The 10 Best Air Purifiers for Wildfire Smoke in 2023

Photo: Hathaspace

Breathing in smoke, dust and other allergens can have negative effects on your health. With wildfire smoke, in particular, you can wear masks outdoors but indoors, an air purifier is ideal.

This is an appliance that helps to trap all these particles before they settle on surfaces in the house. As a result, you get cleaner air in your house that is also bacteria-free and odor-free.

That said, this article looks at 10 of the best air purifiers for wildfire smoke that you can buy to clean the air inside your house.

10 Best Air Purifiers for Wildfire Smoke – Review 

IMAGE	​PRODUCT	​FEATURES
	1. RabbitAir SPA-700A (Best Overall)	6-stage filtration system Durable filters Quiet 5-speed motor Light sensor for auto-switching
	2. Levoit LV-PUR131S (Best Smart)	Smart app or voice control options Sensitive auto mode with an advanced sensor Filter life algorithm 3-stage filtration with an efficient HEPA filter
	3. Alen BreatheSmart (Best for Whole House)	Large 1100 sq. ft. coverage Ozone-free ionizer LED air quality indicator Filter life indicator
	4. Levoit LV-H132 (Best Budget)	Affordable Effective 3-stage filtration system Filter replacement indicator Night light with 2 brightness settings
	5. Honeywell HPA300 (Best Air Changing Purifier)	Efficient 5x air changing/hr Built-in timer for programmable shut-off Easy-to-use touch control panel Filter check reminders
	6. Winix HR900 (Multi-Sensor Air Purifier)	Particle, odor, and light sensors Effective 5-stage filtration system Auto mode for automated purification LED air quality indicator
	7. Blueair Blue Pure 121 (Easy-to-Use)	Simple 1 button control system LED filter life indicator 3-stage filtration system Two washable filters
	8. Blueair Classic 480i (Wi-Fi-Enabled)	Wi-Fi enabled for smart control Filter change indicator Built-in air quality sensors Auto mode
	9. Hathaspace HSP001 (Quiet)	Low 20dB noise level Effective 5-stage purification system Smart air quality sensor Air quality indicator light
	10. Winix 5300-2 (Plasma Wave Filter)	Plasma wave filter Smart sensor for automated purification Filter replacement indicator Air quality indicator

1. RabbitAir SPA-700A – Best Overall Air Purifier for Wildfire Smoke

Photo: RabbitAir

• Coverage Area: 700 sq. ft.
• Power: 7-47W
• Filter Technology: BioGS HEPA, Activated Carbon
• Speed Settings: 5

The goal when buying a purifier is to eliminate as much smoke and allergens as possible, which is why RabbitAir’s SPA-700A takes the best overall spot. It has a 6-stage filtration system, with the main stages being BioGS HEPA and activated carbon filters.

First is the pre-filter, which traps dust and large-sized allergens. The air then moves to a medium filter, which traps all particles larger than 1 micron (pet dander, pollen, etc.). The third is the BioGS HEPA filter, which captures 0.3-micron allergens with 99.97% efficiency.

The fourth stage is a customized filter, in which you can choose from odor remover, germ defense, toxin absorber, or pet allergy filters. The fifth is an activated carbon filter for chemical and odor removal and lastly, a negative ion generator to fortify the air.

This filtration is done quietly by a 5-speed motor, which produces 20.8dB at the lowest speed and 45.6dB at the highest speed. The unit is also very economical because the first filter is washable and reusable while the other can last up to 2 years when used for 12 hrs. daily.

Other features include a light sensor that automatically switches the purifier to sleep mode and back to active mode when you switch off/on the light respectively, 2x air changes/hr. in a 700-sq-ft room and wall/standalone mounting options. On the downside, the unit is quite expensive.

Pros:

• 6-stage filtration system
• Durable filters
• Quiet 5-speed motor
• Light sensor for auto-switching between sleep and active modes
• Wall and standalone mounting options

Cons:

• Quite expensive

2. Levoit LV-PUR131S – Best Smart Air Purifier for Wildfire Smoke

Photo: Levoit

• Coverage Area: 322 sq. ft.
• Power: 40W
• Filter Technology: True HEPA
• Speed Settings: 3

Levoit’s LV-PUR131S is equipped with a smart remote-control option, in which you can use Amazon Alexa or Google Home Assistant via the Vesync mobile app. You only need a stable 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi network for this to work.

