Best Desktop Air Purifiers in 2023

Last updated on January 1st, 2023

Before I list the best portable desktop air purifiers in 2023 I have to clear a few things:

• All air purifiers present on this page do remove allergies. The room coverage you can see next to the image of every unit is based on Clean Air Delivery Rate data and equals 4.8 air changes per hour (ACH). This is an optimal number of ACH for people who suffer from allergies and need relief from the symptoms.
• Desktop air purifiers are small in size, produce less noise than an ordinary air cleaning machine and have way less power. They are designed to be put on a tabletop or any other flat surface to clean a small area around, for example in a cubicle or at home if you’re working remotely. If you need to clean the whole 200 – 300 square feet room, check this list or take a look at the best air cleaners for small rooms.
• However, if you do not have allergies, then a small desktop air purifier will have larger effective coverage for you, approximately 1,5 – 1,7 times bigger than mentioned and delivering 2 to 3 air changes per hour. But keep in mind they are small and do not have enough power and generate enough airflow to remove pollutants from the whole room.
• Most of air purifiers listed here use HEPA air filters, and only one of them – Holmes HAP242-UC – uses a HEPA-Type filter.
• I have picked the best desktop air purifiers from reliable companies that do have customer support and have genuine replacement filters available. Beware of many cheap air purifiers produced by fly-by-night companies that do not have any customer support or replacement filters. The latter is crucial – you don’t want to buy an air purifier for it to work for as long as the filter works (usually 4 – 6 months) and then throw it in the garbage because there are no replacement filters available.
• 4 out of 5 air purifiers do not generate ozone at all except for the Holmes HAP242-UC.
• Price for the desktop air purifiers is in the range of 50 to 60 USD on average.

Now that all things are cleared let’s take a look at the 5 best tabletop air cleaners you can buy for yourself this year.

Levoit LV-H128: Best Desktop True HEPA Air Purifier

Levoit LV-H128 is the best desktop HEPA air purifier you can buy this year. The dual-sided 3-stage cleaning process (pre-filter, HEPA and Activated Carbon) ensures the air is cleaned from pollen, dander, dust, smoke. At the same time it doesn’t produce ozone and is completely safe to use in any room for people with breathing conditions and pets.

This air purifier from Levoit is extremely quiet: at the lowest speed it produces white noise (~24 dB) while at the highest speed it doesn’t exceed 36 decibels. The unit can be run 24/7 at the maximum speed and it won’t bother you at all.

After approximately 6 months of usage, the filter needs a replacement. The filter indicator will turn red and let you know the time has come to change the old filter.

Overall, the Levoit LV-H128 is affordable and very easy in use desktop air purifier.

Germ Guardian AC4100: Desktop Air Purifier with UV-C Light

Germ Guardian AC4100 is a more expensive desktop HEPA air purifier with additional UV-C light to kill viruses, germs and VOCs (volatile organic compounds). It has been verified by the AHAM to easily clean the air in a 70 sq. ft. area.

This unit is designed by the US company called Germ Guardian (also often written as GermGuardian) which has a wide array of air cleaners and other appliances and has been present on the market for 20 years. They are trusted by many for their affordable yet powerful and reliable air purifiers.

The AC4100 has a higher price tag compared to the previously reviewed Levoit unit, but it is more powerful, sanitizes the area with UV-C light and easily removes all kinds of allergens in the air making it easier to breathe. And it’s totally ozone free!

Unfortunately, this unit doesn’t have any indicators, but on average you have to replace the filter every 4 to 6 months while the UV-C bulb requires a change every year.

If you are looking for a desktop air purifier that will remove virtually all air pollution including viruses and bacteria from the area, you should definitely get the Germ Guardian AC4100.

Holmes HAP242-UC 3-speed Desktop Air Purifier w/ Ionizer

Holmes HAP242-UC 3-speed desktop air purifier is the only product listed here that does produce ozone with the built-in ionizer. However, the ozone production doesn’t goes beyond the limit of 50 parts per billion (ppb) established by the Underwriters Laboratories. To prevent ozone buildup this air purifier is better used in well-ventilated areas. Or you can simply turn off the ionizer after it has done its job of cleaning and freshening the air.

This Holmes air purifier also uses a HEPA-Type air filter to catch particles. It’s not as efficient as a real HEPA filter, but still can remove many pollutants like dust, pollen, pet dander, large smoke particles and so on. Plus it has a somewhat high CADR rating of 70 CFM which makes it perfect to use in 109 sq. ft. rooms (e.g. bathrooms or bedrooms).

The Holmes HAP242-UC comes with a 3-year warranty so if there is any problem you can rely on the company’s customer support.

KOIOS EPI810 Desktop Air Purifier

KOIOS EPI810 is also a popular choice when it comes to desktop air purifiers. The unit is lightweight and small, and can be placed anywhere in a room to remove airborne particles of dust, pollen, smoke and odors.

It doesn’t release any ozone and is safe to use in a baby room and suitable for elders or people with rhinitis and other health issues. Night lights can be turned on to illuminate the darkness of the night.

The Three Musketeers III M AM-080 Desktop HEPA Air Purifier

The Three Musketeers III M AM-080 is the last desktop air purifier I can recommend. It has a relatively high CADR for its small size and uses a traditional 3-stage air cleaning process utilizing its 3-in-1 filter that includes a pre-filter layer, HEPA and Activated Carbon layer for odors.

In the past some people had problems with finding the right replacement filter, but now this issue is solved. The filter has to be replaced every 6 months  –  the indicator starts blinking red when the time for that has come. After you have changed the filter don’t forget to reset the indicator by pressing the button and holding it for 3 – 5 seconds.