No matter where you live, the best air purifier for you is one that is tailored to your specific clean-air need. I lived in Los Angeles and San Francisco for almost a decade, including during some of the most severe wildfires the region has seen in recent years. Beneath an eerily yellow sky with smoky, stagnant air, I donned an N95 mask as a bartender—long before the pandemic made masking the norm. Needless to say, I'm no stranger to bad air and can appreciate the value of a good air purifier.

Now I live in New York City, where the threat of wildfires ravaging large swaths of land is less imminent, but contaminants from cars and buses, cigarette smoke, and building and industrial emissions are ever present. Not to mention the volatile East Coast weather that's known to host newsworthy pollen spikes, and more recently, wildfire smoke drifting down from Canada. Plus, I live in a tiny apartment with a gas stove and no hood vent (yikes!), and I also have two very furry cats and a roommate who is allergic to them. So, while my focus may be less on outside air quality, I wage a daily battle fighting pet dander and microscopic allergens in my home.

We tested each purifier throughout our real homes and in a sealed tent with smoke pellets. We measured visual smoke clearance, time to return to healthy air-quality readings, noise levels, room coverage, app performance, and filter design. The budget Coway Airmega Mighty2 ($270) is the best choice for most people, and the IQAir Atem X ($1,400) is our premium pick if you prioritize design and long-term repairability over price.

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