Keep your home free from dander and allergies with the best air purifier for pets

Clean up the air and reduce odour and allergens with advanced filtration tech.

Best air purifier for pets

by Natalie Knowles |
Updated on

Owning a cat or dog with a pet allergy can actually be possible with one of the best air purifiers for pets and homes. You may be wondering what exactly is an air purifier and how it can help. Essentially it's an electric fan with multiple filters to trap dust and hair and some models have advanced filters that make it possible to capture odours and even bacteria and viruses. If you've been meticulously using your pet carpet cleaner to clean up after your furry bestie and your Shih Tzu is still making you achoo – an air purifier can help remove the pet dander.

While a pet hair remover keeps soft furnishings, carpets and bedding free from pet hair and other pet-related allergens, what about the environment itself? It's no joke if you live in a small home and the poor air quality is causing well-being and even health issues. Your furry friend is not to blame, but it may be that their fur and dander (flaky skin particles) are causing you or a loved one to suffer allergy symptoms. That's where an air purifier can make all the difference.

Best air purifier for pets at a glance:

Best air purifier for cleaning the air fast

Blueair Blue Max 3250i Smart WiFi Air Purifier

Best air purifier for filter life span

Shark NeverChange5 Air Purifier

Best air purifier for large spaces

Dyson Purifier Cool™ Gen1 TP10 purifying fan

Best air purifiers for medium-sized spaces

Bosch Air 4000 Air Purifier

When it comes to choosing the best air purifier for a household with pets, it's worth going for a model that has an activated carbon filter as well as a HEPA filter. Number one: it will reduce the amount of particulates in the air. And, number two... it'll take care of feline musk and pooch pong.

Air purifiers are great for keeping sneezes at bay, but that's not all. They can help keep that eau de wet fur smell from your moggy or doggy at bay, which you may not be able to notice, but visitors to your home can! Pet odour eliminators can work wonders to mask the smell, but it's an air purifier that'll go the distance. Take a look at our top picks below...

Best air purifier for pets

Tested

Best air purifier for cleaning the air fast

Blueair

The streamlined and cylindrical Blueair Blue Max 3250i Smart WiFi Air Purifier is smart, powerful and stylish. It has unique HEPASilent™ technology that cleans air faster and with less noise than a H13 HEPA filter. It quickly cleans air: 20m sq in 12.5 minutes or 48m sq in 30 minutes, plus there's a particle sensor to measure the fine particles in the air. Four layers of filtration provide advanced pollutant removal that reduces pollen, pet dander, dust, bacteria/viruses, VOC, chemicals, smoke, dust mite matter, mould allergens, and cooking odours. An LED indicator displays the air quality through a colour indicator and the outer pre-filter is a removable fabric that's available in a range of colours, so you can customise this unit to complement your décor.

Tested by Commercial Content Writer, Natalie Knowles: "This Blueair air purifier makes big claims about its ability to detect pollutants in the air and safely filter them. Yes, on the first go it absolutely improved the air quality. It produced fresh, chilled air and circulated it around the room. Dust was significantly reduced. On a sunny day with it on the Boost setting, I could literally see motes of dust floating across the room towards the unit. On a low setting, it's barely audible at 18dB, while on settings 2 and 3 it's like white noise, at a maximum 46dB.

"It was extremely easy to set up the app and connect the air purifier via Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. I'm fascinated by the real-time air quality analysis. Also, I can control the fan speed via my phone or voice assistant. It immediately responds to any change in the settings. I'm very impressed with the ease and seamlessness of it after having a so-called smart coffee machine that was anything but!

"Now, it really blew my socks off for a couple of reasons. First, its ability to remove odour. By sheer accident, I'd put too much laundry detergent in the washing machine and the fragrance was mightily strong. Within a couple of minutes on Boost, this Blue Max 3250i had got the pungent smell under control. Next, is its ability to detect vapour and clean it. Just as a bit of an experiment, my partner used his vape beside the unit. My goodness, it went red within seconds. I was gobsmacked. Quickly looking at the Blueair app gave me real-time analytics on how long it would take to clean the air. But, it actually removed the vapour much faster because I had it set on Boost.

"As someone who knows how debilitating allergies can be, this Blueair is an absolute game-changer. It's smart, stylish and easy to use – plus, its ability to vacuum the air is astonishing. If you are combatting pet hair, dander and strong odours, I recommend this large Blueair model."

Pros

  • Advanced HEPA and carbon filtration that's the best in the industry for capturing the widest range of allergens and pollutants
  • Control it via the app and monitor real-time air quality metrics – it's very easy
  • Minimalist design that's compact and stylish
  • Astonishingly sensitive pollutant detection – quite an eye-opener!

