The 7 Best Quiet Air Purifiers Review in 2023 with Test Data

Hey there! Welcome to our best quiet air purifiers review for 2023.

We spent 40+ hours researching quiet air purifiers, including:

• Manufacturer claims
• Customer reviews featuring the word “quiet”
• Consumer websites
• Our own personal testing

We compiled a list of the 7 best purifiers that are STRONG ENOUGH to clean your air while being QUIET ENOUGH not to wake the dead or cause permanent hearing loss.

To make your selection easier, we’ve included the ideal room size, filter costs, and sound level (decibels), along with a Centers for Disease Control reference chart for acceptable noise levels.

Just choose your room size, compare the purifier’s sound to an acceptable everyday noise (whisper, refrigerator hum, etc.), and power level. That’s it! You’ve found the perfect model for you.

Ready?

Let’s go…

Jump to:

1. List of The 7 Best Quiet Air Purifiers
2. How to Choose the Best Quiet Air Purifiers

If you’re in a hurry, check out our best picks:

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These Air purifiers are for:

• Anyone who wants to run their purifier all night without it interfering with their sleep.
• Anyone with allergic rhinitis (symptoms: morning sneezing and runny nose) and needs a purifier that won’t interfere with their allergies or make them worse.
• Parents want to remove allergens from their babies’ rooms safely without disturbing the child’s sleep.

The factors that we took into account:

• High-efficiency-filter air purifiers.
• Super-quiet running at lower fan speeds.
• Sleep mode feature (auto-activated would be great).
• Automatic fan speed changes based on air quality and timer features.
• Energy efficiency.

CDC Acceptable Noise Level Reference Chart

To make selection easier, we’ve included these noise levels from the CDC for reference. That way, you can see how much noise your unit will make and determine if it’s suitable for you.

For example, if you sleep perfectly fine with a refrigerator humming, then having a stronger purifier that makes 40 – 45 dB of sound probably won’t bother you. But if the fridge keeps you awake, you’ll have to sacrifice some power to get the noise level down into the 30 – 35 range.

Here are everyday noises you hear for reference:

• Lawn mower: 80-90 dB
• Vacuum Cleaner: 80 dB
• Washing machine/Dishwasher: ~70 dB
• Air con: 60 dB
• Human conversation: 60 dB
• Refrigerator hum: 40 dB
• Whisper: 30 dB
• A watch’s tick: 20 dB

List of The 7 Best Quiet Air Purifiers of 2023:

1. Levoit Core 300: The Best Overall for Typical Homes

Introducing our #1 quiet air purifier for your living room, bedroom, or kitchen.

The Levoit Core 300 is the optimal mix of power, noise level, and energy efficiency for suburban homes, city apartments, and busy offices. And it’s totally fine if you have pets, too.

The H13 HEPA filter catches 99.97% of airborne particles, and it’s strong enough to purify ~ 260 square feet (master bedrooms are 200 – 400 on average) in 15 minutes (CADR 141 cfm), all while producing a lot less noise than your typical air conditioner. And that’s as loud as it gets.

At night, keep it on Sleep mode or Level 1 fan speeds, and you won’t even hear it – 24 dB(A) is barely a ticking watch. If it’s across the room, it’ll be barely louder than your breathing (unless you or your partner snores like a UPS truck).

Some models are stronger but produce more noise (60 dB +), and others are quieter but not strong enough to keep your living room or office clean. This is the perfect compromise.

Why we recommend it

• Powerful but acceptable noise: During the day, you may need to keep it on medium or high to remove odors or particles, depending on your location. Even then, you won’t have to turn the TV volume up or lose focus at work.
• Just a few dollars a month to run: It’s not the cheapest, but even at the max performance, it’ll only cost about $80 A YEAR to run (24/7 running at $0.12/kWh rate). Assuming you use it on low at night, it’ll probably be $40 – $50 or less.

What you might not like

• No auto mode: The model has no air quality sensors, which could be beneficial to many.

If you just need the best quiet unit money can buy for a regular house or apartment, there’s no better choice. Other units will either cost more, be louder, or not get the job done as well.

Noise Level: 24-50 dB(A)
Room Coverage: 210 sq ft five times per hour (CADR: 141 cfm).
Replacement Filter Costs: ~ $29 to $39, 6-8 months usage (Check filter price on Amazon: Original, Smoke, Toxin, and Pet. Check filter price on Levoit, VeSync Store).

