Fend Off Allergies With These Home Air Purifiers

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In the U.S.,air quality has changed dramatically due to climate change and extreme heat,pollution (from vehicle exhaust to industrial emissions),smoke from wildfires,pollen,and more. California wildfires in January spread rapidly,covering more than 37 square miles,and unleashing toxic smoke filled with chemicals,raising concerns about the safety of homes long after the flames were extinguished.

Changing climate has caused shifts in precipitation patterns,more frost-free days,warmer air temperatures and more carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere,according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Due to these changes,the seasonal outcome means higher pollen concentrations,and earlier (and longer!) pollen seasons. That’s bad news for those who suffer each spring from pollen allergies.

In this guide,we cover how pollen can impact your health,and a few important tips to keep in mind when picking out the best home air purifier to improve your indoor air quality. You may have noticed we are intensely passionate about our air purifiers (as seen in our complete beginner’s guide),and to continue our air cleaner coverage,we’ll be reviewing more indoor air purifiers for allergy-sufferers.

What Is A Pollen Allergy?

An allergy is when the body overreacts to a trigger that is usually inhaled,or may enter through the nose or eyes. Common allergy examples include hay fever (allergic rhinitis),asthma,eczema,or food allergies.

Symptoms of allergies include face swelling,sneezing,runny nose,watery or itchy eyes,skin rash,or breathing problems. In severe cases,a major allergic reaction may cause anaphylaxis,which could be life-threatening.

Can Pollen Cause Respiratory Problems?

Yes,pollen can cause respiratory problems. If you’ve done any reading on HEPA filters and air purifiers,you may have come across the term “PM2.5”,which stands for particulate matter 2.5 microns or smaller.

Particulate matter is the term for particles like pollen,dust,dirt,soot,smoke and liquid droplets found in the air.

Particles less than 2.5 microns are referred to as “fine” inhalable particles,according to the EPA,and can pose health risks if they lodge into the lungs. Measuring less than 5% of the width of a human hair,it can cause a range of health effects from minor eye,throat and lung irritation,to asthma attacks,worsening heart disease and other chronic conditions.

The Worst Time Of Year For Pollen

Tree pollen allergies peak in early spring,grass pollen by late spring and early summer,and weed pollen (including ragweed) by late summer and fall. Season length and timing varies by the weather and geographic location.

Pollen seasons in the U.S.

• February to April:Trees
• April to early June:Grasses
• August to first hard frost:Weeds

Common Pollen Producers

Tree pollen allergies in the spring and summer are due to the plants spreading pollen by wind. While some trees produce that fine yellow dust you’re constantly cleaning off your car and windows,other trees can produce pollen that can’t be seen. Trees that cause the most common allergy symptoms may include ash,aspen,birch,cedar,cottonwood,elm,maple,oak,poplar and willow.

Grasses that trigger allergy symptoms include bermuda,fescue,orchard,rye and timothy. Grass allergies can lead to certain foods triggering the same symptoms,called oral allergy syndrome,because grass pollen is similar to the protein in some fruits,vegetables and nuts.

Weed pollen,especially ragweed,is especially difficult for allergy sufferers. Weed pollen typically appears in late summer,and common types may include mugwort,pigweed,sagebrush and tumbleweed.

Picking An Air Purifier To Help Combat Allergies

There’s a few important tips when it comes to picking the best air purifier to remove pollen,smoke and dust. Not all home air purifiers are created equal,so it’s critical to do your research on some of the key claims.

Here are a few filtering options to keep in mind while shopping for an air purifier:

1. HEPA filters
2. CADR rating
3. Carbon filters

1. HEPA filters

A HEPA filter (also known as a “high efficiency particulate air” filter) should theoretically be able to remove at least 99.97% of dust,pollen,mold,bacteria and other particles with a size of 0.3 microns.

A MERV rating (“minimum efficiency reporting values”) will also help determine a filter’s ability to capture particles between 0.3 and 10 microns. The higher the MERV rating,the better the filter is at trapping specific types of particles,according to the EPA.

The efficiency percentage of an air filter for particles between 0.3 to 1.0 microns at a MERV rating of 14 or 16.

2. CADR

Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) is a standard measurement created by AHAM that measures how much air (the volume of air) that an air purifier can filter in a given amount of time. It’s measured in cubic feet per minute (CFM),and will have separate scores for tobacco smoke,pollen and dust. The higher the number,the faster the unit filters the air.

To determine the best CADR rating for your room,start by measuring the dimension of the room’s area. For example,10 ft. x 12 ft. would be 120 sq. ft.