Cons

  • Replacement filter is expensive
Dimensions:H48.1 x W26.9 x D26.9cm
Weight: ‎‎3.39kg
Filter:3 stage, fabric pre-filter, main HEPA filter, activated carbon layer
  • Designed in Sweden
  • Certified Quiet Mark
  • Independently verified for its performance

Best air purifier for filter life span

Shark NeverChange5 Air Purifier HP150UKShark/Amazon

Combat canine cologne with the Shark NeverChange5 Air Purifier. The filter has a five-year lifespan – that's 10 times longer than a standard air filter. It comes with an odour neutraliser, so it's a great choice for a household with pets. There's a timer to adjust how long you want it to run and you can turn the lights off with Night mode.

Online reviews say that all the parts feel sturdy and the dust filter easily pops out so it can be cleaned. It's quiet running, silent on the lowest setting but quite loud on the highest setting (there are five settings).

On the display, overall PMi tells you how big the particles are in the air. It's actually powerful enough to removes smoke if food burns in the kitchen.

Pros

  • Tells you the air quality of the room
  • Auto-senses and activates if the air quality deteriorates
  • Not very heavy so you can move it around the house
  • It can transform the fragrance of a room

Cons

  • The filter actually needs replacing every five years
Dimensions:H38.5 x W23.7 x D26.6cm
Weight:3.32kg
Filter:DebrisDefence / Medium Particle / Activated Carbon / NanoSeal HEPA

Best air purifier for large spaces

Dyson Purifier Cool™ Gen1 TP10 purifying fanDyson

It's a tower fan plus so much more. The Dyson Purifier Cool™ Gen1 TP10 purifying fan contains a HEPA filter and carbon filter to enhance your home's air quality. Air gets sucked in, filtered and expelled as clean air. It has sensors that can continuously monitor air quality and the display shows particle levels in the air and even the types of particulates. However, there are no smart features with this model as it does not connect to Wi-Fi. It is operated by a remote control that can stick to the fan by magnetism. If you lose the remote control, you'll need to buy a replacement as there are no button controls on the fan itself.

Online reviews praise this Dyson Purifier for being a quality, sturdy build with parts that neatly click together. It is audible on the higher settings but it's a general white noise and it's very quiet below power level six. Choose from pre-set run times or activate continuous monitoring.

Pros

  • Oscillates from side to side or almost 360°
  • Air multiplier technology that purifies as well as cools air
  • Very effective filtration

Cons

  • Tall and heavy, so it will need a dedicated floor space, plus it lacks smart features
Dimensions:H105 x W22 x D12cm
Weight:4.73kg
Filter:Glass HEPA filter, activated carbon filter

Best air purifiers for medium-sized spaces

Bosch Air 4000 Air PurifierBosch/Amazon

If you're concerned about maintaining a clean and healthy indoor environment this is a top choice. The Bosch Air 4000 Air Purifier removes 99.9 per cent of pollutants, including dust, allergens and other harmful particles. It has an air quality sensor that requires cleaning every few months. The display is more basic than the Shark and Dyson models which some users may prefer. A ring of light indicates the air quality. Also, it has a 1.6-metre power cable which gives more scope for positioning than a shorter lead.

Customers praise this Bosch air purifier for being quiet-running and lightweight to move around. It's effective in reducing pet odour. Reviews also say that the night mode is silent and there's no illumination to affect sleep. Another review comments that it lacks smart functionality; it doesn't connect to Wi-Fi or an app. While some will see this as a shortcoming, others may prefer the simplicity.

Another common comment amongst reviews is about cleaning the removable HEPA filter. Some customers have prolonged the lifespan of the filter by taking it outside and cleaning it.

Pros

  • Auto mode: it will adjust the fan speed itself depending on the air quality
  • The LED light ring around the air purifier shows you the quality of your air, denoted by different colours
  • Child lock function to prevent little fingers from tampering with it, if it's within reach

Cons

  • It's big and will need a spot on the floor or on a large and sturdy table
Dimensions:H50 x W29.1 x D29.1cm
Weight:5.8kg
Filter:Pre filter + HEPA + Active carbon

Best air purifier for CADR rate

Philips 800 Series Air PurifierPhilips/Amazon

The Philips 800 Series Air Purifier boasts a high CADR (Clean Air Delivery Rate). It can clean the air in a room up to 49m sq in just 16 minutes. Added to that, it has a low power consumption, using just 20W on maximum. Its sensor is fine-tuned to detect the air quality and it has a NanoProtect HEPA filter that captures particles down to 0.003 microns (smaller than the smallest known virus). It's quiet-running unless it's on Turbo, which swiftly but audibly cleans the air in the room.

