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9 Best Air Purifiers for Bacteria and Viruses in 2024 [Ranked & Reviewed]

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Best Air Purifier for Bacteria and Viruses

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Wouldn’t it be great if we could ensure we were breathing clean air in our homes?

Air purifiers give you that peace of mind.

Especially during the coronavirus outbreak, families have been searching for the best protection for their families.

But can air purifiers really help protect against germs like bacteria and viruses? The short answer is yes.

In this article, you’ll find:

  • How air purifiers work to fight bacteria (and how they can combat viruses like the coronavirus)
  • Reviews breaking down the the best air purifier for bacteria and viruses, followed by our top pick for hospital grade air purifier
  • Frequently asked questions about air purifiers and their answers

Here are our top picks…

👑 Our Pick for Best Overall

[amazon box=”B0177GW9Z8″ title=”Germ Guardian True HEPA Filter Air Purifier AC9200WCA” description=”The Germ Guardian True Hepa Filter Air Purifier is the best air purifier for viruses and bacteria. It is AHAM certified and contains a true HEPA filter which is extremely effective at killing germs. Overall, we feel it’s the best value for money.”]

Our Other Top Purifier Picks

Top Air Purifiers for Germs Reviews

Germ Guardian True HEPA Filter Air Purifier AC9200WCA (👑 Top Pick)

The Germ Guardian High air purifier is the best air purifier for viruses and bacteria. It is AHAM certified and contains a true HEPA filter.

What’s most impressive about this model though is its outstanding CADR ratings, which make it a great option for keeping the air in larger rooms clean.

With a UV-C light you can expect solid results from this air purifier, as it eliminates most bacteria and germs in indoor spaces.

It is also Energy Star certified, which means that it is energy-efficient, and can end up saving you some money in the long run.

Features:

  • HEPA filter
  • Energy Star certified
  • AHAM verified
  • UV-C light
  • 3 performance settings
  • CADR: Dust (216), Pollen (265), Smoke (216)

Pure Enrichment PureZone 3-in-1 HEPA Air Purifier

The PureZone 3-in-1 air purifier from Pure Enrichment is a fantastic cheaper option if you suffer from allergies or frequently experience sinus-related issues.

This unit may be compact and come with a small price tag, but it doesn’t compromise in features.

We love that this purifier from Pure Enrichment comes with a 5-year warranty, making your investment much safer.

Features:

  •  3-stage air purification
  •   UV-C light
  •   5-year warranty
  •   Ozone free
  •   HEPA filter
[amazon box=”B01JKDAN2M” title=”Pure Enrichment PureZone 3-in-1 HEPA Air Purifier” description=”With a 3-stage process, this air purifier contains a HEPA filter, making it very efficient at cleaning the air in any indoor space. What makes this model stand out from the competition is the inclusion of the UV-C light. This light will permanently eliminate harmful microorganisms like bacteria, which should ultimately result in fewer colds and allergy problems for you.”]

Germ Guardian HEPA Filter Air Purifier AC5250PT

The Germ Guardian AC5250PT from Guardian Technologies is an AHAM-certified air purifier fitted with a HEPA filter.

The fact that this air purifier is AHAM certified says a lot about its efficiency.

But what we really love about this air purifier is how great it is at eliminating odors around the house (especially useful if you’re a pet owner).

Features:

  • UV-C light
  • AHAM verified
  • Energy Star certified
  • HEPA filter
  • CADR: Dust (126), Pollen (128), Smoke (116)
[amazon box=”B00895ICIK” title=”Germ Guardian HEPA Filter Air Purifier AC5250PT” description=”This model will also do a great job eliminating dust, which will reduce the amount of time you need to spend going around the house with a vacuum. Designed to to remove up to 99.7% of airborne particles and allergens, it’s hard to go wrong with the Germ Guardian AC5250PT if you are hoping for high-quality air at home.”]

Winix HR900 HEPA Filtration Air Purifier (🐕 Best for Pet Owners)

The Winix HR900 is AHAM verified, contains a HEPA filter, and is arguably the best air sanitizer machine available for pet owners.

While the price may at first seem a little steep, what you get for your money is impressive. The PlasmaWave technology is well worth having, as it will break down odors and allergens leaving your living space with clean air.

