The Best Air Purifiers For Wildfire Smoke Tested: Our Faves From Blueair, Coway Airmega, Shark, And More

We can’t do much about the smog outside, but we can control the air quality inside our home.

Leah Stodart

Senior Shopping Reporter

Leah Stodart is a Philadelphia-based Senior Shopping Reporter at Mashable where she covers and tests essential home tech like vacuums, TVs, beauty devices, and eco-friendly hacks. Her ever-evolving experience in these categories helps her make thoughtful recommendations for how to spend your money during shopping holidays like Black Friday, which Leah has been covering for Mashable since 2017.

Read Full Bio

and

Lauren Allain

Contributor

Lauren Allain is a freelance journalist covering deals at Mashable. She graduated from Western Washington University with a B.A. in journalism and holds an M.B.A from Webster Leiden. You can find more of her work online from publications including Reader’s Digest, U.S. News & World Report, Seattle Refined, and more. When she’s not writing, Lauren prefers to be outside hiking, bouldering, swimming, or searching for the perfect location for all three.

Read Full Bio

on July 18, 2026

All products featured here are independently selected by our editors and writers. If you buy something through links on our site, Mashable may earn an affiliate commission.

Credit: Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images

Many of us put a lot of effort into making healthy choices each day. We’re touching grass and staying active, taking vitamins, and sacrificing our eight hours of sleep for no one (and probably buying a smart ring to track it all). Now more than ever, a good HEPA air purifier should be on anyone’s list of health non-negotiables.

That whole breathing thing that keeps us alive doesn’t require active thought like those other habits do. But as the climate crisis stokes the flames of another wildfire season, the quality of the air we’re breathing demands increasing attention. Whether you’re new to AQI anxiety or have lived in a wildfire-prone area forever, we’ve compiled a guide to the best air purifiers for any living space. All of these air purifiers have been tested by Mashable writers in our own homes.

These are the tech, tools, and products — from laptops to e-readers, from earbuds to robovacs, and more — that Mashable ranks best in class.

Table of Contents Can wildfire smoke get into your house?Yes. It won’t be visibly hazy like it is outside, but particulate matter like wildfire smoke — 20 to 30 times smaller than a human hair — can seep into your home in several different ways. Many air purifiers have sensors that provide live air quality metrics from the room they’re in, including PM2.5 (particulate matter).

Indoor air still isn’t innately clean when there’s not a major air quality event happening. Indoor air pollution can be caused by cleaning products, cooking smoke, or microplastics embedded into dust or pet dander. It’s all the more reason to keep an air purifier running 24/7 at home, regardless of whether you have allergies or not.

Just how bad is wildfire smoke for our health?According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, wildfire smoke can cause breathing issues, headaches, lethargy, coughing, and wheezing, to name a few ill effects. This applies to everyone after repeated exposure, not just “sensitive groups.”

Even if you feel fine, smoke particles are small enough to get into our bloodstream. According to Yale Medicine, that means they also have access to other organs like the heart and the liver. Over time, exposure to PM 2.5 might lead to an increased risk of cancers, heart attack, and cognitive issues. Particulate matter like smoke can also mess with your skin barrier and trigger oxidative stress, actively working against your skincare routine.

Those who have asthma, heart disease, or diabetes are at an increased risk of getting sick. Kids and pregnant people are also considered high-risk when it comes to getting sick from wildfire smoke.

Wildfire smoke also affects the health of our pets. It can irritate their eyes, make it hard for them to breathe, or damage their tiny respiratory systems. The American Veterinary Medical Association says that if we can see or feel the effects from smoke, our pets can as well. That’s especially true for pets with cardiovascular or respiratory issues.

Optional intense smoke filter Slim, sleek square design Black and white colorway options Feels a little outdated compared to others in this list Only three colors to indicate air quality For years, Coway has been an industry leader when it comes to air purifiers and that’s with good reason. The Coway Airmega Mighty can cover a massive 1,748 square foot space with a four-stage filtration system. It ticks the boxes for using a true HEPA filter, a carbon filter to help with smells, and a pre-filter which helps lessen the task put on the HEPA filter.

