Cost Of Air Purifiers For Home: How Much Should I Pay?

How Much Should I Pay For An Air Purifier?

You should pay less than $100 for a desktop HEPA air purifier suited for a nightstand, work desk, or other small room sizes. For medium room sizes under 400 square footage, you should pay no more than 400 dollars for a HEPA air purifier with at least 3-stage filtration. For large room sizes above 400 square footage like living room, garage, or basement, there are plenty of options like Rabbit Air Minus A2, Coway Airmega 400S that is within the $400-600 price bracket. In any case, try not to go beyond $900 unless you have a specific reason or are aiming for a whole-house air purifier.

There are a few types of air purifiers in the market differentiated by the technologies. The table below shows how much an air purifier will roughly cost you based on the types.

As you can see, the cost of an air purifier ranges from dirt cheap under $50 to exceedingly expensive, over $900. However, The price of an air purifier is not the only determining factor on how effective an air purifier is in cleaning the air. An air purifier under 100 dollars would still do a splendid job removing microscopic particles, allergens, and smoke. There are other factors that are contributing to the big price gap as such:

• The overall size. A small air purifier is typically priced under $100, while a large air purifier starts from $300.
• The technologies. A PCO air purifier with advanced NASA-based technology is significantly more expensive than a filter-based air purifier, given the complexity of the creation.
• The number of filters. Filter costs money to make. The more filter there is, the more cost the manufacturer will incur. Filters also require replacing every 6-12 months, which will add up to the cost of ownership.
• The types of filters. The higher quality the filter is, the more money it will cost you. For example, a certified True HEPA filter is more complicated to make than a HEPA-type filter. Activated carbon filter > carbon sheet.
• The number of features. The inclusion of specifications such as built-in sensor, Wi-Fi enabled, remote control, and auto mode will cost more than barebone models.
• Brand recognition. A well-known brand like Blueair, IQAir, with a history of making good air purifiers, will charge you more as there is a demand for it.
• Country of origin. A Sweden or Swiss made air purifier will have higher labor and taxation cost than a China-made model. That’s just how the world works.

Pick the right model if you want to pay less for an air purifier. For example, a small air purifier would do well for an office cubicle. The lower filter price and energy-efficient running cost will ensure it is still feasible in the long run. If you intend to clean the air in the entire home 24×7, having a large air purifier would be cheaper to run over multiple smaller air purifiers.

The below table is a breakdown of how much an air purifier will cost you in one, three, and five years based on the manufacturer’s recommended filter replacement time.

Are Air Purifiers Worth The Money?

As indoor air can be 2-5 times more polluted than outdoor air, an air purifier is the best way to improve indoor air; it is worth every dime you pay. An air purifier will effectively remove airborne pollutants like dust, mold, pollen, pet dander, germ, smoke, and odor. With an activated carbon filter, it can further neutralize chemical fumes like volatile organic compounds (VOCs), phthalates, ammonia, deet, and nitrogen dioxide. An air purifier will also prevent dust buildup and help circulate clean, fresh air in the room to prevent it from getting stale. Allergy symptoms like cough, sinus, itchiness, throat irritation, and headache due to bad air will be alleviated. You will breathe better, sleep better, and are less likely to fall sick. You will wake up completely refreshed and in a happy mood. You will have a sharper mind and a boost in productivity simply by breathing clean air.

Air purifiers also bring many health benefits to the table at a fraction of the cost. It protects our lungs from chronic diseases and reduces the risk of an asthma attack. EPA studies have shown that running a HEPA air purifier will improve respiratory, cardiovascular, and neurological systems in the long run. Living under clean air will also increase your life expectancy, similar to living in outskirt areas.