Everyone can benefit from clean, filtered air, especially in your own home. Air purifiers are a must-have for allergy sufferers, but if you have large rooms, you will also need a large unit that can effectively handle the air volume. While any air purifier will work to remove air pollutants regardless of the room size, it will do so at a slower rate if it doesn’t have the right capacity.
These large room air purifiers or air cleaners can efficiently cover rooms up to 500 square feet or bigger. To find the best air purifier for you, some important specifications you need to look at include the CADR, airflow, and types of filters. We’ve done the work for you and listed below our top six picks for the best air purifier for large rooms.
Best Large Room Air Purifiers
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Top 6 Best Air Purifiers for Large Rooms
Best Overall: Medify MA-112
Medify Air is a young company that specializes in high-quality air purifiers and filters. Their flagship unit, the Medify MA-112 is their biggest offer and also the largest in coverage area on our list, handling up to 2,500 square feet rooms at 2 ACH (or 1,000 square feet at 5 ACH). With its powerful airflow, it can improve the air quality even in the whole house. But that’s not the best selling point of this unit.
For air purifiers, the most vital specification is the CADR rating, which measures how efficiently the unit removes air contaminants. Large room air purifiers need a CADR of at least 350, and the MA-112 excels in this aspect. It has a CADR of 500 CFM (or 950 CMH as indicated in product descriptions). This outstanding performance can be attributed to the Medify Air filters. The MA-112 combines three stages of filtration: pre-filter, True HEPA H13 filter, and substantial carbon filter.
The pre-filter traps larger particles to prolong the life of other filters. Then, the medical-grade HEPA H13 filter captures up to 99.99% of air contaminants as small as 0.1 microns, including dust, smoke, and VOCs. This type of filter is much more efficient than the usual HEPA H11 air purifiers. Lastly, the activated carbon filter removes odors from harmful gases such as formaldehyde. This model also offers an additional UV light or ionizer.
With this capacity, you might expect the Medify MA-112 to cost about twice its real price. And that’s another plus point for this unit. It’s highly effective and efficient in extra large rooms and you don’t have to break your back for it. Medify Air also offers a Filter Club subscription, so you get your replacement filters on time with discounts and free shipping.
However, this powerful air purifier is not all perfect for everyone—noise output can be quite loud at 67 decibels on the highest setting. Furthermore, great performance requires more power as it runs on 95 Watts per hour. On average, it will cost about $0.3 per day to operate. But overall, Medify MA-112 is a good investment if you want to significantly improve the air quality in a very large room or an entire average-sized home or apartment.
Pros
• Large coverage area (2,500 sq ft at 2 ACH and 1,000 sq ft at 5 ACH)
• Uses medical-grade H13 HEPA filter for better efficiency
• High capacity air purification with 500 CADR
• Reliable air purifier brand
• Has a budget-friendly price for a large unit
• Filter Club subscription
Cons
• Above average noise levels
• High power consumption
Runner-up: LEVOIT LV-H134
Levoit is an expert in indoor air quality solutions under the home appliances company Vesync. Levoit offers a range of portable air purifiers and humidifiers for different room sizes. While they constantly improve their products to meet customer needs, our current top pick Levoit air purifier for large rooms is the LV-H134 flagship unit. It has a coverage of 1170 square feet at 2 ACH or 468 square feet at 5 ACH. The CADR of 312 CFM is not nearly as impressive as that of Medify MA-112, it is a big upgrade from other Levoit models.
The LV-H134 uses a three-stage air filtration system common in large room air purifiers. First, the air passes through the nylon pre-filter to capture large particles. Then, the True HEPA H13 filter eliminates 99.97% of airborne contaminants down to 0.3 microns, including dust, pollen, and pet dander. Finally, the activated carbon filter reduces odor, smoke, fumes, and VOCs. To monitor the air quality in your room, this model features a laser dust sensor to measure the air and automatically adjust the fan speed on Auto mode. The control panel has an LED ring that changes color to determine the level of air quality. You can also find a filter indicator, 12-hour timer, Sleep mode, and the PM2.5 value.