The AHAM recommends a CADR rating of at least 2/3rds of the room’s area. So for a 120 sq. ft. room,the minimum CADR rating would be 80. A CADR rating of 200 for pollen,for example,means it can remove pollen particles from a room of 200 sq. ft. at a rate of 200 cubic feet per minute (CFM).

3. Activated carbon filters

Activated carbon filters can absorb and remove odors,gases,VOCs (volatile organic compounds that come from cleaning products,carpets,air fresheners,and combustion chemicals),and pollutants like tobacco smoke,dust,and pollen from the air. Consider activated carbon filters to be your odor eliminators.

Activated carbon filters will need to be changed out eventually after use. The average lift span is anywhere between three to six months depending on the concentration of pollutants and humidity levels in your home.

How Long Does It Take An Air Purifier To Clean Indoor Air?

According to one source,a general rule of thumb for air purifiers is that small rooms take two to four hours,mid-size rooms between four to eight hours,and large open spaces eight or more hours for complete air filtration.

Best Air Purifiers For People With Pollen Allergies

We have an in-depth guide of what we consider a generalist top performer list in our Beginner’s Guide To Air Purifiers. For this list,we curated home air purifiers with a high CADR ratings specifically for pollen.

• Best Air Purifier For Pollen:LEVOIT Air Purifier Core 300S-P
• Bedside Air Purifier For Pollen:Medify MA-12 PRO Air Purifier with True HEPA H14 Filter
• Small Room Air Purifier For Pollen:Honeywell HPA 104 AllergenPlus HEPA Air Purifier
• Medium Room Air Purifier For Pollen:PuroAir 400 HEPA Air Purifier
• Large Room Air Purifier For Pollen:LEVOIT Core 600S-P Air Purifier

1. Best Overall:LEVOIT Air Purifier Core 300S-P

S​hop It:Amazon,Levoit.com

Price: $149.99 at Amazon;$149.99 at Levoit.com

Filter Type: Filter &Carbon | Effective Range: 219 sq. ft. | CADR: 141 CFM | Pollen CADR: 175 CFM

Features:

• 3-in-1 filtration system:Pre-filter,main filter and activated carbon filter
• Targets dust,pollen,pet dander,VOCs and odors
• 1-24 hour timer,filter indicator
• Auto mode and airborne particle detection
• Sleep mode turns off display and reduces noise level
• App and voice assistant compatible
• Energy Star Certified,FCC Certified,ETL Certified

As our best overall pick in our Beginner’s Guide to Air Purifiers,we’ve once again listed the Levoit Core 300S-P as our top pick for pollen allergies as well. It has smart functionality (app and voice assistance),a very solid pollen CADR rating for most small to medium room sizes,and glowing customer reviews to back it up. It has 4.7-stars and over 125,000 company ratings on Amazon to date.

I selected a slightly smaller model for my own family ahead of pollen season,and my mother mentioned it was a breeze to set up and is “super quiet”. It’s already working its way through dust and pet dander,and using a vacuum attachment,you can clean the pre-filter and filter each week.

One reviewer commented about their allergies,saying,“I recently purchased the LEVOIT Air Purifier for my bedroom,and it has been a game-changer for my allergies and overall air quality! This purifier is incredibly efficient at removing dust,pet hair,and allergens from the air,making my home a much more comfortable place to live.”

Another commented that following the California wildfires,they purchased this air purifier and noticed an immediate difference. “Amazing air purifier! Bought these during the LA wildfires,it completely changed the air in our apartment. Made it feel fresh and easy to breathe.”

Even more reviewers said they “love these air purifiers” while another called it a “miraculous little machine.”

The largest complaints came from the noise level,the sensor quality seems suspect (others have mentioned they are hard to trust completely),and some just felt it didn’t live up to the hype. The longevity of the unit remains questionable.

2. Best Bedside Air Purifier For Pollen:Medify MA-12 PRO Air Purifier with True HEPA H14 Filter

Shop It:Amazon

Price: $56.99 at Amazon

Filter Type: HEPA | Effective Range: 84 sq. ft. (12 minutes) | CADR: 54-78 CFM | Pollen CADR: 78 CFM

Features:

• True H14 HEPA/Carbon filter
• Targets dust,pollen and smoke
• 3 fan speeds,sleep mode and night light
• Filter lasts 2,500 hours (approximately 3-4 months of use) according to company
• Energy Star Certified,CARB,ETL Certified

This isn’t the first time a Medify air purifier has made our list (we included the Medify MA-50 Air Purifier as our top pick for extra-large rooms in another list),but we selected the Medify MA-12 Pro Air Purifier this time thanks to its HEPA filter and tabletop-friendly size. If you suffer from nighttime allergies,this could be just what you need for a better night’s sleep without having to invest in a large air purifier.

