Best Air Quality Monitor
[amazon table=”1524″]We all want to breathe fresh air, whether it’s inside the house or out. While it’s easy to think that being inside protects us from most harmful pollutants, this isn’t necessarily the case.
While at home you can be exposed to all kinds of air contaminants and volatile organic compounds which can be especially irritating for those who suffer with respiratory conditions like asthma, or have allergies triggered by dust for example.
Even our pets can unwittingly pollute the air inside the house, leaving behind hair and pet dander in the air wherever they go.
Thankfully though, there is a way of knowing whether you’re at risk of breathing in such harmful pollutants. Indoor air quality monitors provide an affordable way to keep tabs on the potential air pollutants in your home.
With an air quality monitor, you’ll be able to satisfy the air quality index figure of 100 or less, safe in the knowledge that you’re breathing in clean air at home.
Here are our top picks…
👑 Our Pick for Best Overall
[amazon box=”B07F282LF4″ title=”Awair 2nd Edition Air Quality Monitor” description=”The Awair 2nd Edition is an air quality monitor with a sleek design, highly accurate readings, and great connectivity.”]⭐ Our Other Top Purifier Picks
- Best of the Best: Awair 2nd Edition Air Quality Monitor
- Best for Mold: Foobot Indoor Air Quality Monitor
- Best for Allergies: IQAir AirVisual Pro
- Best for Real-time Monitoring: Awair Element Indoor Air Quality Monitor B082ZF4H37
- Best for Radon: Airthings Wave Plus B07JB8QWH6
Awair 2nd Edition Air Quality Monitor (👑 Top Pick)
The Awair 2nd Edition is the best air quality monitor in our view. A newer version of the original offering from Awair, the 2nd Edition is an upgrade on an already impressive product.
The main ways in which the 2nd Edition differs from the original air quality monitor from Awair is in how accurate and clear its readings are now. This is the main function of an air quality monitor, so you want to be absolutely sure that you get your hands on one that is easy to read and as accurate as possible.
It also has the added bonus of looking stylish, which isn’t something that can be said of a lot of air quality monitors. One of the features that has stayed the same with this version though is the sleek design with a walnut finish. This makes this monitor a somewhat bespoke piece which can add some visual appeal to your living room while assessing the air quality.
As for its functionality, there’s little this air quality monitor can’t do. For a start, to make your life as easy as possible, Awair has made it so that you can hook the monitor up to your phone via a companion app. This allows you to get the air quality readings at a glance, without needing to be at home. It also goes more in-depth in the app, providing you access to all kinds of information that could be of use.
Even if you’ve never used an air quality monitor before, you’ll have no issue understanding the results of a test. There are colour-coded charts which will let you know if the level of a certain contaminant is healthy or cause for concern. The app will even provide helpful suggestions as to products which will help you address the issue, such as humidifiers or air purifiers.
The connectivity doesn’t end there though, as you can even link the Awair 2nd Edition with smart control centres like Google Home, or Alexa. Just in case you want even more options with how you run the air quality monitor while you’re not around.
Features:
- Tracks chemicals, CO2, humidity, temperature, and fine dust
- Real-time feedback and suggestions for action
- Awair Connect to use it with an app
- Controllable from mobile device
EG Portable Pollution Monitor
This portable device from EG Air is packed with useful features and functionality, which you can take with you wherever you go. If you travel a lot for work or leisure, you might find it beneficial to be able to perform a spot check wherever you are.
With this device you’ll be able to assess temperature, humidity, TVOC and fine dust matter ranging from PM2.5 to PM10 with a high degree of accuracy. This is backed up by the advanced built-in fan, which provides you with real-time readings that you can use to determine what action is necessary, if any.
Then there’s a laser sensor which will measure the number of dust participles, and an electrochemical semiconductor sensor for natural or synthetic organic compounds. This sounds a little technical, but all you need to know is that it is equipped with sophisticated sensors that pick up most airborne pollutants. A lot of devices are only equipped with one type of sensor, and can only track one size PM, which makes this portable air quality monitor stand out. Plus the ability to detect formaldehyde is huge, since this is thought to contribute to nasal and lung cancer, and is present in a lot of household materials.
The LCD display of this portable unit is very clean, and lets you see exactly what you need to know in a brief glance. You also have arrows which indicate whether the air quality is good or not. As for the inner workings, this monitor is powered by a rechargeable battery. This typically lasts up to 5 hours during use, which should give you plenty of time to get a variety of readings. If you do happen to exhaust the battery, not to worry, there’s a micro-USB cable you can use to plug it into power for unlimited use.