Features:

  • HEPA filter
  • AOCTM (advanced odour control)
  • Pet pre-filter
  • AHAM verified
  • PlasmaWave technology
[amazon box=”B07JXLH58N” title=”Winix HR900 HEPA Filtration Air Purifier” description=”What makes this air purifier such a great option for pet owners is the fact that it has been designed to collect pet dander, pet hair, and eliminate unwanted odors. These features make it a must-have for anyone who has pets at home and struggles to stay on top of the odors and hairs that pop up everywhere.”]

Alen BreatheSmart Classic Air Purifier (🤧 Best for Allergies)

The Alen BreatheSmart Classic air purifier is a large and robust model that allows you to choose between four unique HEPA-type filters which tackle everything from mold and bacteria, to unpleasant odors.

This means you can swap and change filters every time you need to, without needing to go out and buy a new air purifier every time.

With this air purifier you will be able to clean the air in rooms of up to 1100 square feet, and you can expect results within just a couple of hours.

The incredibly useful BreatheSmart air quality sensor light allows you to understand which rooms could benefit most from cleaner air.

Features:

  • Four unique HEPA type filters to choose from
  • Air quality sensor light
  •  WhisperMax technology
  •  Energy Star certified
[amazon box=”B00APO426E” title=”Alen BreatheSmart Classic Air Purifier” description=”WhisperMax technology keeps the noise produced by the fan of this air purifier to a minimum, which means you will be able to sleep comfortably while it is in operation. We love how effective the Alen BreatheSmart air purifier is for alleviating sinus-related issues and reducing discomfort from a stuffy nose.”]

Levoit LV-H132 HEPA Filter Purifier (💸 Best on a Budget)

The Levoit LV-H132 Air Purifier features a HEPA filter and boasts ozone-free operation.

This compact unit works with a 3-stage filtration system ensuring it thoroughly cleans the air of any smaller room.

One of the best features of this model is its smart filter change reminder. Notifying you when you need to replace the filter, you won’t have to worry about it ceasing to work all of a sudden.

The ambient night light is a nice addition if you plan on using the air purifier in your bedroom, since it won’t disturb your sleep.

Features:

  • 3-stage air purification
  • UV-C light
  • 5-year warranty
  • Ozone free
  • HEPA filter
[amazon box=”B071D58ZY5″ title=”Levoit LV-H132 HEPA Filter Purifier” description=”A great air purifier at a great price point, the Levoit LV-H132 is our top choice for air purifier on a budget. It’s small and compact, but its powerful 3-stage filtration system ensures the air in your smaller room stays clean.”]

Dyson Pure Cool Me Personal Purifying HEPA Purifier (💁 Best for Personal Use)

The Dyson Pure Cool Me Personal air purifier was created as a compact unit to have on your bedside table while you sleep at night.

Using a HEPA filter and innovative Core Flow technology, this personal air purifier works to keep you cool while also removing bacteria and pollen from the air around you.

Features:

  • HEPA filter
  • Core Flow technology
  • Precise airflow
  • Night time mode
  • LCD display
[amazon box=”B07PZGD5VZ” title=”Dyson Pure Cool Me Personal Purifying HEPA Purifier” description=”What’s great about the Dyson Pure Cool Me model is how small it is, and how you can use its rotational function to aim the airflow wherever you’d like. The nighttime mode means you will be able to set it to operate as you are sleeping and rest assured that you will be breathing in only clean air at night.”]

h0meLabs HEPA Air Purifier

The h0meLabs HEPA air purifier is compact and provides an excellent option for any small room at home.

With a true HEPA filter, this model will eliminate the smallest of particles, even those as small as 0.1 microns.

Features:

  • True HEPA filter
  • 3-stage filtration
  • Night light options
  • Child lock
[amazon box=”B07Y3DLQ7K” title=”h0meLabs HEPA Air Purifier” description=”Aside from getting rid of dust particles, allergens, and bacteria, the air purifier offers users night light options and a child lock. A very affordable option for what it offers, this air purifier is definitely worth the investment, especially considering how powerful the HEPA filter is.”]

Dyson Pure Hot+Cool HEPA Air Purifier

The Dyson Pure hot & cool air purifier features a HEPA filter, as well as heating and cooling functionality.

