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 25 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. 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 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 Speed63.2dBAThe NuWave OxyPure is the best air purifier for pets that we've tested, especially if you're looking for the latest and greatest convenience features and don't mind spending more for the privilege. At its max fan speed, this unit is capable of effective operation in areas exceeding 500 ft² (46.5 m²) in size, thanks to a powerful fan and efficient multi-stage filtration system that doesn't choke out airflow. As a result, it's a great option if you want a standalone unit that can clear away pet dander in all but the most massive of areas, instead of having to purchase multiple cheaper, lower-capacity units for the same task. It runs fairly quietly, too, and at lower fan speeds, it's still capable of dealing with airborne contaminants in most living rooms and bedrooms, which is ideal for more noise-sensitive pets.
That multi-stage filtration system is unique amongst household air purifiers, with many of the filter layers having a washable, reusable design. These washable filters include a stainless steel mesh pre-filter that can easily trap clumps of hair, bio-filters that can trap things like mold, viruses, and bacteria, and an ozone filter. The one perishable filter is its core HEPA filter, which also features a layer of activated carbon pellets to reduce pet odors. That said, based on our own research, it would require an even greater amount of activated carbon to effectively deal with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and odors.
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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 want something smaller and easier to place than the NuWave OxyPure, and don't mind higher recurring costs due to disposable filters, then the Levoit Core 600S is a great option for owners. Its max clean air delivery rate (CADR) actually exceeds that of the NuWave, allowing effective operation in spaces exceeding 560 ft² (52.0 m²), more than enough for even 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 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: 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 NuWave OxyPure 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 -
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
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.
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.
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.