An air purifier can be useful for any pet owner—especially for cats and dogs.
But to be considered one of the best air purifiers for pets, it has to be powerful enough to clean the air of pet hair, dander, and odors; all of which you’ll find below.
The Best Air Purifiers for Pet Odor in 2021
| Image | Air Purifier Details | Price |
|---|---|---|
  | VEVA 8000 Elite Pro Air Purifier
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  | VEVA Pro HEPA 9000 Air Purifier
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  | AIRMEGA 400S Smart Air Purifier
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  | Medify MA-40 Air Purifier
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  | Hathaspace HSP001 Air Purifier
| Check Price Now |
  | Levoit LV-PUR131 Air Purifier
| Check Price Now |
  | Rabbit Air MinusA2 Air Purifier
| Check Price Now |
“Buying the best air purifier for pet dander, hair, and odors can make any room in your home feel fresh and clean no matter how many cats, dogs, or other pets you have in the house,” says Patrick Holmes, Senior Air Quality & Comfort Specialist at Home Air Guides. “Our goal here is to give you the most in-depth research and reviews on the top brands of pet air purifiers so you have everything you need to create a better environment that both you and your animals can enjoy.”
All products were independently selected by our editors. No matter which air cleaner you choose on this page, you’ll end up with an efficient air purifier that’s been tested to remove cat dander, dog hair, pet odors, and other pollutants from your indoor air.
Our 3 Best Air Purifier for Pets Reviews
1. VEVA 8000 Elite Pro Air Purifier (Best Air Purifier for Pet Dander & Odors for Small Rooms)
The VEVA 8000 is an ideal air purifier for all homes and offices. Its innovative and sleek design is great for any room. The air purifier can be changed from a tower air purifier to a table-top air purifier by removing the base.
Its automatic shutoff safety feature (when the front panel is removed), makes it safe for homes with children and pets.
With the VEVA you can cover up to 325 sq. ft. and enhance your air quality with these additional features:
- Premium HEPA Filter: For removing allergens, pollen, mold and germs. Filters particles as small as 0.3 microns.
- 4 Premium Activated Carbon Filters: For year-round air purification.
- 3-Stage Air Speed: Fan speed ranges from ultra quiet to turbo.
The VEVA air purifier offers you more filters and lower replacement costs compared to other air purifiers of similar size.
2. VEVA ProHEPA 9000 Air Purifier (Best Overall Air Purifier for Pet Dander & Odors)
Recommended for spaces up to 600 square feet, the VEVA ProHEPA 9000 Air Purifier is an incredibly affordable option for larger rooms.
It’s equipped with three filters to capture unseen air invaders and larger ones alike.
- The washable pre-filter uses micro mesh technology to grab larger particles, like hair, pet dander, and lint.
- Next, the air meets a microparticle and activated carbon filter which helps to extend the HEPA filter’s life and remove odors, smoke, and other vaporized pollutants.
- Lastly, the medical-grade H13 premium HEPA filter effectively traps pollen, dust, mold, and other nasties to bring you the best air possible in your home.
Unlike other air purifiers on the market, this VEVA air purifier doesn’t use UV lights or ions. Those are known to create trace amounts of ozone that can pollute the very air you’re trying to clean. For families with babies, cats, or dogs, you can breathe easy knowing this little machine is a lot safer than some of the other products out there.
Its small, sleek, and modern design is also a huge perk! If you’re looking for a slightly smaller air purifier you should consider the VEVA 8000 Elite Pro Series.
3. Winix HR900 Ultimate Pet Air Cleaner (Best Air Purifier with 5-Stage Air Filtration System)
Hands down, Winix makes one of the best air purifiers for pets and it’s excellent for anyone who suffers from pet allergies.
This unit has been fine-tuned to work specifically for pet owners and is very affordable.
As the name implies, this product offers several powerful features that make it a great investment for any home and is a superb pet dander air purifier.