Pros & Cons:

Read our in-depth review with real-world performance Levoit Core 300 Air Purifier.

2. RabbitAir MinusA2 (SPA-780): Our Runner Up

The RabbitAir MinusA2 is like the Rolls Royce of air purifiers: it covers more area, traps 99% of particles larger than 0.1 microns in size, and is better at fighting odors, cigarette smoke, and pet hair. And it’s barely louder than a fridge.

It would definitely be our top pick IF it weren’t for the price.

It comfortably covers about 800s square feet two times per hour, which is far larger than your average living room, master bedroom, or kitchen. If you have a more open home, it could cover multiple rooms with no problem.

It might be a bit overkill, and the price is definitely high-end, but it doesn’t get much better than this.

Our favorite feature

The MinusA2 is way more flexible than most purifiers. You have the freedom to choose 4 different filters – germ defense, pet allergy, odor remover, and toxin absorber – you can select based on your indoor conditions.

Why we recommend it

• Better specs: More power, more room coverage, and a 6-step filtering process for cleaner air. It’s strong enough for low-air quality cities.
• Unique features: This model mounts on the wall, and you can even customize the look with different designs from artists like Van Gogh and Monet.

What you might not like

• Price: It’s a big step up in price from our top pick, and if you have a typical home, you won’t reap the benefits.
• More expensive filters: The filters last longer under normal use, but replacing them is more expensive.

If you’ve got the budget or a bigger space to purify, we highly recommend it.

Noise Level: 25.6-51.3 dB(A)
Room Coverage: 325 sq ft five times per hour (CADR: 218 cfm).
Replacement Filter Costs: ~ $95 for all 4 filters, 12-month usage at 24/7 running (Check filter price on Amazon, Sylvane).

Pros & Cons:

3. Blueair Blue Pure 411 Auto: The Best for Small Rooms or Home Offices

Need something simple for your bedroom, nursery, or home office that’s so quiet you’ll forget it’s there?

The Blueair 411 Auto is a small, user-friendly, and whisper-quiet (HEPAsilent technology) model designed for average to small bedrooms and any other smaller space in the home.

It’s powerful enough to clean a small room (185 sq-feet) 5 times per hour while being anywhere from a humming fridge to quieter than a watch.

You’ll love the user experience of this model. Auto-mode automatically senses your air quality and adjusts fan speed accordingly. So if your air is good, it’ll turn the fan down and minimize energy expenditure.

There’s even a bright LED indicator that shows your air quality 24/7 (not that we like stressing about it more). All you need to do is press a button to enable auto-mode. It’s easier than logging into Netflix.

NOTE: It looks really sleek too. Most people will think it’s a lamp or decoration instead of an air purifier.

Why we recommend it

• Cheap to run: It’s Energy Star rated, meaning it costs less than a typical LED light bulb to run. That’s only a few dollars, so you won’t have to stress about keeping it running all night.
• You’ll forget it’s there: This is the lowest noise level on the list. It’s even quieter than a watch. You’ll fall asleep easily.
• Looks great: It’s a great decoration for your bedroom or nursery.

Why you might not like it

• Not for big rooms: You’ll notice the difference in your bedroom in no time, but it’ll be too weak to help you in the living room or kitchen.

Noise Level: 18-48 dB(A)
Room Coverage: 185 sq ft five times per hour (CADR: 123 cfm for Smoke).
Replacement Filter Costs: ~ $21, 6 months usage at 24/7 running (Check filter price on Blueair, Amazon, Best Buy).

Pros & Cons:

4. Shark Air Purifier 6: Micro-fans Technology for Less Noise

Unlike other air purifiers that use a single fan to draw air in and push it out, this Shark Air Purifier uses 6 micro-fans to do the same job more efficiently. This results in less noise overall.

Shark Air Purifier 6 features an auto mode that will adjust the fan speed based on the current air quality. Also, you can choose from 4 different speeds. Because of the multiple fans, the unit is not too loud – even when on the highest setting.

This ultra-quiet air purifier can purify the air up to 400 square feet (3 times an hour), which is perfect if you need a fast and thorough cleaning.

Why we recommend it

• Quite in all 4 fan speed settings: The Shark Air Purifier 6 is one of the quietest air purifiers on the market, thanks to its micro-fans technology.
• Efficient: It’s also very efficient at cleaning the air with its True HEPA-based filtration system.

