There are a few common characteristics shared by the best air purifiers under $100. One, they are mostly designed for small rooms, they may have fewer smart features and they are also are light and compact.
Low budget air purifiers are best suited for personalized areas, for example, the baby’s room, your working space, and high polluted small rooms like the kitchen. In this review, we list the best purifiers under 100 Dollars and explore their top features as well as the pros and cons.
Best Air Purifier under $100 – Comparison table
Before we review the products, here is an overview of the top rated air purifiers that you can buy for less than 100 bucks:
| Best Air Purifiers under $100 | Weight | Room Size |
|---|---|---|
| 1. AeraMax 100 Air Purifier with True HEPA 9320301 (Editor's choice) | 9.24 lbs. | 100-200 sq. ft. |
| 2. Germ Guardian AC4825 3-in-1 True HEPA Air Purifier | 7 lbs. | 167 sq. ft. |
| 3. LEVOIT LV-H132 Air Purifier | 6.61 lbs. | 129 sq. ft. |
| 4. Hamilton Beach TrueAir Air Purifier (04384) | 6.3 lbs. | 140 sq. ft. |
| 5. MOOKA Air Purifier for Home 3-in-1 True HEPA | 3.01 lbs. | n/s |
| 6. Germ Guardian AC4100 3-in-1 True HEPA Air Purifier | 4.8 lbs. | 78 sq. ft. |
| 7. PARTU HEPA Air Purifier | 3.44 lbs. | 107 sq. ft. |
| 8. GENIANI Home Air Purifier with True HEPA Filter | 6.6 lbs. | 160 sq. ft. |
| 9. ELECHOMES Air Purifier for Home with True HEPA Filter | 3.4 lbs. | 215 sq. ft. |
| 10. hOmeLabs Air Purifier for Home, Bedroom or Office | 6.9 lbs. | 194 sq. ft. |
| 11. Holmes Small Room 3-Speed HEPA Air Purifier | 6 lbs. | 100 sq. ft. |
Reviews of the Best Air Purifiers under 100 Dollars
After comprehensive product research and comparison, we have narrowed down to eleven of the best. These are the best air purifiers under $100 in 2024:
1. Fellowes AeraMax 100 Air Purifier with True HEPA 9320301
The Fellowes AeraMax 9320301 uses a specially made anti-allergen called AeraSafe antimicrobial treatment. It combines this with carbon filter and True HEPA to capture up to 99.97% of air particulates, some as tiny as 0.3 microns.
This is one of the best air purifiers under $100 thus recommended for asthmatic persons. AeraMax 9320301 is certified as allergy and asthma friendly by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.
AeraMax 9320301 serves efficiently rooms within 100 to 200 sq. ft. it has an automatic setting for sensing air quality and adjusting fan speeds. The LED lights also alternate colors in response to air quality.
Features
- Weight: 9.24 pounds
- Dimensions: 8.5 x 7.2 x 27.2 inches
- Suitable for rooms between 100 sq. ft. to 200 sq. ft. max
- Features AeraSafe antimicrobial treatment
- Filtration is 4 stage: it uses a pre-filter, True HEPA, and carbon filters
- Optional Ionizer
Pros
- 97% efficiency on allergens capture using True HEPA and other filters
- Automatic settings on fan adjustments depending on air quality
- On/off Ionizer option
- Easily portable – lightweight and compact
- Impressive LED display that changes with air quality
- Operates quietly especially on low setting
Cons
- Carbon filter requires frequent change which can be expensive – some customers buy and re-size generic filters to reduce the cost
Click here to see its current price.
2. Germ Guardian AC4825 3-in-1 True HEPA Air Purifier
With CADR settings of 118, 125, and 108 for smoke, pollen, and dust respectively, Germ Guardian AC4825 is among the best purifiers under 100 Dollars.
Although it serves small rooms within 167 sq. ft., it’s efficient at filtering airborne pollutants like pollen, dust, and pet dander. It uses a True HEPA filter to deliver over 99.9% purification efficiency.
People also prefer Germ Guardian AC4825 because it has the option of using UV C light to get rid of viruses especially influenza and rhinovirus. It’s a light appliance that can conveniently suit a bedside table.
Germ Guardian AC4825 uses 3-speed settings to continually keep your room fresh and allergen-free. Also, it uses an activated charcoal filter to capture and eliminate odors. It also runs quietly thus providing a conducive environment for sleep.
