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7 Best Air Purifiers for Baby's Nursery of 2024

Updated
Find a safe, efficient, affordable air purifier for your baby's nursery.

Did you know that not all air purifiers are safe for babies? Or that some air purifiers are actively dangerous for a baby? If not, don’t worry. We’ve researched the best air purifiers for a baby’s nursery and found a variety of safe options we would be happy to have in our own homes.

We’ve also included a helpful guide with all you need to know about air purifiers. Here’s some of the info you’ll find:

  • How to choose the best air purifier for your baby’s room.
  • Styles of air purifiers to avoid.
  • How to get the most from an air purifier.
  • Our top seven picks for nursery air purifiers.

Armed with this information, it’ll be easy for you to make the perfect air purifier choice for your nursery so your baby can breathe easy — and you can too.

Our Top Picks

We independently research, assess and evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on the links we provide, we may receive compensation.
Image
Model
Product Comparison Table
Features

Product Image of the Storebary Air Purifier with H13 True HEPA Filter
Best Features
Storebary Air Purifier with H13 True HEPA Filter
  • Air quality sensor & display
  • Purification adjusted to air quality
  • Built-in filter change indicator
Product Image of the RabbitAir Ultra Quiet HEPA Air Purifier
Best Versatile
RabbitAir Ultra Quiet HEPA Air Purifier
  • Freestanding or wall-mounted options
  • Customize panels and filters
  • Daily air cleaning schedule
Product Image of the LEVOIT Core 400S Air Purifier
Best Smart
LEVOIT Core 400S Air Purifier
  • Rubber pads absorb sound & vibrations
  • Low energy cost certified
  • Color-coded air quality display
Product Image of the LEVOIT Air Purifier for Home Allergies
Best Quiet
LEVOIT Air Purifier for Home Allergies
  • Touch screen controls
  • Variety of filters for customization
  • CARB compliant
Product Image of the Pure Enrichment PureZone Air Purifier
Best Energy-Efficient
Pure Enrichment PureZone Air Purifier
  • Cleans up to 200 square feet
  • Inexpensive for a true HEPA filtering
  • Timer settings for energy saving
Product Image of the Honeywell DH-HPA060 HEPA Air Purifier
Best Small
Honeywell DH-HPA060 HEPA Air Purifier
  • Affordable
  • Germ, general, & allergen settings
  • Low running costs
Product Image of the BLACK+DECKER Tabletop Air Purifier
Best Affordable
BLACK+DECKER Tabletop Air Purifier
  • Doesn’t take up a lot of room
  • Sits up far from children's reach
  • Robust cleaning rate for its size


The Best Air Purifiers for Baby’s Nursery of 2024

Using the above criteria and our team’s personal experience, we have chosen the seven best air purifiers for baby’s nursery.

Storebary Air Purifier with H13 True HEPA Filter

Best Features

With five fan speeds, a whisper-quiet sleep mode, and a three-stage HEPA filtration system, the Storebary air purifier has all the features you need in an air purifier for your baby’s nursery.

Depending on the room’s size, the top fan speed will clean the air up to five times an hour, and you can run the smoke eater 24/7.

This purifier has an air quality indicator at the center of the digital display. You can see at a glance exactly how good, or otherwise, the air is. Just for reference, any reading of 12 or under is considered healthy.

You can turn the display on or off if your baby is sensitive to light at night, and there is a child lock, so curious littles ones can’t change any of your favored settings.

The auto mode can adjust the fan speed in response to a room’s air quality. If the dust, dander, or other contaminants rise, the purifier will increase the fan speed to clean the air more quickly. If the air is clean, it will decrease the fan speed to save you money.

Pros

  • Air quality sensor and display.
  • Auto mode adjusts the purification rate to air quality.
  • Sleep mode is only 24.5 decibels.
  • Built-in filter change indicator.

Cons

  • The clean air delivery rate is at the lower end of average.

Product Specs

Room size Up to 226 ft²
Clear air delivery rate 150 CFM
Filter replacement 2 filters per year = $24
Power consumption 144.5 kWh/year
Features Child lock, timer, air quality indicator, sleep mode

Our Ratings

Effectiveness
4.5 / 5
Noise Level
4 / 5
Ease of Use
4.5 / 5
Filter Replacement
4 / 5
Total Rating
4.25 / 5

User Experience

From my experience using this air purifier, I can confidently say it's perfect for a baby's nursery. The three-stage HEPA filtration system, whisper-quiet sleep mode, and five different fan speeds make it efficient and adaptable, while the air quality indicator and auto mode ensure the room stays fresh and clean. The built-in child lock and filter change indicator are added bonuses, making this air purifier a reliable and safe choice for any parent.

