We love our furry friends, but there's no denying they have a tendency to get fur and dander everywhere they go. Pet dander is a big respiratory concern for many people and something of a pain to actually deal with; the smallest bits of dander can be as little as 0.1 microns (µm) in size, which is smaller than other common irritants like pollen, dust, and even some forms of bacteria. Thankfully, an air purifier with a HEPA-grade filter, capable of trapping at least 99.97% of particles that are 0.3 microns in diameter, can significantly reduce the amount of airborne dust and dander in your home. Particle filtration is only one piece of the puzzle, though: when searching for the best air purifier for pets, you'll want a model that's powerful enough to move a lot of air; otherwise, you won't be putting that dense, medical-grade HEPA filter to use.
Many manufacturers also include a layer of activated carbon in their primary filter, touting its odor-reduction capability. A quick warning, however: we found in our own investigation into air purifier performance that the overwhelming majority of these units don't contain anywhere near enough of the material to have a meaningful impact on odor-generating gaseous contaminants. As a result, if you see a manufacturer advertising the best air purifier for pet odors, you should look at these claims with serious skepticism.
We've tested over 35 models, and these are our recommendations for the best air purifiers for pets. We put each unit through the same rigorous tests to give you clear, repeatable results, and we also take price and availability into account when making our recommendations. If you want a broader overview of the product landscape, check out our recommendations for the best air purifiers and the best air purifiers for allergies. Also note that we've updated our testing methodology to evaluate air purification performance at a fan speed that minimizes operating noise, great for easily startled pets. If you're interested in learning more, you can read our test bench changelog.
We buy and independently test air purifiers with no manufacturer samples, sponsorships, or pre-approved talking points. Each unit goes through the same standardized test bench, and the results are validated by multiple teams before being published on our website, so you can accurately compare them side by side.
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Best Air Purifier For Pets
Pets9.1Particle Filtration Rate9.1Measured PM1.0 CADR729 m³/hr (429 CFM)Noise @ Lowest Fan Speed31.2dBASee all our test resultsNoise @ Highest Fan Speed58.2dBAThe Blueair Blue Signature Large is the best air purifier for pets that we've tested, thanks to its very high overall performance and whisper-quiet operation. This Wi-Fi-enabled unit has an incredibly high max clean air delivery rate (CADR), making it a good standalone option for apartment dwellers or homeowners looking for a unit that can handle pet dander in open-concept living areas or bigger basements. It runs impressively quietly, too, and shouldn't be a major disturbance even for easily startled pets. Its multi-stage HEPASilent filtration system includes a pre-filter that can collect finer strands of hair to keep them from clogging the primary filters, along with an odor-neutralizing mineral filter, and a further layer of activated carbon in its primary allergen filter, though this unit would require an even greater amount of activated carbon to effectively deal with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and odors. Its chic design and flat top allow you to use it as a small end table too, making it a more subtle option than most household units.
There's an important caveat, though: this unit also uses a particle ionization system to attract airborne particles and further improve performance, which produces a small amount of ozone while running. While this system's ozone production rate is AHAM-certified to fall within safe limits, it can't be disabled, which could be a dealbreaker if your pet is particularly sensitive to ozone; this can include short-snout dogs like pugs or bulldogs, most cat breeds, guinea pigs, hamsters, and birds.
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Best Upper Mid-Range Air Purifier For Pets
Pets8.4Particle Filtration Rate8.8Measured PM1.0 CADR617 m³/hr (363 CFM)Noise @ Lowest Fan Speed33.7dBASee all our test resultsNoise @ Highest Fan Speed61.2dBAIf the Blueair Blue Signature Large's always-on ionizer is a dealbreaker, then take a look at the Levoit Core 600S. Its max clean air delivery rate (CADR) falls slightly short of the Blueair, with the latter being almost 20% faster in delivering the same level of air quality within an equivalently sized space, all the while making less noise. That being said, the Levoit's performance is still sufficient for use in large, open-concept living rooms and whole apartments. While performance does drop at lower, quieter fan speeds, it still provides sufficient airflow for effective operation in most bedrooms and offices. Its three-stage filtration system consists of a pre-filter for larger airborne particles, a primary filter for dust and mold, and an Activated Carbon filter to minimize odors, though there's very little of the latter, and it's unlikely to have a massive impact on odors, such as those from your cat's litter box.