This Levoit air purifier is not only effective in removing most air pollutants, it is also incredibly energy efficient. Running on 45 Watts, it is certified by Energy Star to reduce energy use and save your money. Its design is also another advantage to this unit. The 360 degrees air circulation ensures quicker and more efficient purification for the entire room. With built-in wheels, you can easily roll this unit from room to room. At a low 24 decibels noise level on Sleep mode, you can even use this large air purifier in your master bedroom.
To top it all off, this high-performing Levoit air purifier comes at a very low cost. So if you want a unit powerful enough for large spaces without having to splurge, this is the best choice for you. However, if you’re particular about the filter efficiency and CADR, then prepare to spend at least a few hundred dollars more for an even more efficient large air purifier like the Medify model.
Pros
• Large room coverage
• Good CADR rating
• Low energy consumption
• Well-designed features
• Very quiet operation
• Budget-friendly price
Cons
• Below average CADR for its size
Best for Budget: Honeywell HPA300
If you want to stay on a budget, the Honeywell HPA300 is the best air purifier from this well-known home appliances brand. It has a very simple build and design and it’s the only large room air purifier on our list that costs under $300. With a 320 CADR, it can purify the air in rooms up to 465 square feet at 4.8 ACH (or around 1116 square feet at 2 ACH). However, compared to the top-rated big room air purifiers, the Honeywell HPA300 is pretty basic.
While it has a good enough CADR, the Honeywell HPA300 filtration is nothing especially impressive. It has a pre-filter that needs replacement every three months, and an ordinary True HEPA filter that removes 99.97% of particles as small as 0.3 microns, including smoke (CADR 300), dust (CADR 320), and pollen (CADR 300). It’s better than most other regular air purifiers, but for large rooms, it’s not the best at addressing every need.
Perhaps this Honeywell unit’s best advantage is its ease of use. It has an intuitive control panel with simple touch buttons for the most basic functions. It features four settings: Low, Medium, High, Turbo, and that’s it—no complicated operation. You can set the timer for two, four, or eight hours, and dim the lights or turn them off completely at night. Lastly, the control panel also includes filter check reminders. The unit comes with a five-year warranty like Honeywell dehumidifiers, but other than that and its low price, the Honeywell HPA300 air purifier is not particularly exceptional.
Pros
• Decent performance
• Very low price below $300
• Easy to operate, simple controls
• Five-year warranty
Cons
• Uses ordinary True HEPA filters
• Very basic design
Quietest Large Air Purifier: Alen BreatheSmart 75i
Although the Alen BreatheSmart 75i is undoubtedly the best large air purifier at silent operation, it is also exceptionally well-balanced at almost every other aspect. For one, it has a good CADR rating of 347, and at the highest speed, the airflow is 350 CFM, which means it has an almost 1:1 CADR to airflow ratio. What we can gather from this is the filter system is nearly 100% efficient in removing air pollutants.
Alen is a top-rated air purifier brand, and if it weren’t for its premium price, it also deserved the second spot on this list. It has a coverage area of 1300 square feet at 2 ACH or about 520 square feet at 5 ACH. This large coverage is perfect for most rooms, including living rooms and other large areas in your home. Like the rest of the Alen BreatheSmart air purifier models, the 75i operates quietly. While most other large air purifiers go up to 65 decibels, this unit produces only 49 decibels on the highest setting. This makes it a perfect choice even for bedrooms.
To ensure its efficiency, the 75i comes with medical-grade H13 HEPA filters that can capture more than 99.99% of particles as small as 0.1 microns. You have options to target your specific need: Pure filter for most allergens, dust, mold, and germs; Fresh filter for allergens and odors, smoke, and VOCs; Pet filter for allergens, pet dander, and pet odors. Alen features a particle sensor with an LED ring that changes color to indicate the surrounding air quality. You can operate it on Auto mode or choose from the five speed settings including Turbo mode.
To top it off, Alen provides a Forever Guarantee, which is basically a lifetime warranty, for registered products. You can also get a filter subscription and save on future filter replacements. Although it promises excellent overall performance, there are a few dissatisfied users, especially regarding the filter’s effectiveness. There are also complaints about Alen’s customer service.