RabbitAir Ultra Quiet HEPA Air Purifier

Best Versatile

The RabbitAir air purifier can be used freestanding on the floor or wall-mounted. The Artists series allows you to choose a decorative front panel with mood lighting or images, including Monet, Van Gough, Hello Kitty, and Peanuts.

It has a sensor that automatically transition the unit to sleep mode when the MinusA2 is in a dark room, and resumes a more active mode when light levels increase.

You can customize the five-stage filtration system to your family’s needs.

It includes a washable pre-filter, a medium filter for pollen and pet dander, and the HEPA filter, which removes 99.97% of particles 03 microns or bigger.

For the fourth filter, you can choose one of the following filters: Germ Defense, Pet Allergy, Odor Remover, or Toxin Absorber. You can also choose to swap them out, depending on your needs.

The final filter is an activated charcoal filter.

The RabbitAir has an optional sixth stage negative ion generator, but this can be turned on or off. RabbitAir’s website says that with the ion generator turned off, there is zero ozone, and with the generator turned on, there are low levels of ozone (1).

Pros

  • Freestanding, or can be wall-mounted.
  • Customized panels and filters.
  • Very effective for air filtration.
  • Normal or allergy modes.

Cons

  • More expensive than most air purifiers.

Product Specs

Room size Up to 815ft²
Clear air delivery rate 200 CFM
Filter cost per year 1 filter per year = $95
Power consumption 390 kWh/year
Features Customize panels and filters, mood lighting.

Our Ratings

Effectiveness
4.5 / 5
Noise Level
4.5 / 5
Ease of Use
4 / 5
Filter Replacement
3.5 / 5
Total Rating
4 / 5

Personal Perspective

I'm really impressed with the RabbitAir air purifier's versatility, as it can be used freestanding or wall-mounted and features customizable panels and filters. This air purifier's five-stage filtration system effectively removes particles, and I love the option to choose from various filters like Germ Defense and Pet Allergy. The automatic sleep mode when in a dark room is a smart feature, although the price is on the higher side compared to other air purifiers.

LEVOIT Core 400S Air Purifier

Best Smart

The Levoit Core 400S is just over 20 inches high and weighs 11 pounds. This makes it a sturdy air purifier that is not easily knocked over but is light enough to move from place to place. There are even handles for easy transport.

A third-party app by VeSync allows you to monitor the air quality, set the timer, and turn the purification speed up or down from anywhere in the world via a smart device. You can use voice control when you are at home with voice assistants like Google or Alexa.

A clean air delivery rate of 260 cubic feet per minute cleans the air in a 403 square foot room five times per hour. If you enable the auto mode, the Levoit will monitor the air and increase or decrease the fan speed in response to the current air quality.

Night mode turns off the purifier’s lights and runs at a super quiet 24 decibels, so you can leave it on all night in your baby’s room without disturbing them.

Pros

  • Rubber pads absorb sound and vibrations.
  • Energy Star certified for lower energy costs.
  • Color-coded air quality display.
  • App and voice control options.

Cons

  • In auto mode, the sensor can be slow to detect new contaminants.
  • Doesn’t remove strong smells.

Product Specs

Room size Up to 400 ft²
Clear air delivery rate 260 CFM
Filter cost per year 1 or 2 filters per year = $50 or $100
Power consumption 234 kWh/year
Features Air quality monitor, child lock, ultra-quiet sleep mode.

Our Ratings

Effectiveness
4.5 / 5
Noise Level
4 / 5
Ease of Use
4 / 5
Filter Replacement
4 / 5
Total Rating
4 / 5

Community Feedback

Excellent air purifier, the Levoit Core 400S is a sturdy yet lightweight device, making it easy to move around thanks to its handles. I love the convenience of controlling it through the VeSync app or with voice assistants like Google or Alexa. With a clean air delivery rate of 260 cubic feet per minute, it efficiently purifies the air in my 403 square foot room five times per hour. The night mode is a fantastic feature, turning off the lights and running quietly at 24 decibels, so it won't disturb my baby's sleep. Despite being slightly slow to detect new contaminants in auto mode and not being able to remove strong smells, the rubber pads absorbing sound and vibrations, Energy Star certification, and color-coded air quality display make this air purifier a great addition to my home.