This is a number one best seller on Amazon, with over 1,740 reviews rating it 4.6 out of 5. Customers praise it for being extremely lightweight and effective at reducing dust in the air. Some reviews go as far as to say that it halved the dust in their household.

A customer commented that they found the automatic mode a bit erratic as it would randomly switch from the minimum to maximum speed. But this might be due to its very sensitive sensor that is reacting to changes in the air, such as cooking fumes or smoke.

Pros

  • Eliminates 99.5% of airborne allergens, plus it removes bacteria and viruses too
  • Auto mode detects changes in the air quality
  • Smaller and lighter than other options
  • Sleep mode with a dimming light is silent running

Cons

  • The removable filter needs to be replaced every 12 months
Dimensions:25 x 25 x 36.7cm
Weight:2.3kg
Filter:Pre-filter, 2-layer NanoProtect HEPA filtration

Best air purifiers for low energy consumption

LEVOIT Air PurifierLEVOIT/Amazon

Ideal for a home office or small bedroom, this compact air purifier is powerful enough to pick up dust and other allergens before they have a chance to settle. It purifies the air in a 17m sq space in 30 minutes. Plus, it has an aroma pad that allows you to add a few drops of essential oil so you can scent your home.

The LEVOIT Air Purifier Core Mini has a top and bottom section that opens to reveal the removable filter. The upper section contains the motor and control panel. It automatically dims its display after one minute, so while it doesn't have night mode – it is not lit either – and it's whisper quiet at just 25dB. Do bear in mind the higher settings are audible, between 44-54dB. It is cheap to run as it only consumes 7W—that's minimal in comparison to a kettle, for example, which can use 3000W. Like most air purifiers it has a three-stage filter. The pre-filter captures large particles, such as dust and pet hair. This prevents them from clogging the HEPA filter, which captures fine dust, dander, pollen and smoke particles. The activated carbon filter physically absorbs odour and fumes and helps to neutralise smoke.

The downsides are that it doesn't have any advanced features and it's slower than other air purifiers in cleaning the air. In a smoke box test, it took a minute to clear the air on its highest setting. In addition, this means it's not as effective in neutralising odour.

Customer reviews indicate that this is a great air purifier to improve the air quality (and cool it) during the night. It's helped people to sleep better. So, while it's not as effective as other air purifiers for CADR, it's a generally good unit for improving wellbeing and cutting down on dust.

Pros

  • Awarded Quiet Mark for being quiet running
  • Removes 97% of airborne particles up to 0.3 microns in size
  • Replacement filters are cheap

Cons

  • The filter needs to be replaced every few months, but they are reasonably priced
Dimensions:H26.4 x W16.5 x D16.5cm
Weight:1.06kg
Filter:HEPA filter with fragrance sponge

Best air purifier for adding a fragrance

CONOPU Air PurifierCONOPU/Amazon

The CONOPU Air Purifier is a good budget option. It's small and portable and it can be moved from room to room. At 22W it's economical to run and there's a timer function if you prefer to limit its run-time. Unlike other air purifiers, it has top and bottom blue LED lights (that can be turned off) to create a relaxing ambience. Used in conjunction with its fragrance pad, you can create a relaxing ambience.

It has three-stage filtration and can change the air five times an hour in a medium-sized room. It's a great choice if you want a compact air purifier that has some aesthetic functions. Plus, it's a very reasonable price.

The CONOPU Air Purifier is an Amazon's Choice recommended with over 5,375 reviews rating it 4.3 out of 5. Customers praise the unit for reducing the amount of dust around their homes and helping to alleviate allergies. The only criticism is that some reviews comment that it's noisier than expected.

Pros

  • Add essential oils to the absorbent pad to fragrance a room
  • Standard size HEPA 13 filter, so it's easy to replace
  • Optional lights to create a relaxing ambience
  • Effective in reducing dust and alleviating allergic symptoms

Cons

  • Some customers comment that it's noisy
Dimensions:H24.7 x W17.1 x D16cm
Weight:1.59kg
Filter:Pre-filter, H13 HEPA filter, activated carbon filter

Best smart air purifier

LEVOIT Smart HEPA Air PurifierLEVOIT/Amazon

If you're looking for a cutting-edge device that can reduce pet dander, odours and allergens, the LEVOIT Smart HEPA Air Purifier is a brilliant option. It's compact and powerful, with advanced features including app control. The smart technology includes an air quality sensor, air quality indicator and auto mode. It draws in air through the vents on the front panel and the openings on the sides. Air is filtered and exits through the grill on the top of the unit. Unusually, this has a large rectangular filter. The washable pre-filter doesn't need replacing, while the HEPA filter can last up to a year. In addition, the activated carbon filter, which absorbs odours, will need replacing once or twice a year.

