Checklist
Air Purifier Sizing Checklist
Air purifiers get oversold on huge room claims. The better buying filter is CADR, room size, noise, carbon depth, and whether you will actually run it every day.
Size by CADR first
- For normal particle filtration, target smoke CADR of at least two-thirds of the room square footage.
- For wildfire smoke, size more aggressively and aim for smoke CADR closer to the room square footage.
- Ignore one-air-change room claims when comparing bedroom performance.
Match the real problem
- Pollen, dust, dander, and smoke particles are CADR problems.
- Odors and VOCs need meaningful activated carbon, not just a thin token layer.
- Mold odor is a moisture problem first. A purifier can reduce particles but will not fix the source.
Check ownership friction
- Confirm low-speed noise before buying for a bedroom.
- Price replacement filters before comparing purifier sale prices.
- If you dislike ionizers, choose a model without one or where the feature can be turned off.
Recommended picks
Recommended picks from this checklist
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Coway · $160Coway Airmega Mighty AP-1512HH
The best default allergy-season buy because it combines strong pollen, dust, and smoke CADR with auto mode, eco mode, filter indicators, and a price that makes multi-room coverage realistic.
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Blueair · $140Blueair Blue Pure 511i Max
The easiest allergy purifier to live with in a small bedroom. It is quiet, compact, app-connected, and useful for nightly pollen and dust control in smaller rooms.
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Levoit · $90Levoit Core 300-P
The budget purifier for a small closed bedroom. It is simple, widely available, and strong enough for small rooms when you size by CADR instead of one-air-change claims.