Where the Coway Airmega Mighty really shines is the upgraded Intense Smoke Filter. These aren’t part of the standard package, so you’ll need to buy them separately but they’re specifically designed to filter out harmful pollutants from wildfire smoke, and they carry third party testing to back up these claims. With the Coway, you’ll be getting filtration from a HEPA filter and an additional wildfire smoke filter. This combination could be well worth the upgrade for people with asthma or other respiratory concerns who live in an area that deals with wildfire smoke.

Covers up to 1,400 square feet Real-time air quality percentage reading HEPA filter lasts for up to five years Remote control is sold separately Stronger fan speeds can get loud Design is kind of bulky If you’re looking for purification in an open-concept cluster of several rooms, the Shark NeverChange Air Purifier Max is up for cleaning up to 1,400 square feet. Shark’s iconic NeverChange HEPA filter can last for up to five years before needing replacement, making the Max model an incredible investment for long-term upkeep of large spaces.

There are also two pre-filters which help keep larger debris from clogging up the ever-important HEPA filter, and you can easily remove and vacuum these screens clean.

The Shark NeverChange Max has the Shark Clean Sense IQ displayed on the front which gives you a real-time analysis of air quality in a percentage, as well as a color-coded circle. When on auto mode, the Shark air purifier will adjust the filter’s speed to keep indoor air as clean as possible. Seeing this percentage readout has been helpful in my home to understand that the kitchen has terrible air flow if we cook bacon or the air fryer cooks for a bit too long.

Compact enough to sit on a side table or counter Nearly 90K 5-star reviews at Amazon Portable and easy to set up from room to room No auto mode based on air quality monitoring Not the best option for serious pet odors It makes so much sense that the Levoit Core 300P has long been one of the most popular and best air purifiers at Amazon — it’s just a true bang for your buck. This Levoit HEPA air purifier has been purchased by nearly 110,000 people and given five stars by a vast majority of its reviewers. If you’re looking for a simple unbox-and-go air purifier for a single room, this is an easy choice under $100.

Several folks at Mashable back the Levoit Core 300P too, including Digital Culture Editor Crystal Bell and her cat. She loves how compact it is compared to the amount of space it covers, noting how much smaller it is than her Coway Airmega. Measuring 14.2 inches tall and less than nine inches in diameter, the Levoit Core 300P can be a floor purifier or a tabletop purifier. It’s more than lightweight enough to move from room to room as necessary.

Perfect size for a nightstand Great air purifier for a dorm room Several cute pastel color options HEPA filter lasts up to five years No handle Read my full review of the Shark NeverChange Compact Pro.

For a small bedroom, office, or dorm, the Shark NeverChange Air Purifier Compact Pro is perfect. For starters, it looks like a cute little robot that’s focused on keeping your lungs healthy but it also comes in fun colorway options. It’s designed to filter air in rooms of up to 250 square feet. Like the Shark NeverChange Max, this purifier comes with a HEPA filter that can last for up to five years. In the long run, that might save you serious money on replacement filters. It also uses Shark’s CleanSense IQ display which gives an air quality reading as a percentage, which I much prefer over a color-coded system.

When I tested the Shark Compact Pro, I left it on my nightstand for weeks and occasionally, I had to check if it was even on because it’s just that quiet.

The lack of a way to carry the purifier is a bummer, and left me cradling it a bit like a delicate pineapple when I moved it from my bedroom to my desk.

Roller prevents hair and dander buildup on rotating HEPA filter Chic cream color doesn’t look plasticky 24/7 monitoring PM2.5, TVOC, temperature, and humidity Quiet for its large room capacity Built-in LED strip is super cozy Automatically shuts off if tipped over Not the most compact floor purifier App is stuck on 24-hour clock? Read our full review of the Dreame FP10.

This review comes from Senior Shopping Reporter Leah Stodart.

Pet fur can clog a HEPA filter much faster than many of us realize, physically blocking effective filtration of even the tiniest particulate matter. Most traditional air purifiers would require weekly filter washing to keep up with shedding from multiple pets. The Dreame FP10 cleans its own filter with its unique Furcatch roller. The air quality tracker in the app is proof that the filter hasn’t lost its effectiveness over the past few months. According to Dreame, this filter can last up to two years.