Another said,“We wake up every morning with stuffy noses,and I’m sure our air quality is the culprit. Owning a dog in a small house,with four people going in and out surely doesn’t help. After just one day of running this purifier I can already feel the difference.”

More reviewers noted it was easy to set up,and it’s perfectly designed for a small bedroom. You won’t struggle with the controls,and the noise level is similar to a fan.

For some complaints,there were difficulties finding the proper filter replacements,and some felt it didn’t move enough air while on the lowest setting.

3. Best Small Room Air Purifier For Pollen:Honeywell HPA 104 AllergenPlus HEPA Air Purifier

Shop It:Amazon,Walmart

Price: $126.91 at Amazon;$128.19 at Walmart

Filter Type: HEPA | Effective Range: 155 sq. ft. | CADR: 180-200 CFM | Pollen CADR: 180 CFM

Features:

• Filtration system:pre-filter screen,HEPA filter
• Auto-off timer options (2,4,and 8 hours)
• Targets pollen,dust,pet dander,smoke according to company page
• 3 fan speeds,turbo setting,control light dimmer
• Filter indicators
• Energy Star Certified

Honeywell home products are generally considered very serviceable and stand the test of time,and we expect the Honeywell HPA104 AllergenPlus Air Purifier to be held to the same standard. Reviewers agree it’s compact,easy to set up and is ideal for small spaces like an RV,travel trailer,closet or bedroom.

This unit does not have all the bells and whistles that others on this list have (like the Levoit),but is serviceably sound. The price could be lower,in our opinion,since it’s only a two-filter process instead of three,but these air purifiers have 4.6-stars and over 32,000 company ratings to back it up.

As one reviewer puts it simply,“Good small room unit. [It] works as you would expect it to. Very easy set up and only a few buttons for function…It is loud relative to the small size and other brands,but the noise does not bother me much.”

Another said,“[I] have owned this for years now and has continued to work. The filter is easy to change and it does collect stuff so I guess it’s working. I run it in my bedroom while sleeping and the filter seems to last about a year. It provides just the right amount of white noise for sleeping.” Others called it a “nice daily air purifier for [a] master bedroom.”

For complaints,the price tag for such a simple air purifier was noted,and multiple reviewers found it was pretty loud. Some questioned the longevity of the unit (though others said it lasted years).

4. Best Medium Room Air Purifier For Pollen:PuroAir 400 HEPA Air Purifier

Shop It:Amazon,PuroAir.com

Price: $249 at Amazon;$299 at PuroAir.com

Smaller option:PuroAir 240 ($159,was $199 at Amazon)

Filter Type: HEPA &Carbon | Effective Range: 366 sq. ft. | CADR: 236-286 CFM | Pollen CADR: 286 CFM

Features:

• 3-in-1 filtration system:pre-filter screen,HEPA filter,and activated carbon filter
• Timer options (1,2,4,and 8 hours)
• Targets pollen,dust,pet dander,smoke and odors according to company page
• 3 fan speeds,sleep mode,auto mode
• Air quality indicator light and smart particle sensor
• Energy Star Certified,CARB Certified

Whether you’re looking to get rid of unwanted,lingering cooking smells,or tackle those spring allergies exacerbated by pollen,an air purifier is a smart investment. If you want a powerful pollen cleaning rating,HEPA filtration,scheduling options and smart sensors,we suggest taking a look at the PuroAir 400,the larger air purifier option in the PuroAir lineup. With 4.6-stars and over 11,500 company ratings on Amazon,this is a newly popular air purifier option.

This is an ideal CADR size for a medium sized room,especially when running continuously. We probably wouldn't suggest this for a large room. Reviewers have agreed that this PuroAir air purifier cleans air efficiently,quiet and easy use with simple controls and setup,and is well-constructed,though wish it were a little less expensive.

“...this item is the epiphany of air filters. The price may be high,but the quality of air that I now have for these months has been nothing but awesome,” says one happy reviewer.

Another mentioned the quiet features and smoke cleaning,saying,“The low setting is nearly silent,and the other two settings aren’t overly annoying…seems to be doing a really good job with cleaning the air. We use a fireplace that always lets a little smoke in the room when you open the door too fast,and this has cleared it out pretty quickly. My husband was home the other day and ran the fireplace and purifier all day. When I got home the house smelled way fresher than with my old unit.”

