Best Air Purifiers For The Office [Top 10 HEPA Filters]
In most offices, the air quality could be a lot better. Unless your office has an air purifier, you’re probably breathing in some allergens and other airborne contaminants that could affect your health.
Some air purifiers are just glorified fans while others will actually help to purify the air. You want one that actually takes in the contaminants and sends out clean, healthy air.
pTable of Contents
- 1 IQAir Healthpro Plus – Best for Removing Odor
- 2 Alen BreatheSmart Customizable Air Purifier – A Smart Purifier
- 3 Austin Air B400B1 Standard Unit Healthmate – Cleaner Air On Wheels
- 4 Honeywell True HEPA Allergen Remover – A More Affordable HEPA Purifier
- 5 Philips AC2889/41 Air Purifier 2000i – A High-Tech Air Cleaner for the Data Lover
- 6 GermGuardian AC4825 3-in-1 with True HEPA Filter – Also a Sanitizer
- 7 VEVA 8000 Elite Pro Series Air Cleaner – True HEPA Filter – Narrow Profile But Powerful
- 8 hOmeLabs 3 in 1 Ionic Air Purifier – Best Cheap Option For Desktop or Cubicle Use
- 9 KOIOS Desktop Air Filtration with True HEPA Filter – An Ozone-Free Desktop Air Purifier
- 10 Levoit LV-PUR131 Air Purifying with True HEPA Filtration – Small Intake But Decent Filtering
- 11 Air Purifier Buyer’s Guide
Not all air purifiers are created equal! While adding an air purifier to the office can improve your quality of life by reducing the amount of dirty air you’re taking in, it’s important to only invest one that is actually going to do the job well.
This is especially true for allergy sufferers but absolutely everyone does better when they are breathing in cleaner air.
Through my personal research and testing, I’ve made a list of the 10 best air purifiers for the office. I considered type, size, price, and performance in creating this list. Read on to find the ideal air purifier for your office.
IQAir Healthpro Plus – Best for Removing Odor
Not every air purifier will help to remove odors but some of them will do a great job of sucking up smells while also removing other airborne contaminants like allergens and dust. The IQAir HealthPro Plus Air Purifier is a Consumers Digest Best Buy and you’ll see it consistently ranked high on “best of” lists.
It might be expensive, but as one Amazon reviewer wrote, it’s “absolutely worth the awesome price tag.”
This air purifier stands out for a number of reasons. It uses HEPA filtration but it goes even beyond that. Its patented HyperHEPA® filtration is up to 100X more effective than standard HEPA and it can filter ultrafine particles up to .003 microns.
The filter lasts a long time and an LED display lets you know where you are within the four stages of the filter life-cycle. In addition, the V5 cell provides advanced odor control. For allergy sufferers, it’s going to be nearly impossible to beat this purifier.
For a high-performance air purifier, this is also one of the quietest options on the market. It’s also extremely energy-efficient. In fact, it uses no more power than a conventional light bulb!
- high-performance particle filtering
- stops odor as well as allergens and other contaminants
- quiet
- simple operation
- energy efficient
- expensive
- replacement filters are pricey
- the odor-blocking filter emits a slight chemical odor
Alen BreatheSmart Customizable Air Purifier – A Smart Purifier
This not only makes it easier for you but it also extends the life of the filter and it conserves energy. Speaking of the filter, the Alen purifier uses HEPA-filter technology to block the overwhelming majority of particles like those from everyday allergens and smoke. It will also do a decent job of blocking odors.
The front panel comes in a number of colors. You could choose your favorite color or you could always choose a fun pop of color, perhaps a color that fits in with your company’s branding.
You can purchase this air purifier with some specialization, depending on your needs. The Everyday Allergens options will be the best fit for most offices.
This isn’t whisper-quiet, especially when needing to operate at a high level.
That said, a really great feature of this purifier is that it emits “pink noise” to cover up the sound of operation.
This is soothing background noise. It’s ideal for not disrupting sleep but it’s just as effective as blocking out distracting sounds in the office.
