Are you looking for the best air purifier for asthma?
Do you want to get relief from asthma-related symptoms and attacks?
Then this guide is right for you.
Below, we’ll explain how an air purifier can help with asthma, as well as which types of devices to avoid.
We’ll then show with you what the top five best asthma air purifiers are and why they work so well.
Table of Contents
Best Air Purifier for Asthma Comparison Chart
Here’s a chart showing the comparison between the top products.
We’ll go more in depth about each one later in this guide, but this gives you a sense of what’s available and an easy way to quickly compare them.
| Image | Air Purifier Details | Price |
|---|---|---|
  | Rabbit Air MinusA2 Air Purifier
| Check Price |
  | Blueair 205 Air Purifier
| Check Price |
  | Levoit LV-PUR131 Air Purifier
| Check Price |
  | IQAir HealthPro Plus Air Purifier
| Check Price |
  | Honyewell HPA300 Air Purifier
| Check Price |
Air Purifier for Asthma Buying Guide
The Best Type of Air Purifier for Asthma to Get and Which to Avoid
An extremely important factor you must understand is that there is only one type of air purifier for asthma sufferers that is best for your health.
In fact, choosing the wrong type of air purifier will actually cause your asthma symptoms to get worse – which is the opposite of what we want.
Just because a product is on top 10 best home air purifier reviews doesn’t mean it will work for an asthmatic.
People who have asthma should avoid “Ionic” and “Ozone” air purifiers.
- Air purifiers that use ionization or produce ozone actually make your asthma symptoms worse
- These types of air cleaners emit fine particles into the air that cause lung irritation for asthmatics
What you want instead is an air purifier that has been rated to be the best for asthma sufferers.
Asthmatics should only use “True HEPA filter” air cleaners.
HEPA stands for “High Efficiency Particulate Air”, and it comes in three versions:
- True HEPA
- HEPA-type
- and HEPA-grade
As an asthma sufferer, you only want a True HEPA air purifier.
Why?
Because True HEPA filters are certified to remove 99.97% of toxins as small as 0.3 microns in size from the air that trigger asthma-related symptoms and attacks.
HEPA-type and HEPA-grade air filters only remove toxins as small as 3-5 microns, which misses a lot of the pollutants that irritate your lungs.
If you have respiratory issues, the best asthma air purifier to get is a True HEPA air purifier. Period.
A True HEPA air purifier works wonders for asthma sufferers by continuously cleaning the air and trapping harmful particles inside a filter.
The filter then prevents these contaminants from recirculating into the air. The result is fresh, clean air that keeps asthma problems under control.
Now that you know what type of air purifier for asthma to get, and which to avoid, you’ll find below the best products on the market that are perfect for asthmatics.
Best Air Purifiers for Asthma (Updated List)
1. Rabbit Air MinusA2 Air Purifier for Asthma
If you’re looking to find an asthma air purifier that not only rids your house of asthma-inducing toxins but is also super stylish, this is it.
Measuring only 7 inches in depth this product can be placed almost anywhere inside a room and also has the ability to be wall-mounted.
The one-of-a-kind 6-stage air filtration system is the most efficient system on the market and was specifically designed to eliminate the largest range of allergy and asthma-inducing contaminants.
It uses a special BioGS HEPA filter that has the same efficiency as a True HEPA filter, but it lasts much longer before needing a replacement (up to 3 years).
When buying this product you’re given the choice of customizing one of the major filters. You can choose between:
- Germ Defense
- Odor Remover
- Toxin Absorber
- and Pet Allergy
Depending on what other types of allergens you want to get rid of, the MinusA2 has you covered, and the filters last up to 1-2 years depending on use.
This air cleaner can also purify an area up to 700 sq. ft., which is perfect for most everyone’s needs.
It also includes the Energy Star certification to ensure low operating costs.
If you want the best air purifier for asthma, this is it.
2. Blueair 205 Air Purifier for Asthma
The second best air cleaner for asthma sufferers is the Blueair 205.
This device is unlike any other on the market because it uses a specialized HEPASilent® filter that can remove toxins as small as 0.1 microns.