A 5-stage air filtration system includes these notable features:
- Two Pre-filters: To capture pet hair and fur of all sizes.
- True HEPA Filter: To trap 99.97% of pet dander that causes cat allergies and dog allergies.
- Activated Carbon Filter: For reducing pet odors.
- PlasmaWave Technology: To safely break apart pollutants that are a harm to you and your pets.
No other air purifier contains two pre-filters like the Winix HR900 for removing cat hair and dog hair. These filters are the first line of defense and help boost the performance.
The True HEPA filter traps the tiniest flecks of dander and is what makes it the best air purifier for cat allergies and dog allergies for most pet owners. And the Activated Carbon filter works solely to remove pet smells from your home.
Plus, it has a special Sleep Mode to ensure quiet and energy-efficient operation at night. And with an Energy Star certification, this device costs pennies to operate.
All in all, you won’t find a better air purifier for pets anywhere that covers medium to large size rooms up to 300 square feet.
We’ve already shown you what the best air purifiers for pets, dander, hair, and odor are above.
If you’re looking for additional information on how to choose an air purifier for cats, dogs, and other animals, this section can help.
Do Air Purifiers Help with Pet Dander?
Air purifiers with True HEPA filters can help remove up to 99.97% of pet dander particles that are 0.3 micrometers in size. A HEPA air purifier of this type can reduce the microscopic particles that trigger pet allergies and asthma. It also works for dust, dust mites, and other allergens.
Use a True HEPA Air Filter for Pet Allergies and Dander
If you or someone in your household is allergic to any type of pet, including dogs, cats, birds, etc., then you’ll want to make sure you’re getting the best air purifier for pet dander.
Essentially, when you have an allergic reaction to pets, it’s the proteins secreted by oil glands under your pet’s skin that cause your allergies to trigger. And contrary to popular belief, even the cleanest dog breeds and cats have pet dander problems.
Shed skin and hair are covered in protein allergens which become airborne and enters into your eyes, nose, throat, and lungs.
Pet saliva can also attribute to indoor allergens. When your cat or dog licks themselves, the proteins in their saliva can stick to their hair, which then is transferred to locations around the home.
Just like dander, pet saliva can cause allergic reactions when you come into contact with it.
The most important thing to know here about pet allergens is that they are transported on very small particles, and once these allergens are floating in the air, they can remain airborne for several hours.
About 30% of the U.S. population has some form of pet allergy, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, with cat allergies being twice as common as dog allergies. So it’s good to take action inside your home if you do have a pet-related allergy.
Air purifiers do work for pet allergies as long as it has a “True HEPA filter”.
The reason you want an air purifier with a True HEPA filter is that it’s the only one certified to remove 99.97% of allergens as small as 0.3 microns.
This includes all types of pet dander, from every kind of animal.
Some people wonder if there’s a single best air purifier for cat allergies or dog allergies alone, but the truth is that this filter covers them all.
Air purifiers with this feature work by sucking dander particles out of the air and trapping them in the True HEPA filter.
Once these allergens are collected, they can’t be re-released back into the air for you to breathe, touch, or get in your eyes.
The more you run an air purifier for pet allergies like this in your home, the less animal dander there will be to irritate your allergies. Running the best HEPA air purifier for allergies 24/7 offers the most relief.
Now, if you want whole home air purification there are units that do this as well. But keep in mind that they have to be installed on an HVAC system furnace. This allows the unit to filter all incoming air that’s pulled into the system from the house.
Do Air Purifiers Help with Pet Hair?
Air purifiers can help get rid of pet hair when it is floating in the air. Running an air purifier can greatly reduce the amount of cat hair, dog hair, and pet dander in a room. A HEPA filter will be required to reduce pet hair accumulation.
Use a HEPA-type Air Filter for Pet Hair Only
If you don’t have pet allergies and just want to get rid of dog hair or cat hair that’s filling up your home, then you can save yourself a lot of money by going with a cheaper option.
