Best air purifiers for the bedroom and nursery

Appliances like air purifiers and dehumidifiers are designed to clean and improve the air quality in your home. With city pollution, cleaning products and general allergens, it is no surprise that these products are on the rise, as many are concerned about their air quality at home.

Whether your baby or toddler is showing signs of allergies or asthma, or coughing at night, when it comes to airborne particles such as dust, pollen and mould spores these are best kept to a minimum. Allergens and pollutants in our air are ever increasing, so using a high-efficiency air purifier in their room will significantly reduce the volume of irritants that they have to encounter and breathe at all hours of the night or when they are sleeping.

While they'll still be exposed to some allergens during the day, and this is beneficial to their developing immune systems, during sleeping hours it's better that your baby breathes clean air so that their lungs and immune system have time to rest and rejuvenate.

What to consider when buying an air purifier

There are a few aspects to consider when looking to invest in an air purifier, such as speed, noise, built-in sensors and the type of filters.

Speed: Most air purifiers have multiple speed settings, so consider picking one that you can adjust. For example, if you’re in a meeting, you can turn it down, or you can turn it up when the pollen levels are high.

Noise: Where you are keeping your air purifier will depend on the noise level to look for when choosing this appliance. Consider one that works quietly if it is for your bedroom or perhaps one that has a sleep mode so that the light and noise from the device will be kept at a minimum.

A built-in sensor: A built-in air sensor will sense when the air quality is poor and automatically switch itself on - making your life easier. This is a great function for those who suffer seasonal allergies.

HEPA filter: There are various filters when it comes to air purifiers, but HEPA is the best. HEPA, which stands for high-efficiency particulate air, catches more pollutants than other filtration systems. Nearly all of the appliances on this list feature a HEPA filter.

So with that in mind, let's take a look at the best air purifiers to help you improve your indoor air quality.

The best air purifiers for your home

Perfect for smaller spaces - the Blueair blue 3210 is a great device for your bedside table or home office. The “HEPAsilent” technology removes at least 99.97 per cent of particles and is only 42cm tall so it won't stand out in your room.

Equipped with smart sensors to monitor the air quality and changing speeds which automatically keep your air clean and healthy, everything is made for your convenience. This air purification machine includes intuitive one-button speed control, air quality sensors with three colour indicators, auto mode, and an easy to change filter.

You can personalise the style of your air purifier with five premium pre-filter colour options and is suitable for rooms up to 17m².

Key specifications:

Noise level 48dB

4 speed settings, auto mode, HEPA filter.

Size: H42.5 x W20 x D20cm | 10 watts

Manufacturer's 2 year guarantee

Review: "Great purifier. Since having this and running it until bedtime my breathing is a lot better. My allergies to dust and pollen have gone. I use mine in the open plan living room and kitchen. The smells from cooking are also taken away with this neat unit. Great product and very low wattage a win-win. Highly recommend it’s been worth every penny."

If you are looking for a small, compact, and versatile air purifier, the AX5 is an excellent pick. You can place it on the floor or mount it to your wall - whatever blends into your home best.

The AX5 provides a four-step air purification capturing 99.9 per cent of particles. The device continuously measures indoor air quality levels and automatically adjusts the air purification rate so that your home will always be a healthy indoor environment. You can check this using the LED light ring, which provides air quality feedback in real-time and at a glance using a simple colour guide from green to red. Plus, you can check the air quality at any point using the AEG Wellbeing App.

This high performing air purification device not only looks sleek and subtle but has been meticulously designed to blend with your home environment and will not bring much attention either with a running noise level of just 24 dB. This device is suitable for rooms up to 59m² and has a 360-degree airflow system.

Key specifications:

Noise level 24dB

Compact, app control, simple to use

Size: H57.9 x W48 x D21.3 cm | 20 watt

Manufacturer's 2 year guarantee

Review: "This is a fantastic piece of technology. I haven't bought a purifier before, so I was thrilled to try this one. My son is asthmatic, plus we have dogs at home, so I was keen to see if this would make a difference to air quality…. Which it absolutely has! It is so easy to use; just plug and go. I use the smart mode, which means it takes care of itself. You can track air quality on your mobile, which is a great feature. The filters pick up small particles, too. I really noticed a difference in how fresh the air in my room was. This was particularly evident when eliminating a wet dog smell!"

Perfect for smaller spaces - the Blueair blue 3210 is a great device for your bedside table or home office. The “HEPAsilent” technology removes at least 99.97 per cent of particles and is only 42cm tall so it won't stand out in your room.

Equipped with smart sensors to monitor the air quality and changing speeds which automatically keep your air clean and healthy, everything is made for your convenience. This air purification machine includes intuitive one-button speed control, air quality sensors with three colour indicators, auto mode, and an easy to change filter.

You can personalise the style of your air purifier with five premium pre-filter colour options and is suitable for rooms up to 17m².

This stylish and powerful air purifier has a five-stage filtration system that can collect up to 99.5 per cent of pollutants and eliminate 99 per cent of bacteria in the room. This AEG AX9 Air Purifier is designed to adapt and respond to your home and automatically adjusts and continuously measures the quality of the indoor air levels with its unique PureSense technology - making your home cleaner with no hassle whatsoever.

You can constantly stay connected to the device using the AEG Wellbeing App on your Smartphone to control your purifier, manage your indoor air, schedule events and get a live status on your filters and air quality.

There is a light ring on the front machine, so you see your air quality quickly, and it is extremely quiet, too, at just 49dB when on maximum. It also features a special AirSurround system that circulates the air into the machine with a powerful spiral movement, making it more efficient and prolonging the filter’s life. It works best in rooms up to 37m².