As pet hair gets sucked in from the air, this built-in ChomChom flicks back and forth to pull hair off of the filter before it affects airflow. The HEPA filter itself also rotates inside the cylindrical purifier for 360-degree filtration. The floor unit has been such a refreshing to my living room, which is large and open in terms of design but incredibly poorly ventilated. The FP10’s white noise is subtle enough that it can live near the TV and couch without interrupting. Even the roar of Pet Purify mode is very tolerable.

My two cats are the reason I wanted a pet-specific air purifier in the first place. It only makes sense that Dreame designed the FP10 knowing damn well that cats are going to sit on it. Its flat canvas top supports a maximum weight of 33 pounds and is bottom-heavy to prevent toppling over.

Doubles as nightlight, sunrise alarm clock, and white noise machine Comprehensive air quality metrics including temperature, humidity, and CO2 level Fantastic app for parents Free library with 100+ ambient sounds Expensive Kids get all the cool stuff and now we’re forced to add the Leviot Sprout Air Purifier to that list, although who’s to say this can’t be used in an adult’s bedroom? The Levoit Sprout has some of the coolest features I’ve ever seen in an air purifier which includes a built-in nightlight and a speaker that plays white noise. For babies and kids, all of these features wrapped into one machine is a parent’s dream come true. Kids are especially at risk when there’s wildfire smoke outside and both the CDC and the EPA recommend using portable air cleaners to keep kids safe while inside. The Sprout uses a four-filter system to rid air of harmful particles and that includes a three-stage pre filter and a HEPA filter.

Major bonus points go to the Levoit Sprout for its superior air-quality metrics and incredible app. Most air purifiers give air quality metrics but those often come with a simple color-coded system or a percentage, if you’re lucky. The Levoit Sprout blows all of those out of the water by showing real-time reading on CO2 levels, TVOCs (total volatile organic compounds), PM 1.0, PM 2.5, and PM10. You also get information (and charts in the app) about room temperature and humidity.

From the app, you can control the night light’s brightness and color warmth, choose from one of the five pre-set white noise options, and set a timer or a schedule.

The Sprout has plenty of great functions that are suited to a nursery but if we’re being honest, what adult would be mad about a nightlight during a 3 a.m. bathroom trip or some calming ocean sounds?

Heated and cooled air is also filtered 350 degree oscillation Thoughtful design touches Slick Blueair app Easy to carry Expensive Replacing filters twice a year gets pricey Read my full review of the Blueair ComfortPure 3-in-1.

If you’re investing in an air purifier to protect your lungs during wildfire season, you might as well go with a model you’ll find useful year-round. Since it serves as an air purifier, fan, and heater, the Blueair ComfortPure 3-in-1 is worth considering. In all modes, the Blueair pushes out filtered air that has 99.97% of particles removed, including smoke. When testing this model, I continuously noticed attractive design details, like the convenient handle for carrying the purifier from room to room and the magnetic closure system when accessing the filter.

The Blueair app is also a joy. It’s packed with features, control options, and even has a function that’ll turn the purifier on when you’re 15 minutes away from home. The app also tracks outdoor air quality, which can be super helpful when determining if and when you should be using the purifier inside. The Blueair ComfortPure also gets top marks in the overall look category since it’s modern and simple.

The good and the bad Modern look with small footprint Certified to be Asthma and Allergy Friendly Filters on fan and heat mode Convenient remote control LG app compatibility Expensive Replacement filters are pricey Most of us are not shopping for an air purifier to add decor to our homes. We’re looking for something that cleans the air, but if it happens to have a nice design, that’s a bonus. LG paid attention to design with the PuriCare AeroTower Air Purifier with its modern and attractive aesthetic. Because it’s a tower shape, it also takes up less space on the floor.

In terms of purifying the air, LG has some major wins with this model. Like many air purifiers, it has a pre-filter that helps capture larger particles like dust and hair, and behind this is a NanoFiber True HEPA Filter which LG says captures 99.97% of particulate matter, including smoke. A deodorizer filter with activated carbon is meant to help with removing unwanted scents like cooking smells.

