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Test Bench 1.3.1  
Changelog

 0
By Evan JakabUpdated Jul 16, 2026 at 01:00 pm

Version 1.3.1 of our air purifier testing methodology expands our test coverage with a field stating whether an air purifier has a filter system that carries a HEPA rating.

What's Changed?

New Testing Field

  • HEPA Certified

Why Are We Making These Changes?

HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filtration is a term coined by the U.S. Department of Energy and has a strict definition: a filter meeting this standard should trap 99.97% of airborne particles 0.3 microns (µm) in size. Unfortunately, air purifier manufacturers have played fast and loose with this terminology, using marketing designations like 'HEPA-like' or 'HEPA-type', which aren't subject to the same level of regulatory scrutiny. Others simply don't disclose the results of any sort of independent lab testing that would ratify a HEPA rating.

All of this makes buying a new air purifier a bit of a minefield for the average consumer. The goal of this test bench was to cut through the marketing chaff and provide a clear answer as to whether a filter carries an official HEPA rating, or just the semblance of one.

Advertising claim for the Puroair 240, which states that the unit has a HEPA filter
Advertising claim for the Puroair 240, which states that the unit has a HEPA filter
The third party testing used to validate that claim references a ISO/IEC 17025-accredited lab, rather than complying with a recognized HHEPA filter standard.
The only validation to that claim is that testing was conducted by an ISO/IEC 17025-accredited lab, rather than mentioning any sort of recognized HEPA filter standard.

Beyond units with filter systems that carry a Certified HEPA designation, we've also included units with filters that meet a recognized HEPA standard when tested by a third party, including IEST-RP-CC007, IEST-RP-CC001, and EN 1822.

  • IEST-RP-CC007: A testing procedure used to ensure filters meet HEPA and ultra-low penetration air (ULPA) standards in factory conditions.
  • IEST-RP-CC001: Covers testing for HEPA and ULPA filters that are intended for use in clean air devices and cleanrooms, which fall under the umbrella of ISO 14644.
  • EN 1822: A European standard used to define filter testing to ensure they are, in fact, HEPA or ULPA-grade.

It's worth noting that we've extended this same rating to units that deviate slightly from these standards, such as the Shark BreatheClear HP162, which claims its H14 HEPA filter was tested according to 'IEST-RP-CC007.3, 0.1–0.2 microns'; however, this doesn't specify whether the testing was conducted by a third party or by the manufacturer itself. Based on the manufacturer's other air purifiers with similar filter designs, we've assumed this filter does, in fact, meet some sort of HEPA standard.

With all this being said, a HEPA-certified filter is just one part of the equation, and doesn't automatically mean an air purifier will do a good job. We found in our Particle Filtration Rate testing, which tracks particle concentration at 0.3, 0.5, and 1.0 μm, that airflow is just as important when it comes to determining performance.

A graph comparing the particle filtration rate of the Dyson Purifier Hot+Cool HP07 to the Levoit Vital 200S. The Levoit is visibly faster to lower particle concentrations, despite only the Dyson having a HEPA-certified filter.
A graph comparing the particle filtration rate of the Dyson Purifier Hot+Cool HP07 (Blue) to the Levoit Vital 200S (Green). The Levoit is visibly faster at lowering particle concentrations, despite only the Dyson having a HEPA-certified filter.

Let Us Know What You Think

Your feedback is instrumental in helping us further improve our testing in every aspect. If you have comments, questions, criticisms, or suggestions about this update or any future updates, reach out to us in the comments or email us at feedback@rtings.com.

46 Air Purifiers Updated So Far

We are retesting popular models first. So far, the test results for the following models have been converted to the new testing methodology. However, the text might be inconsistent with the new results.

2 Air Purifiers Planned To Be Updated

We are also planning to retest the following products over the course of the next few weeks:

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