To help inform our air purifier picks, we gathered 12 of the newest and most popular models at the CNET Labs product testing facility in Louisville, Kentucky, where we put them through a rigorous set of tests.
When evaluating our scores for air purifiers, we took into account particle removal ability, energy efficiency, loudness, price and features. Each unit is criteria is given a score out of 10 for each criteria, and then receives a weighted final score out of 10.
How we evaluate air purifiers:
Particle Removal (30%): The average amount of time it takes for an air purifier to remove 90% of the particles from our test chamber.
The average amount of time it takes for an air purifier to remove 90% of the particles from our test chamber. Energy Efficiency (20%): The average energy measured in kilowatt hours used by the air purifier, we also calculate it over the course of a month.
The average energy measured in kilowatt hours used by the air purifier, we also calculate it over the course of a month. Overall Loudness (20%): The average noise level across low, medium and high fan settings.
The average noise level across low, medium and high fan settings. Price (20%): We consider how affordable or expensive an air purifier is. Most of our recommendations range between $300 $800, depending on size.
We consider how affordable or expensive an air purifier is. Most of our recommendations range between $300 $800, depending on size. Features (10%): We consider features like app control, remotes and design elements that help it fit into a room.
The particle-removal test
The air we breathe isn't just air. In truth, it's a combination of human-generated and naturally occurring particles. The former is composed mostly of urban, industrial and automotive emissions of hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides and combustion byproducts, and the latter is mostly represented by smoke from forest fires, sulfates, soot and matter from volcanic activity around the globe.
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