To keep it at peak performance, you’ll want to ensure no sides are obstructed. The motor is in the top part of the air purifier, which is also where the clean air is dispersed. If you leave the Levoit running for long enough, it can probably capture all of the dust from some small rooms. If your outside air quality is good enough (or your room is sealed tightly enough) that you’re not worried about outside dust coming in through the doors and windows, you probably don’t need an air purifier at all. Here are other air purifiers to consider, which we include here based on expert guidance from our previous reporting and Select reader interest. They may be worth considering if you need to clear the air in a larger room than mine or if you want a dual-function purifier.
Two more buttons allow you to control the fan speed and the nightlight, while a ‘Check filter’ indicator button lights up when the filter needs replacing. The simple controls are easy to use and operate, making this a good entry-level air purifier for the home. In my testing, the Levoit air purifier successfully removed airborne particulates and smoky smells, but it took longer than other models I tested. That’s not really surprising since the Levoit is a fraction of the size and consumes less electrical power. Manufacturers typically base their room-size recommendations on tests with the machines set on high—no doubt for marketing purposes, but also because CADR ratings are usually based on this setting. Purifiers rated for spaces larger than the one you plan to use them in can operate on lower, quieter speeds.
Levoit claims their purifier can trap 99.97% of fine particles that are 0.3 microns in size, including pollutants such as dust, pollen, and smoke. Three fan speeds allow users to choose quieter settings for nighttime or watching TV, and the dimmable night light makes this purifier a smart choice for kids’ bedrooms. Blueair recommends replacing the filter “every six months or so.” Following that schedule, you spend $80 a year on replacements versus about $50 or less for the Coway AP-1512HH and the Winix machines. That’s still solid, and when we installed new filters and tested again, the machine performed like new—the motor and fan were working perfectly. But we take that result as an indication that the 311 Auto is a more sensitive to filter life than some other purifiers, so it’s best to stick to the six-months-or-so schedule.
Close to $1,000 is a lot to spend on an air purifier, especially if you need multiple units throughout the home. But Dyson has proven itself splurge-worthy in other product categories, from cordless vacuums to hair dryers, and that’s what our experts levoit air filter found with its latest air purifier, the Dyson Humidify+Cool Formaldehyde. Tanya Christian joined Consumer Reports as a multimedia content creator in 2021, bringing with her more than a decade of experience in the home and lifestyle space.
A person must replace the filter every 6 months, which costs around $50. Positive customer reviews describe the product as affordable and effective. This product has certification from the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM), which means its ability to reduce smoke, dust, and pollen goes through independent testing. A one-time roofer and a serial remodeler, Dan can often be found keeping house at his restored Brooklyn brownstone, where he lives with his wife and kids. Rachel Rothman (she/her) is the chief technologist and executive technical director at the Good Housekeeping Institute, where she oversees testing methodology, implementation and reporting for all GH Labs. She also manages GH’s growing research division and the analysis of applicants for the GH Seal and all other testing emblems.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)(opens in a new tab) states that high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters can remove up to 99.97% of dust, pollen, and any other airborne particles with a size of 0.3 microns. Agarwal says that the exact magnitude of the effects of an air filter for asthma is not well established, but reviews of several studies have demonstrated a positive benefit (aka reduced symptoms) after prolonged periods of use. During our at-home testing of the Levoit Vital 200s, we tested the ambient air quality of a bedroom measuring 140 square feet using an air particle meter. The air particle meter records air particles measuring 0.3, 2.5 and 10 microns. We checked the air quality before and after using the Levoit Vital 200s for 15 to 30 minutes on its auto setting, which automatically controls the fan settings according to air quality.
It’s washable and interchangeable, so you can switch it up occasionally if you’d like, but you don’t need to invest in more than one. “We all know that horrifying feeling when you see the dirty filter of an air purifier to realize what we’ve been breathing into our lungs and bloodstream all these years,” says Dr. Zhang Yan, Founder and CEO of air purification levoit purifier company Airdog. She holds dozens of patents and launched the first ionic air purifiers in the North American market in 2017. We also carried out two further tests, lighting matches and burning incense cones, and measuring the air particles before and after using the air purifier at 15 minutes and 30 minutes, to see how well it coped with larger air particles.
That said, after we created the abnormal smoke conditions at the outset of the tests, from then on the New York test room was subject to only the natural, ambient air conditions and whatever leakage infiltrated the test room. So we deliberately countered that setup in our Los Angeles office, where we tested our top pick, the Coway Airmega AP-1512HH Mighty, and our large-space pick, the Blueair Blue Pure 211+, on handling ongoing smoke from burning incense sticks. And in that test, we learned that we had to run the machines on high to get meaningful purification (which both models achieved, cutting the particulates by half or more in 50 minutes).
In 2019, we tested two of Dyson’s latest-generation air purifiers, the Pure Cool TP04 and Pure Hot+Cool HP04. Of the two, the TP04 performed better, but neither model measured up well against our top pick, the Coway Airmega AP-1512HH Mighty, and our large-space pick, the Blueair Blue Pure 211+. The TP04 reduced particulate pollution by 86.6% in 30 minutes on its highest setting; compare that with 98.9% and 99.3% from the AP-1512HH and the Blue Pure 211+, respectively. On medium—which we set as fan speed 6 of the 10 speeds available—the TP04 managed just 74.4% reduction. The Coway and Blueair models, in contrast, scored 87.6% and 99.2%, respectively.
Put airborne contaminants where they can’t affect your family’s health. Try the
Levoit EverestAir™
for the ultimate customizable experience, and bring the travel-friendly
Levoit Core® Mini
on all your adventures—perfect for keeping cozy spaces fresh and
comfortable. With the Vital 200S, airborne pollutants that make you sneeze and cough won’t stand a chance.