The Best Air Purifier for Pets (Reviews For Owners With Allergies)

Written by Anthony Dewitt

Having a pet can result in many compromises. While many of them are worthwhile, your health is definitely not one of them. If you have allergies due to pet dander and you’re wondering if you should get a dog, rest assured that you deserve to be able to enjoy being around your pet without getting sick. One of the best ways to ensure this is to invest in a good air purifier that’s specifically meant to work in pet-friendly households. 

If you’re in the market for the best air purifier for pets and their owners, you’re in luck. We’ve done the research and come up with a great list of the best air purifiers out there, including not only what sets each of them apart but also where you can buy these products. If you want to have a more pleasant breathing experience while still spending time with your pets, you’ll absolutely want to take a look at the air purifiers on this list. 

Best Air Purifier For Pets in 2021

There’s no such thing as a perfect air purifier. While there are tons of great purifiers out there, it’s best for pet owners to focus on trying to find the single model that has most of the features that you find important. We’ve put together this list to give consumers not only an idea of what’s out there but a glimpse at what the best air purifiers for pets and pet dander might look like for different types of individuals. 

LEVOIT Automatic Air Purifier for Home

When most people start to look for air purifiers, their biggest concern is making sure that they are able to keep their air clean of pet hair as often as possible. It’s important, though, to make sure that your air purifier does so efficiently. Though most air purifiers aren’t going to have too much of an impact on your electric bill, it is nice to know that there are at least a few that really keep energy efficiency in mind as a primary goal. One such device is this allergy eliminating air purifier from LEVOIT, which gets our vote for today’s best air purifier for pet owners.

LEVOIT is a fairly well-known name in the space of air purifiers. Though its devices aren’t necessarily always primarily meant to deal with pet dander, hair, and more, they do a good job of eliminating virtually all particulate matter in the air. These are exceptionally user-friendly, easy-to-use air purifiers that are going to help you live with your dog or cat without having to worry quite as much about allergic reactions. Thanks to the addition of some excellent modern technologies, this device in particular helps to ensure that you’ll be able to have fresh air no matter where you are in some particularly large spaces. It’s equipped with a massive honeycomb activated carbon filter, a pre-filter, and a true HEPA air purifier to ensure premium air quality free of pet odors. It even turns over up to 900 square feet of coverage area in as little as an hour.

One of the most interesting features included with this air purifier for pet hair is the smart mode. This mode governs the fan speed speed of the purifier, allowing it to speed up or slow down when it detects a certain amount of particulate matter in the air. This is great for animal owners because it makes it feel like the unit ‘knows’ when your dog or cat in the room and compensates for his or her presence and any dog hair they may shed (you can choose one of the best dog shampoos that may help reduce some shedding) . This is an excellent and efficient type of air purifier that goes a long way towards helping dog owners to deal with pet dander in a reasonable way, which is why we’ve selected it as our top choice on our list for today’s best air purifiers for pets. 

LEVOIT H13 True HEPA Filter Air Purifier

Let’s talk about circulation for a moment. That’s really one of the most important factors when it comes to air purification for pet allergies, as stagnant air tends to be the air that is more full of pollutants and particulate matter such as pet hair. It’s always nice to know that your purifier is working, of course, but it’s even better to know that it’s cleaning out your air and cycling around. If you’re concerned about air circulation, you’re in luck – LEVOIT has a product that not only helps to keep your air clean of dander, hair, and more, but that circulates air throughout the room on a regular basis. The true HEPA filter-equipped LEVOIT LV-H132 gets our vote as the runner-up on our list of today’s best air purifiers for pets.

If circulation is important to you, this is the air purifier for pet owners that’s probably going to set the standard. It has enough coverage area to circulate all of the air in a room in about fifteen minutes (depending on the your room’s area in square feet), giving you fresh air approximately four times every hour. This means incredibly frequent air filtration and renewed air quality, which in turn means that it’s far less likely that you’ll be impacted by the allergens in your air. Given that it can actually cycle through the air of an entire room in this time span, the LEVOIT LV-H132 pet air purifier can provide a great deal of relief from those who tend to have allergic reactions when they’re around animals for an extended period of time. 

In addition to providing great air circulation, this purifier also works incredibly well as a general air purifier. Featuring three-stage filtration, the LEVOIT LV-H132 gets rid of dust mites, odors, and smoke without leaving behind ozone smell thanks to its pre-filter and carbon filter. It even has a night light function that’s great for kids, and the HEPA air purifier gets rid of more pollutants than average, resulting in remarkable air quality. This is a really strong unit just based on its all-around utility, but those who are particularly in the need of something that regularly circulates air are the consumers who will probably get the most from the product. It’s no wonder why this true HEPA filter-equipped unit deserves its place on our list of today’s best air purifiers for pet dander, long or short fur, and other particulates that may be of concern to those owners with pet allergies.