LEVOIT Air Purifier for Home Allergies

Best Quiet

The Levoit Core 300 comes with a three-stage filtration cartridge. The outer pre-filter cleans larger particles, pet dander, etc. Then, there is a HEPA filter which cleans 99.97% of particles 0.3 microns or larger. Finally, there’s an activated charcoal filter for smells.

You cannot wash the pre-filter part of the filter cartridge, but Levoit recommends you vacuum or brush the outside of the filter every two to three weeks to maintain optimal air cleaning performance.

There’s a two, four, six, or eight-hour timer, or you can leave the purifier to run 24/7. Running it at night is not a problem because you can turn the light off and use the lowest fan speed. This speed puts out only 24 decibels, which is quieter than light rain.

A child lock prevents the kids from messing with your settings, and a filter indicator light tells you when it’s time for a filter change.

Pros

  • Touch screen controls.
  • A variety of filters allow you to customize it to your family’s needs.
  • Meets California Air Resources Board (CARB) standards for indoor use.

Cons

  • The controls are not intuitive and can be tricky at first.
  • Minimal features.

Product Specs

Room size Up to 219 ft²
Clear air delivery rate 140 CFM
Filter cost per year 2 filters per year = $60
Power consumption 264 kWh/year
Features Child lock, filter indicator, night mode.

Our Ratings

Effectiveness
4 / 5
Noise Level
5 / 5
Ease of Use
3.5 / 5
Filter Replacement
4 / 5
Total Rating
4 / 5

First-Hand Impression

I recently purchased this air purifier to help manage dust and pet dander in my home, and I've noticed a significant improvement in air quality since using it. The device is easy to set up and maintain, with a quiet fan that doesn't disrupt daily activities, unless it's on the highest setting. While the filters may need to be changed more frequently than larger units, the overall effectiveness and convenience of this air purifier make it a great addition to any household.

Pure Enrichment PureZone Air Purifier

Best Energy-Efficient

The PureZone air purifier is a compact air cleaner for mid-sized rooms. At 11 by 7 by 12 inches, it takes up minimal space and can clean an area of up to 200 square feet, so it’s perfect for most nurseries.

With three stages of filtration, this little unit first uses activated carbon to trap odors and impurities. The true HEPA filter then eliminates 99.97% of allergens such as dust, mold, pollen, dander, and smoke. The UV-C light, which Pure Enrichment claims will destroy germs and virus-causing bacteria, can be switched off if you prefer not to use it.

The PureZone air purifier even wipes out most lingering household odors.

With three fan speeds and three optional timer settings, you can preset the run times to save on energy and reduce the frequency of filter replacement. An indicator light lets you know when it’s time for a new filter.

Pros

  • Small, portable unit cleans up to 200 square feet.
  • Inexpensive for a true HEPA filtering unit.
  • Timer settings allow you to save on energy consumption.

Cons

  • Filter needs to be replaced every six months.
  • Low CFM rate.

Product Specs

Room size 190 ft²
Clear air delivery rate 80 CFM
Filter cost per year 2 filters per year = $30
Power consumption 87.6 kWh/year
Features Sleep mode, timer, filter indicator.

Our Ratings

Effectiveness
4 / 5
Noise Level
4 / 5
Ease of Use
4.5 / 5
Filter Replacement
4.5 / 5
Total Rating
4.25 / 5

User Experience

For someone with allergies, this air purifier has been a great addition to my home. It's easy to set up and quiet enough to run during the night without disturbing my sleep. The dust in my house has noticeably decreased since using this purifier, providing relief from my allergy symptoms. However, it's worth noting that its odor elimination could be more effective, especially when cooking strong-smelling foods in an open-plan kitchen.

Honeywell DH-HPA060 HEPA Air Purifier

Best Small

The Honeywell HPA060 is specifically designed for small rooms and can clean all air in a 70 square foot room up to five times in an hour.

The downside of this product is the relatively loud fan. You can clearly hear it running at night, even on the lowest setting, which had us debating whether to include the purifier on the list at all.

However, you can choose to run the Honeywell in your baby’s nursery with the door closed during the day, then turn the cleaner off overnight.

This may not be a viable option if you have pets, a mold problem, or a child with severe asthma. But if you are looking for an affordable purifier that will give you a little extra reassurance about the air quality in your baby’s room, the Honeywell does the job.

Pros

  • Affordable.
  • Germ, general, and allergen settings.
  • Low running costs.

Cons

  • Noisy on high speed.
  • Expensive filter replacement costs if you run it 24/7.

