Many common air quality issues in homes are pet-related. They can even trigger allergies and asthma attacks. But aside from that, poor indoor air quality can affect both homeowners and pets. To ensure good overall indoor air quality, you need an air purifier designed to deal with pet-related issues.
Find out your best options in this comprehensive guide. First, learn the common impacts of pets on indoor air quality to fully understand what you have to deal with. Then, get a list of the best air purifiers for pets and learn their best features. But most importantly, discover how you can choose the right unit and get tips for an easier process.
Impacts of Pets on Indoor Air Quality
Pets are lovely household members, but they can cause some issues if you have family members with allergies. Specifically, pets can impact your indoor air quality in these ways:
- Pet Fur
Fur can trap particles like pollen, mold, and other allergens. Plus, if your pet usually goes outdoors, their fur can trap more of these allergens and bring them inside the house.
- Pet Dander
This is usually the main culprit behind pet allergies, causing stuffy nose, sneezing, itchy eyes, and even asthma. It can even cause skin problems, like eczema or dermatitis, in some allergic people.
- Pet Waste
Pet waste, like feces and urine, makes the air smell bad. Though they can’t cause allergic reactions, they can make people uncomfortable.
By understanding all of these, you can better understand how to choose the best purifier for your home.
10 Best Air Purifiers for Pets and Pet Owners
1. Best Overall: Winix 5500-2
The Winix 5500-2 is a market favorite because of its four-stage filtration. It has a pre-filter, a washable carbon filter, a HEPA filter, and a permanent filter. With this combination, this unit can effectively remove pet hair and odor. Using it can lessen the discomfort of your allergic and nonallergic people in the house.
Aside from that, it’s a completely user-friendly unit. You can remotely operate it across the room. However, take note that you can’t connect and use it with your home WiFi. You can’t even control it through a mobile application. But it does have a clear display that’s easy to monitor. It even has light-up color indicators to show changes in indoor air quality in real time.
Specifications:
- Coverage Area: 360 square feet
- Dimensions: 15 x 8.2 x 23.6 inches
- Maximum Noise Level: 57 decibels
Great Things About It:
- Affordable price tag
- Efficient, true HEPA and carbon filters
- Built-in sensors for automatic adjustments during light and air quality changes
- Easy-to-change filters
2. Best Filterless: Airfree Iris 3000 Air Purifier
Some purifiers don’t use filters to maintain indoor air quality, like the Airfree Iris 3000 Air Purifier. Instead of your usual pre-filters and HEPA filters, this purifier uses patented Thermodynamic (TSS) Technology. This is an advanced technology that systematically removes different harmful airborne particles. Because of this, this unit can remove pet dander, allergens, bacteria, mold, viruses, and other organic pollutants.
The air goes through an exclusive sterilization process to clean and eliminate these particles. But most importantly, since it’s filterless, you don’t need to worry about regular filter replacement and additional costs.
Specifications:
- Coverage Area: 650 square feet
- Dimensions: 11.6 x 8.4 x 8.4 inches
- Maximum Noise Level: 32 decibels
Great Things About It:
- Affordable price tag
- Extremely compact and silent
- Maintenance-free
- It covers a good amount of space
- Ideal for people with allergies and asthma
- It comes with a nightlight with different colors
3. Best for Pet Odor: Blueair Blue Pure 411i Max
Bad odors can be extremely annoying and uncomfortable to deal with. But with pets, it’s not entirely evitable. You can deal with that with the Blueair Blue Pure 411i Max. This is a smart and user-friendly unit, making it extremely easy to use. You can monitor and control it using a mobile application, and it can be connected to the WiFi.
Additionally, it boasts a relatively quiet operation, so using it in the bedroom or near your pet’s litter box or crate to absorb and eliminate odors won’t be an issue. Then, with the Blueair app, you can monitor the air quality in real time and make necessary adjustments.
