Best cheap air purifier 2023

The best cheap air purifier can keep the air around you clean and 'pure', all while not costing too much in the first place.

The best premium air purifiers can be absurdly expensive, but these budget-friendly options come in at under 200. You'll need to pay attention to how much air they can clean and what size rooms they're good in though, but you can still get what you need without breaking the bank if you do your research.

Noise level is something else you'll want to factor in - ideally, you'll want it to be as quiet as possible, with the very best purifiers getting as low as 30dB (decibels).

We've taken a look at what's available on the market today based on these aforementioned features, aligned them with what we think makes a fantastic cheap air purifier, and selected a number of options based on everything from specs to reviews to help you kick off your search in the best way possible.

So, here are some recommendations for the best cheap air purifier out there today.

Best cheap air purifier

1. Levoit Core 300
2. HoMedics TotalClean Tower Air Purifier
3. Toshiba Air Purifier CAF-W36USW
4. Blueair 411 Auto
5. Germ Guardian AC4825

Credit: Levoit

1. Levoit Core 300

Best cheap air purifier overall

The Levoit Core 300 looks to be an excellent choice for those after an all-round cheap air purifier.

With it, you'll be getting access to a purifier that comes with a pre-filtered 3-in-1 filtration, a True HEPA filter, and an activated carbon filter so you can get the cleanest air possible.

In addition, the Levoit Core 300 is also said to be rather quiet thanks to Levoit's QuietKEAP tech inside which should also mean this is a great choice for those wanting to use it in a bedroom, as it won't disturb you while you sleep.

This air purifier is also rated for use in rooms up to 219 square feet in size, which means it's likely to be better for smaller spaces, but should definitely be capable while it's in there.

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Credit: HoMedics

2. HoMedics TotalClean Tower Air Purifier

Best cheap air purifier for features

If it's oodles of features you're after, look no further than the HoMedics TotalClean Tower Air Purifier.

For the price, it looks to be quite a powerful purifier, featuring loads of measures to help keep the air clean, including a HEPA filter and a carbon odour filter, as well as a UV-C light to combat germs, and an ioniser inside, too.

The HoMedics TotalClean Tower Air Purifier also features a quoted noise level of between 30 and 52dB, which means it should also be pretty quiet. For reference, 30dB is equivalent noise to someone whispering.

This purifier is also rated to work in small to mid-range rooms, with a rated max room size of around 800 square feet, or 75m², meaning you should be able to plonk it down and get some great performance out of it.

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Credit: Toshiba

3. Toshiba Air Purifier CAF-W36USW

Best cheap smart air purifier

The Toshiba Air Purifier CAF-W36USW is a fantastic choice for anyone wanting to add some smart capabilities to their air purifier.

With it, you'll be getting both Wi-Fi capability and the powers of Alexa, Amazon's smart assistant, for hands-free operation. You can also therefore connect this purifier to an existing smart home system if you've got one.

In addition, the Toshiba Air Purifier CAF-W36USW also has a three-filter setup, comprised of a pre-filter, HEPA filter and activated carbon filter, and also has a UV light sanitiser that can help to kill bacteria.

This air purifier should also be rather quiet, with a quoted noise level of just 32dB, although on its lowest setting.

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Credit: Blueair

4. Blueair 411 Auto

Best cheap air purifier for design

The Blueair 411 Auto is arguably one of the best-looking air purifiers out there for the price.

It's definitely a sleek-looking purifier, with a high-quality fabric finish on the outside, and with a choice of five colours, you'll be sure to find one you like.

In addition, the Blueair 411 Auto also comes with three-stage filtration with a pre-filter, particle filter and a carbon filter, as well as what Blueair calls HEPASilent technology, which offers similar filtration levels to that of a True HEPA filter.

This purifier should also be good to work in rooms up to 190 square feet in size, which means it'll be good for smaller rooms, and represents an increase in max room size over the previous model.

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Credit: Germ Guardian

5. Germ Guardian AC4825

Best cheap air purifier with UV-C

The Germ Guardian AC4825 looks to be a great air purifier for those after the powers of UV-C to help eliminate bacteria.

The UV-C light should help to kill germs and mould spores and combine with the other three stages of filtration in the form of a pre-filter, carbon filter and a True HEPA filter, to offer some brilliant filtration and purification.

The Germ Guardian AC4825 is also designed to work in smaller rooms, with a quoted max room size of 167 square feet, meaning it should be a good fit as a personal purifier in places such as bedrooms.

In addition, owing to a black and silver colour scheme, this also looks to be quite a modern-looking purifier, too.

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Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Don't panic if you've got any questions. We've answered some of the most frequently asked queries below.

Are cheap air purifiers worth it?

In our humble opinion, we'd say that cheap air purifiers, such as those listed above, are certainly worth it if you want to experience the power of a purifier at a more affordable cost.

They may work for smaller rooms and might be louder than some of the more expensive options, but should still be perfectly capable for most people.

Should I run my air purifier 24 hours a day?

Though air purifiers should only take roughly 30-120 minutes to clean the air, there's certainly nothing wrong with running an air purifier for longer, and some even suggest keeping it on for 24 hours a day.

How long does it take for an air purifier to clean a room?

This depends on a few factors, such as room size and the power of your air purifier. Generally speaking, for smaller rooms, a purifier should be able to clean a smaller room in around half an hour, while for larger rooms, it can be between two and three hours.

Do air purifiers stop dust?

According to this article from molekule, the short answer is yes.

This usually takes place via its mechanical filtration units, which work to remove dust from the air.

That's great news for those who have some sensitivity to dust and can make for a much more pleasant living environment.