- Energy Star Certified
- front panel color choice
- sensors automatically detect and adjust
- Lifetime Limited Warranty (for USA and Mexico)
- HEPA filter captures most particles
- a bit expensive
- color is only on front panel, not whole unit
Austin Air B400B1 Standard Unit Healthmate – Cleaner Air On Wheels
This makes it extremely convenient. Another thing that makes this air purifier stand out is the 360-degree intake.
On most air purifiers, the air intake is limited to just the front or the sides. On the Healthmate, it sucks in the air on all sides. This ultimately means that it cleans more air more rapidly.
The third level is 15 lbs. of Activated Carbon and Zeolite to remove chemicals, gases, and odors. Finally, there is a True Medical Grade HEPA filter to remove all those small particles down to 0.3 microns in size.
- wheels to easily move it around room
- great for huge spaces (up to 1500 sq.ft.)
- 4-stage filtering removes the maximum amount of particles for cleaner air and reduced odors
- 360-degree intake system
- cleans air faster than many other air purifiers
- 5-year warranty
- expensive
- a bit loud
- not Energy Star certified
Honeywell True HEPA Allergen Remover – A More Affordable HEPA Purifier
The only negative is that it only works for a 465-sq-ft room, as compared to the 1,100 square feet the Alen can cleanse. For a smaller office, though, this Honeywell purifier should do a great job.
For a 465-sq-ft room, you can expect the air to be filtered and circulated a full five times an hour.
You have your choice of four different air cleaning levels: Germ, General Clean, Allergen, and Turbo. For each level, you can set it to automatically shut off after 2, 4, or 8 hours.
When air comes into the purifier, it first encounters the activated carbon pre-filter that absorbs VOCs/Gases/Odors and traps larger particles. Next, it goes to the HEPA filter that continuously captures up to 99.97% of the particles that pass through, as small as 0.3 microns.
For the best value, you’ll want to buy the bundle that comes with a number of replacement filters: HPA300 Air Purifier, Package each of HRF-R3 HEPA Filters, and HRF-APP1 Pre-Filters.
Otherwise, you’ll have to buy these separately down the line.
- Energy Star Qualified and AHAM Verified
- activated carbon pre-filter plus HEPA filter to trap odor and majority of particles
- 5 Year Limited warranty
- social proof of excellence
- easy to use
- more affordable price
- won’t work for really large open office spaces
- replacement filters are pricey
- really loud on Turbo mode
Philips AC2889/41 Air Purifier 2000i – A High-Tech Air Cleaner for the Data Lover
You can see some of this data right on the dashboard of the purifier itself, including a color ring that shows current air quality and a numerical Indoor Allergen Index.
The app goes an extra step in showing the real-time indoor and outdoor allergen levels. It also lets you do historical tracking and even provides advice and tools to reduce your allergen exposure. You can use the app as a remote control to adjust the settings of the filter. You can even do this if you aren’t in the office.
The app isn’t the only “high tech” feature, though. It also uses AeraSense technology that can detect even the slightest change in indoor air quality. When a change to air quality is sensed, it auto-adjusts the fan speed to maintain cleaner air.
There are three stages of filtration. The pre-filter and True HEPA filter remove particles while the Active Carbon filter reduces gases and odors. It has 3 auto modes and 5 manual modes, giving you a lot of flexibility. There is a “sleep” mode that is extra-quiet and a “turbo” mode that is extra-powerful.
For a large office, this might be too small. It is designed to be ideal for a 277-sq.ft. space. You might consider getting a few and placing them at different locations if you have a really big office. Otherwise, you’ll want to invest in one that can handle a larger square footage.