The great thing about this model is that you can turn it into a fan or a heater at the press of a button, as well as receiving the air-purifying benefits offered by a HEPA filter.

Features:

  • Heating and cooling functions
  • H
  • Heating and cooling functions
  • HEPA filter
  • Air multiplier technology
  • Various airspeed settings
[amazon box=”B07KXBX32V” title=”Dyson Pure Hot+Cool HEPA Air Purifier” description=”The option to oscillate or to concentrate the air in one direction is very useful for diffusing clean air around a small room. Although it may be pricey for a small air purifier, the Dyson Pure is incredibly powerful, throwing out a staggering 53 gallons of air every second.”]

Blueair Classic 605 HEPA Air Purifier (🏥 Best Hospital Grade Air Purifier)

The Blueair Classic 605 is hands down the best hospital-grade air purifier you can buy in today’s market, and the best air purifier for bacteria and viruses. 

It’s AHAM certified which contributes to its solid reputation, and has also been recommended by the Swedish Asthma and Allergy Association as a great way to alleviate allergy symptoms.

With a whole host of features and incredible technology working under the hood, this model’s only real drawback is its awkward size and heavy weight.

Operable through Wi-FI and an accompanying mobile app, this air purifier makes your life easy, and doesn’t require you to be in the same room to operate it.

What’s most impressive about the Blueair Classic 605 is its CADR. 500 CADR is extremely high, and blows most of the competition away, and will purify the air of a large room incredibly quickly.

Features:

  • Includes mobile app
  • HEPASilent
  • CADR 500
  • 3 fan speeds 
  • WiFi enabled
  • AHAM verified
  • Energy Star certified
[amazon box=”B086ZLYNJZ” title=”Blueair Classic 605 HEPA Air Purifier ” description=”The HEPASilent technology uses both electrostatic and mechanical filtration to bring the best results with regards to CADR, and will also help ensure satisfyingly quiet operation. If you’re looking for a powerful air purifier that really keeps your home’s air clean, this may just be the best on the market.”]

Ultimate Guide

There are several factors that will help you determine how effective an air purifier is.

Some have features like an air quality indicator while others stick to the basics and focus on performance above all else.

Whatever the case, you need to find an air purifier that will improve the indoor air quality in your home and effectively combat viruses and germs.

Here’s how you can do that: 

Budget

Perhaps the most overlooked factor when investing in air purifiers is the cost.

While the unit itself will have a fixed price and won’t necessarily be expensive, it’s the filters themselves that can rack up a hefty bill over time.

That’s because you have to regularly replace the filters, which could mean that every three months you’re paying for new ones. This will depend on the type of filter you buy, though, so that’s worth taking into account.

If you don’t have a large budget, then you’ll want to get an idea of how much the individual filters for the air purifier you’re considering will set you back. Some will be affordable at a price of as little as $20, while others can go up to $200 or beyond. 

A fee of $200 every three or six months might just be enough to make you reconsider the investment, so be sure to do due diligence before you part with your cash.

Filter Type

If you plan on using an air purifier in your home or indoor space, you’ll need to decide upon the type of filter which will work best for you.

There are two main types of filters to choose from with air purifiers: the activated carbon filter and the mechanical filter.

Activated Carbon

The activated carbon filter is able to remove molecules from the air that put out odors, and they can be quite effective at purifying gases from the air.

This type of filter isn’t designed to pick up particles, which is why you’ll often see that an air purifier with an activated carbon filter will also have a pleated filter for that purpose.

You’ll need to replace this type of filter quite often and shell out a decent amount of cash for it.

Mechanical

The mechanical filter makes use of an internal fan which is able to trap and remove particles from the air.

Whether or not this type of ilter can tackle the smallest of particles will depend on whether or not it is a true HEPA filter. If you aren’t sure what this means, we cover the acronyms associated with air purifiers below.

Useful Acronyms

When it comes to air purifiers, you’re going to come across a lot of different acronyms.

While this might seem intimidating at first, once you know what they are and how they improve the air purifier, you’ll be able to make a more informed decision.

