If you're searching for an air purifier for a home office, bedroom, or child's nursery, discreet operation is of the utmost importance. While you might think that lower operating volumes come with a built-in sacrifice to overall performance, there's no shortage of air purifiers on the market that prove that doesn't have to be the case; the best quiet air purifiers can provide enough performance for big spaces without making a fuss.
We've tested over 45 air purifiers, and below are our recommendations for the quietest air purifiers we've tested. If you want a broader overview of the product landscape, check out our recommendations for the best air purifiers. Alternatively, for more targeted recommendations, see our recommendations for the best air purifiers for bedrooms and the best air purifiers for pets.
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 Quiet Air Purifier
Noise8.9Particle Filtration Rate9.1Noise @ Highest Fan Speed58.2dBANoise @ Lowest Fan Speed31.2dBARecommended Room Size30.8 m² (332 ft²)See all our test resultsRecommended Room Size @ Max Fan Speed62.2 m² (670 ft²)The Blueair Blue Signature Large is among the quietest air purifier units we've tested, and is a fantastic option for those seeking high-end performance without causing a ruckus. At the second of its five fan speeds, it runs at only a hair over 31 dBA, more than quiet enough to fade into the background of most rooms. Even in this low-speed configuration, it provides a high enough clean air delivery rate (CADR) for it to operate effectively in rooms over 330 ft² (30.7 m²), making it a good fit for the average living area. Turning things up does result in a drastic increase in fan noise, which could be heard even if you were to have a TV playing nearby at a normal volume, but doing that also bumps up its clean air delivery rate to the point where it'd be effective as a standalone unit within whole apartments or even open-concept living spaces. Its flat top and optionally available legs also make it a functional end table.
If there's one potential dealbreaker with this unit, it's the additional ionization layer in its HEPASilent filtration system, which produces ozone as a byproduct of operation. For the record, its ozone production level is AHAM-certified to fall within safe limits, but the main issue is that this system can't be turned off. This can be a potential dealbreaker for those who suffer from acute ozone sensitivity, or some pet owners.
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Best Upper Mid-Range Quiet Air Purifier
Noise8.3Particle Filtration Rate8.4Noise @ Highest Fan Speed53.9dBANoise @ Lowest Fan Speed33.1dBARecommended Room Size28.8 m² (310 ft²)See all our test resultsRecommended Room Size @ Max Fan Speed42.7 m² (459 ft²)For those for whom the Blueair Blue Signature Large's always-on ionization system is a dealbreaker, the Winix C909 is a good choice, albeit exclusive to Costco retailers. Compared to the pricier Blueair, its maximum particle filtration rate lags a little, as it's about 30% slower to clear the air in an equivalently sized space. That gap closes at slower fan speeds, where the Winix is similarly quiet to the Blueair, and provides similar overall coverage, making it a good option for medium-sized living rooms or really large primary suites. In terms of overall operating noise, it produces a hair over 33 dBA at its lowest fan speed, which is quiet enough to fade into the background of a bedroom or home office, while its max setting falls just under 54 dBA, which is noticeably quieter than the Blueair. The latter setting shouldn't be overly distracting if you set up the Winix in a large room and have enough space to keep it at a fair distance from you.
The filtration system consists of three mechanical filtration stages: a mesh pre-filter for large dust motes and strands of pet hair, a True HEPA filter for dealing with fine dust, pollen, and pet dander, and an activated carbon filter to help reduce odors and vapors, though that carbon sheet isn't substantial enough to have a massive impact. Like the Blueair, this model is also equipped with a particle ionization system to neutralize fine airborne pollutants. This system also produces a small amount of ozone, which is rated to fall within safe parameters. If that still represents a major issue, you can turn off this so-called PlasmaWave feature, which isn't possible with the Blueair. Even better, doing that doesn't have a dramatic impact on performance.
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Best Mid-Range Quiet Air Purifier
Noise8.6Particle Filtration Rate7.7Noise @ Highest Fan Speed55.6dBANoise @ Lowest Fan Speed32.7dBARecommended Room Size12.6 m² (135 ft²)See all our test resultsRecommended Room Size @ Max Fan Speed31.3 m² (337 ft²)For people shopping for a quiet air purifier who would prefer something more affordable, the Levoit Vital 200S is worth considering. Operating noise is comparable to the Winix C909 and Blueair Blue Signature Large across the board, fading into the background at its lowest fan speed and rising to the level of soft rainfall at its highest setting. What you lose out on compared to pricier alternatives is coverage, with this unit suited for areas approaching 340 ft² (31.6 m²) at its highest setting. At its lower, quieter fan speeds, it's only really suitable for smaller bedrooms, as its CADR drops to under half its maximum.
