We love our furry friends, but there's no denying they can make a bit of a mess. An air purifier helps here and improves the air quality in your home by a measurable degree. If you're shopping for an air purifier and have pets, a few features are worth looking out for. A HEPA-rated filter will help trap fine allergens, while a washable mesh pre-filter can help prevent any tufts of hair from getting sucked into the machine.
A quick warning, however: while an air purifier can pull in short, lightweight strands of hair in its immediate vicinity, these units are best used to deal with fine, lightweight particles, like pet dander. If you need to keep your floors and furniture pet-hair-free, you might want to look at our recommendations for the best vacuums for pet hair and the best vacuums for allergies instead.
We've tested over 25 models, and below are the best air purifiers for pets we've tested. 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. Or if you only need an air purifier for a smaller room, check out our recommendations for the best air purifiers for bedrooms.
We've independently tested over 25 air purifiers, purchasing each one ourselves like the average consumer would: no cherry-picked samples or talking points from manufacturers. 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.
Check out our How We Test Air Purifiers article to learn more about our purchasing, testing, and writing procedures.
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Best Air Purifier For Pets
Pets8.5Particle Filtration Rate8.6Measured PM1.0 CADR548 m³/hr (323 CFM)Noise @ Lowest Fan Speed32.3dBASee all our test resultsNoise @ Highest Fan Speed63.2dBAIf you're a pet owner looking for an air purifier with the latest and greatest convenience features and don't mind spending more for the privilege, the NuWave OxyPure is the best air purifier for pets that we've tested. Right off the bat, there's no denying this is a very pricey machine; buying multiple cheaper units, like the Levoit Vital 200S, and placing them around your home would cost roughly the same as a single NuWave. That said, if you only want a standalone unit, the NuWave provides a high enough CADR to operate effectively in large spaces.
Instead, its main advantage lies in its unique multi-stage filtration system, in which almost every filter inside is washable and reusable, so you won't have to replace the main filter like you would with other units. This system comprises a stainless steel mesh pre-filter that can easily trap clumps of hair, two 'Bio-Guard' filters (for mold, viruses, and bacteria), an ozone filter, and a HEPA/pellet-type activated carbon filter for dealing with pet odors. Except for the latter, which needs to be replaced every year, these filters have a 20-year lifespan and only require a wash every couple of months. This air purifier has Wi-Fi connectivity, so you can operate it remotely using the NuWave Connect companion app.
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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 you don't want or need the NuWave OxyPure's reusable filtration system and don't mind higher recurring costs due to disposable filters, then the Levoit Core 600S is a great option for owners. Its max CADR isn't far off from that of the NuWave, allowing effective operation as a single unit in apartments or open-concept living spaces. 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 NuWave, 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. On the downside, it's a little louder than the NuWave at its lowest speed. While it's smaller than the latter, it's still a fairly bulky 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. 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; 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 is 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! You can build this do-it-yourself solution by following this guide, which combines a quartet of 3M Filtrete MERV 13 air filters with a Lasko 20-inch box fan. However, this isn't a do-it-all solution, as unlike the NuWave OxyPure or 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.
That said, the Corsi-Rosenthal Box handily outperforms every conventional air purifier we've tested in terms of actual performance. It has a very high clean air delivery rate and exceptional particle filtration performance, so it'll have no trouble trapping finer allergens like pet dander. While it might hurt its performance, you can also tape mesh filters to the outside of the furnace filters to trap any larger clumps of pet hair or dust bunnies.
Notable Mentions
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Shark NeverChange Air Purifier MAX HP302:
The Shark NeverChange Air Purifier MAX 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 -
Dyson Purifier Big+Quiet Formaldehyde BP04:
The Dyson Purifier Big+Quiet Formaldehyde BP04 is a good alternative to the NuWave OxyPure if you want something quieter. However, its particle filtration performance is inferior to that of the NuWave.
See our review
Recent Updates
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.
Mar 05, 2025:
We changed the link to the Corsi-Rosenthal Box guide. We mentioned adding a Wi-Fi-controlled outlet to the Corsi-Rosenthal Box. There was some minor rewording of the rest of the article.
Jan 27, 2025:
No change in recommendations, as all picks are still valid and available. Small text changes for conciseness and 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.