These days, you can’t be too careful. As if we didn’t have enough to worry about with the indoor air we breathe, the pandemic came along and put even more emphasis on clean air. Before you send your kid off to college, make sure they have everything they need to stay safe and healthy.
Air purifiers are a great way to not only eliminate airborne viruses; they can also make a small, messy dorm room smell and feel fresher. In the following article we have gathered up the best air purifiers for dorm rooms so check out the list.
Germ Guardian True HEPA Filter Air Purifier
Editors’ Choice: 4.8 out of 5.0 stars
HEPA filters are the standard for air purifiers. They are used in medical facilities and can eliminate up to 99.9% of airborne pollutants. This Germ Guardian air purifier uses not only a HEPA filter; there’s also a UV-C light that kills many airborne virus particles.
It’s also compact enough for small dorm rooms. It stands just 21.5 inches tall, 6 inches wide at its base and 10 inches deep. It’s rated to purify the air in rooms up to 153 square feet and features a charcoal pre-filter for eliminating odors.
LEVOIT Air Purifier Dorm Room
Editors’ Choice: 4.7 out of 5.0 stars
If you have even less room to spare in your dorm or small room, this Levoit model would be a good fit. It’s only 12.6 inches tall and has a circular base 7.48 inches in diameter. You can easily fit this dorm room air purifier on a desktop, mini fridge, nightstand or dresser.
There is a pre-filter that traps large particles like dust and hair, a HEPA filter and an activated carbon filter to trap finer particles and eliminate odors. There are low, medium and high fan speed settings. On low, it generates just 25 decibels of sound.
Blueair Blue Pure 411 Air Purifier
Editors’ Choice: 4.7 out of 5.0 stars
BlueAir is quickly becoming a favorite among residential air purifiers. It’s easy to see why with this filter. It features a washable pre-filter so you don’t have to spend money on replacements. It’s suitable for 161 square feet of space so it would be perfect for a dorm room.
It stands only 16 inches high and 8 inches wide at it’s base so it won’t take up a lot of room either. On the highest fan setting, it generates only 46 decibels of noise (17 decibels on the lowest setting). It traps dust, dander, allergens and virus particles.
Medify Air MA-14-W1 Air Purifier
Editors’ Choice: 4.6 out of 5.0 stars
Not all dorm rooms are tiny. If you need an air purifier for a slightly larger room this would be a good choice. This Medify Air brand purifier cleans the air in rooms as large as 235 square feet. It utilizes H13 filters which is a higher grade of HEPA air purifiers.
It comes in either black or white and has very simple, front-mounted operation buttons. You can choose from a sleep mode which operates the fan at a lower speed for quite operation. There is also a nightlight housed in the base of this purifier.
Okaysou AirMax8L Air Purifier
Editors’ Choice: 4.6 out of 5.0 stars
If you are really serious about protecting your college-bound kids from getting sick or if they are particularly sensitive to allergens, this the filter for you. Most filter trap particles 0.3 microns in size, which is suitable for most people.
This filter on the other hands traps particles as small as 0.25 microns. This is a medical grade filter that can break down volatile organic compounds and features 5-stage filtration. The powerful fan also takes in and circulates a lot of air per hour.
Bissel MyAir Purifier
Editors’ Choice: 4.5 out of 5.0 stars
The MyAir line of purifiers from Bissell provides thorough filtration for a reasonable price. It has all the same features of more expensive models like 3-stage filtration, odor elimination and the ability to trap particles as small as 0.3 microns.
It’s also suitable for rooms up to 100 square feet so it’s the perfect size for dorms. It’s compact at just over 12 inches in height and 8 inches in diameter. You get all this in a filter that costs less than 100 dollars.
Pure Enrichment PureZone Air Purifier
Editors’ Choice: 4.8 out of 5.0 stars
The last product on our list of air purifiers for dorm room use comes from Pure Enrichment. Like the first purifier on our list, this one also features a UV-C light that kills harmful microorganisms. Unlike many UV-C equipped purifiers, this one doesn’t produce harmful ozone.
This purifier is rated to purify air in rooms up to 200 square feet so it would be good for larger dorm rooms. There are 3 fan speeds and a timer setting. Lastly, this filter can move air at a rate of 80 cubic feet per minute.
Air Purifier for Dorm Rooms Buying Guide
The air purifying needs for rooms can differ quite a bit. If you are looking for the best air purifier for dorm room use specifically, here are a few things to look out for.
Carbon Filter
An activated carbon filter helps trap odors – and if you don’t know why that’s important for dorm rooms then you have probably never set foot in one.
CFM Rating
A purifier with a lot of fancy filters won’t mean much if the fan doesn’t circulate enough air. CFM stands for cubic feet per minute and refers to mow much air a fan can circulate. For dorm rooms, you’re going to want a purifier that can move air at a rate of at least 80CFM.
Light
If you do happen to get a filter with a nightlight, make sure that it can actually be turned off when it isn’t needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Are air purifiers allowed in dorms?
A: Yes, most campuses allow air purifier use in dorms
Q: Do air purifiers really work?
A: Yes but they may not remove all irritating particles from a room since some particles aren’t actually airborne.
Q: Do air purifiers make rooms smell better?
A: Purifiers with carbon filters can help eliminate foul odors.
Final Thoughts
An air purifier is an all-around good investment. They help keep you healthy and improve your quality of life. You have to make sure you are investing in a quality product though so take a look at our list of the best air purifiers for dorm room use when you are in the market for one.