That’s 200% finer than what a standard True HEPA filter can capture (0.3 microns).
This air purifier has also be designed to reduce the level of ozone in the air, making every breath you take fresher than other air purifying products.
As we mentioned above, ozone particles are one of the biggest triggers for asthmatics and this product is excellent at combating them.
The HEPASilent technology also offers super-silent operation and you’ll hardly notice that it’s running.
It has also been independently verified by the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) and includes the Energy Star certification – making it inexpensive to operate.
Just like our #1 recommendation, the sleek design of the 205 will complement any room. This unit also includes Wi-Fi controls.
The only drawback is that it can only purify a space up to 280 sq. ft. which is less than half that of the Minus2A.
However, if you don’t need to purify a very large space, this the best asthma air purifier for you to consider because it can save you around $100.
3. Levoit LV-PUR131 Air Purifier for Asthma
If you’re looking to save the most amount of money while still getting relief for your asthma at home, this air purifier is going to be your top pick.
Although it doesn’t have as many features as our #1 best air purifier for asthma, or as an advanced HEPASilent® filter like our #2 choice, this unit does have all of the basic features you need to create clean air.
With this product, you’re getting a 3-stage air filtration system that includes a pre-filter for capturing the largest particles, a True HEPA filter for trapping the widest range of asthma-inducing contaminants, and an Activated Carbon filter for reducing airborne gases and chemical irritants.
For less than half the cost of our #2 pick, you can have a powerful little air purifier that covers a bedroom or living room up to 322 sq. ft.
4. IQAir HealthPro Plus Air Purifier for Asthma
This is another top choice for asthma or allergy sufferers.
It covers the largest amount of space, up to 1,125 sq. ft., making it one of the most powerful air purifiers you can buy.
It comes with a higher price tag than most other models, but because of the room size coverage and these two advanced air filters, you can understand why:
- HyperHEPA Filter that captures particles 100x smaller than a standard True HEPA filter. It has up to 99.95% efficieny down to 0.003 microns in size (the smallest particles that exist).
- V5-Cell Gas & Odor Filter with high-quality granular activated carbon adsorption and pelletized chemisorption to extract harmful VOCs and chemicals from the air.
If you have asthma, and are serious about getting relief, you need to at check this air purifier out.
Don’t let the high price scare you. It’s worth every penny if you want maximum control for asthma and allergies.
5. Honeywell HPA300 Air Purifier for Asthma
Our final recommendation for an air purifier is this unit right here.
Honeywell is the top brand recommended by allergists, so you know it’s going to be excellent for asthma sufferers too.
With this product, you’re not getting any fancy, but just a high-quality air cleaner that works.
Inside, it’s packed with three high-quality True HEPA filters to strip the air of the finest asthma triggers and an Activated Carbon Pre-filter to reduce gases and chemical vapors.
It’s one of the most powerful air purifiers for its size and covers up to 465 sq. ft.
The best part, however, is that this machine can exchange the full volume of air in the room 5X every hour.
You won’t find many other HEPA air cleaners that can match that speed.
Common Questions About Air Purifiers for Asthma
Do air purifiers help with asthma?
Yes. Air purifiers remove airborne contaminants that are responsible for triggering asthma.
This includes things like dust, pollen, smoke, pet dander, mold, and other irritants. Air purifiers strip pollutants out of the air and replace it with clean, fresh air for you to breathe.
Are air purifiers bad for asthma?
Some air purifiers can be bad for asthma while others are not.
The bad air purifiers include ozone generators and ionizers which emit particles into the air as a way to clean it.
Those particles have been known to irritate the lungs of asthmatics and cause difficulty breathing. Therefore it’s best to stay away from those kinds of air cleaners if you have asthma.
The best air purifier for helping reduce asthma symptoms is one that uses a True HEPA filter.
This filter doesn’t emit any harmful byproducts and is capable of removing 99.97% of contaminants that cause asthma symptoms.
Are ionisers good for asthma?
No. Ionisers emit negatively charged ions into the air as a way to clean it and these particles can often make your asthma worse.