Since you don’t need an air purifier for cat allergies or dog allergies that get rid of microscopic dander, then you don’t have to pay a higher price for a device that has an advanced True HEPA filter.
The best air purifier for pet hair only needs a “HEPA-type filter”.
While there’s a subtle difference in the name, a HEPA-type filter is only capable of trapping particles in the range of 2-4 microns in size. A True HEPA air filter captures particles as small as 0.3 microns.
But for capturing just pet hair and fur, a HEPA-type filter is plenty good enough. If the unit has a pre-filter, that’s even better for efficiency.
If you want the best air purifier for dog hair and cat hair that doesn’t cost too much, this really is a good choice.
A Home Air Purifier for Pets Needs Filter Changes
Keep in mind that an air purifier is only as good as the filters it has inside it.
If the air filters are clogged and dirty, it can’t operate effectively.
Therefore, make sure you check and clean your pre-filter and change out the other air filters like the HEPA air filter and Activated Carbon filter on a regular schedule
Some air purifiers for pets have a filter change light that indicates to you when it’s time to perform this service. Others require a manual check.
Either way, the manufacturer will outline a schedule to follow which can be found in your user’s manual.
What are Smart Sensors?
Pet air purifiers that use smart sensors automatically monitor the air for certain types of contaminants like pet dander, odor, and hair.
If a high level of particulates is sensed, the air purifier will adjust itself in order to quickly eliminate the pollutants from the room.
Once the particles are gone, the air purifier will go back to the mode it previously was in.
This is a great feature to have when choosing an air purifier, especially if you have an indoor/outdoor cat or dog that could be bringing in outside contaminants.
Is Dyson Air Purifier Good for Pets?
A Dyson air purifier can be good for pets because it contains a True HEPA filter and Activated Carbon filter. These two filters remove pet dander, hair, and odors. However, the cost of a Dyson air purifier ($400-600) and the square footage coverage (300-400 sq. ft.) outweigh these benefits.
There are many other cheaper air purifiers that have the same quality of filters as the Dyson but cover a larger room size. These other air purifiers also contain additional air filters and technologies to reduce cat and dog dander, hair, and odors.
When it comes to cost and benefits, the Dyson air purifier is not the best choice for a pet owner. It would better for you to choose the Veva 8000 or Veva 9000 air purifiers.
One other thing to keep in mind is that Dyson doesn’t publish Clean Air Delivery Rate (or CADR Ratings) for its air purifiers. The CADR rating is conducted by the Association of Home Appliances (AHAM) organization that independently tests air cleaning devices for their effectiveness against pollutants.
That’s not to say that the Dyson air purifier is not a good air cleaner, but it doesn’t have third-party data to verify its claims like the other pet air purifier brands reviewed on this page.
Benefits of a Pet Air Purifier
Less Need for Cleaning
Another positive side effect of using the best air purifier for dog hair and cat dander is that you’ll find you don’t have to clean your home as often.
Air purifiers are effective at removing particles from animals, but they’re also great at collecting dust, allergens from dust mites, and dirt particles as well.
The top air purifier advantages are that the more it is allowed to run, the more dust, debris, dander, and hair will be sucked into the machine.
The more your air purifier collects those things, the less you have to clean.
Homes that have one of the best rated air purifiers don’t look as dusty or dirty because the particles that create those messes exist less.
The Best Air Purifier for Home with Pets Creates a Fresher Environment
As we all know, pets can produce a variety of odors.
This is especially true for animals like cats, which are allowed to roam freely outside but live predominantly indoors.
Dogs are also notorious for bringing in smells from outdoor environments after taking them for a walk or to use the potty.
Indoor only pets like birds, hamsters, gerbils, potbelly pigs, ferrets, and cats also tend to have smelly cages and litter pans.