Like the Blueair, this unit is Wi-Fi enabled, so you can use the Levoit VeSync app to view an air quality estimate from its onboard particle sensor, adjust the fan speed, or be alerted when the filter needs to be replaced. While it's narrower than the Blueair, it's still a fairly tall unit.
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Best Mid-Range Air Purifier For Pets
Pets7.9Particle Filtration Rate7.7Measured PM1.0 CADR367 m³/hr (216 CFM)Noise @ Lowest Fan Speed32.7dBASee all our test resultsNoise @ Highest Fan Speed55.6dBAIf you don't mind exchanging a higher max air cleaning rate for a cheaper air purifier with a pet-optimized design, the Levoit Vital 200S is a good option. This mid-sized unit features a washable pre-filter, which can help collect smaller airborne strands of pet hair before they can get stuck in the primary filter. Beyond that, its air inlet is U-shaped to prevent clogging when it ingests large amounts of hair, an element not found on the pricier Levoit Core 600S. This Levoit has a three-stage filtration system that comprises the aforementioned pre-filter and a combined primary filter with an activated carbon layer to trap odors, though the latter layer isn't substantial enough to have much impact. The unit is also Wi-Fi enabled, so you can adjust fan speed settings or view a rough estimate of air quality using the VeSync companion app.
In terms of raw performance, it works quite well, with sufficient clean air delivery rate (CADR) to handle medium-sized rooms with ease, though we'd suggest buying a second unit for really wide-open spaces: max coverage tops out at a little over 330 ft² (30.6 m²), a little over half the capacity of the Core 600S. While the primary filter isn't HEPA-certified, we found its actual particle filtration performance to be similar to most other HEPA-certified units we've tested. It also runs pretty quietly, even at its highest fan speed setting.
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Best Budget Air Purifier For Pets
Pets6.4Particle Filtration Rate6.0Measured PM1.0 CADR154 m³/hr (91 CFM)Noise @ Lowest Fan Speed33.6dBASee all our test resultsNoise @ Highest Fan Speed54.7dBAIf you want something a little cheaper and don't mind sacrificing a bit of performance, the Levoit Core 200S is a great option. Like the Levoit Vital 200S, its default filter isn't HEPA-rated. Plus, its small motor results in a mediocre CADR, with max coverage under one half that of the Vital 200S. As a result, this model is really only suited for dealing with pet allergens in small to medium-sized rooms like bedrooms or offices. On the upside, this model has a much smaller footprint than the Vital 200S, so it's easier to fit into smaller spaces or even on top of a nightstand or dresser. While it's whisper-quiet at its lowest fan speed, which is great for more noise-sensitive pets, it can produce a somewhat distracting whooshing noise at its highest speed.
Unlike the Vital 200S, it doesn't have a built-in particle sensor that would allow it to adjust its fan speed automatically, and its pre-filter isn't washable under water, making it harder to clear away larger clumps of fur. That said, it's still Wi-Fi enabled, so you can change its fan speed or set operating schedules while you're away from home.
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Best DIY Air Purifier For Pets
Pets7.7Particle Filtration Rate9.5Measured PM1.0 CADR943 m³/hr (555 CFM)Noise @ Lowest Fan Speed51.7dBASee all our test resultsNoise @ Highest Fan Speed67.3dBADo you have several heavily shedding pets or require cleaner air in a large space? Are you easygoing about looks and operating noise? If you answered yes to some or all of the above, you could consider building your own Corsi-Rosenthal Box! It's capable of operating effectively in areas exceeding 860 ft² (79.9 m²), making it suitable for large areas like basements or garages. Provided you stick to the same material list as this guide, which features four MERV 13 air filters with a 20-inch box fan, it won't have any trouble trapping finer allergens like pet dander. While it can slightly reduce airflow and, consequently, performance, you can also tape mesh filters to the outside of the unit to trap any larger clumps of pet hair or dust bunnies, too.