Features
- Weight: 7 pounds
- Dimensions: 9 x 5.5 x 21.5 inches
- CADR rating: dust -118, Pollen- 125 and smoke – 108
- Filters: True HEPA, activated charcoal filter and pre-filter
- 3-speed setting
- Filters air 4 times per hour
- Serves up to 167 sq. ft.
- Optional UV C light
Pros
- Uses True HEPA to achieve 99.97% filtration for allergens as small as 0.3 microns.
- Suitable for eliminating odors in highly polluted areas
- It’s quiet
- It’s compact and light – can be used on bedside tables
- Has optional UV C light
- Has 3 adjustable speed settings
- AHAM and Energy Star certified; CARB compliant
Cons
- The filters are not washable. They need to be vacuumed often and replaced every 6 to 8 months depending on the intensity of use.
Click here to see its current price.
3. LEVOIT LV-H132 Air Purifier
We trust LEVOIT products before we even invest in them. There are 2 reasons why; LEVOIT has consistently maintained a high standard in their appliances. Two, LEVOIT’s products are 100% ozone free.
The LEVOIT LV-H132 air purifier is among the best air purifiers under 100 Dollars because of its filtration efficiency. It uses True HEPA, pre-filter and carbon filters to clear odors, eliminate airborne allergens like dust, mold, pollen, pet dander, and smoke.
Additionally, the LEVOIT LV-H132 is a favorably quiet appliance suitable for your nights or baby’s room. It has 3-speed settings, runs 4 times every hour, and averages 25 decibels of low setting. It is not surprising, therefore, that this model is one of the best baby room air purifiers.
Lastly, it’s best suited for areas up to 129 sq. ft.
Features
- Weight: 6.61 pounds
- Dimensions: 8.5 x 8.5 x 14.5 inches
- Filtration– 3-stage; preliminary filter, True HEPA filter, and carbon filter
- Runs at 25 decibels on low setting
- 2 light settings
- Suitable for small rooms – 129 sq. ft.
- ETL listed and CARB certified
Pros
- 100% ozone free
- Can be used as a bedside lamp – has 2 light settings to enable comfortable sleep
- Efficient at getting rid of allergens using a HEPA filter
- Light and compact for a baby’s room
- Soothing light for undisturbed sleep
- Quiet
- 2 years warranty
Cons
- There are a few complaints that the purifier has high radiation
Click here to see its current price.
4. Hamilton Beach True HEPA Air Purifier (04384)
The Hamilton 04384’s sleek design makes it a perfect fit for your working area whether at the office or home. The fact that you can place it vertically or horizontally makes it suitable for use on the floor as well as on the desk.
It serves areas not exceeding 140 sq. ft. efficiently using 3-stage filtration.
Hamilton 04384 adds to True HEPA’s efficiency by using 2 carbon zeolite filters and a pre-filter. These filters’ main role is to get rid of those irritating odors. These could be kitchen fumes, cigarette smoke, or pet odor.
The pre-filter makes the work of HEPA filter easier by capturing the larger particles, for example, pet hair and dirt.
The 2 carbon filters need to be replaced quarterly as per the intensity of use. There is a time strip cartridge for tracking their lifetime and you are alerted when to change them. The HEPA filter and pre-filter are permanent and can be maintained by vacuuming.
Features
- Weight: 6.3 pounds
- Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.1 x 16.4 inches
- Room coverage: 140 sq. ft. max
- Filtration: Permanent True HEPA, 2 replaceable zeolite filters with a reminder, and a permanent pre-filter
- 3 (manual) speed settings
- Can be placed vertically or horizontally
Pros
- 97% efficient filtration and odor removal using True HEPA and zeolite filters
- Cheaper to maintain – only the zeolite filters need replacement. True HEPA and pre-filter are permanent.
- Fairly quiet
- Compact size – can be placed vertically or horizontally
- Effective odor eradication using zeolite filters
Cons
- The fan has no automatic setting
Click here to see its current price.
5. MOOKA Air Purifier for Home 3-in-1 True HEPA
The MOOKA air purifier can efficiently cleanse 50 cubic meter air hourly through its 360 degrees air intake. It uses a 3 stage filtering process to achieve over 99.9% purification success.
The pre-filter captures larger particulates like hair, pet fur, and dust; this makes it easy for the HEPA filter to capture the tinier particles up to 0.3 microns.
Also, the activated carbon filter helps to get rid of smoke and odors from the sink, bathroom, cooking, and cigarette odors.