Regular and thorough cleaning of these items is obviously the best way to keep odors under control, but often we don’t recognize it until an unpleasant smell has taken over the house.
Aside from the allergen and hair removal, air purifiers are worth it for many pet owners for the mere fact that your home can smell fresher with it running.
As we mentioned in the product descriptions, each device includes an Activated Carbon filter that acts to neutralize pet odors, not just cover them up like aerosol sprays and scented candles do.
These Activated Carbon filters are made up of millions of microscopic pores that look and operate like a sponge.
As air passes through the air purifier, the molecules that are known for producing unpleasant aromas come along for the ride and get trapped inside the pores of the air filter.
The more air that can pass through this filter, the cleaner your home will smell.
One of the biggest reasons your home smells like your animals is that the odor particles that have been tracked inside or come from the cage or litter pan have fallen onto the floor or your furniture.
As traffic moves around indoors, these odor molecules get kicked back up into the air again and cause the scent to radiate.
Sometimes the odor issue has gone on for so long in certain areas of the home that they are highly dense with these particles and an eminent aroma continues to exist.
In order to get rid of these lingering smells, a deep cleaning may be necessary, and then a good air purifier for smells can keep work to keep those rooms smelling fresh.
Tips on Using Your Pet Air Purifier
Buying an air purifier is a great first step to reducing pet dander, pet hair, and odors, as well as getting relief for your cat and dog allergies. And you know know the essential features for what makes a good air purifier.
To make sure you get the most value out of your purchase, there are a few simple tips you can follow after unboxing your new air purifier for pets.
Consider the Placement
You may be tempted to stick your air purifier in a corner of the room to keep it out the way but doing so will cause it to be less efficient.
In fact, most air purifiers require at least 18-24 inches of clearance on all sides so they can maximize their air cleaning power.
When you’re using an air purifier to get rid of pet hair, dander, and odors, it’s best to place it closer to the center of the room or at the very least where your cats or dogs like to hang out.
That way the machine can filter the most number of particles from the air before they have a chance to scatter to other areas of the room or your home.
This positioning will also help reduce dust and other contaminants from the air in addition to animal particles to improve your total indoor air quality.
Don’t Obstruct the Outward Air Flow
Similar to our last point, you never want to block or obstruct the outward path of clean air flow.
Doing so can cause the fresh air to constantly recycle on itself and never have a chance to dissipate out into the room where you need it.
To make sure this doesn’t happen to you, never put your air purifier under a table if the clean air flow comes out of the top of the unit.
If the air comes out of the front or sides of the air purifier, then don’t block those pathways respectably.
Don’t Turn the Pet Air Purifier Off
You may think to use an air purifier like a cooling fan by turning on and off as you need it.
However, that is the worst thing you can do with a pet air purifier.
For a machine like to this operate at peak performance it needs to run 24 hours, 7 days per week.
When you turn the device on for the first time, it will work hard to remove all of the airborne contaminants that have built up inside the room, such as dust, allergens from dust mites and animals, pet hair, odors, mold spores, and other airborne contaminants.
Once those particles have been filtered out of the air, it can go into a maintenance mode to keep the air always fresh.
If you turn the machine off for any length of time, you’re basically allowing pollutants to build back up again which defeats the purpose of having an air purifier to begin with.
If you’re concerned about the cost of running your air purifier on a continuous basis, don’t be. Most products are very energy efficient and don’t cost more than a house fan to operate.
Keep Windows and Doors Closed as Much as You Can
Another tip for getting the most out of air purifiers for pets is to enclose the machine inside a tightly closed room if you can.
By closing doors and keeping windows shut, you’re able to give the air purifier a chance to exchange the air inside the room over and over again until it becomes contaminant-free.
The more time the machine has to operate in this manner, the fresher the air becomes.
If you leave a door or window open, you’re inviting your purified air to escape and let outside pollutants to flow in.
This makes the device less effective at removing the things you care about: pet dander, pet hair, and pet odors.