It’s best to stay away from ionisers when looking for an air cleaner for your home.
What is the difference between an air purifier and ionizer?
Both air purifiers and ionizers are devices that clean the air. The way they differ is in the way they perform the air cleaning function.
Air purifiers draw air inside the unit and pass it through a set of filters to trap airborne pollutants. Clean air is pushed out the other side.
Ionizers send ions out into the air that latches on to pollutants. The extra weight of this ionic bond causes pollutants to fall out of the air and onto the ground.
Both methods of air purification work, but air purifiers that use a True HEPA filter are much more efficient and safer for people with asthma.
What is the best air purifier for asthma for the home?
The Rabbit Air MinusA2 is one of the best air purifiers for asthma. This air purifier uses 6-stages of air filtration to purify the air of the most common asthma-inducing contaminants.
Although it does include an optional ionizer function, only an amount of 0.002 ppm (parts-per-million) was recorded at low fan speed with it turned on.
That is 25 times less than the 0.05 ppm maximum ozone concentration safety standard set forth by the California Air Resource Board.
Does fresh air help asthma?
Yes. Fresh air is essential for reducing asthma-related symptoms and attacks.
Asthma is often triggered by airborne irritants that get into the lungs and cause a negative respiratory response such as mold spores, pollen, pet dander, dust, and other allergens.
When you run the best asthma air purifier in a room, it cycles the air through a series of filters that strips out these pollutants.
The result is clean air for you to breathe which doesn’t include particles that irritate asthma.
Are air purifiers easy to maintain?
Yes, most air purifiers are easy to maintain. All you have to do is keep up with the filter changes.
Over time, the internal filters get dirty and clogged with contaminants. So, you need to change them out for fresh filters.
Each manufacturer will have a recommended interval for replacing the air purifier’s filters.
What are the differences between cheap and expensive air purifiers?
Cheaper air purifiers often cover less square footage and use lower-grade air filters. They also have limited features and capabilities.
How an Air Purifier for Asthma Can Help Asthmatics
Here’s something you may not know…
- According to the Environment Protection Agency (EPA), indoor air quality in our homes is 2-5x worse than the outdoors.
- WebMd also concluded that 1 out of every 5 Americans is a victim of asthma and allergy related issues.
With those two statistics in mind, you can see why the demand for air purifiers has skyrocketed.
You can also understand why it makes sense to have one in your home in order to improve your health.
For many of you that suffer from asthma, indoor air quality is usually the culprit for asthma symptoms and attacks.
Since we tend to keep the doors and windows to our homes shut (creating an airtight seal) and unknowingly bring in harmful toxins from the outdoors (through our clothing and shoes), our homes become infested with particles that have no way to escape.
In fact, we’re essentially locking ourselves inside a box with millions of contaminants that continue to circulate and never get cleaned out.
For asthma sufferers, this becomes a perpetual pain for your lungs.
Fortunately, there is a cure.
The best air purifier for people who have asthma is one that removes 99.97% of asthma-inducing toxins from the air that cause irritation.
This includes dust, mold spores, pollen, and bacteria.
Without these harmful particles roaming free in your home, you end up with an indoor space that’s packed with only clean, fresh air.
This means that you can breathe easier, feel better, and not have to worry about having as many asthma problems while indoors.
For asthma sufferers, air purifiers are the best solution for getting rid of the harmful triggers that cause asthma attacks.
Types of Air Purifiers
HEPA
HEPA filters are the most common type of air filtering process.
What makes HEPA air purifiers work so well is that they can trap particles that are known for triggering asthma and allergies.
The best air purifier for allergies is one that uses a True HEPA filters because it’s certified to trap particles as small as 0.3 microns in size at an efficiency rate of 99.97%.
Air purifiers that use HEPA-type or HEPA-grade filters can only remove pollutants as small as 3-5 microns, which is far less efficient.
Carbon
Air purifiers that include an Activated Carbon filter are excellent at reducing odors, gases, and dangerous volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from the air.
Some of those substances can also trigger asthma and allergy symptoms as well as cause a number of health-related issues.
Therefore, getting an air purifier with an Activated Carbon filter is a smart thing to do.