Germ Guardian True HEPA Filter Air Purifier

Germs and disease are on the public consciousness now more than ever. There are a number of technologies out there that are meant to help individuals stay healthy no matter what’s in the air, some of which have begun to leverage UV light in order to kill off germs. Though there are plenty of UV-only purifiers on the market, it’s generally smarter to hunt out a more traditional room air purifier that also makes use of UV light as an extra feature. If you’re in the market for such a device, you’ll definitely want to take a look at this product from Germ Guardian. 

The selling point here is the UV-C light. The theory behind this light is that most germs and other pathogens can be broken down by exposure to UV-C rays over a long enough period of time, so the machine uses a UV light to neutralize the air around it. While it’s hard to tell exactly how well that this feature works, those who are big believers in the use of UV light are going to be very happy to see it included. At the very least, adding the UV light has absolutely no drawbacks and may well do a lot to help some users.

Even if you take out the UV light, you’ll still be left with a great air filter perfectly suited for treating rooms up to 167 square feet. It purifies an incredibly high percentage of airborne pollutants, dust mites, mold spores, and particulates thanks to its filter design and the unit even makes use of a pre-filter so that it doesn’t get clogged up with larger airborne particles. As a nice touch, the unit can also be used as a white noise machine at night, making it an ideal choice for those who typically use noise machines when they sleep. With or without UV, this is simply an excellent air purifier for pets and owners alike. 

Winix 5500-2 Air Purifier

Air purification isn’t always just about the pet dander that your pup puts out into the air. Many people also look into purification because it helps them to deal with the odors left behind by their four-legged friends. Unfortunately, some of the odor-reducing products out there actually leave behind strong smells of their own, usually in the form of ozone. If you’re looking for a solid air purifier that will also help you to avoid strong smells like that of ozone, you’ll love this excellent device from Winix and it’s a commitment to avoiding ozone residue after filtration. It’s CADR rated for a coverage area of rooms up to 360 square feet.

Ozone smells are generally a sign that a lesser purifier has been hard at work to cover up odors that are currently in your home. Though fairly natural, the ozone released isn’t all that great for the environment and the odor can lead to its own problems for some users. That’s why it is nice to see a unit like this, which eliminates virtually all of the ozone residue after getting rid of things like odors and strong smells in a home. If you are particularly sensitive to odors, this might be the best fit for you. 

The other great feature of this air purifier is that it has a quiet mode. Air purifiers are naturally a little loud – no louder than a typical space heater, for sure, but louder than some might like when they are trying to get to sleep. The sleep mode turns off the lights and slows down the machine a bit, greatly reducing the noise that it makes and making it much easier for users to get to sleep while the machine is still running. If you’re looking for a machine that you can use all night and don’t want to sacrifice your sleep, this might be the best choice for you. 

Hamilton Beach TrueAir Air Purifier

Having an air purifier at home is great, but what do you do if you need the purifier everywhere you go? If you are a frequent visitor to other places that have pets or that just have the scents that set of your allergies, having a bulky home unit isn’t going to be as helpful as you might like. Fortunately, there are portable purifiers out there that can help you deal with these problems in a much smaller package. If you really care about portability as a primary factor, you’ll want to take a look at this air purifier from Hamilton Beach, which is best for pet owners looking to purify rooms up to 140 square feet.

Portability is the name of the game here, and it’s a game at which Hamilton Beach is quite skilled. The unit isn’t just small enough to be able to take with you wherever you go, but it’s designed to be able to be used in a number of different positions. This means that you won’t have to clear off a huge space on your desk just to get pure air and that you certainly aren’t going to find many situations in which your air purifier is just too big for the area. 

The unit is small but powerful, able to capture about 99.7 percent of the allergens in the air, which is great news for people who suffer from pet allergies. It’s also quiet, so you can use it at work without bothering anyone. This is a well-constructed machine that you can take virtually anywhere. 

Hathaspace Smart True HEPA Air Purifier for Home

Sometimes it’s nice to know that a product does precisely what you want without having to put in a lot of effort with the settings. One of the great things about modern air purifiers for pets is that they do a lot more work than older models, but many of them require your intervention to do everything correctly. There are, however, some models that really do all the work without needing much from you. One such model is Hathaspace’s Smart True HEPA Filter Air Purifier, which not only gives you the information you need about air quality but works on filtration without your input. 

The auto mode is one of the best features of this air purifier. It automatically detects the pollutants in the air, turning the air purifier on at the appropriate speed and operating until everything is clear. You’ll be able to see precisely how pure the air is after you’re done as well since the unit also includes a meter that tells you the air purity level. If you’re a fan of knowing exactly what’s going on in terms of the air quality of your home, you’ll find that this is one of the few air purifiers that gives you all the information that you really need. 

