Best Air Purifiers UK (2026)
An air purifier can help with dust, pet dander, pollen and general indoor air quality, but the right size and features depend on the room. This guide compares purifiers from Expert Reviews' testing, from compact bedroom units to models built for large living rooms.
We have not hands-on tested these products. Our picks are based on published independent tests and reviews, listed at the bottom of this page. How we pick.
Our top pick
Dyson Big+Quiet Formaldehyde
Best overall
Expert Reviews' top pick overall. Its HEPA and carbon filter combination removes a wide range of pollutants including formaldehyde, and it doubles as a cooling fan.
- Easy to use
- Quiet operation
- Fan provides summer cooling
Quick comparison
| Product | Best for | Key spec | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dyson Big+Quiet Formaldehyde | Best overall | 100m2 room size, HEPA and carbon filters | Check price |
| Hoover H-Purifier 500 | Best for large rooms | 110m2 room size, CADR 330m3/h | Check price |
| Blueair Blue Signature | Best for living rooms | 314m2 rated coverage, CADR 295m3/h | Check price |
| Blueair Blue Max 3250i | Best for features | 48m2 room size, WiFi, 5 power settings | Check price |
| Blueair Blue Pure 511 | Best for bedrooms | 38m2 room size, quiet and compact | Check price |
| Philips PureProtect Mini 900 Series (AC0290/10) | Best for ease of use | 65m2 room size, compact | Check price |
| Shark NeverChange 5 | Best filter value | 60m2 room size, long-life filter | Check price |
| Levoit Sprout | Best for babies | 30m2 room size, night light and sounds | Check price |
Our picks in detail
Best overall
Dyson Big+Quiet Formaldehyde
Expert Reviews' top pick overall. Its HEPA and carbon filter combination removes a wide range of pollutants including formaldehyde, and it doubles as a cooling fan.
- Filter type
- HEPA and carbon
- Max room size
- 100m2
- Noise
- 32-53 dBA
- Weight
- 11.9kg
Pros
- Easy to use
- Quiet operation
- Fan provides summer cooling
Cons
- Very large
- Very expensive (about £900)
Best for large rooms
Hoover H-Purifier 500
A powerful purifier with an Allergy UK-approved three-filter system and a comprehensive app, well suited to large rooms.
- CADR
- 330m3/h
- Filter type
- Three-filter system, Allergy UK approved
- Max room size
- 110m2
- Noise
- 31 dBA (sleep mode)
Pros
- Powerful purification
- Good automatic mode
- Comprehensive app
Best for living rooms
Blueair Blue Signature
An attractive, easy-to-use purifier that cleared a room in under two minutes in testing, though it gets loud on its highest setting and the fabric filter attracts pet hair.
- CADR
- 295m3/h
- Max room size
- 314m2
- Noise
- 33-63 dBA
- Weight
- 6kg
Pros
- Attractive design
- Easy to use
- Rapid cleaning (1min 33sec in testing)
Cons
- Expensive
- Loud at highest setting
- Fabric filter attracts pet hair
Best for features
Blueair Blue Max 3250i
A powerful, quiet purifier with WiFi, a night mode and a responsive auto mode, though replacing the filter is fiddly and Alexa commands can be awkward.
- CADR
- 239m3/h
- Max room size
- 48m2
- Noise
- 27.6-49 dBA
- Extras
- WiFi and smart features
Pros
- Powerful filtering
- Quiet
- WiFi and smart features
- Responsive auto mode
Cons
- Filter replacement is fiddly
- Awkward Alexa commands
Best for bedrooms
Blueair Blue Pure 511
A quiet, compact and cost-effective purifier well suited to a bedroom, though it is not as fast as some larger rivals.
- CADR
- 191m3/h
- Max room size
- 38m2
- Noise
- 47 dBA maximum
- Weight
- 1.9kg
Pros
- Quiet
- Compact
- Cost-effective
Cons
- Not as fast as some rivals
Best for ease of use
Philips PureProtect Mini 900 Series (AC0290/10)
An incredibly easy to set up and compact purifier at a competitive price, though it lacks WiFi, Bluetooth or an app.
- CADR
- 250m3/h
- Max room size
- 65m2
- Power settings
- Four
- Weight
- 3.6kg
Pros
- Incredibly easy setup
- Compact
- Competitively priced
Cons
- No WiFi, Bluetooth or app
Best filter value
Shark NeverChange 5
Strong cleaning performance and long filter life relative to its price, though it is noisier than comparable models and has no carry handle.
- CADR
- 147.8m3/h
- Max room size
- 60m2
- Power settings
- Four
- Weight
- 3.32kg
Pros
- Strong performance (2min 34sec in testing)
- Great filter value
- Clear display
Cons
- Noisier than comparable models
- No carry handle
Best for babies
Levoit Sprout
A quiet, compact purifier designed with nurseries in mind, including a night light, soothing sounds and monitoring of CO2, temperature and humidity.
- CADR
- 144.5-185.2m3/h (varies by particle type)
- Max room size
- 30m2
- Noise
- 38 dBA (middle settings)
- Extras
- Night light, soothing sounds, air quality monitor
Pros
- Quiet and compact
- Night light and soothing sounds
- Monitors CO2, temperature and humidity
Cons
- Display can be hard to read
- Air quality monitor can be sluggish
Buying guide
What size air purifier do I need?
Check the manufacturer's maximum room size rating and choose a purifier rated at or above the size of your room. A purifier that is too small for the room will run constantly on a high, noisy setting to keep up.
What does CADR mean?
CADR (Clean Air Delivery Rate) measures how quickly a purifier cleans the air in a room, usually in cubic metres per hour. A higher CADR generally means faster air cleaning for a given room size.
Do air purifiers actually help with allergies?
A true HEPA (H13-grade) filter captures 99.95% of airborne particles down to 0.1 microns, which Allergy UK recommends as the minimum standard for allergy sufferers. Purifiers can reduce dust and pollen in the air, though they will not remove allergens already on surfaces.
Where should I put an air purifier?
Place it in the room you spend the most time in, away from walls and furniture so air can circulate freely, and avoid tucking it into a corner where airflow is restricted.
Sources
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