Pros
• Perfectly balanced 347 CADR to 350 max airflow
• Quietest large room air purifier (22 to 49 dB noise levels)
• With three options for True HEPA filters
• Clean, stylish design
• Lifetime warranty with filter subscription
Cons
• Very pricey for its performance
Medical-Grade: IQAir HealthPro Plus
For the highest quality large room air purifier, nothing is yet to top IQAir. Trusted by medical professionals worldwide, IQAir air purifiers are a true powerhouse in eliminating ultrafine particles contaminating the air. This extra large HealthPro Plus unit can handle up to 2813 square feet at 2 ACH, although it’s recommended for rooms within 1125 square feet at 5 ACH. This is still a huge space, making this model even larger than our top pick Medify MA-112.
The IQAir HealthPro Plus Air Purifier is equipped with a professional-grade filtration technology consisting of its own PreMax pre-filter, V5-Cell, and HyperHEPA filters. The PreMax filter is designed to trap large airborne allergens such as dust, pet dander, and mold spores, lasting up to 18 months before replacement. The V5-Cell is a gas and odor filter and lasts up to two years. Finally, the patented HyperHEPA filter catches remaining impurities in the air, including smoke. This filter can be used for up to four years. Altogether, these filters work to remove 99.5% of ultrafine particles down to 0.003 microns, which is 100 times smaller than the ordinary 0.3 microns capacity in other HEPA filters.
As a result of its high efficiency filters, the IQAir HealthPro Plus rate of filtration is slower, with CADR 300 and maximum airflow of 300 CFM. It offers six fan speed settings, running at a pretty loud 67 decibels on the highest speed. It uses the IQAir patented EvenFlow Diffuser to distribute clean air evenly throughout the room. However, on max settings, it runs on 215 Watts. As a testament to its international recognition, the unit’s controls can be viewed in four languages: English, French, German, and Spanish. It has an advanced timer and advanced fan speed selection, as well as a filter life monitor.
With superior performance and long-lasting filters, this unit is priced at the higher end of large air purifiers, yet still below $1000. In fact, it costs only over $100 more than the Alen unit. IQAir also comes with a 10-year warranty. Overall, this Swiss-made medical-grade air purifier has everything you may need and then some. It’s not IQAir’s most advanced air purifier to date, but it’s plenty useful for a regular household.
Pros
• HyperHEPA filter captures particles 100x smaller than ordinary HEPA filters
• Medical-grade filtration perfect for people who suffer from allergies
• Swiss-made with patented technologies
• Long filter life with built-in monitor
Cons
• High upfront cost
• High power consumption
• Loud noise on high settings
Best Smart Air Purifier: Blueair Classic 680i
Blueair is a Swedish brand that is another top performer in the air purifier industry. For large rooms, you can rely on the Classic 680i with a high CADR of 450, second only to our top pick Medify MA-112. It also boasts a high maximum airflow of 650 CFM. It is AHAM-rated for spaces up to 698 square feet at 5 ACH, or around 1700 square feet at 2 ACH. It is pretty big in size, although not as much as the IQAir unit.
Blueair utilizes HEPASilent technology with Dual Protection for its filtration system. This true HEPA filter with activated coconut carbon effectively removes 99.97% of airborne allergens and other contaminants including dust, smoke, and pollen, as well as VOCs, chemicals, and odors. This advanced model has an air quality monitor that measures the air quality within the room. On Auto mode, it will automatically set the fan speed to improve air quality. You can adjust the settings, monitor conditions, and set timers on the control panel. Alternatively, you can connect the unit to your Wi-Fi and control all of these settings from the Blueair Friend app on your mobile device or use voice control with Amazon Alexa.
There are many smart air purifiers today, including Levoit’s Core 400S, but the Blueair Classic 680i is an excellent air purifier not only for this feature. Its 450 CADR is higher than most air purifiers even at its size and this is the most important specification we’re looking for. Finally, using HEPASilent technology, this unit operates with as little noise as you can expect at 650 CFM airflow (65 decibels on high).
It’s a pretty exceptional air purifier overall. Although, if we’re being honest, the cost is a little high even for its performance. From the next smaller unit, 480i, the price goes up by at least $200, making the 680i as expensive as IQAir HealthPro Plus. But if you really want a smart air purifier, especially for a large room, then Blueair is your best option.