Here are the acronyms to look out for, and what they mean:

HEPA

There are different types of air purifiers such as UV light purifiers and air sterilizers, but HEPA air purifiers are considered to be the gold standard. HEPA is an efficiency standard for air purifiers.

Air purifiers fitted with HEPA filters make the best air purifiers, but can also the most expensive.

They are commonplace these days, and you can find them everywhere from bathrooms to office spaces to hospitals. Medical professionals will often use them to treat or reduce the severity of allergy symptoms.

HOW EFFECTIVE ARE THEY?

HEPA filters eliminate a staggering amount of particles from the air — up to 98%. They work by forcing air through their fine mesh to trap harmful airborne particles such as smoke, pollen and dust mites.

CADR 

The next important acronym to keep in mind when looking for an air purifier is CADR.

As you can imagine, this refers to how quickly the unit can purify the room’s air.

Each air purifier has three scores that represent the CADR for each of:

  1. Smoke
  2. Pollen
  3. Dust

These scores are measures of rate at which each device can purify smoke, pollen, and dust. Essentially, the higher the CADR, the more powerful the air purifier.

What is considered a good CADR rating?

Well, this will depend on the size of the room you want the air purifier to be in. As a general rule, try to ensure the CADR of the air purifier is at least two thirds of the square footage of the room.

AHAM

The last acronym you will need to familiarize yourself with before investing in an air purifier is AHAM.

AHAM certification means it has passed rigorous testing to see how effectively it cleans smoke, dust, and pollen. Basically the AHAM seal of approval is a surefire way of knowing that the air purifier is of high quality. 

Ensure that the air purifier you choose is AHAM certified.  

Related: Best Vacuum for Allergies

Frequently Asked Questions About Air Purifiers

Do air purifiers get rid of germs?

Yes! Air purifiers are designed to circulate fresh air around a living space, and eliminate unwanted particles such as bacteria, dust, and pollen. So if you were wondering if you should get an air purifier to help fight off unwanted sickness like colds and flu, then you absolutely should!

By controlling the quality of air in your home, you can defend against germs effectively and worry less about catching something on those cold, rainy days when you’re locked up inside.

Do air purifiers work for viruses?

Yes and no.

While air purifiers will remove a high percentage of irritants like dust and pollen from the air, viruses are slightly more complicated to eliminate from a living space. Since virus particles are so small, the air purifier will have a hard time filtering it. However, virus particles that are imbued in moisture droplets resulting from someone coughing or sneezing can in fact be caught, and filtered.

So while air purifiers won’t completely remove the threat of viruses spreading inside, they can certainly reduce the risk. One thing to bear in mind here though is that if the filter doesn’t completely clean the particles, the virus can live on the surface of the air purifier for anywhere from several hours to a few days. So if you need to replace your filter, always make sure you clean it off thoroughly first. You will also need a HEPA filter air purifier in order for this to work.

Do air purifiers help with bacteria?

Yes, HEPA filter air purifiers can help eliminate unwanted bacteria from your living space with impressive efficiency. You can expect to reduce the amount of bacteria in the air if you have an ultraviolet light air purifier, or photocatalytic air purifier also.

One of the main purposes of any air purifier is to tackle bacteria and reduce the chance that you breathe in something that could potentially prove harmful.

What is the best air purifier for germs?

The best air purifier for germs is the Germ Guardian AC9200WCA. This HEPA filter air purifier uses UV light which is proven to be extremely effective at killing off unwanted germs and bacteria in the air. This air purifier features an impressive 300 CADR, a 5 stage filtration process, and has broad coverage making it ideal for bigger spaces.

Related: Best Humidifier for Allergies

A Final Word on the Best Air Purifiers for Germs

That wraps up our air purifier buyer’s guide. We’ve reviewed all the best air purifiers for viruses and bacteria, so we hope you’re able to find the one that’s perfect for you and your family.

If you have any other questions or if there’s anything else you’d like to know, just ask in the comments. We’re happy to help.

Want to read about the best supplements for the immune system? ➡️ Read this article

For detailed information, see these websites:

Article by:

Wellness Nova Team

Our detailed review has been contributed to by multiple members of the Wellness Nova Review Team to ensure the best research and highest standard of quality. Have a good or a bad experience with one of the products? Please let us know, we love the feedback!

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