It's a good option for bedrooms, not only for its low operating noise but also for its built-in light sensor that automatically turns off the display in a dark room. That said, you need to enable this feature in the Levoit VeSync smartphone companion app. The app also lets you monitor air quality in real time and adjust settings remotely, without getting out of bed or off the couch.
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Best Budget Quiet Air Purifier
Noise9.0Particle Filtration Rate7.0Noise @ Highest Fan Speed53.9dBANoise @ Lowest Fan Speed30.8dBARecommended Room Size8.5 m² (91 ft²)See all our test resultsRecommended Room Size @ Max Fan Speed21.8 m² (234 ft²)If you have a smaller living area, would prefer something compact, and don't require the sheer performance of pricier models, take a look at the Blueair Blue Pure 511i Max. Compared to the marginally pricier Levoit Vital 200S, the Blueair is roughly 30% slower to achieve the same level of air quality in an equivalently sized space, regardless of its fan speed setting. With that said, it's also even quieter: at its lowest fan speed, it's practically inaudible, making it a great option for bedrooms or home offices. It also has a smaller footprint, so you can place it on a nightstand or dresser, and its subtle design makes it look more like a Bluetooth speaker than an air purifier, which makes it easier to blend in with your decor. While its performance as a single unit falls short of pricier alternatives, its compact size and lower purchase price also make it an attractive option if you plan on buying multiple units to cover a larger area.
In terms of features, it's similarly equipped to pricier options, with a built-in particle sensor for automatic power adjustment and Wi-Fi integration that lets you monitor air quality or make settings adjustments without using the main controls. Like the larger, more powerful Blueair Blue Signature Large, this air purifier also features a particle ionization system that, unfortunately, can't be disabled.
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Best Cheap Quiet Air Purifier
Noise9.7Particle Filtration Rate3.1Noise @ Highest Fan Speed46.5dBANoise @ Lowest Fan Speed31.9dBARecommended Room Size4.4 m² (48 ft²)See all our test resultsRecommended Room Size @ Max Fan Speed4.4 m² (48 ft²)The Levoit Core Mini-P is the quietest air purifier we've tested, but it's only worth considering if you're looking for one of the cheapest household air purifiers on the market and have a very small space to use it in. Its performance lags far behind that of the Blueair Blue Pure 511i Max, with a CADR that only allows it to operate comfortably in areas up to 50 ft2 (4.6 m²) or so, which basically restricts its usage to small apartment bedrooms, nurseries, or the tightest of dorm rooms if you plan on buying only a single unit. On the upside, it runs almost inaudibly, and also has an impressively small footprint, being shorter and narrower than the already fairly small Blueair, so you can set it up on a shelf or table with room to spare.
Overall functionality is quite limited. There's no particle sensor, no Wi-Fi connectivity, or even a remote control that lets you adjust settings without interacting with the units themselves. That said, its display does turn off after a minute of inactivity, which is handy if you have this air purifier set up near a bed or in a nursery.
Notable Mentions
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Blueair Blue Signature Small:
The Blueair Blue Signature Small is a compact air purifier that runs very quietly. That said, the comparably priced Levoit Vital 200S offers a higher CADR, while remaining only fractionally louder in day-to-day operation.
See our review -
Dyson Purifier Big+Quiet Formaldehyde BP04:
The Dyson Purifier Big+Quiet Formaldehyde BP04 is a high-end air purifier that runs very quietly for a unit of this size. That said, the Blueair Blue Signature Large is far more compact, delivers a higher clean air delivery rate, and crucially, is similarly quiet.
See our review -
Dyson HushJet:
The Dyson HushJet is a compact high-end air purifier. True to its name, it runs quietly enough to fade into the background of most rooms. That said, the Winix C909 delivers far better overall performance.
See our review
All Reviews
Our recommendations above represent the best quiet air purifiers for most people. We factor in price, visitor feedback, and availability.
That said, there are few one-size-fits-all options on the market; your needs will depend on the size of your living space, the footprint of the air purifier you're looking for, and whether you prefer a device with convenience features like Wi-Fi connectivity. If you want to choose for yourself, here's the list of all our air purifier reviews, sorted by operating noise.