The auto mode isn’t the only selling point here, though. The unit does an amazing job of filtration, especially when it comes to smoke and pet odors. It’s a solid choice for anyone who wants a good, hands-off purification system that will allow them to spend more time with their pets. 

LEVOIT Air Purifier for Home

Speed really can matter when it comes to air purification. While you definitely want your purifier to work well, you also need to work fast so that you can feel better. If you are regularly around animals who cause your allergies to act up, you’ll want to have a good air purifier that will ensure your ability to breathe comfortably while the animal is in the room. If you’re looking for something that’s going to be able to keep up with your needs, you’ll definitely want to take a look at this unit from LEVOIT.

The big selling point here is that the air purifier works incredibly rapidly. If you’re trying to purify the air in a large rooms of about 500 square feet, for example, you’re not going to want to wait too long for that to happen. That’s why this unit is designed to clean the air in that space in about half an hour, giving you the ability to enjoy being around your pets and other people without having to wait a ridiculously long time for the air to get cleaned. It’s actually ideally sized for rooms of about 300 sq. ft., and can turn over that much air in about 18 minutes. This really can be a life-changing mode for those who suffer from severe pet allergies. 

Speed is good, but it does need to be backed up by other features. This unit seems to be designed specifically to deal with airborne allergens, with a great focus on removing pet dander from the air. It’s also very energy efficient, with a total cost of fewer than fifteen dollars a year even if you run it very regularly. It even features a washable pre-filter to help keep costs down from air cleaning activities. This is an excellent machine for those who need portability as well, with a nice carrying handle that will allow you to take the unit with you from room to room as your air purification needs a change. 

RIGOGLIOSO True HEPA Filter Air Purifier for Home

Air purifiers have a tendency to be a little loud. They’re not exactly causing industrial noise, but they can be loud enough to annoy the other people who share a room with you. If you need an air purifier, though, you may have often felt like you just couldn’t be around people who couldn’t deal with the noise. The best compromise isn’t to stay alone, but rather to invest in a purifier that runs a little more quietly. That’s where this unit from RIGOGLIOSO really stands out. 

Quiet operation is the name of the game here, and the device manages to perform admirably even at a reduced capacity. The quiet mode here is generally meant for night-time use, a mode where the purifier slows down a bit to keep the noise level down for those around you. The great thing, though, is that the night mode can be used in any situation in which noise management is the key. Though you can certainly turn on the nightlight functionality and make use of this unit while you are sleeping, it works just as well in shared spaces. 

In addition to being quiet, the unit is also quite efficient. It is one hundred percent ozone free and uses relatively little electricity to get rid of smoke, pet odors, and pet dander. This unit is an excellent choice for anyone who wants an air purifier for pets but who doesn’t want to intrude on those around them when the unit is still in operation. Definitely give this one a try if noise management is important to you. 

RENPHO Air Purifier for Home

Not everyone needs to purifier the air in a big room. While power is always good, it’s even better to get something that is going to work in the space where it is actually needed. If you have a smaller space that needs air purification, you’ll want to ensure that you have a smaller air purifier that is designed for that kind of space. If you know that you’re going to be using your air purifier at your desk or in a smaller bedroom, this device from RENPHO might be exactly that for which you have been looking. 

Small spaces tend to need less power and less noise than their bigger counterparts. This unit embraces the needs of those who are purifying these smaller spaces by including a compact design and a low noise mode. The former ensures that you’re always going to have room for this device even in tight quarters, while the latter ensures that you are not going to get overwhelmed by the sound of the unit when it is engaged. This is a fantastic tool for those who just need a good air purifier to deal with what’s going on in spaces with limited extra room. 

While the size limitations are a necessity, it’s nice to note that the unit is still easy to use. You can control this unit completely with one button so you won’t have to hunt for how to change the settings and you’ll be able to count on its three-stage filtration system to handle virtually anything in the air. If you need a good air filtration system, you’ll love this unit. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Do air purifiers help with pet hair?

Air purifiers aren’t always designed to deal with pet hair. While most will certainly do their best to keep pet dander out of the air, large chunks of pet hair tend to be more problematic. If you are in looking for something that can handle floating pet hair in addition to pet dander, you’ll probably want to make certain that you get an air purifier that includes a pre-filter for larger particles. These pre-filters keep things like pet hair from clogging up the HEPA filter while taking them out of circulation in the air. 

Do air purifiers help with animal smells?