UV
UV (or ultraviolet) light technology is used to destroy airborne contaminants at a molecular level. Most commonly, UV lights are used to kill bacteria and viruses.
No other type of air purification method can kill microbes and pathogens like a UV light.
Ionic
Ionic air purifiers emit charged ions into the air to weigh particles down.
They don’t trap pollutants inside a physical filter; however, some products may have electrostatic collection plates that can attract the particles from the air.
Ionic air purifiers (or ionizers) are not good for asthmatics because the charged ions can irritate asthma symptoms.
Also, some ionizers produce ozone as a by-product, and that too can cause lung irritation.
Ozone
Ozone air purifiers emit ozone as a way to clean the air.
Ozone is a molecule that’s composed of three oxygen atoms and has the ability to attach to other molecules, such as smoke and odor, to clean and deodorize areas quickly.
However, ozone can also react negatively with your skin, eyes, lungs, and other exposed areas.
So, it’s never good to be in the same room as an ozone air purifier while it’s running. And, people with asthma should stay away from these types of air purifiers all together.
Picking the Right Size Air Purifier for Asthma (Coverage Area)
All air purifiers have a maximum area they can cover—indicated by square feet.
Knowing the size of the space you want to purify can help you pick the right size air purifier for your needs.
To do that, take the following measurements for the room you want to use the air purifier in:
- Length x Width = Square Feet (sq. ft.)
For example, if your bedroom is 12′ long by 14’ wide, then:
- 12 x 14 = 168 sq. ft.
All you need to do is get an air purifier that meets or exceeds that square footage rating and you’ll be fine.
The air purifiers for asthma reviewed earlier in this guide offer the widest range of square footage coverage for you to find a high-quality device quick and easy for most size rooms.
Common Indoor Asthma Triggers
There are a number of indoor triggers for asthma and an air purifier can get rid of most of them.
Everyone’s triggers are different.
So, learn to know your triggers and find ways to avoid them.
The most common triggers include:
- Tobacco Smoke
- Dust
- Dust Mites
- Outdoor Air Pollution
- Cockroach Allergen
- Pet dander
- Mold
- Smoke From Burning Wood
- Voliatle Organic Compounds (VOCs)
Additional Ways to Help Asthma without an Air Purifier
While an air purifier is one of the best devices you can buy for your home to help with asthma, there are several other steps you can take to help reduce or alleviate your symptoms.
One of the easiest things you can do is reduce the number of fabrics, carpet, and upholstery that is inside your home or a specific room.
These objects are breeding grounds for asthma-inducing particles because they trap them within the woven fibers that make up their elements.
If you can replace any of those types of objects with other options it can help cut down a lot. For example, removing the carpet within a room and replacing it with laminate or wood flooring will remove a notorious collection spot for asthma triggering contaminants.
The same thing goes with replacing drapes with plastic or wooden blinds.
If you have pets, it’s best to bathe them at least once per month, but ideally every 1-2 weeks.
This will cut down on the amount of pet hair and dander they emit, which highly affects asthma.
For bedrooms, buying dust mite covers for your bedding will keep these critters from making a home in your pillows and mattress.
A small one-time investment in these items can be a great benefit for an asthmatic.
Finally, many asthmatics are affected by the humidity levels within a home.
In addition to getting an air purifier for asthma, adding a humidifier or dehumidifier to properly maintain the right humidity level is a wonderful combination of technology to have in place.
A hygrometer will help you figure out what the humidity levels are inside your home, which will alert you to which type of humidifying device to get.
The key here is that you want the level to be between 30-50%.
Summary on the Best Air Purifiers for Asthma
As you learned, the best air purifier for asthma includes a few key features, one of which is a True HEPA filter.
Without a True HEPA filter, you won’t get as much relief with an air purifier because lower-grade filters are not as efficient.
Additionally, there are some things you can do at home to reduce asthma flare-ups, such as keeping away from triggers, changing your cleaning habits, and replacing items in the home that are known to harbor allergens.
We hope you enjoyed this guide on how to choose the best asthma air purifier for your needs.