Best Air Purifiers for Pet Dander in 2023 & FAQ

Last updated on January 1st, 2023

There are over 160 million cats and dogs in 3 out of 5 US households These and other mammals like rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters and others shed dead skin cells which are known as dander. This dander may trigger allergies – according to this study, houses with cats had from 2 to 20 ng Fel d I/m3 compared to less than 0.2 ng/m3 found in other houses.

Modern air purifiers can catch dander and the best air cleaners that can do that employ a HEPA air filter which can catch particles as small as 0.3 micron at 99.97 a efficiency rate. For comparison, most pet dander measures from 5 to 10 microns (10 micron is a size of a human hair). Down below are measurements for the dander size of different pets:

• Cats: mostly 5 – 10 micron (75%), 2.5 micron (25%);
• Dogs: mostly 5 – 10 micron (75%), 2.5 micron (25%);
• Rabbits: mostly 5 – 10 micron (75%);
• Hamsters: mostly 5 – 10 micron (75%);
• Guinea pigs: greater than 5 micron or smaller than 0.8 micron;
• Birds: most of the dander is smaller compared with dogs or cats.

As you can see, whatever the dander we are talking about, a good air purifier with a HEPA filter can remove it from the air and save you from an allergic reaction. Now let’s take a look at the best air purifiers that easily remove pet dander from the air inside your house or apartment.

Alen BreatheSmart 75i: Best for Houses with Pets

Alen BreatheSmart 75i is considered by many as the best portable air purifier to remove particulate matter associated with pets, whether it is dander (cat, dog, bird, rabbit, whatever), hair or fur. It is mostly attributed to its unique true HEPA filter that catches all these particles at a high rate, accompanied by a high CADR rating that delivers 347 cubic feet of clean air every minute at the maximum speed.

In addition to the high performance air filter, this air purifier also employs one pre-filter that catches larger particles and extends the life of the HEPA filter, so you spend less money on maintaining the unit.

Lastly, the BreatheSmart 75i comes with an in-built ionizer. It produces ions that catch odors and make the house smell fresh and clean. It can be turned off if you wish.

Another great thing about this unit is it low noise production. Not many air purifiers keep the air free from pet dander and allergens so silent as this one – at the lowest speed the unit produces sound equal to just 25 decibels – this is almost inaudible to human ears!

The Alen BreatheSmart 75i also comes with two smart modes – Sleep and Auto. You power up the unit, turn on the Auto and let it run 24/7. Whenever there is an increase in pet dander, hair, fur, and other airborne pollutants, the smart sensor will increase the fan speed to remove them and keep the air clean. At night the lights can be dimmed to not disturb you.

Overall, I recommend getting the BreatheSmart 75i for your large room if you have pets and want to protect yourself from dander and allergies.

Tracs TM250: Additional Protection from Viruses

Tracs TM250 is made domestically in the US and it is built to keep the air clean in your house for decades to come. The body is made out of welded steel, and the air filtration is done by three components: MERV 8 Activated Carbon pre-filter, medical-grade HEPA H13 filter and UV-C light. Let’s see which component does what in more detail.

The Tracs’ pre-filter is the first stage of air filtration. It has a rating of MERV 8, meaning it can catch particles as small as 1 micron – which is almost all types of pet dander. The activated carbon used in this filter also reduces household odors. The lifespan of the filter averages between 4 to 6 months and it has to be replaced in time to keep the whole system working as intended and to increase the lifespan of the following filter.

The next air filtration stage is done by the HEPA filter. The one used by the Tracs is hospital-grade, it captures virtually all pollutants found in the air, including dander, fur, pollen, dust, smoke, chemicals, volatile organic compounds, germs, various allergens and other harmful bacteria that pollute air and negatively affect human health. This filter can last up to 5 years thanks to its design quality and the pre-filter installed right before it.

The final stage of air filtration is performed by UVC lights. Two UV-C bulbs located in a special chamber, are in charge of germicidal irradiation that effectively inactivates and kills viruses and bacteria in the air that passes through the air purifier.

Overall, the Tracs air purifier combines the best from both worlds of HEPA and UV cleaners. Putting one unit into your room will ensure clean air for you and your family for decades to come.

Blueair Blue Pure 211+ Auto: Keeps the Air Clean from Pet Dander, Pollen, Dust and Smoke

Blueair Blue Pure 211+ Auto is another great air purifier with an Auto function and the HEPA air filter that catches dander shed by your cats, dogs, other mammals or birds. Auto mode is doing a great job of reacting to any change in the air quality and the number of harmful particulate matter in the air whilst the Activated Carbon filter (it is merged with the HEPA) also does remove kitchen, pet or bathroom odors. Replacement filter costs are also relatively low. On the downside, the filter lasts only for 6 months – but it does the job of keeping pet allergens at bay.

Additionally, the unit is equipped with a built-in ionizer to help reduce odors and freshen up the air. Similar to the previously reviewed Alen, this ionizer can also be turned off.

Overall, the Blue Pure 211+ Auto is a well-performing air purifier from Blueair that effectively catches tiny particles of dander, allergens, fur, dust and keeps the air inside a house clean and fresh.

Coway Airmega AP-1512HH: Affordable and Powerful

Coway Airmega AP-1512HH is an affordable and reliable air purifier that removes dander from the air, along with other particles like dust, fur, pollen. The unit retails at over $200, but it is often on sale and sometimes you can grab it for a little over $160.

This Coway air purifier is the best to use in rooms from 300 to 400 square feet, where it is the most effective and covers the whole area. I recommend checking my review to learn more about this excellent piece of technology.

In short, this is one of the best value for money air purifiers when it comes to price/air filtration ratio. It uses a 4-stage filtration (3 filters – pre-filter, HEPA and Carbon, plus ionizer) to remove allergens like dander, fur, pollen, dust, smoke and other smells. The filters are cheap, and maintenance costs are relatively low.

Air Health Skye: Full Protection Against Airborne Pollution

Air Health Skye offers a full range of air filters and additional means to clean the air from airborne pollution, including pet dander, fur, hair, pollen, dust, toxins and other harmful particles. I reviewed this air purifier in details, so go and check it out if you are interested in this model.

In my opinion, this is the best air cleaner for 2023 – not sure who can beat its performance and features in the nearest future, but for now this is my pick.

Honorary mention: Levoit P350 is also a popular air purifier to catch pet fur, dander, smoke and other household odors. However, it has been plagued by bad design and it often gets broken after several months of usage. So get it at your own risk. You may also look at other Levoit air purifiers.

FAQ

Do air purifiers help with pet dander?

Yes, the ones I have reviewed above can effectively remove dander particles from the air. All of them have enough power to suck in the air and filter dander from it, keeping you safe from allergies and harmful bacteria.

Can an air purifier help prevent asthma caused by pet dander?

Yes, it can.

What air purifiers do not release any ozone?

If you turn off ionizers on Alen, Coway or Blueair air purifiers they will still catch dander particulate matter without producing ozone. The Tracs air cleaner doesn’t release any ozone by default.

Do ionizers remove pet dander?

Ionizers do a good job at removing odors, but they are not as effective as HEPA air purifiers when it comes to catching dander, fur or pet hair. Plus it might release ozone into the air.

Can I turn on my air Purifier and leave it to run all time?

Absolutely! All air purifiers listed on this page are designed to work 24/7 without any hassle.

What are the side effects of using an air purifier?

If an air purifier doesn’t release much ozone it won’t affect your health in any negative way.