MOOKA has a simple and sleek design that fits both home and office use. The night light can be soothing and doubles as a bedside lamp. It has a low power consumption rate as it consumes 0.192 units at an 8W power rating.
Features
- Weight: 3.01 pounds
- Dimensions: 7.5 x 6.9 x 6.9 inches
- Filtration: pre-filter, True HEPA and activated carbon filter
- 360 degrees air intake and discharge
- Blue night light – no on/off option
Pros
- Fairly quiet – runs at 35 decibels on low setting
- Doubles as a bedside lamp
- Ozone free – CARB certified
- Lightweight and compact
- Easy to operate – single on/off button
Cons
- The night light cannot be turned off. To get rid of it, you need to unscrew the purifier at the bottom and disconnect the head screws from the light’s ring.
Click here to see its current price.
6. Germ Guardian AC4100 3-in-1 True HEPA Air Purifier
The Germ Guardian AC4100 uses an optional UV C light mechanism to eliminate staph, rhinovirus, and influenza. It also fights against organic compounds using Titanium Dioxide.
The air purifier’s filtration is 3-stage; the pre-filter stage handles larger dust particles and pet hair. This helps to prolong the HEPA filter’s life. The activated charcoal filter effectively traps all the smoke, cooking fumes, and other unpleasant odors in your home.
Lastly, the True HEPA filter completes the process by trapping all the minute microns thus achieving over 99.9% filtration efficiency.
Germ Guardian has a CADR rating of 56, 76, and 50 for dust, pollen, and smoke respectively. It has 3-speed settings and efficiently purifies the air in rooms up to 78 sq. ft.
This 11-inch desktop purifier fits perfectly in baby rooms, kitchens, and small offices.
Features
- Weight: 4.8 pounds
- Dimensions: 7.5 x 6.5 x 11 inches
- Best suited for rooms no larger than 78 sq. ft.
- Filtration: uses True HEPA, pre-filter, and activated charcoal filter
- Automatic air quality sensor which auto-adjusts fan setting speed
- Has optional UV C light
- CADR rating: 56-dust, 76-pollen, and 50-smoke
- Filters are replaced between 6 and 8 months depending on use
Pros
- Over 99.9% using True HEPA filtration
- Efficient at odor and smoke elimination – using activated charcoal
Cons
- Serves a smaller room than its peers
- No night light
Click here to see its current price.
7. PARTU HEPA Air Purifier
PARTU air purifier also uses 3-stage filtration. Similar to other budget air purifiers, it has a pre-filter, HEPA filter, and a carbon filter thus achieving over 99.9% filtration efficiency.
You can control the fan speed settings as per need. It effectively serves rooms measuring 107 sq. ft. and below.
PARTU’s sleek design makes it suitable for both home and office use. Its compact size makes it perfect for bedside table use or small office space.
The noise level is comparable to that of a fan; it runs at 38 decibels on low setting and 59 on high setting. Also, PARTU is 100% ozone free.
Features
- Weight: 3.44 pounds
- Dimensions: 7.5 x 7.5 x 13.8 inches
- Efficient in rooms of up to 107 sq. ft.
- Noise level ranges between 38 – 59 decibels
- 3- fan speed settings
- 3 filtration levels
- Filter life – 3-6 months depending on use
Pros
- 100% ozone free
- Sleek design with black casing
- Lightweight, compact, and fairly quiet
- Efficient filtration
- CARB, FCC, and ETL approved
Cons
- Fairly loud on high setting
Click here to see its current price.
8. GENIANI Home Air Purifier with True HEPA Filter
GENIANI’s sleek design and high efficiency rank it among the best air purifiers under 100 Dollars. Similar to most air purifiers, it uses a 3-stage filtration process and a 3-speed fan setting to deliver high air quality in your environment.
It covers up to 160 sq. ft. thus ideal for both home and office use.
Features
- Weight: 6.6 pounds
- Dimensions: 14.7 x 10 x 9.9 inches
- Filter life is 3 -6 months
- Has night light function
- Filters last between 3 – 6 months
- Serves up to 160 sq. ft.
Pros
- Efficient filtration and odor elimination
- Compact and sleek design
- Efficient at smoke, allergen, and odor elimination
- Has night light function
Cons
- Relatively loud on high setting
Click here to see its current price.
9. Elechomes Air Purifier for Home with True HEPA Filter (EPI081)
This is the best purifier under $100 in terms of coverage. At 215 sq. ft. it serves 2 times the area size of some of its peers. It also has a sleek design that blends well whether in an office or home setup.