This means you can set the unit remotely to begin purifying the air in your house before you get there. Additionally, you can also control it via the Alexa device, which can be bought separately. This enables you to control it via voice commands directly when you are home.

That said, filtration is done via a 3-stage system, which includes a pre-filter for capturing large particles, a true HEPA filter for capturing fine dust with 99.97% efficiency, and an activated carbon filter that absorbs odors, fumes, and VOCs.

More features are a sensitive auto mode, which utilizes an advanced infrared sensor to detect 0.03-micron particles in the air. This then adjusts the fan speed accordingly.

You also get a filter life algorithm on the mobile app that calculates the filter life based on air quality, run time, and fan speed. However, the unit lacks a light sensor for auto-switching to sleep mode when you turn off the lights.

Pros:

• Smart app or voice control options
• Sensitive auto mode with an advanced sensor
• Filter life algorithm
• 3-stage filtration with an efficient HEPA filter

Cons:

• Lacks a light sensor

3. Alen BreatheSmart – Best Whole House Air Purifier for Wildfire Smoke

Photo: Alen

• Coverage Area: 1100 sq. ft.
• Power: 105W
• Filter Technology: True HEPA Fresh Plus
• Speed Settings: 4

With a coverage area of 1100 sq. ft., Alen’s BreatheSmart is recommended for purifying air for the whole house because it is designed for large spaces. Additionally, it circulates the air every 30 minutes in an 1100 sq. ft. room, which ensures allergens are removed in no time.

The unit incorporates the use of a true HEPA fresh plus filter, which traps 0.3-micron airborne particles with 99.97% efficiency.

This filter also contains an activated carbon layer for odor and chemical removal while an ozone-free ionizer charges the air with negative ions to clump the particles together for easy trapping.

Another important feature is the LED air quality indicator, which turns red when the quality is poor, orange when it is fair and blue when it is excellent. This is complemented by an auto mode, which adjusts the fan speed automatically to ensure the quality is good (blue).

Other features include a filter life indicator, a timer option with 3 settings, and a handle for easy lifting. On the downside, the unit is very expensive.

Pros:

• Large 1100 sq. ft. coverage
• Ozone-free ionizer for clumping the particles together
• LED air quality indicator
• Filter life indicator
• Built-in handle

Cons:

• Expensive

4. Levoit LV-H132 – Best Budget Air Purifier for Wildfire Smoke

Photo: Levoit

• Coverage Area: 129 sq. ft.
• Power: 28W
• Filter Technology: True HEPA, Activated Carbon
• Speed Settings: 3

If you are looking for a high-quality purifier and you are on a budget, Levoit’s LV-H132 is the best option to consider. The unit banks its performance on a 3-stage filtration system, which includes a pre-filter, a true HEPA filter, and an activated carbon filter.

Combined, these remove 99.97% of airborne contaminants that are as small as 0.3 microns in size. A replacement indicator is built in to remind you when its time to replace these filters and this should take roughly 6-8 months.

More features include a night light with two brightness settings for dim ambient lighting and a compact size that fits easily in small spaces. However, the unit has a coverage area of only 129 sq. ft., which is quite small.

Pros:

• Affordable
• Effective 3-stage filtration system
• Filter replacement indicator
• Night light with 2 brightness settings

Cons:

• Small coverage

5. Honeywell HPA300 – Best Air Changing Purifier for Wildfire Smoke

Photo: Honeywell

• Coverage Area: 465 sq. ft.
• Filter Technology: True HEPA
• Speed Settings: 4

With a coverage area of 465 sq. ft., Honeywell’s HPA300 can circulate the air inside 5 times over per hour, which makes it very efficient. As a result, it leaves your air fresher and cleaner for you to breathe easy.

This level of performance is achieved in turbo mode but there are 3 lower settings that you can use in case your air is not very contaminated. You can also use the built-in timer to automatically shut-off the purification process after a certain period.