Pros
• Very large coverage area with powerful 650 CFM airflow
• High 450 CADR rating
• Highly efficient HEPASilent with DualProtection filtration
• Wi-Fi control with Blueair app, Alexa compatible
Cons
• Very expensive
• Noise output is still loud even with HEPASilent
Do You Need an Air Purifier for a Large Room?
Firstly, let’s talk about what an air purifier can do for you and your family. Air purifiers work to reduce pollutants in the air, including dust, smoke, pollen, pet dander, mold spores, dust mites, harmful gases, and even tinier particles. They enhance indoor air quality, effectively minimizing allergies, asthma attacks, and other respiratory problems. So if you or anyone in your home has an allergy to any of these air contaminants, then you can surely benefit from a good air purifier.
According to the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), indoor air pollution is actually two to five times worse than the outdoors. This is because of the higher concentration of VOCs (volatile organic compounds) found in some common household items such as cleaning supplies and personal care and hygiene products.
Other common pollutants in your home include harmful gases such as carbon monoxide (from gasoline or fuel) and formaldehyde (from building materials). An air purifier can help improve the air quality in your home by filtering out fine particles that the naked eye cannot see. Depending on the filtration system, some high-powered units also target harmful gases and strong odors. Large rooms contain a higher air volume and to optimize the air quality in these rooms, you’ll need a high capacity air purifier.
How Do Air Purifiers Work?
Air purifiers may come in a variety of sizes and shapes, but the process of air purification is fairly straightforward for all of these units. An air purifier usually consists of a filter, or multiple filters, and a fan that draws the air into the device. The air passes through the filter system, where pollutants and particles are captured, then clean, purified air is released into the room. The cycle repeats to improve air quality.
These filters are typically made of paper, fiber, fiberglass, or mesh fabric. They have pores that are small enough to block contaminants but let the air pass through freely. To maintain efficiency, these filters require regular replacement after a few months up to a year, depending on the type of filter, the air quality, and frequency of usage. This means that filter replacement costs will be an additional factor on top of your operating costs.
Different air purifier brands and models employ many different technologies for air purification. In general, HEPA filters can remove up to 99.97% of particles down to 0.3 microns in size. True HEPA filters are also recommended against airborne viruses and bacteria. Many air purifiers also come with an activated carbon filter to neutralize odors and keep the air smelling fresh.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Large Room Air Purifier
Before buying an air purifier for your large room, you must first understand the following factors to find the best unit depending on your needs. These include the CADR rating, airflow, ACH, coverage area, and the filters used.
CADR Rating
The CADR (Clean Air Delivery Rate) is the most important factor in choosing an air purifier. AHAM (Association of Home Appliances Manufacturers) verifies the CADR rating, which determines an air purifier’s performance. The CADR is typically measured in CFM (cubic feet per minute) or sometimes in CMH (cubic meters per hour) but it’s a different metric from the unit’s airflow. Average room air purifiers have a CADR rating of around 200 or upward of 300 for larger rooms. A higher rating means it can clean the air faster in a larger space.
The CADR test measures how quickly and effectively the air purifier can capture air pollutants such as smoke, dust, and pollen. These particles are very fine, with smoke being the finest, ranging from 0.1 to 0.3 microns. While the CADR is an important measure of the air purifier’s capacity to filter the air, it does not determine the type of contaminants it can remove besides the three. If you’re concerned about specific viruses or bacteria then you’ll have to look at the filtration system used.
Maximum Airflow
The airflow, measured in CFM, determines the volume of air the unit can move per minute. It is simply the rate at which the air is processed and it will not tell you how clean this processed air is. The air purifier’s fan speeds directly relate to its airflow. The maximum airflow is the volume flow of air at the highest fan speed. While both are measured in CFM, the airflow is usually higher than the CADR rating since the latter also takes into account the efficiency of the filters in removing air contaminants. Further, the airflow can also help determine the coverage area of an air purifier.
Coverage Area
When talking about the coverage area of an air purifier device, we must first consider the ACH or air changes per hour. This is a measure of the air change rate or the number of times per hour that a volume of air in the room will be filtered by the air purifier. You can get the ACH by dividing the airflow (CFM) by the total volume of the room (cubic feet) and multiplying this by 60.