Features:
- Measures temperature, humidity, formaldehyde, TVOC, PM2.5, PM1, and PM10
- Portable design
- 5 hours of use with rechargeable battery
- LCD display
- Laser and electrochemical sensors
- Micro USB cable included
ECOWITT WH0290 Air Quality Monitor
The ECOWITT WH0290 is one of the best budget-friendly air quality monitors you can buy. Don’t be put off by its affordable price though, this device does the business, and provides accurate readings at PM2.5. It also tells you information about the temperature and level of humidity in your home. If you’re looking for a cheap way to monitor the air quality in your home, then it’s hard to look further than this device.
A lot of harmful airborne pollutants fall under the category of PM2.5, so you can rest assured that you will get a good idea of any concerning issues with air quality using the ECOWITT. The readings are displayed on a small screen, which won’t take up much space at all. Depending on the level of pollutants in the air, this device will display a different colour so you instantly know where you stand.
Aside from the display, you will get a separate sensor unit. This sensor unit is powered by rechargeable batteries, making it easy to use on the go if necessary. There is also a solar-powered battery which can be very useful if the primary battery stops working for whatever reason. As long as you keep the sensor unit within 300ft of the display, then you’ll be able to receive real-time readings when you need them.
Features:
- PM2.5
- Honeywell particle sensor
- Measures temperature and humidity
- Portable design
- Rechargeable batteries and solar panel
Foobot Indoor Air Quality Monitor (🦠 Best Air Quality Monitor for Mold)
The Indoor Air Quality Monitor from Foobot can hold its own against the best alternatives, and has even been verified by Berkeley National Laboratory to be excellent for PM 2.5 (Particulate Matter), which refers to fine particles and covers everything from smoke to harmful pollutants released as a result of cooking. While air quality monitors can’t provide highly accurate information regarding mold, they can bring VOCs to your awareness that might radiate from any mold growth.
What makes the Foobot a great choice is not only its readings, which are backed up by solid research, but in its ease of use. You can connect this Foobot model to your smartphone through the company’s companion app. While inside the app, you can assess the readings in real-time, so you know if you need to take any actions. You can also hook it up to virtual assistants like Nest, which can automatically switch on your air purifier if necessary. Based on the readings, you can evaluate what next steps to take to reduce harmful pollutants as a result of mold growth.
Unfortunately, right now you won’t be able to get your hands on a Foobot air quality monitor, as the company is currently working on the next generation of this model. If the next model is any kind of upgrade on this model, then it’ll be well worth the wait, so watch this space.
Features:
- LED colour display
- Verified by Berkeley National Laboratory
- Connectivity with smartphones and virtual assistants
- 2.5 PM
IQAir AirVisual Pro (🤧 Best Air Quality Monitor for Allergies)
The IQAir AirVisual Pro is just what you need if you suffer from seasonal or dust-based allergies.
If you do, you’ll know just how frustrating it is to get home from a day of sneezing and other irritating symptoms, only to find that they’re just as bad inside the comfort of your home. To see if you have a problem with airborne pollutants in your home that could be causing worse allergy reactions, then it’s absolutely worth investing in an air quality monitor to potentially improve your daily quality of life. While it won’t clean the air for you, the AirVisual pro will let you know if you need to take action based on the accurate readings it provides.
This air quality monitor features professional-grade laser sensors to detect airborne contaminants, making it a great option if you value accurate readings. There’s also an alarm that will trigger if you happen to have high levels of CO2 in the air. Aside from that more extreme system, you’ll be able to glance at the results of the readings on the large LCD display. This will tell you everything from temperature and humidity, to the level of pollutants both indoor and out. This is crucial to knowing when you need to clean the air before you suffer due to allergies caused by airborne pollutants. Once you have this information, you can download it to a mobile device or computer.
The companion app for this device is excellent, and very well-rated by its users. Through the app you’ll be able to see everything you could possibly need, such as weather forecasts, historical air pollution data, and even live monitoring. The AirVisual Pro stands out from others in just how much it can tell you. A brief look at the display can recommend what the best action you can take for your health is, the quality of the air indoors and outdoors, and a forecast of how the air quality is likely to be.
Being able to track the air quality outdoors is huge, and especially useful for those who suffer with allergies. To facilitate outdoor readings, you can take the AirVisual Pro wherever you like to run some tests. This is due to the fact that it can run on battery alone, although bear in mind that it will only last around 3 and a half hours this way.
Features:
- PM 2.5
- Professional grade sensors
- Indoor and outdoor air quality monitoring
- IFTT
- 5 inch LCD display
- App connectivity
Awair Element Indoor Air Quality Monitor (🖥️ Best for Real-time Monitoring)
The Awair Element indoor air quality monitor is our top pick for real-time monitoring.
This nifty device is widely-praised as a top air quality monitor, and this is backed up by its status as an ‘Amazon’s Choice’ product meaning it has an overwhelming vote of confidence from the majority of previous customers. The device tracks several indoor air factors, including carbon dioxide, chemicals, and particulate matter. Best of all, though, it gives you this valuable information in real-time, so you can act quickly if the air quality in your home starts to deteriorate.