- “smart” features: WiFi-enabled, helpful app, sensor and auto-adjustment
- pre-filter, True HEPA filter, & Active Carbon filter block odor and majority of particles
- AHAM & Energy Star certified
- quiet
- good value
- unnecessarily complex WiFi setup
- replacement filters are a bit expensive
- too small for really large offices
GermGuardian AC4825 3-in-1 with True HEPA Filter – Also a Sanitizer
This tower-design air purifier also offers UV-C sanitizing to kill airborne bacteria, viruses, and other germs. In addition to the germ-killing UV-C, there is a True HEPA filter to capture dust and allergens, and an activated carbon filter to neutralize odors.
- UV-C kills airborne germs
- space-saving tower design
- Certified Energy Efficient
- excellent social proof
- moderately priced
- only works for smaller office spaces
- quite loud at highest fan speed
- UV blue light is very bright
VEVA 8000 Elite Pro Series Air Cleaner – True HEPA Filter – Narrow Profile But Powerful
It includes both a True HEPA filter and four activated carbon filters. The carbon filters not only work to neutralize odors but they also extend the life of the HEPA filter by filter dust, dander, pollen, and other allergens.
The VEVA 8000 is ultra quiet and includes three fan speeds. The Turbo speed is obviously the loudest but it’s still really quiet, especially compared to some other air purifiers.
For this size of air filter, it’s a bit more expensive than some other options but it is worth the extra cost because of how well it performs.
It does have a 2-year registered warranty and lifetime support which provides peace of mind and adds to the value. Another valuable thing about this purifier is that the replacement HEPA filter is much more affordable than many other air purifiers. You will need to replace this every 6-8 months.
- small size, suitable for desktop
- moderately priced
- great warranty
- affordable replacement filters
- quiet
- small air intake area
hOmeLabs 3 in 1 Ionic Air Purifier – Best Cheap Option For Desktop or Cubicle Use
Just like with a larger air purifier that you set on the floor, you’ll get the most out of it if you don’t put it too close to the wall or right up against the side or back of your desk. You need it to have a bit of clearance on all sides for the best results.
It has a 360-degree air intake so all of the sides should ideally be free and not blocked off. This little air purifier can clean air in a space of up to 50 Sq Ft so those who work nearby will also see some benefit.
You get 4 stages of filtering with this purifier, ending with a HEPA filter that will remove nearly all particles in the air.
Activated carbon traps odors. An extra-fresh ion booster releases millions of negative ions into the air to give an added touch of freshness.
These negative ions attach themselves to dust and other particles in the air which are then drawn back into the air purifier. The only negative to this is that ionizers always release a small amount of ozone. It’s not a big enough amount to be harmful to you but it could potentially be bad for any desktop plants you might have.
This air purifier is so small and compact that it would be perfectly reasonable to take it with you when you travel. When traveling for work, you never know what kind of air quality you’ll encounter in your hotel room or remote workspace. When you bring this along, you’ll be able to rest easy knowing that you’ll breathe clean and fresh air wherever you are.
- compact, personal size
- attractive design
- 2-year warranty
- 4-stage filtering to remove odor, dust, and allergens
- simple operation
- extremely affordable
- only works for very small spaces
- releases a small amount of ozone
- power button light is quite bright
KOIOS Desktop Air Filtration with True HEPA Filter – An Ozone-Free Desktop Air Purifier
A pre-filter catches larger particles, the True HEPA filter captures all the tiny particles, and activated carbon captures and neutralizes odors. This air purifier has a unique cylindrical design that offers 360-degrees of air intake. There are two fan speeds that you can waffle between using one simple button.
Both fan speeds are pretty quiet so it’s not going to be difficult to concentrate and get work done when running the purifier.
This small desktop purifier is extremely portable so it’s an easy thing to pack for work trips.
It’s really affordable but it definitely provides some peace of mind to know it comes with a 12-month warranty and great customer service.
- simple operation
- very affordable
- attractive design
- compact, portable size
- good warranty
- adequate filtration for small spaces
- blue LED light can be annoying
- only works for small spaces
Levoit LV-PUR131 Air Purifying with True HEPA Filtration – Small Intake But Decent Filtering
That said, it does offer adequate filtering through its 3-stage filtration process. There is a pre-filter, a HEPA filter, and an activated carbon filter.