Specifications:
- Coverage Area: up to 526 square feet
- Dimensions: 18.9 x 10.6 x 10.6 inches
- Maximum Noise Level: 46 decibels
Great Things About It:
- Affordable price tag
- Quiet operation even on high settings
- Voice command-enabled
- Energy Star-certified
- It comes with a night mode
- Five-color air quality change indicator
3. Best for Small Rooms: HoMedics TotalClean PetPlus 5-in-1 Tower Air Purifier
For a smaller room, consider getting the HoMedics TotalClean PetPlus 5-in-1 Tower Air Purifier. It has a 360-degree HEPA filter that’s able to remove 99.97% of allergens, especially pet dander. It also uses an active carbon filter that can help clean the air from strong pet and household odors. With this combination, you and your pets can enjoy a more comfortable time in a room.
It even uses UV-C technology to free your air from bacteria, viruses, and mold. Plus, if aromatherapy is within your style, you can also use this purifier for that. It has essential oil pads that you can infuse with your preferred essential oils to give the clean air in the room a soothing fragrance.
Specifications:
- Coverage Area: 266 square feet (optimal area for fast purifying)
- Dimensions: 23.75 x 11.25 x 11.25 inches
- Maximum Noise Level: Not Specified
Great Things About It:
- Affordable price tag
- It can be used in larger rooms, but it would take a longer time to clean the air
- 5-stage filtration system
- Auto-off timer and night light function
- Easy to set up and control
- Noise levels aren’t specified, but it’s not as loud as most purifiers
4. Best Quiet: Rabbit Air MinusA2 Ultra Quiet HEPA Air Purifier
This high-tech-looking air purifier is the best unit for quiet operations and pet shedding. The Rabbit Air MinusA2 Ultra Quiet HEPA Air Purifier has a six-stage filtration system that not only removes allergens from the air but can also remove odors. Plus, you can even choose to get a customized filter of your preference. It can be a Germ Defense, Pet Allergy, Odor Remove, or Toxin Absorber depending on your priorities at home.
Despite having a thorough filtration system, this unit’s extremely quiet so you can use it in bedrooms without a worry. Aside from this, this unit comes in two versions: non-Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi-enabled versions. Don’t worry as whichever you choose, the unit will still come with a remote for a more convenient operation.
Specifications:
- Coverage Area: 815 square feet
- Dimensions: 21.4 x 7 x 20 inches
- Maximum Noise Level: 45.6 decibels
Great Things About It:
- Energy Star-certified
- Smart sensor for automatic adjustments
- It can be used as a standalone unit or be mounted on the wall
- Sleek and modern design
5. Best Smart Purifier: Coway Airmega 400S Smart Purifier
If your priority is using a purifier with many smart functions, go for the Coway Airmega 400S Smart Air Purifier. It features a three-stage filtration system that can clear indoor air at least twice every hour. Aside from removing pet dander and hair, this unit can remove the uncomfortable odors that come from your pet’s waste and other household activities. This makes it an ideal purifier for people with and without allergies.
Most importantly, the smart features it offers include a filter indicator that will update you on whether you need to clean or remove the filters. It also has an LED ring on the front that changes color depending on the current air quality of the room. Plus, its smart mode allows the purifier to adjust its settings based on its detected air quality automatically. You can monitor and control all these using a mobile app or voice control, making it a convenient purifier.
Specifications:
- Coverage Area: 1,560 square feet
- Dimensions: 22.8 x 14.8 x 14.8 inches
- Maximum Noise Level: 72 decibels
Great Things About It:
- Ideal for open spaces at home
- It’s available in different colors
- Equipped with a timer and scheduler
- Eco mode and automatic sleep mode
6. Best for Large Rooms: Airpura V600 Air Purifier
If you need an air purifier for a very large room, it’s best to get an Airpura V600 Air Purifier. It can effectively eliminate strong odors at home, whether it’s from pet accidents or the smoke produced when cooking. It’s also successful in removing common allergens, like pet dander, mainly because of its medical-grade True HEPA filter. This filter can capture 99.99% of particles, which is higher than the usual 99.97%.