It has a slightly higher wattage than the other air purifiers, at 35W (which is still economical). Its noise range is from 40.5dB to 65.4dB on maximum, which is equivalent to a person talking. Whilst on auto mode or sleep mode it is silent. Also, its coverage is 20m sq.

It's an Amazon's Choice recommended product, with over 15,440 reviews rating LEVOIT 4.7 out of 5. Customers highly praise the effectiveness of this air purifier. It's helped people with lung disease improve their symptoms. The air sensor can rapidly detect changes in air quality, for example, cigarette smoke. Whilst it is a higher price point than other air purifiers, reviews say it's been well worth the money. The only quibble is that it requires replacement filters, and some people found that to be costly.

Pros

  • On the app, you get more data, and you can compare air quality changes over a period of time
  • Has several functions, including auto, sleep, timer and fan speed
  • Lights up in different colours to indicate the air quality

Cons

  • Will need replacement filters every 9-12 months
Dimensions:H40.6 x W32.1 x D16cm
Weight: ‎‎3.4kg
Filter:HEPA 3-stage filter

Best desktop air purifier

QUEENTY Air PurifierQUEENTY/Amazon

Make the air a bit more pleasant with the QUEENTY Air Purifier. It's small and compact – with two fan speeds – making it ideal for a desktop. It takes air in through the vents in the body and expels clean air through the fan head. It releases negative ions to help reduce allergic symptoms by attaching to airborne particles and removing them from the air. This small unit is intended for rooms 10m sq in size. It can oscillate 38° or rotate 360° to circulate clean air faster. It's extremely energy efficient, using just 2W of power. Also, it's whisper quiet at less than 35dB.

The HEPA filter needs to be replaced every six months. Twist to unlock and remove the filter. It has three-stage filtration: including a pre-filter, a true HEPA filter and an activated carbon filter.

Customer reviews are positive about its effectiveness as a small air purifier. However, some have been disappointed with its performance as a fan. Do bear in mind it is primarily for reducing allergens in the air; the cooling benefit is secondary.

Pros

  • Super quiet running
  • Cost-effective in comparison to running a large air purifier
  • Releases negative ions, too

Cons

  • Best suited to a home office or bedroom
Dimensions:H33.5 x W10.5 x D8cm
Weight: ‎‎730g
Filter:3-in-1 HEPA filter

Tested

Best small air purifier

Natalie Knowles/Blueair

The Blueair Blue Pure 511 is the smaller cousin to the Blueair Blue Max 3250i Smart WiFi Air Purifier. The unique Blueair filter technology helps to reduce pet and pollen allergy symptoms as well as having holistic benefits, including improving your skin, sleep quality and wellbeing. It takes in air from all directions, so while it's a compact unit, it still has a large filtration surface. It has a fast CADR (Clean Air Delivery Rate), purifying a 16m sq room in 12.5 minutes or a 38m sq room in 30 minutes. This helps to remove particles from the air, including smoke, pollen and bacteria that can trigger allergic reactions.

The removable fabric layer is the first stage of filtration, trapping hair and larger dust particles. There are five fabric pre-filter colours to choose from, all neutral and Scandi stylish. Use the Blueair app or control panel to select from five modes: auto, night and three-speed settings. The app will also tell you the remaining lifespan of the filter and when it needs replacing.

Tested by Commercial Content Writer, Natalie Knowles: "It may be small, the size of a table lamp, but this Blueair Blue Pure 511 is really powerful. I tested the Max model as well and the fan size on this smaller unit is comparable. The only feature it lacks is a light indicator to show the air quality, but you could monitor that through the Blueair app.

"It came with clear and well-designed instructions that showed how to operate the air purifier, connect it to the Blueair app, replace the inner filter and wash the pre-filter.

"I checked my electricity usage whilst running the air purifier and it hardly made a difference. I'd say this smaller model is best suited to small and medium-sized rooms. Also, it provides a wonderful cooling breeze on a hot day. I use it a night too and the constant supply of fresh, cool air helps me sleep better and reduces my congestion that's caused by allergies.

"All-in-all, this air purifier is ideal for a home office or bedroom. It's really quiet, effective and inconspicuous."