Also, Elechomes is 100% ozone free.
Unlike other budget purifiers, it has several smart settings; for example, the fan has a shut-off timer which you can set to 1, 2, 4 or 8 hours to the next shut off. It also has a filter replacement reminder option.
The filtration is 3-stage; the pre-filter, the activated carbon filter, and True HEPA for optimal filtration. Its fan also has 3-speed settings.
Features
- Weight: 3.4 pounds
- Dimensions: 6.3 x 6.3 x 9.3 inches
- 3-stage filtration – pre-filter, True HEPA, and activated carbon filter
- Has night setting function – tones down the light and runs on low-setting for un-disturbed sleep
- Filters last 3 – 6 months and have a replacement reminder
- Serves up to 215 sq. ft.
Pros
- More smart features compared to its peers
- Serves larger rooms
- If you have essential oils, you can add for Aromatherapy
- Saves energy using timed shut-off setting
Cons
- Relatively loud at 33 decibels on low setting
Click here to see its current price.
10. hOmeLabs Air Purifier for Home, Bedroom or Office
hOmeLabs serves 194 sq. ft. using 3-stage filtration. The filters are True HEPA H13, pre-filter, and activated carbon filter. Some of its smart functions include a filter replacement alert, a child-lock feature, and a night light function.
Although hOmeLabs buttons are smart, the speed settings are manual. The fact that the power and fan buttons are always on could be irritating. It has fair noise levels at 50 decibels on its high setting.
Features
- Weight: 6.9 pounds
- Dimensions: 7.9 x 7.9 x 12.8 inches
- 3-stage filtration – pre-filter, True HEPA, and activated carbon filter
- Has a child-lock feature
- Filters reset reminder
- Serves up to 194 sq. ft.
- Has smart (touch) buttons for speed setting
Pros
- Ideal for both home and office use
- Serves slightly larger rooms
- Has night light feature
- It’s compact and light
Cons
- The fan and power lights do not have on/off option which can be irritating at night for some people
Click here to see its current price.
11. Holmes Small Room 3-Speed HEPA Air Purifier
Holmes uses HEPA-type filtration to get rid of contaminants in areas not exceeding 100 sq. ft. HEPA-type filter together with Holmes Aer1 filters eliminate 99% of smoke, dust, pet dander, pollen, mold and mildew, odors, and other allergens.
The air purifier can be used horizontally or vertically.
Features
- Weight: 6 pounds
- Dimensions: 13 x 9.5 x 6.2 inches
- 3-fan speed settings
- Serves up to 100 sq. ft.
- HEPA-like filtration
- Has an optional ionizer
Pros
- 99% filtration efficiency using HEPA-like filters
- Suits home and office use
- Serves slightly larger rooms
- Has night light feature
- It’s compact and light
- 3 year limited warranty
Cons
- Has no True HEPA
Click here to see its current price.
What to look for in the best purifier under $100
Since a purifier is a long term investment, you want to ensure that you are making the right decision. There are 3 main characteristics to check out for.
Quality filtration system
An air purifier must capture air pollutants effectively leaving the air quality in the room conducive. You will breathe easier and the air will be lighter.
You will also notice the filters getting clogged with captured dust and other allergens. The most recommended filter is the HEPA filter; it has been proven to capture 99.97% of all allergens.
Room size
Your purifier is only as efficient as its area coverage capacity. If a purifier serves a maximum area of 100 sq. ft. it will not serve your larger rooms. You will, therefore, need to get an alternative purifier for larger rooms.
The filters life and accessibility
When filters are in good shape, they effectively capture allergens. Filters have varying life spans thus you need to ensure you are aware of the filter change frequency and where to access them. Manufacturers often instruct the consumers on filter design numbers.
Our verdict
All these air purifiers are great. Their filtration is commendable; they are versatile and suitable for use in almost any setting. And that’s why they qualify as the best air purifiers under 100 Dollars.
If you are still deciding which one to choose, the AeraMax 9320301 makes a perfect choice. It has an air quality sensor that automatically adjusts speed settings accordingly and LED lights that auto-adjust depending on the air quality.
AeraMax 9320301 is approved by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America as the ideal purifier for Asthma patients. What else are you looking for?
Looking for a high quality air purifier that does NOT require filters .
Hello Dale,
There are some air purifiers that do not use filters. I’ve have written an article on the best filterless air purifiers and how they work. You should find some great options there. Let me know what you think.
Cheers!