but it can still make a slight difference in spaces as big as 1,582 square feet (where it changes the air once per hour).

Because it circulates air through the front, the Bissell can actually be placed against a wall, unlike most air purifiers that need breathing room on all sides. The three-part filtration system consists of a washable pre-filter, HEPA filter, and an activated carbon filter that work together to trap pet hair, dander, and odors. The smart air purifier can even monitor the air quality in your room and adjust settings as needed.

Filters: Washable pre-filter, HEPA filter, and activated carbon filter | Room Size: 327 square feet | CADR: 211

Best Smart: Dyson TP07 Pure Cool Tower Air Purifier and Fan

View at Target, Bed Bath & Beyond ($550)

Who it's for: People who want to control their air purifier from other devices.
Who it isn't for: People with pets who shed a lot, since there is no pre-filter.

Dyson is a trusted brand name when it comes to household appliances, and this smart air purifier is another great choice for anyone who wants to remove dust, dander, and more from their homes. It has two levels of filtration—an activated carbon filter for pet odors and a HEPA filter for small particles—and it uses the brand's signature Air Multiplier technology to circulate the clean air throughout the entire room. Dyson doesn't list the CADR for its air purifiers because the brand designed its own tests, but this model can handle rooms ranging from 500 to 800 square feet in size. It doesn't have a pre-filter to catch pet hair, so it might not be the best option if you typically find fur in every nook and cranny of your home.

The air purifier doubles as an oscillating fan that provides a cool breeze in warmer months, but you can choose to set the air to flow backward if you'd rather purify without a cooling effect.

The Dyson air purifier also stands out for its smart features. Not only is it compatible with voice commands (it works with Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and Apple Siri), but it can even be controlled with the Dyson Link app on your smartphone. From there, you can check the status of the filter, monitor air quality, and adjust the settings, as long as the air purifier is connected to Wi-Fi.

Filters: HEPA filter and activated carbon filter | Room Size: 500–800 square feet | CADR: N/A

Final Verdict

All things considered, the Levoit Core P350 (view at Amazon) earned the top spot on our list because it has convenient features like a sleep mode, pet lock, and timer, along with a True HEPA filter for maximum efficacy, and an accessible price point.

What to Consider When Shopping for Air Purifiers

Room Size: When shopping for air purifiers for pets, one of the most important things to keep in mind is the room size it can handle. You'll want to make sure that you have the approximate square footage of the room you want to place it in so you can select the most efficient model based on the size of the area. (There are air purifiers for pets on this list ranging in capacity from 140 to 1,560 square feet.)

CADR: Another factor to consider when choosing an air purifier is its Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR). According to the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers, "CADR indicates the volume of filtered air an air cleaner delivers, with separate scores for tobacco smoke, pollen, and dust." The higher the number, the faster and more effective the air purifier will clean the air. You should look for an air purifier with a smoke CADR that's at least two-thirds of the room's square footage. Manufacturers often list a recommended room size and a CADR score that are based on the appliance changing the air 4.8 times per hour.

Filters: Look for high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters for the best results. These filters can remove 99.97 percent of airborne particles as small as 0.3 microns, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Some air purifiers for pets also have activated carbon filters to reduce odors. If your pet has a lot of fur, a pre-filter will catch hair and prevent it from clogging the HEPA filter. Keep in mind that filters need to be regularly replaced (or cleaned, if it's reusable) for the air purifier to actually work.

Features: You can also look for additional features that make air purifiers easier to use, like timers, air quality sensors, and filter replacement indicators. Some models even have night modes that limit noise and lights so it doesn't disrupt your sleep.

FAQs

Do air purifiers actually help with pet hair and odors?

Air purifiers are a great way to get rid of pet odors and reduce the amount of fur floating in the air. If pet odors are your main concern, look for a model with an activated carbon filter to absorb smells coming from the litter box or unexpected accidents. Anyone with pets that shed a lot should pick an air purifier with a washable pre-filter—it's a layer that catches large particles (like pet hair) and can be easily vacuumed and washed when it gets dirty.

How often do air purifier filters need to be replaced?

Some air purifiers have washable filters that can be cleaned or vacuumed, while others use disposable filters that need to be regularly replaced. Every manufacturer has different guidelines, but you should be prepared to swap out replaceable filters at least every six months or so, depending on use. There are even some models with indicators that remind you when it's time to replace the filter.

What's the difference between True HEPA and HEPA-type filters?

If you see an air purifier labeled as having a True HEPA filter, it means that the filter meets the U.S. Department of Energy's standards of filtering 99.97 percent of bacteria, dust, pollen, and other airborne particles measuring 0.3 microns. Filters labeled as HEPA-type or HEPA-grade may still remove particles from the air, but they have not been tested to meet those standards.