What you might not like

• Maintenance cost: The replaceable filter is expensive and needs to be replaced every 6-12 months.

Noise Level: – dB(A)
Room Coverage: 240 sq ft five times per hour (CADR: 160 cfm).
Replacement Filter Costs: ~ $99, 6-12 months usage (Check filter price on Shark, Amazon, Best Buy).

Pros & Cons:

5. Dyson TP02 Air Purifier: Silent purifier fan

The Dyson Pure Cool Link TP02 is a high-end air purifier with a unique design. It’s a bit pricey, but it’s packed with features and does an excellent job cleaning the air.

Dyson’s products are known to be quieter, and this one is no different. The unit is tranquil, thanks to its silent and sneaky fan. It can purify the air in rooms up to 300 square feet and features a True HEPA filter plus an activated carbon filter.

The TP02 also features Wi-Fi connectivity, so you can control it with your smartphone via the Dyson Link app.

Why we recommend it

• Quiet: The Dyson Pure TP02 is one of the quietest air purifiers on the market.
• Smart sensors: The built-in smart sensors can automatically adjust the fan speed to purify the air more efficiently.

What you might not like

• Low CADR: The unit has a low CADR rating of 70 cfm which means it’s not the most efficient at cleaning the air.

Noise Level: – dB(A)
Room Coverage: Up to 300 square feet.
Replacement Filter Costs: ~ $69, 12 months usage (Check filter price on Dyson, Amazon, Best Buy).

Pros & Cons:

*All of Dyson’s air purifiers are relatively quieter. You can also choose newer models for better features and performance. However, they tend to be more expensive.

6. Oransi Mod Air Purifier: The Best for Commercial Use and Large Homes

The Oransi is the only brand we recommend for schools, restaurants, large offices, and mega-sized living spaces. And it’s the only air purifier with a #1 rating from a major university study (Clemson).

Most models we reviewed were for home use. This one was 100% industrial-strength:

• More speed: Up to 338 cfm
• Precise Speed Control: Fractional fan speed control instead of a fixed 3 or 4 fan speed
• More space: 1,250 square feet twice per hour
• More cleaning: MERV 17 HEPA removes 99.4% of particles down to 0.02 microns. Most don’t register below 0.3 (but who’s counting?)

Oransi’s goal in increasing the specs across the board was to create the optimal purifier for continuous use in public – or at least heavy traffic – places. The extra strength and fan speed give it power that most other models lack.

The way purifiers work is by using the filer to take in the dirty air, remove the particles, and shoot it back into the room using the fan. So whereas most smaller models just don’t have the speed, size, or power to keep up with all the air coming in from a large space (EX: A restaurant floor), the Oransi has plenty of juice to keep up with the challenge.

And, unlike most monster purifiers, this one is ready to go out of the box. Remove the wrapping and plug it in. That’s it.

Once it arrives at your business, you and your customers could be breathing clean air in an hour or less.

If you need to clean the air in your showroom, restaurant, bar, large office, or school, Orasni Mod is made for you.

Why we recommend it

• Plain and simple: it’s powerful, easy to use, and quiet enough to tolerate.

What you might not like

• More noise: All that power comes with more noise, but it should be fine in public places. Even on higher settings, it’s barely louder than an air conditioner.
• Price: It’s not cheap by any means, but if you’re a business, this is an investment in your company.

Noise Level: 20-60 dB(A)
Room Coverage: 500 sq ft five times per hour (CADR: 338 cfm).
Replacement Filter Costs: ~ $75, 6-12 months usage (Check filter price on Oransi, Amazon, Sylvane).

Pros & Cons:

Oransi Mod also has a smaller variant (Oransi Mod Junior) to cover rooms up to 878 square feet (2x cleaning per hour).

7. Blueair HealthProtect 7470i: The Best High-End Air Purifier

The BlueAir HealthProtect 7470i cleans the air of airborne particles AND provides 24/7 protection against viruses and bacteria (but not complete protection). And it does all at about the noise level of a conversation with your family at home (45db or less).

Think of it as the Tesla of air purifiers.

This is the most advanced air purifier that we came across while searching. According to research, it delivers 55% more clean air while using 55% less energy and producing 10% less noise. Not bad! Of course, that’s all according to BlueAir!