This should capture the majority of particles and also capture and neutralize odor. Because it’s not an ionizer, this air purifier is 100% Ozone free.
A big positive for this air purifier is the auto mode.
It detects the surrounding air quality and then automatically adjusts the fan speed to purify your air faster, as needed. There is also a sleep mode, which is the quietest setting.
It might be useful to use sleep mode when on a conference call. For peace of mind, Levoit offers a 2-year warranty and lifetime support.
- 2-year warranty and lifetime support
- 100% Ozone free
- smart auto mode adjusts based on current air conditions
- easy to use
- replacement filters are reasonably priced
- air intake area is small
- won’t be ideal for really large offices
Air Purifier Buyer’s Guide
Where Should I place an air purifier?
When deciding where to put your office air purifier, you should first be aware of where you shouldn’t put it. Never place your air purifier behind furniture or below shelving.
You want at least a few feet of clearance on the top, front, and all sides. This allows the maximum amount of “dirty” air to enter the air purifier’s intake and also ensures the “clean” air will have the farthest possible reach.
Never put an air purifier in the corner. You should also try not to place it right up against the wall. In many offices, finding the ideal location for an air purifier is a challenge. You’ll have to balance the air flow needs of the purifier with the layout and space limitations of the office.
You’ll want to place your air purifier in the area where you spend the most time. If there is a part of the office that has a lot of contamination or exposure to pollutants, you should put the air purifier there.
If you have some coworkers who take regular smoke breaks, for example, you might want to place the air purifier in between their work areas and yours in order to eliminate how much of that lingering smoke odor and contamination that you’re exposed to.
Can they help remove dust?
Air purifiers with HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) filters can remove up to 99.97% of airborne particles, including dust.
Even air purifiers that don’t have HEPA filters should be able to capture most dust particles since dust is considered a medium or large sized particle.
While HEPA filter air purifiers will help remove dust from the air, they won’t do anything about the dust on your surfaces so an air purifier isn’t going to eliminate the need for cleaning activities like dusting.
Which one is best for allergies?
Like with dust, HEPA-filter air purifiers are the best bet for allergy sufferers. These filters help capture allergens like airborne dust mite particles, pollen, and smoke particles.
Most allergen particles are extremely small which is why HEPA-filter purifiers tend to work best. The IQAir HealthPro Plus Air Purifier has an advanced kind of HEPA filter that captures even more particles than a standard HEPA filter, so it’s an ideal option for allergy sufferers.
Will an air purifier help remove odors?
Yes, many air purifiers can do at least an adequate job of removing or reducing odors.
Placing the air purifier close to the source of the odor will help remove as much of the odor as possible. For removing odor, air purifiers with carbon filters tend to perform to the highest degree of satisfaction.
Carbon is known for trapping odor.
The IQAir HealthPro Plus Air Purifier has an excellent V5 carbon cell filter that does an incredible job of absorbing odors and freshening up the air.
The Austin Air B400B1 Standard Unit Healthmate Air Purifier is another great one for removing odors because it contains 15 pounds of activated carbon and zeolite, another mineral known for being great at absorbing smells.
Would it affect my desk plants?
No, air purifiers won’t affect or harm your desk plants. In fact, indoor plants and air purifiers can work together to lead to the very best air. You can supplement your plants with an air purifier or supplement your air purifier with plants but either way, you’ll have a powerhouse team of air cleaners. Some products sold as air purifiers actually release a small amount of ozone.
This is potentially harmful for both you and your desk plants. But as long as you avoid an ozone generator, both you and your plants should be okay.
Have you tried any of these air purifiers at the office? Did you notice a difference? Let us know in the comments! Considering sharing this list with your coworkers or employers so that you can start breathing cleaner air at work! What is your biggest air quality complaint at the office?
Related Buying Guide
Hi,
I work in a large open plan office where staff are constantly contracting cold and flu symptoms so the above-listed air-purifiers are a great source of information. We will definitely look into one of these options.
Thanks Irene