Another major benefit is carrying an allergy and asthma friendly certification issued by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. This certification is rare and indicates LG isn’t messing around with filtration. In a room of about 185 square feet, the LG PuriCare AeroTower takes just 15 minutes which works out to four total air changes per hour, and those are reassuring numbers when it comes to wildfire smoke.

The purifier’s LCD display is useful, and so is the included remote. Linking up to LG’s ThinQ App gives you even more control of the purifier and allows you easy access to stats like air quality, temperature, and humidity.

Plus, this model can also heat the room with 140 degree oscillation, so you’ll be able to find a use for this model year-round.

The benefits of an air purifierIf your neighborhood gets socked in with wildfire smoke, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends you keep windows and doors closed. Even still, it’s possible smoke can seep in under doors, through cracks, or from vents in the kitchen and bathroom. Running a portable air purifier can help cut down on harmful particles that might enter your home.

Air purifiers work by sucking in the room’s air and sending it through a filtration system.

Most high-quality air purifiers do so with a HEPA filter (High Efficiency Particulate Air) in addition to a few other filters. A pre-filter is a great addition, and it looks similar to a screen with a fine weave. These help capture dust and hair, which leaves the more-important HEPA filter cleaner and less clogged up from larger debris that can float around in the air. A HEPA filter is capable of removing 99.97% of tiny particulate matter in the air that we can’t see, but can cause us discomfort, according to the EPA. That includes wildfire smoke, cigarette smoke, pollution from nearby traffic, pollen, and dust.

A briefing on particulate matter: PM 10 and PM 2.5When shopping for an air purifier, you’ll see many models explain that they capture particulate matter, or PM. For the most part, that’s stuff in the air that you don’t really want to inhale. We measure PM by its diameter. Either with an on-unit display or in the app, most air purifiers will track the level of PM 10 and PM 2.5 in the air. To help get a baseline of understanding, a single strand of human hair measures between 50 and 70 microns in diameter, according to measurements from the EPA.

PM 10: Particulate matter that measures 10 microns in diameter includes dust, pollen, mold, and some wildfire smoke particles.

PM 2.5: These tiny particles measure 2.5 microns in diameter, which is true of the majority of particles emitted from wildfire smoke.

Since PM is so small, it can enter our bloodstream and nestle itself deep in the lungs, according to Yale Medicine.

Do air purifiers help with allergies and viruses?Since HEPA filters are designed to scrub the air of potentially harmful particles, they can also help cut down on pollen, dust, and even viruses. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America says using a HEPA filter can reduce airborne allergens that wind up indoors. That can be from an open window, your clothes you wore to the park, or even when the dog comes home from a walk.

An air purifier with a HEPA filter can also be helpful during cold and flu season. Not all virus particles are large enough to get captured by HEPA filters. However, many are launched into the air via a cough or sneeze so those virus particles are traveling within a larger particle (what the CDC calls a respiratory droplet) which can get filtered out by a HEPA. By no means does using an air purifier mean you won’t get ill if you hang out in a room with a sick person all day, but it might reduce the likelihood.

We’ve hands-on tested all of the air purifiers in this review, and we chose to only include models that use a HEPA filter. You can find less expensive purifiers on the market, but their claims of filtration can often be questionable. Since breathing in wildfire smoke can be a hazard, we don’t think messing around with filtration assurance is desirable. As we spent time with each of these air purifiers in our own homes, the following factors were top of mind:

Replacement filters and frequency

Nothing lasts forever and you’ll need to replace the HEPA filter eventually. Some brands, like Shark, have developed filters that are designed to last longer than the standard. We also only selected air purifiers that include a pre-filter to catch larger stuff like dust and hair. That keeps the HEPA filter cleaner and will extend the time before you’ll need a replacement.

We aimed to include a range of purifiers to cover every room size. You’ll want to match your room size to the size the purifier can efficiently cover. Since larger models tend to come with a higher price point, you can save yourself some money by getting one that’s designed for a similarly sized space.

Cleaning the air shouldn’t have to be a loud event, so we went with air purifiers that rank lower on the decibel scale.