The standard coverage area of air purifiers is measured at 2 ACH. This means the unit will be able to replace the air in the room every 30 minutes. This is the maximum coverage we included to compare our top picks above. However, if you often suffer allergy symptoms, look for the unit’s coverage area at 5 ACH for even more effective air purification. Coverage areas between 1,000 and 2,000 square feet at 2 ACH will be reduced to 300 to 800 square feet. Some manufacturers will indicate both measurements.
Filters
Another important factor in choosing an air purifier is the type of filters used. All filters catch impurities from the air up to a certain amount, but some work more efficiently than others. Most air purifiers include more than one filter to remove large and finer particles in the air. A pre-filter will capture large dust particles and pollen while the main HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter catches tiny particles down to 0.3 microns or smaller. Make sure to look for a unit with True HEPA filters, with classes from H11 to H14—the higher, the better. Only true HEPA air purifiers can effectively remove airborne particles and improve indoor air quality.
In addition, some air purifiers include activated carbon filters, which can eliminate VOCs (volatile organic compounds), finer smoke particles, gases, and unpleasant odors. These filters are washable and reusable up to a specified period depending on your indoor air quality and frequency of usage. You may want to look for a unit with filters that last longer so you can save on replacement costs.
Other Features
Some other factors you may want to consider are the noise output of the unit, especially if you’re using it in a bedroom, as well as the energy efficiency, portability, and design of the air purifier. Larger units are typically more powerful, but they will take up more space in the room, so you should definitely consider the size before buying. Features like the control buttons, air quality sensors, and indicator lights also help to make the unit easy and convenient to use, as do other extras like smart control via mobile app or voice commands.
Proper Usage and Maintenance of Air Purifiers
Choosing the best large room air purifier is not enough to guarantee its effectiveness and efficiency after weeks, months, to years of use. It’s essential to know the proper ways to operate and maintain your unit. To keep your unit functioning for a long time, here are some basic tips that will guide you. Note that it’s always best to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for your specific unit.
The very first thing you can do is to pick the right size of air purifier for the room. As mentioned, it’s better to base the coverage area at around 5 ACH for maximum purification. In any case, once you pick an AHAM-tested air purifier, find a good location in the room to operate the unit.
When running, make sure there are no obstructions to the airflow, like walls, furniture, or curtains. If you’re concerned about noise levels, especially in a bedroom or office, set the unit to low fan speed to minimize the noise.
If you notice dust or grime on the exterior, you can simply wipe it down with a clean cloth or rag. While it’s not visible, the filters take the brunt of the work and they can clogged up with dust and other pollutants after a period of use. Some models include a filter reminder on the control panel to tell you when it’s time to replace the filter(s). This can be anywhere from three months up to two years (or even four years for the HyperHEPA filter in IQAir HealthPro Plus). Some pre-filters may be washable and reusable, although it all depends on the brand and model.
Conclusion
Air purifiers are a very effective and efficient air quality solution in a room of any size. While they can work up to a certain degree of efficacy almost anywhere, you would want to maximize it and save on operation costs. Measure the total area of the room to make sure you get a unit that can cover the entire room. Some important factors that determine the air purifier’s performance include the CADR rating, airflow, and the types of filters used. If you or anyone in your home has allergies to certain airborne pollutants, take note of this to ensure that the unit can eliminate these impurities effectively and address your needs.
FAQ
Do air purifiers work in large rooms?
Air purifiers of the right capacity are perfectly capable of working in any room size. As long as the room area is under the recommended coverage of the unit, you can get cleaner air in a large room courtesy of your air purifier.
Can an air purifier clean more than one room?
In general, an air purifier can handle two adjacent rooms provided that the total area is within the unit’s coverage. Although, it may be a better idea to use two smaller units, one for each room.
What is a good CADR rating for an air purifier?
As a rule of thumb, the CADR rating must be at least two-thirds of the room’s area. For example, large rooms with an area of 600 square feet (30 ft x 20 ft) will need an air purifier with a CADR rating of at least 400.
Will an air purifier work in a room bigger than the recommended coverage?
The effectiveness of an air purifier in a given area is measured by the rate of air changes per hour. If your room area is larger than the recommendation for your air purifier, it can still clean your room, only at a slower rate.