Other descriptions include,“it really makes a difference in air quality” for easier breathing,and “almost silent powerful filter removes dust,smoke,mold,[and] pollen. Love it.” Another said it “helped remove allergens” and unwanted odors.

As for complaints,some reviewers felt it didn’t make a dent in odor control compared to other offerings,the filter monitoring seems deceptive,and it’s not a great option at picking up dust. Another mentioned the replacement filters are costly.

5. Best Large Room Air Purifier For Pollen:LEVOIT Core 600S-P Air Purifier

Shop It:Amazon,Levoit

Price: $249.99,was $299.99 at Amazon and Levoit.com

Filter Type: Filter &Carbon | Effective Range: ~584 (up to 635) sq. ft. | CADR: 410 CFM | Pollen CADR: 437 CFM

Features:

• 3-in-1 filtration system:pre-filter screen,main filter,and activated carbon filter
• Smart control (via free VeSync app),voice command,notifications
• Targets pollen,dust,pet dander,smoke and odors according to company page
• 3 fan speeds,sleep mode,auto mode
• Air quality indicator light and filter indicator
• Energy Star Certified,CARB Certified,FCC Certified

If you need a powerful air purifier designed for large (to extra large) spaces,the Levoit Core 600S-P has a broad range of functionality and filtration capabilities. Reviewers say this is an excellent option for those who suffer from allergies or who live in areas that have experienced a lot of wildfire smoke. If you don’t need something quite so powerful,we might suggest taking a look at the Core 400S option as well.

The three-in-one filtration includes a pre-filter,filter and activated carbon filter. The main filter is not technically branded as a HEPA filter,though has still performed at high levels according to third party testing,and this model is Energy Star certified.

The Levoit air purifier collections (400S and 600S) have 4.7-stars and over 20,000 company ratings on Amazon. As for the reviewers,many claim to “love this air purifier”,going on to mention in one example that they get a ton of pollen and ragweed in their area,and it instantly stops their itchy eyes and stuffy noses.

Another claimed their “pet odors and pollen [are] gone!”,and they were going to buy another unit for the bedroom. One more reviewer mentioned,“Living in the south with four seasons of pollen and moderate allergies requires a strategic approach to reducing those irritants on a constant basis. The Levoit 600s is powerful enough to remove pollen and dust from a large room or small home in minutes,and yet can be set to run almost silently at night.”

For complaints,some felt the app could use a little work,the filter replacements are pricey,and the particle indicator wasn’t totally effective. Levoit’s customer service responded to one complaint about the indicator,and mentioned it would be helpful to vacuum or wipe down where the sensors are located.

More In-Depth Product Reviews

From too little or too much humidity in your home,to prepping for those hot summers when you need some relief,we’ve got some handy,in-depth buying guides on all of your home product needs.

• Dehumidifier Guide:How It Works And Our Top Picks
• A Complete Guide To Portable Air Conditioners
• Best Humidifiers of 2025
• A Beginner’s Guide To Air Purifiers

How We Made Our Decision

Safety

As with our original research in our Beginner’s Guide To Air Purifiers,we attempted to ensure that we avoided ozone and ionizer air purifiers specifically due to the guidance from the EPA. We cross-checked ozone levels on the EnergyStar.gov website.

First-hand testing

I purchased a Levoit for my own mother thanks to the glowing reviewers,price point and functionality. We make sure to mention when we’ve tested a specific product or brand and add it to our lists – we wouldn’t suggest something we didn’t love ourselves.

Functionality

When pulling together a best-selling list of air purifiers,we were looking at a few different performance criteria:multi-option filtration,CADR metrics and square footage,smart home or touchscreen features,and filter lifespan.

CADR rating on EnergyStar.gov

For this particular roundup,our focus was on pollen CADR rating and HEPA filtration options. Many air purifiers,especially when listed on EnergyStar.gov,have three separate ratings for smoke,pollen and dust. We used this source to help narrow down the highest CADR ratings.

Price

As with our other air purifier review,when it comes to your health,sometimes the age-old adage “you get what you pay for” is all too true. In our research,prices for air purifiers can range as low as $40,and upwards to $450+ depending on the power you need. We aim to keep our picks below $300 while still providing valuable performance.

Reviews

We let the reviewers speak for themselves when it comes to hands-on testing. We strive to highlight the pros and cons of each product based on user feedback and the feature list. If a product has few (or no) verified reviewers,or the complaints outweigh the purpose and price of the product,we won’t feature it in our lists.

P​rices accurate and items in stock at time of publish.