The best budget air purifiers for every room size: Consumer Reports

Cheap air purifiers often fail basic filtration tests. Consumer Reports tested 180 models on dust, smoke, and pollen to find the best under $350

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Air purifiers remove dust, pollen, smoke, and other airborne particles that degrade indoor air quality and aggravate respiratory conditions. Many of the highest-rated models carry price tags well above $350, but the cost of effective filtration does not have to be that high. Performance at both high and low fan speeds varies widely across price points, and a lower-cost model can match or beat a more expensive one in lab tests.

Consumer Reports has tested more than 180 air purifiers on filtration effectiveness, noise, and ease of use to find the best budget options under $350 for every room size. Here are the 11 that made the cut.

GermGuardian CDAP4500BCA

Credit: Guardian Technologies

At $200, this model is one of the top-performing air purifiers for small rooms of 150 square feet or less. Dust, smoke, and pollen removal is outstanding whether the fan runs at high or low speed. Consumer Reports' testers praise its quiet lower-speed performance and note that a programmable timer, five fan speeds, and an auto mode are all included. Annual operating costs run an estimated $144 per year, and CR member surveys show only moderate owner satisfaction with GermGuardian purifiers.

The $200 Blueair Mini Restful is rated for small rooms and earns high marks for removing dust, pollen, and smoke at high speeds, with nearly as strong results at lower settings. A certified HEPA filter is built in, though no........

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