However, this isn't a do-it-all solution, as unlike the Blueair Blue Signature Large or the Levoit Core 600S, it lacks convenience features. Most Corsi-Rosenthal box designs lack a carbon filter to trap pet odors, and there's no particle sensor or Wi-Fi connectivity. Corsi-Rosenthal boxes are also pretty noisy due to their large box fans, and might scare off more skittish animals while they're running. To reduce noise and energy consumption, some users have swapped the single large box fan for multiple PC fans; however, we haven't tested this design yet.
Notable Mentions
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Shark NeverChange Air Purifier MAX HP302:
The Shark NeverChange Air Purifier MAX HP302 is an air purifier with a unique filtration system that's supposed to last five years without the need to replace a component, keeping recurring costs low. That said, its air cleaning rate is slightly lower than that of the Levoit Vital 200S.
See our review -
Coway Airmega 200M:
The Coway Airmega 200M is an air purifier with a built-in ionizer that you can turn on and off and an automatic fan speed adjustment function. However, while it does have a max CADR higher than that of the Levoit Vital 200S, the latter's wider air inlet makes it less likely to be clogged by clumps of fine pet hair.
See our review -
Levoit Core 400S:
The Levoit Core 400S is a very good alternative to the Levoit Vital 200S that delivers similar air filtration performance. That said, unlike the Vital 200S, you can't wash larger debris from its pre-filter, so it isn't the best air purifier for pet hair.
See our review -
Rabbit Air A3:
The Rabbit Air A3 is a high-end air purifier that runs impressively quietly and has a great maximum CADR, but it's outperformed by the Blueair Blue Signature Large in terms of performance.
See our review -
NuWave OxyPure:
The NuWave OxyPure is a high-end air purifier that represents a good alternative to the Blueair Blue Signature Large if you want to forego the latter's ionization system. It also features a unique washable filtration system to lower its recurring costs. That said, the Blueair delivers superior particle filtration performance, quieter operation, and a more discreet, compact design.
See our review -
Blueair Blue Pure 211i Max:
The Blueair Blue Pure 211i Max is a high-end air purifier that delivers comparably superb overall performance as the Blueair Blue Signature Large. It's a good alternative if it can be found at a lower price, and you don't mind missing out on the Signature Large's more subtle appearance.
See our review
Recent Updates
Jun 16, 2026:
We've replaced the NuWave OxyPure with the Blueair Blue Signature Large as our pick for the 'Best Air Purifier For Pets' due to its superior performance and more compact design. We've also added the NuWave OxyPure, Rabbit Air A3, and Blueair Blue Pure 211i Max to our Notable Mentions section.
Apr 28, 2026:
We've updated the article's text to more clearly explain product details and contextualize performance data.
Feb 27, 2026:
We recategorized the Levoit Vital 200S as the 'Best Mid-Range Air Purifier For Pets' pick. We added the Levoit Core 600S as the new 'Best Upper Mid-Range Air Purifier For Pets' category pick. We replaced the Levoit Core 300 with the Levoit Core 200S as the 'Best Budget Air Purifier For Pets' pick due to current availability.
Dec 01, 2025:
We replaced the Winix 5500-2 with the Levoit Vital 200S as the 'Best Air Purifier For Pets' pick due to current availability.
May 02, 2025:
We've checked to ensure all our recommendations are still available and represent the best choices. We also made some small text edits for clarity.
All Reviews
Our recommendations above are some of the best air purifiers for pets. We factor in the price, feedback from our visitors, and availability.
That said, there's no single best air purifier for homes that will suit everybody; your needs will depend on your budget, the size of your living space, your tolerance for operating noise, and whether you like having a device with convenience features like Wi-Fi connectivity. If you'd like to choose for yourself, here's the list of all our air purifier reviews.