Product Specs

Room size 75ft²
Clear air delivery rate 60 CFM
Filter cost per year 6 x filter one, 1 x filter two = $120 per year
Power consumption 123 kWh/year
Features Filter replacement light.

Our Ratings

Effectiveness
4 / 5
Noise Level
2.5 / 5
Ease of Use
4 / 5
Filter Replacement
3 / 5
Total Rating
3.25 / 5

Personal Perspective

Great product for allergy sufferers like my wife and me. This Honeywell AllergenPlus HEPA Tower Air Purifier has been a huge help in reducing sinus and lung infections. We even take it on road trips to ensure clean air in hotel rooms. It's a bit noisy on the highest setting, but the air feels fresh and dust doesn't accumulate as quickly as before.

BLACK+DECKER Tabletop Air Purifier

Best Affordable

Weighing only five pounds and sitting at just 12 inches tall, the Black and Decker Tabletop air purifier is small and discreet, and it packs a big purification punch for its size. When you use the highest power setting, you can clean the air five times in an hour in a room of up to 93 square feet.

There are four speed settings — high, mid, low, and sleep — so you can leave it running in the nursery 24/7 without disturbing your sleeping baby. In addition, you can switch the lights off for light-sensitive tots or leave them on as a dim nightlight.

On the downside, there is a light to let you know the filter needs replacing. If you do not replace the filter quickly enough, an audible alarm will go off, which is incredibly annoying.

Pros

  • Doesn’t take up a lot of room.
  • Designed to sit up high, out of the reach of children.
  • Robust cleaning rate for its size.

Cons

  • High annual filter replacement costs.
  • The audible alarm for filter replacement is annoying.

Product Specs

Room size 93 ft²
Clear air delivery rate 66 CFM
Filter cost per year 4 filters per year = $120
Power consumption 82.1 kWh/year
Features Child lock, touch control, sleep setting.

Our Ratings

Effectiveness
4 / 5
Noise Level
4 / 5
Ease of Use
4.5 / 5
Filter Replacement
4 / 5
Total Rating
4 / 5

Community Feedback

I recently purchased this air purifier and have been using it for about six months now. It has made a significant difference in my allergy symptoms, especially when I remember to vacuum the filter weekly. Though the original filters were discontinued, the Black Decker replacement filters work just as effectively. This purifier has been particularly helpful during wildfire season, improving the air quality in my home even when the AQI was above 600. The compact size allows for easy placement on a bedside table, and the noise level is tolerable, providing a white noise effect that doesn't disrupt my sleep.


Product Comparison Chart

Product Best Room size Clear air delivery rate Filter replacement Power consumption Features
Storebary Air Purifier with H13 True HEPA Filter Best Features < 226 ft² 150 CFM 2 filters per year = $24 144.5 kWh/year Child lock, timer, air quality indicator, sleep mode
RabbitAir Ultra Quiet HEPA Air Purifier Best Versatile < 815ft² 200 CFM 1 filter per year = $95 390 kWh/year Customize panels and filters, mood lighting.
LEVOIT Core 400S Air Purifier Best Smart < 400 ft² 260 CFM 1 or 2 filters per year = $50 or $100 234 kWh/year Air quality monitor, child lock, ultra-quiet sleep mode.
LEVOIT Air Purifier for Home Allergies Best Quiet < 219 ft² 140 CFM 2 filters per year = $60 264 kWh/year Child lock, filter indicator, night mode.
Pure Enrichment PureZone Air Purifier Best Energy-Efficient 190 ft² 80 CFM 2 filters per year = $30 87.6 kWh/year Sleep mode, timer, filter indicator.
Honeywell DH-HPA060 HEPA Air Purifier Best Small 75ft² 60 CFM 6 x filter one, 1 x filter two = $120 per year 123 kWh/year Filter replacement light.
BLACK+DECKER Tabletop Air Purifier Best Affordable 93 ft² 66 CFM 4 filters per year = $120 82.1 kWh/year Child lock, touch control, sleep setting.

How to Choose the Best Air Purifiers for Baby’s Nursery

When we choose an air purifier for a baby’s bedroom, these are the things we consider.

Room Size

Air purifier specs will tell you the maximum square footage of a room they can clean.

Choose a purifier with a maximum square footage range that is as close as possible to your baby’s room. An air purifier rated for a smaller space will not be effective. A purifier rated for a room much larger will take up more room, be louder, and use more electricity than necessary.

How to Calculate the Square Footage of Your Room.

Stand in one corner of the room, facing the center. Measure the length of the wall on your right from one corner to the other. Then measure the wall on your left from one corner to the other.