All these controls are done on an easy-to-use touch control panel, which also has filter check reminders and a dimmer button for dimming or turning off the panel lights at night.

Other features include a 2-stage filtration system with a pre-filter and a certified HEPA filter. However, you don’t get the convenience of remote control. All settings are done on the control panel.

Pros:

• Efficient 5x air changing/hr
• Built-in timer for programmable shut-off
• Easy-to-use touch control panel
• Filter check reminders

Cons:

• No remote control

6. Winix HR900 – Multi-Sensor Air Purifier for Wildfire Smoke

Photo: Winix

• Coverage Area: 300 sq. ft.
• Power: 90W
• Filter Technology: True HEPA, Plasma Wave

Winix’s HR900 is fitted with 3 sensors that automate its operation. First is the particle sensor and this checks the amount of dust in the air. An odor sensor is also included for detecting the smell while a light sensor switches it to sleep mode when you turn off the lights on the auto setting.

On the other hand, the first two sensors turn on the purifier once they detect the particles or odor is too high in auto mode and this ensures automated use.

That said, filtration is done by a 5-stage system, which has a pet filter, a washable pre-filter, an Advanced Odor Control (AOC) carbon filter, a true HEPA filter, and a plasma wave.

The plasma wave is designed to break apart chemical vapors, odors, allergens, and other pollutants safely at the molecular level to produce clean and safe air. 

You also get an LED air quality indicator but there’s no remote control for convenient settings adjustment.

Pros:

• Particle, odor, and light sensors
• Effective 5-stage filtration system
• Auto mode for automated purification
• LED air quality indicator

Cons:

• No remote control

7. Blueair Blue Pure 121 – Easy-to-Use Wildfire Smoke Air Purifier

Photo: Blueair

• Coverage Area: 620 sq. ft.
• Power: 31-61W
• Filter Technology: Activated Carbon
• Speed Settings: 3

Forget all the complexities of multiple settings, wireless remote control, and touch panels, Blueair’s Blue Pure 121 is designed with simplicity in mind because it has a 1 button control system.

This button does all the adjustments such as speed control, and it lets you know when a filter replacement is due. It informs you using an LED warning system, which turns red when the filter is worn out.

A 3-stage filtration system handles the purification and it consists of a fabric pre-filter, a particle filter, and an activated carbon filter. The first two are washable but all of them should be replaced roughly every 6 months.

The only problem is that the unit does not have sensors for automation.

Pros:

• Simple 1 button control system
• LED filter life indicator
• 3-stage filtration system
• Two washable filters

Cons:

• No sensors for automation

8. Blueair Classic 480i – Wi-Fi-Enabled Air Purifier for Wildfire Smoke

Photo: Blueair

• Coverage Area: 434 sq. ft.
• Power: 15-90W
• Filter Technology: HEPA silent
• Speed Settings: 3

Blueair’s Classic 480i is a smart Wi-Fi enabled purifier that can be easily controlled via the Blueair friend app or Amazon Alexa. For the second option though, you need to buy an Alexa device, which should give you voice control.

You also get an onboard control panel that allows you to set the fan speed, turn the Wi-Fi on/off and it has a filter change indicator that shows you when a replacement is due.

Filtration is done using a HEPA silent filter, which combines mechanical and electrostatic filtration to trap 99.97% of airborne pollutants. You have the option of adding dual protection activated coconut carbon filters for odor and smoke removal but these must be bought separately.

Other features include air quality sensors for monitoring the air quality in real-time and auto mode in which the unit adjusts the fan speed automatically depending on the air quality. On the downside, it is relatively expensive.

Pros:

• Wi-Fi enabled for smart control
• Filter change indicator
• Built-in air quality sensors
• Auto mode

Cons:

• Activated carbon filters are not included
• Relatively expensive

9. Hathaspace HSP001 – Quiet Air Purifier for Wildfire Smoke

Photo: Hathaspace

• Coverage Area: 300 sq. ft.
• Power: 40W
• Filter Technology: True HEPA, Activated Carbon

With a noise level of 20dB in the low setting (sleep mode), Hathaspace’s HSP001 operates very quietly. Additionally, it turns all the lights off to ensure you get the most restful sleep at night.

