Recently I have been learning how much pet dander pet hair fine particles allergens and pet odors can build up indoors and affect everyones health even when you can not see or smell most of it. I want the absolute best air purifier for pets to keep the air clean for both my family and my furry ones.
My doctor suggested getting a good purifier for the bedroom because my allergies have been awful lately constant sneezing itchy eyes and trouble sleeping mostly triggered by pet dander. After reading tons of reviews on Wirecutter, Consumer Reports, r/AirPurifiers, r/pets, and pet-owner threads on Reddit, these two models keep coming up as the top performers for homes with pets:
LEVOIT Air Purifier
PuroAir 240 HEPA Air Purifier
I am stuck trying to decide between them. The bedroom is about 250 sq ft and usually stays closed up, so I need something that really works for pet hair, dander, and odors in a smaller sealed space.
Pet owners (especially those with bad pet allergies), which one would you pick and why? Any real-life experience with either of these for cats/dogs? Any other models I am sleeping on that crush it for pet homes?
Thanks so much
Hi there,
I was in a very similar situation looking for a purifier for my bedroom to help with allergies and pet dander. I initially looked at the popular Levoit models as well.
However, I decided to consult the independent reviews from Stiftung Warentest (Germany’s leading consumer organization, equivalent to Consumer Reports). Interestingly, the Levoit Vital 200S only received a “Satisfactory” score (2.6) in their 03/2024 test.
I went with the Bosch Air 4000 instead. In fact, it was the Test Winner (“Testsieger”) in that comparison. It features a vacuumable pre-filter (to catch pet hair before it clogs the main filter) and is extremely quiet.
A technical note on the PuroAir’s HEPA 14 claim: While “14” sounds better than “13”, the denser filter media naturally creates higher air resistance. This implies a trade-off: the device either restricts actual airflow or the motor must run harder and louder to move the same amount of air. For pet owners, high air circulation (to catch floating dander quickly) is usually more effective than hospital-grade filtration with potentially lower airflow. Moreover, the filter is more expensive and needs to be replaced regularly to maintain its cleaning performance.
One question regarding automation: Are you specifically looking for a device with native app integration, or would a standard unit work for you?
I personally use my purifier with an Aqara Smart Plug (EU) to make it smart. This allows me to integrate it into my automations without paying extra for a “smart” air purifier model.
I actually made a video showing this setup:
Hope this helps with your decision!