It has the same HEPASilent™ (not HEPA, though) filtration as other BlueAir models that are effective at removing pollen, hair, dander, and other typical airborne particles. Plus, it has BlueAir’s patented GermShield tech, which has shown to “deactivate” certain viruses and bacteria.

If you or your children are constantly suffering from allergies or mild viruses, you may need to take a step up and start fighting back.

Why we recommend it

• Clean air at your fingertips: Connect to the Blueair app and gain access to a ton of awesome features. Countdown to clean air, welcome home, go to standby when you leave – you can even adjust settings remotely. For example, if your kids are coming home while you’re at work. They’ll have clean air when you arrive.
• Silent at best – bearable at worst: It gets down to whisper levels on low, and at worst is like talking to your partner or kids (or pet if you’re alone!).
• Super advanced: This is the Tesla of the industry after all. It does a lot more with a lot less energy.

What you might not like

• Price: You get a lot, but you pay for it.

Noise Level: 22-45 dB(A)
Room Coverage: 400 sq ft five times per hour (CADR: 270 cfm for Smoke).
Replacement Filter Costs: ~ $69, 6-12 months usage (Check filter price on Blueair, Amazon, Best Buy).

Pros & Cons:

How to Choose the Best Quiet Air Purifiers:

Choosing the right air purifier is not as easy as most people think it is. We saw hundreds and thousands of negative reviews across the web from people who didn’t get what they expected.

If you want the perfect unit for your home, without the headache of fighting support to return your purchase (and the time it takes to leave a negative review!), check out this buying guide for step-by-step instructions.

1. HEPA filters are better

HEPA filters are great at capturing airborne allergens sizes down to 0.3 microns at 99.97% efficiency. When selecting an air purifier for superior particle filtration, be sure the filter is True HEPA, not HEPA-type or HEPA-like.

If you don’t need to filter ultrafine particles (emitted from vehicles), you can select a higher-grade particle filter that is close to True HEPA performance.

2. Noise level

We’ve covered noise levels throughout this article, but we’d like to add that acceptable noise levels vary on a number of factors, including your environment, your location, your personal sleeping habits, and your tolerance.

For example, if you are a light sleeper, any purifier over 50 – 60 dB might keep you awake at night. Ask yourself, “do I struggle to sleep with a TV?” or “do the city noises outside my apartment keep me awake all night?”. If so, you need an ultra-quiet dB level around 20 – 30. If you don’t mind, some noise 40 – 50 dB won’t be a problem.

Sleeping children can normally handle 30 – 40 dB maximum, so keep that in mind if you’re buying one for a child’s nursery.

3. Automatic mode

Auto-mode is a godsend for busy families. It will scan your air quality 24/7 and adjust fan speed – and therefore energy output – according to how much power is needed to keep your air clean.

That way, you keep your energy bills down even when you aren’t home without sacrificing your health.

Another bonus is it’ll tell you when your filter needs changing, which is great if you’re forgetful like us. No more guessing games, just change when the light turns on.

4. Sleep mode

Of course, if you want a silent air purifier, you want one that can be in the room while you sleep. This feature ensures that the purifier’s lights are dim enough to allow you to sleep comfortably. Dim lights ensure that you have a restful night without having to deal with any disturbances.

5. Area Coverage

This might be the most important factor.

500 square feet is plenty of coverage for a normal home.

Most home air purifiers cover between 250 and 800 square feet. The average living room is somewhere between 300 – 400 feet, and the average bedroom is around half that.

If you just need one for a small space or a regular bedroom, a cheaper model with 200 square feet of coverage should do just fine.

If you have a large living room, consider getting 700 or more to be safe. Commercial spaces almost always require 1,000 or more.

Find out your required CFM with our CADR calculator and try to buy an air purifier that is closest to the required CFM.

6. Energy-efficiency

Additionally, an energy-efficient air purifier will give you a tension-free about the electric bill while running all day and night. Check out the energy rating level before buying. If it has Energy Star, you’re gold. If not, you can expect to pay around $5/month for energy, which is still nothing.

Conclusion

Quiet air purifiers are a great choice if you’re looking for a device that can clean the air in your home without being too loud. We’ve provided seven of the best low-noise air purifiers on the market, but we want to know your thoughts. Let us know in the comments below which of these quiet air purifiers is your favorite!