Pros

  • Cheap to run
  • Doesn't take up a lot of space
  • Effective at cleaning the air fast

Cons

  • No light indicator to show the air quality
Dimensions:H34 x W20 x D20cm
Weight: ‎‎1.9kg
Filter:Certified HEPA

How we chose the best air purifier for pets

All of these air purifiers have been hand-selected by our team of Take A Break Pets shopping experts. We carefully considered filter technology, noise level and affordability in our selection of the best. Our team has spent hours investigating and researching air purifiers to make it easier for you to find the very best, and we'd never recommend a product we don't believe in.

With pets big and small on our team, where possible we'll share the best products that have been tried and tested by our own furry friends who have given their paw of approval. And, with help from veterinary experts, we share their knowledge to ensure everything we choose is paw-fect for your pet.

Our verdict: Which is the best air purifier for pets?

Natalie says: "Personally, for a household with pets, I would go for the larger Blueair Blue Max 3250i Smart unit. It has a huge surface filter and it cleans the air fast. The app control is really straight forward and it's fascinating to see how sensitive the unit is to cooking fumes and even cleaning products.

"As an allergy sufferer, this air purifier has increased my wellbeing and improved my quality of sleep during the pollen season. If you have a pet household and a loved one who suffers from allergies, I highly recommend Blueair. Also, I genuinely found that it cuts down the dust in the air so there's one less chore to worry about!"

Using the Blueair app to control and monitor that Blueair Blue Max 3250i Smart WiFi Air Purifier
©Blueair

Lars Dunberger, Technology Development Manager for B Corp air purifier expert, Blueair, explains why Blueair improves indoor air quality and reduces allergens:

"The Blueair Blue Max is a high-performing air purifier which can improve the quality of your indoor air by filtering out allergens, pollutants and other harmful airborne particles from the air. B Corp Brand Blueair’s air purifiers eliminate approximately 99.97 per cent of all pollen from the air via the incorporation of their HEPAsilent filtration technology. This can vastly improve air quality and create a pollen-free home environment."

Top tips to improve indoor air quality and reduce allergic symptoms

• Take regular showers, change clothes and wash sheets in hot water to remove any pollen taken in from outside into the home.

• Keep windows closed.

• Vacuum upholstery and carpets regularly. Go for a vacuum designed to remove pet hair.

• Bathe pets who spend a frequent amount of time outdoors.

• One of the most effective pollen management strategies is to use a high-performing air purifier to remove pollen, dust and other small allergens in living spaces and bedrooms where you spend the most time.

Comparing the size of Blueair air purifiers
©Natalie Knowles/Blueair

Air purifier for pet home FAQs

What is the difference between humidifiers, purifiers, dehumidifiers and air conditioning units?

Humidifiers add moisture to the air, purifiers remove contaminants, dehumidifiers reduce humidity, and air conditioners cool the air while also reducing humidity. Each device serves a different purpose for improving indoor air quality and comfort.

An air purifier with a true HEPA filter is the best for allergies. It effectively removes allergens such as pollen, pet dander, dust mites, and other airborne particles, relieving allergy sufferers by improving indoor air quality.

What is a HEPA filter?

A HEPA filter is defined by international standards. It must capture at least 99.95 per cent of particles down to 0.3 microns in size, ensuring effective filtration of dust, pollen, pet dander and other airborne particulates. HEPA stands for high-efficiency particulate air filter. Look out for wording such as 'true HEPA filter' as this reflects that the filter meets international standards, however, other wording such as 'HEPA-style' or 'HEPA-like' may mean that it hasn't been independently tested or passed the standards.

What is the difference between a true HEPA and HEPA 13 filter?

HEPA filters are graded from HEPA 9 (least efficient) to HEPA 13 (most efficient). HEPA13 is a medical-grade filter that can remove airborne viruses and bacteria.

What is CADR?

CADR stands for Clean Air Delivery Rate. It measures an air purifier’s effectiveness in filtering pollutants like smoke, dust and pollen. The measurement indicates the volume of clean air produced per minute.

Why is it important not to use a humidifier if you have an allergy?

Chris Michael, managing director of air treatment brand Meaco explains: "Humidifiers are a very useful product to improve air quality in the home, for personal comfort and to protect furniture, but for allergies, you would be better off with either a dehumidifier or an air purifier depending on [the] allergen.

"A humidifier is not a tool to be used if you have an allergy.  Common household allergies include allergic reactions to mould and dust mites’ allergens, for these you would want to reduce relative humidity to slow down the dust mite reproduction cycle and to stop mould spores from being produced. For hay fever, you would be better off with an air purifier to capture the pollen."

Natalie Knowles is a Homes & Garden Product Writer for Take A Break Pets, specialising in all things cats and dogs. In her other life Natalie is a successful artist and illustrator.

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