Because of its powerful filters and motor, you can use it in offices, remodeled homes, or any large spaces at home. It has a powder-coated steel housing that makes it durable so you can use it for a long time. This makes it extremely worth it for its price.
Specifications:
- Coverage Area: 2,000 square feet
- Dimensions: 23 x 15 x 15 inches
- Maximum Noise Level: 61 decibels
Great Things About It:
- ETL certified
- It can eliminate chemicals from the air if you use chemical pet products
- It’s available in different colors
- Effective in reducing the 'doggy' odor in a space
- Suitable to use in newly built homes that are prone to chemicals off-gassing
- Equipped with built-in wheels for easier moving between rooms
7. Best Splurge: Alen BreatheSmart 75i Air Purifier
Do you have the money to splurge on a quality purifier? Then consider getting the Alen BreatheSmart 75i air purifier. It’s a smart air purifier that looks like your typical PS5 device so it can easily blend into your home appliances at home. It features many smart features, like a real-time air quality display using LED color rings. It will even automatically adjust its speed depending on the current conditions of the room it’s in. But aside from that, it has three filter options: Pure, Fresh, or Odor.
Of course, the Pet filter is ideal for dealing with pet-related air quality issues. It can remove common allergens in the air. This can neutralize strong pet odors for a more comfortable time at home. You don’t even need to go across the room to control it. You can connect and use it through the Alen Air app for convenience and accessibility.
Specifications:
- Coverage Area: up to 1,300 square feet
- Dimensions: 27 x 18.5 x 11.5 inches
- Maximum Noise Level: 45 decibels
Great Things About It:
- Quiet operation
- Purple to blue air quality ring indicators
- Emits pink noise that can help you fall asleep
- It can sense particles fast
- Energy Star-certified
8. Best Budget-Friendly: Levoit Core Mini Air Purifier
For people with a tight budget, the Levoit Core Mini Air Purifier is a top option. It’s a compact unit designed to maintain indoor air quality in smaller spaces. Because of its design, it would be easy to move it around the house and use it in different rooms if you like.
Despite its size and price, this is still a capable air purifier. It can remove and lessen allergens from the air, like pet dander and hair. However, this might not be effective in completely removing strong pet odors so take note of that. But, you can still use it to keep your space smelling great.
Specifications:
- Coverage Area: 337 square feet
- Dimensions: 10.4 x 6.5 x 6.5 inches
- Maximum Noise Level: 25 decibels
Great Things About It:
- Whisper-quiet operation
- Aromatherapy option to lessen pet odors
- Travel-friendly
- 360° VortexAir Technology
- 3-stage filtration system
- Auto shut-off display for light sleepers
9. Best Filtration System: Austin Air Healthmate Plus Air Purifier
Struggling with pet allergies and asthma attacks might not be the only issues you may have at home. If you’re worried and struggling with other health issues, you need an air purifier with a filtration system that can handle all of that at the same time, like the Austin Air Healthmate Plus Air Purifier.
It features a medical-grade HEPA filter and carbon filter that can effectively remove 99% of various particles and pollutants from the air. These include common allergens like dander, dust, and pollen. It can even remove pet odor, gases, chemicals, VOCs, and formaldehyde. Because of this, the unit can help lower the risk of infections at home. It can even strengthen your immune system.