You can use this air quality monitor with the Awair Home app, which makes it easy to keep tabs on your air quality whenever you need it. The app goes in-depth on the air quality in your home, informing you as to how your air quality has been over time, which lets you take action accordingly. There are also tips within the app that can help you clear up the air in your home, should you need to. Plus, you can integrate the device with smart assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant for voice control and more.
Features:
- Real-time insights
- Track CO2, VOCs, and PM2.5
- Compatible with the Awair Home app
- Smart assistant integration
Airthings Wave Plus (💎 Best for Radon)
The Airthings Wave Plus air quality monitor is a top-rated option when it comes to dealing with radon.
Radon is an odorless gas that’s radioactive, so what are the chances that you have to worry about it in your home? Well, particularly in the US, radon gas is surprisingly common in households since it seeps into the air as rocks, soil, and water are broken down. While it’s rare to find the gas at a dangerous level, the risk is definitely there, and the potential health effects of breathing in too much radon can be potentially lethal. The fact that there is a risk at all though is reason enough for many to invest in an air quality monitor to detect the level of radon at all times, which is where the Airthings Wave device comes in.
This compact air quality monitor can sit on a surface in your home and give you valuable feedback regarding the air in your home. Not only does this monitor give you peace of mind when it comes to tracking the level of radon gas in your house, but it does so exceptionally well, winning several awards for its efficiency and top features. This device is award-winning in part because it delivers consistent results, measuring radon gas levels over time so that if there’s a fluctuation – which there sometimes is – you’ll know about it.
But tracking the level of radon gas in your home is just one function of this versatile air quality monitor. This device will also pick up on the levels of carbon dioxide, toxins and chemicals, humidity, temperature and air pressure. This will provide you with valuable real-time information regarding six crucial indoor air factors, so you know just how safe the air you and your family breathe every day really is.
The air quality monitor is also incredibly simple to set up and use out of the box. All you have to do is sync the device with your mobile via the Airthings app Bluetooth connectivity, and you’ll have all the information you need a swipe away. In the app, you can also read live and local pollen data in case you suffer from seasonal allergies. You can also swipe your hand in front of the monitor to get an instant reading of the air, based on a color-coded system with green meaning safe and red signifying danger.
In the box you’ll get the Wave Plus device, a pair of AA batteries, a quick start guide, a warranty from Airthings, and as much customer support as you need via email or live chat.
Features:
- Detects six key indoor air quality factors
- Bluetooth connectivity
- Compatible with Airthings app
- Instant air quality readings
Frequently Asked Questions About Air Quality Monitors
Do air quality monitors work?
Yes, air quality monitors can tell us with a great degree of accuracy what potentially harmful particles there are floating around our homes.
These pollutants can come from a range of sources, including electrical appliances and pets.
Air quality monitors will assess the situation in your home with regards to the level of each airborne contaminant, and then give you feedback on which you should be most concerned about. Knowing if you have a high level of pollutants at home allows you to act accordingly, by investing in an air purifier for example.
It’s always important to know what you are breathing in on a daily basis. Most of us wouldn’t intentionally walk right by factories pumping out smoke regularly, so why would we expose ourselves to harmful pollutants at home?
Related: Best Vacuum for Allergies
Are home air quality tests accurate?
While it will largely depend on the specific air quality monitor you’re using, these types of tests do tend to be accurate.
Usually fitted with sensors for oxygen, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide, air quality monitors will assess the levels of each gas present in an indoor space.
However, not all air quality monitors perform well. Low-cost air quality monitors in particular can have varied results, which isn’t ideal for evaluating the potential airborne health hazards at home.
If you are looking for a budget-friendly option that works well though, we’d recommend the ECOWITT WH0290 for great performance at an affordable price.
How much does an air quality monitor cost?
An air quality monitor doesn’t need to set you back a large sum of money, in fact, some will cost less than $70 like the ECOWITT WH0290.
However, many decent air quality monitors fall in the range of $100-$300 if your home is less than 1,000 square feet. They can go up to $1000 and above if you have an especially large house, but for most people it will cost a few hundred at most.
When you consider how important it is to keep tabs on the quality of the air you breathe day in and day out, this doesn’t seem like a terrible price to pay.
How can I check the air quality in my home?
You can check the air quality in your home by running a test on an air quality monitor. It’s the only reliable way to know exactly what type of airborne pollutants are floating around in your house, as well as the amount of each kind.
Related: Best Respirator Mask
A Final Word from the Wellness Nova Team
It’s important to stay on top of any airborne pollutants you may have at home causing you irritation, or worse. For that reason, you should invest in an air quality monitor to diagnose the issue, and see if you need to take further action to clean the air up.
There are air quality monitors for all size homes, and for all budgets, so there should be no reason not to consider investing in one of these useful devices.