Now multiply one figure by the other, and the answer is the square footage of your room.

HEPA Filter

HEPA stands for “high-efficiency particulate air.” A HEPA filter removes up to 99.97% of particles in the air over 0.3 microns (µm) in size (2). This covers things like dust, pollen, bacteria mold, and other airborne particles.

Some HEPA filters also have a Minimum Efficiency Reporting Values (MERV) rating, a number between 1 and 16. The MERV rating tells you about the size of the particles the filter will capture. Basically, the higher the MERV rating, the better the filter.

Avoid filters labeled “HEPA type,” “HEPA style,” or similar. These are not genuine HEPA filters and are not guaranteed to clean the air as effectively.

Every air purifier on our list has genuine HEPA filters.

Features

Air purifiers come with a wide range of features, some positive and some negative.

  • Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) is a number that tells you how much air a purifier can clean. This is measured in CFM or cubic feet per minute. The higher the CDR, the better (3).
  • Activated charcoal filters do not clean particles and contaminants. Instead, they absorb smells from the air. These filters need to be changed once every three months or so. A large amount of activated charcoal is needed for effective odor removal. Most activated charcoal filters in home air purifiers are not large enough to remove smells, so a purifier without an ACF is not a deal-breaker.
  • Washable pre-filters sit in front of your HEPA filter. The air hits the pre-filter first, capturing and filtering out a large amount of the muck. Once the air reaches the HEPA filter, it is already relatively clean, so the HEPA filter has less work to do and lasts longer. You can wash and reuse the pre-filter, so there are no frequent replacement costs. Also, because the HEPA filter is cleaning pre-filtered air, it has to be replaced less frequently, reducing your running costs.
  • A child lock can be helpful when your baby is older or if you have older kids at home. This will prevent curious little fingers from turning the air purifier on or off or changing the settings.
  • An AHAM Verified mark tells you that the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers, an independent organization that tests the claims of air purifier manufacturers, has confirmed the manufacturer’s claims for CADR.
  • Air Purifiers with UV-C Lights claim to clean bacteria and viruses from the air. However, air purifiers with UV-C lights are rarely effective and can be potentially dangerous.UV-C light can burn the skin and cause damage to the eyes. In addition, some UV-C lights contain mercury or emit ozone, which irritates the respiratory system, exacerbating conditions such as asthma (4).
  • Ionizing air purifiers produce ozone which is harmful to your baby’s nose, throat, and lungs. Do not use an air purifier that ionizes the air (5).

Energy Efficiency

Air purifiers that have an Energy Star label meet energy efficiency standards (6). This means you can run the purifier in your baby’s room, knowing you’ll get the best quality air at a minimal energy cost.

Every air purifier on our list is Energy Star certified.

Noise Level

For best results, you’ll want to run your air purifier most, if not all, of the time. Therefore an air purifier for a nursery must be effective yet quiet enough not to disturb your baby.

Noise levels of 30 decibels or above are high enough to disturb sleep and potentially cause sleep disturbance-related illnesses (7).

If noise level information is available, choose an air purifier that produces less than 30 decibels.

Budget

You need to consider more than just the initial cost of the air purifier. It is also essential to look at the expense of replacement filters and how often you need to replace them.

Depending on the size of the room and the features of the air purifier, a good-quality machine will cost somewhere between $75 and $200. If you’re looking for a high-tech model that will clean a huge space, you can end up spending over $600.


Tips for Using Air Purifiers in a Baby’s Nursery

To ensure your family is safe and your air purifier works as efficiently as possible, these are our top tips:

  • Consider the position of your purifier. Closer to the center of the room is better for airflow but might be a trip hazard. Unless your purifier is a wall-mounted model, place it as far from the wall as possible for maximum efficiency.
  • Keep your air purifier running 24/7 if possible. If not, leave it on for as long as you can because it doesn’t take long for air quality to decrease.
  • Keep doors and windows closed when running the purifier, and seal up any leaks or cracks.
  • Clean and replace your filters regularly. If your model has a washable pre-filter, be sure to clean it according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. This will ensure your air purifier is running at optimal performance levels.
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Headshot of Patricia Barnes

About the Author

Patricia Barnes

Patricia Barnes is a homeschooling mom of 5 who has been featured on Global TV, quoted in Parents magazine, and writes for a variety of websites and publications. Doing her best to keep it together in a life of constant chaos, Patti would describe herself as an eclectic mess maker, lousy crafter, book lover, autism mom, and insomniac.