Specifications:
- Coverage Area: 1,500 square feet
- Dimensions: 23 x 14.5 x 14.5 inches
- Maximum Noise Level: 64.5 decibels
Great Things About It:
- 360-degree air intake
- It’s available in different colors
- CSA approved
- Deep 4-stage filtration system
- It can help minimize snoring, coughing, and sneezing
- Reduces dry mouth and runny nose
Factors to Consider When Choosing the Right Purifier
There’s a wide variety of options in the market that make it overwhelming to choose just one purifier. Despite having a good list of the best picks, it can still be pretty challenging to pinpoint the right unit for your pets and needs. To make it easier for you, here are some factors and tips to remember and follow:
Filter Type
Different filter types are designed to trap and remove different pollutants and contaminants from the air. Most of the time, an air purifier uses two or more filters to remove pet hair, allergens, and odors. They can either be washable or replaceable. Of course, there might be advanced purifiers that don’t use filters at all. But for the right air purifier for pets that use filters, you should look for these types:
- Pre-Filters
These are common in many purifiers as they trap larger particles like dirt and debris. They’re ideal if your pet sheds a lot as pre-filters can trap and remove hair from the air. This way, none of those hairs will clog the other filters of the unit. However, take note that these filters usually need to be cleaned regularly so they’ll remain effective.
- HEPA Filters
This is the most efficient type that can remove airborne contaminants like pet dander. It works by forcing the air through their very fine mesh filters to remove up to 99.97% of particles. Because of its effectiveness, almost all purifiers use HEPA filters.
- Activated Carbon Filters
If you’re dealing with pet odors, make sure to look for activated carbon filters. These are the only filters that can absorb odors, gases, and other VOCs. Because of this, they’re often used in pairs with HEPA filters so purifiers can trap both pet allergens and odors.
Room Size
Air purifiers are generally designed to work effectively in a particular room size. Manufacturers indicate this information in terms of coverage area. This is the ideal room area that the purifier can clean optimally and without trying too hard. Using a purifier with a small room coverage is not ideal in a large room.
To ensure that you’re getting the right air purifier, you need to check your room size and compare it with the unit’s coverage area specification. One way to do this is by measuring the space. Make sure it’s the same size or the indicated area is larger than the space you plan to use it in.
Noise Levels
It’s not only humans who are disturbed by loud noises. Some pets are easily scared off by loud noises from your common appliances. For instance, some cats can get easily scared by the noise of a typically noisy vacuum cleaner or blower. You have to consider this when choosing the right air purifier.
To make sure that the noise won’t disrupt you and your pets at home, look for a unit that can work effectively without producing noise higher than 50-60 decibels. This is especially true if you plan to use the purifier in the bedroom and during the night. For your reference, 50 decibels is usually as loud as a quiet refrigerator. Of course, if you think you can handle more noise than that, you can go for a unit with a higher max noise level.
Features
It’s also advantageous to look for additional features that can make the purifier easier to use. However, take note that extra features mean extra costs for some units—but not all. When looking for the best features, you should consider these:
- Air Quality Sensors and Indicators
These real-time sensors can detect the current air quality of a space and display it on the unit’s indicator. This will help you determine whether you need to adjust the settings of the purifier and whether it’s working effectively, like how it’s supposed to.
- Night or Sleep Modes
These are modes or functions that adjust the unit’s setting during nighttime. Most of the time, they lower the fan speed settings and turn off or lower the brightness level of their displays. Some may even come with night lights. Overall, these modes will allow you to enjoy a quieter and more peaceful sleep at night while the unit is running.
- Smart Connectivity
This feature means that the purifier is WiFi-enabled and compatible with specific mobile applications. With smart connectivity, it would be easier to monitor and control how the purifier works. Some may even allow you to connect it with Alexa and control the unit via voice commands.
- Filter Replacement Indicator
This makes it easy to determine when it’s time to replace or clean the filters of the purifier. This makes maintenance and proper unit care easier to track and perform.
Conclusion
The best air purifier for pets is a unit that can effectively remove pet allergens and odor within a certain area. Depending on your feature preferences and budget, you can choose from a straightforward unit or a smart and advanced unit.
Ultimately, make sure to consider the filters used, the features offered, the indicated coverage area, and how much noise a unit can produce. This will make it easier to choose the perfect one for you and your pet. But in case you want to look at more options, you can always visit our air purifier collection!