While operating in this or any other setting, the unit uses a 5-stage purification system that has a cold catalyst filter, a cellular activated carbon filter, an antibacterial filter, a true HEPA filter, and an ozone-safe ionizer that charges the air with negative ions.

A smart air quality sensor is built in to monitor the air quality and this can be used in auto mode to adjust the fan speed accordingly. There is also an air quality indicator that lights up in green to show good quality, yellow for medium quality, and red for poor quality.

Other features include a touch control panel and a remote-control option for convenience purposes. On the downside, the purifier has a relatively low 300 sq. ft. coverage.

Pros:

• Low 20dB noise level
• Effective 5-stage purification system
• Smart air quality sensor
• Air quality indicator light
• Remote control option

Cons:

• Relatively low coverage

10. Winix 5300-2 – Plasma Wave Air Purifier for Wildfire Smoke

Photo: Winix

• Coverage Area: 360 sq. ft.
• Power: 70W
• Filter Technology: True HEPA, Plasma Wave
• Speed Settings: 4

Winix’s 5300-2 has a 3-stage filtration system and the main component of this is the plasma wave. This filter breaks down smoke, mold, pollen, odors, and other organic chemicals to give you very clean air.

The other two are an AOC carbon filter and a true HEPA filter. You also get a pre-filter that doubles up as the casing.

Apart from that, the unit has a smart sensor that is activated in auto mode to adjust the fan speed. There is also a sleep mode for night-time running, a filter replacement indicator, and an air quality indicator. However, there is no remote-control feature for convenient operation.

Pros:

• Plasma wave filter for breaking down organic chemicals
• Smart sensor for automated purification
• Filter replacement indicator
• Air quality indicator

Cons:

• No remote control

How to Buy the Best Air Purifiers for Wildfire Smoke

Photo: Levoit

1. Power

The most important factor about power is the wattage because this determines consumption. The higher the wattage, the more the power that the purifier consumes but this also means it is stronger.

That said, purifiers with a higher wattage are generally better suited for a large coverage area because they need powerful motors to circulate all that air. This can be seen in the 105-watt Alen BreatheSmart.

2. Filter

These purifiers have slightly different filtration technologies but most of them have similar functionalities. Therefore, it makes more sense to check the number of filtration stages, and the more they are, the better the system.

As such, RabbitAir’s SPA-700A stands out because it has an effective 6-stage filtration system.

3. Speed Settings

Fan or motor speed settings determine the filtration rate and the more they are, the more the adjustment levels that you get for better control. With its 5 speed settings, RabbitAir’s SPA-700A stands out from the rest, offering more customization of the purification speed.

4. Coverage Area

Given in square feet, this area determines the room size that the purifier is rated to clean the air effectively. Wide coverage purifiers are ideal for whole houses while small coverage units are better for baby rooms.

Ultimately, you need to measure your room size before buying the purifier so that you get the perfect match.

Read More: How to Choose the Right Size for an Air Purifier

5. Noise Level

This is an important factor to consider because you don’t want a noisy appliance that will interrupt your peace. Though the noise varies depending on the speed setting, in sleep mode (which is the lowest setting) it should be whisper silent for quiet night time use.

Hathaspace’s HSP001 runs at 20dB in sleep mode, which is equivalent to the sound produced by rustling leaves. This is very peaceful and is highly recommended.

6. Maintenance

Filters must be replaced every once in a while, which can be anywhere from 6 months to two years, depending on the model, usage, pollution level, etc. To ensure you don’t forget this maintenance schedule, we recommend getting a purifier that has a filter change indicator.

Conclusion

In summary, the best air purifier for wildfire smoke should have an effective filtration system and this is why RabbitAir’s SPA-700A takes the top spot. It has a 6-stage purification system that traps most of the smoke, dust, pollen, odor, and other allergens in your house.

On the other hand, Levoit’s LV-PUR131S has a more modern design and if you prefer some tech in the form of voice-command or smartphone control, check it out. However, if you have a big house, we highly recommend Alen’s BreatheSmart due to its large 1100 sq. ft. coverage area.