An air purifier is a great way of dealing with animal smells as long as it is properly equipped. They do get a lot of little particulate matter out of the air for you, which can help to eliminate some of the sources of foul odors, too. There are also quite a few different purifiers that make use of activated carbon filters in addition to HEPA filters to get rid of animal smells, a process that’s a little more advanced but that will still leave you with cleaner-smelling air. If you want to get rid of pet smells, choosing something that’s specifically geared to deal with them is usually best for pet owners – and always make sure to clean up quickly whenever a mess arises.

Are air purifiers safe for dogs?

Air purifiers are absolutely safe for dogs. Remember, these purifiers don’t actually put anything into the air. Instead, they use a HEPA filter to treat the air in your home to take out allergens, pollutants, and particulate matter from circulation. This not only means cleaner air for everyone in the house, but it also means that you’ll never have to worry about introducing something into your home that will make it hard for your dog to breathe. These purifiers are actually a really good substitute for scented candles and other devices that might end up wreaking havoc on a dog’s sensitive nose. 

Do air purifiers work for allergies?

Yes, air purifiers definitely work for allergies. These devices are very popular not only among those who suffer from allergies but among those who have more general respiratory difficulties. Air purifiers pull most of the things that cause allergies out of the air, leaving the unit’s owner with fewer potential irritants. Note that these purifiers are only going to work if the cause of the allergy is airborne – unfortunately, a purifier really can’t do all that much about those allergies that are triggered by touch or ingestion. 

Is it OK to leave an air purifier on all night?

Yes, it is okay to leave an air purifier on all night. Most air purifiers use relatively little energy and don’t get warm enough to start fires. These units tend to be designed specifically to run all the time so you can definitely feel safe leaving one plugged in while you are asleep.

The biggest issue that most users are going to have when leaving a purifier plugged in is the noise. Some purifiers can be quite noisy, though there are consumers who enjoy using an air purifier for white noise purposes. If you can’t stand the noise, though, there are definitely options out there for you. There are some purifiers that always run a bit quieter than the rest as well as purifiers that have sleep modes that ensure quite an operation until the user wakes up in the morning. 

Air Purifier For Pets Buying Guide

It’s important to remember that the best air purifier for pets is the unit that works the best for your personal needs. Before you pick a unit from our list of the best, make sure you know the features that matter the most for you. If you’re in the market for one of these purifiers, you’ll definitely want to familiarize yourself with all of the factors discussed below in our buying guide.

Room Size

The first thing you’ll look at when you’re shopping for a purifier is the size of the room in which you’re going to be using the device. As a rule, you’re going to want something that’s rated to handle a space that’s a little bit larger than that in which you are situated. This doesn’t mean that you need to look for something that’s rated for hundreds of square feet if you’re just worried about your desk, but going bigger really is usually a safer option.

Note that room size is also going to dictate a lot of other features, so make sure you’re comfortable with what that is going to bring. Bigger air purifiers tend to be packed with a lot of extras but all of that tends to be reflected in the final cost of the unit. It’s always good to know what you’re getting into before you make your choice. 

Filtration Style

If you’re buying an air purifier to deal with pet allergies, it’s generally a good idea to make sure you know at least something about how the unit works. Most of the best units on the market right now are equipped with a HEPA filter that will get rid of over ninety percent of the pollutants in the air but it’s still a good idea to figure out exactly how they end up going about that process.

As a rule, multi-step filters are going to get rid of more small particles while units with pre-filters prior to the HEPA filters are going to deal with bigger particles. Pay attention to whether the unit uses an activated carbon filter to deal with smells and whether or not there’s an ozone odor after the unit is done (activated carbon filters can potentially help with volatile organic compounds, too). The more you know about how the unit works, the better off you will be. 

Noise

It’s always smart to remember that your air purifier is going to make noise. The unit does have moving parts, after all, and that means silent functionality just isn’t realistic. If you are working with other people or you want to use the unit while you are sleeping, though, it will be smart to find something that works as quietly as possible. Units that operate at under 50 decibels are usually going to be quiet enough to use when you are on your own, though you might want something that operates at closer to 30 decibels if you’re in an office.

Note that you can also gain a fair bit of utility out of a device that features a sleep mode. These modes generally slow down the function of the device so that it is quieter when you’re trying to sleep. The purification functionality will continue to work, of course, but it’s not going to work at quite as high of a level. If you’re comfortable with that, though, this can be a great way to get a powerful device without dealing with a lot of noise when you are sleeping. 

Portability

If you are planning on taking your air purifier with you, you’ll want to be on the lookout for a more portable device. This doesn’t just mean looking for a small air filter, though – it means looking for a purifier that is actually meant to be carried about from place to place. Luckily, most units that are portable do tend to advertise that fact.

Portable units range in quality, so make sure that you’re looking for units that still have a high level of purification power as well as all the other features that you need. Little things like carrying handles are nice, but the best thing you can get from a portable unit is the knowledge that it will actually work.