Key specifications:

Noise level 17dB

Smart filter tags, customisable filters, auto shut-off, HEPA filter.

Size: H72.5 x W31.5 x D31.5 cm | 41 watt

Manufacturer's 2 year guarantee

Review: "I live in a really built-up area in London, and over the last few months, the pollution has affected my allergies, so it was really taking a negative toll on my quality of life. I had a smaller purifier I bought a few years ago, but it was hardly making a difference, so I decided to invest in a better purifier. I am so glad I did - after a week of use, I felt far less congested, I am sleeping better, and the air feels so much fresher."

Instant is all about making life at home easier, and we're on board with anything that will make that happen. Whether you're looking for an air purifier for a small or large room, this brand has you covered.

The Instant Air Purifier has a three-in-one filter system that claims to remove 99.9 per cent of bacteria, viruses and mould. This bit of kit is all about treating the air - you can breathe in with extra peace of mind. The best thing about this air purifier? It's created to work at a whisper-quiet level, and it really works - keep reading for our tried and tested review.

Key specifications:

3-in-1 filter removes 99.9% of bacteria, viruses and mould

Coverage up to 36 metres square

Size: D27cm x H53cm | 4.10kg

Lakeland 3 year guarantee included

Tried and tested by Deputy Commercial Content Editor, Lily Anderson. Review: "My partner has recently discovered he has asthma, and we were looking for something for our home that would reduce dust, dander and pollen. We opted for the larger option as we have a combined living room and dining room; this device works well in our high traffic rooms. We love how you can monitor the air quality via the screen and that this air purifier is equipped with sensors that can monitor the air quality 24/7. The night mode and eco mode are a big plus for us as well."

This compact and affordable air purifier is small in size and appropriate for smaller rooms of up to 40m². The TotalClean 4-in-1 Tower Air Purifier alters the air once per hour at high speed so your room feels fresh and purified. The appliance is whisper quiet, so it can be in operation without disruption. Plus, the built-in aromatherapy feature means you can even add essential oils that fill the air with your favourite scent as it cleans.

Key specifications:
Noise level : N/A
Aromatherapy filter, HEPA filter.
Size: 14.9 x 9.5 x 9.5 inches
Manufacturer's 1 year guarantee

Tried and tested by Commercial Content Writer Ellen Kinsey: "If you are looking for an air purifier under £100 that purifies a small room such as an office or bedroom, then this is a great choice. Living in an urban area means a lot of pollutants get trapped in the air in my flat so having this air purifier is really handy in ensuring the environment is fresh and clean. I especially love the aromatherapy feature, which allows me to have a beautifully scented room while it clears the air."

If you are looking for something affordable and good value for money, LEVOIT makes excellent air purifiers at a good price. It has many of the useful features that its competitors have on offer such as an auto mode that detects air quality in real-time and a display to check the air quality of your home.

The device eliminates 99.97 per cent of particles, has three-speed modes and you be switched off using the LED screen and set a timer so that it doesn’t disturb you when sleeping. You can leave it in your office or bedroom without any worry is a disruption as it only reaches 25–50dB in noise levels.

This will be a great pick if you are looking for something cheap and cheerful without app or voice controls. This device is suitable for rooms up to 43m².

Key specifications:

Noise level 25db
Auto mode and HEPA filter.
Size: H‎31.8 x W31.8 x D60 cm | 33 watt

Review: "Absolutely fantastic. I wouldn't be without it now. It makes the air like being on top of a mountain. It is so quiet it blends into the background and reacts to the slightest change in air quality. (Like when you open the oven door while cooking) I would buy these again in a heartbeat. I also have the smaller version, which we have in the bedroom and use all night. No more tired eyes or sore throats and greatly assists my wife's breathing disorder."

Delivering a super-fast air purification with 20m² covered in less than eight minutes, the Philips Series 3000i is truly a first-class machine. The device filters 99.97 per cent of airborne allergens, pollen, fine dust, particles and bacteria and is extremely easy to use with either the display or managed with the Philips Clean Home+ app.

You can place the device in sleep mode at night and the display lights will be dimmed and the purifier will operate in near silence - as low as 34db. This device is suitable for rooms up to 104m² and has a 360-degree airflow.

Key specifications:

Noise level 34dB

Suitable for large rooms, auto shut-off, HEPA filter.

Size: H64.5 x W29 x D29cm | 55 watt

Manufacturer's 2 year guarantee

Review: "I bought this as I was getting dry throat and was wondering about air quality. Amazing how responsive it is, and the app works really well."

Shark is a leading name in the vacuum cleaning business so if it’s one thing the brand can manufacture well its products with outstanding filtration systems. The Shark Air Purifier 6 eliminates allergens, mould, bacteria and other particles from your air, with its six-strong fans

The device provides intelligent air quality monitoring for clean air day and night and adjusts the cleaning power and reports results in real-time. It captures 99.9 per cent of pollutants and has an easy-to-read display screen to monitor the air levels.

This air purification machine is quite large but filters the air and pushes it back out via the side, meaning you won't have to deal with a cold draft. The unit is also very energy-efficient, with the fans switching to standby mode once the cleaning is over. It is suitable for room sizes up to 64m².

Key specifications:

Noise level 64dB

Washable filter, auto shut-off, HEPA filter.

Size: H81.3 x W43.2 x D22.6cm | 80 watt

Manufacturer's 2 year guarantee

Review: "Amazing, would highly recommend. I have asthma and lung disease, which has really helped my breathing. My husband's allergies have almost disappeared, and I now couldn't do without it. I have been telling everyone how good it is! I could do with them in every room in my house. Simply the best thing I have bought. It has also helped reduce odours and dust levels."