Photo of Holmes Air Purifiers

In this post, we’re going to review and compare two popular types of Holmes air purifiers:

  • Desktop Design
  • Mini Tower Design

Whether you looking to protect a small area in your home from allergens and environmental pollutants or just want to keep your office space contaminant free, Holmes offers a great selection of air purifiers that fit your specific needs.

What makes both of these desktop and mini tower design air cleaners a great choice is that they can fit practically anywhere inside a small space.

You can place each device comfortably on a table, a desk or even out of the way on a shelf.

So, keep reading our Holmes air purifier reviews below to find out how each type of air purifier compares.

We’ll outline how each product is the same and different, with the goal of helping you decide which product is the best for your needs. And if you don’t find what you’re looking for, then visit our best air purifier for home recommendations to compare other good brands.

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Review of Holmes Desktop Air Purifiers

Holmes produces two desktop air purifiers that are great at keeping the air around you free and clear of airborne contaminants.

However, these two products are so close in function and design that it can be hard to discover how each one is actually different.

Fortunately, we’ll shine some light on this for you in the review below.

These two Holmes desktop air purifier models include:

Note: The HAP242-NUC has been featured on our budget air purifier page.

Photo of Holmes HAP242-NUC and HAP9240Similarities Between Both Models

Regardless of which desktop air cleaner you choose, you’ll find that both products contain a lot of the same features, including:

  • HEPA-type air filtration, which removes up to 99% of airborne particles as small as 2 microns. This is ideal for anyone who wants overall cleaner, breathable air. (Note: If you suffer from asthma or severe allergies, you’ll want a device that includes a True HEPA filter, such as the Mini Tower HAP706-U reviewed in the next section.)
  • Enhanced Arm & Hammer filter that helps eliminate common household odors
  • Filter change indicator
  • Dual position design. This allows you to place it horizontally or vertically on any tabletop surface.
  • 3 fan speeds
  • Optional ionizer feature to enhance the air cleaning power. (Note: Some people with asthma may notice irritation in symptoms when using this feature, but it can be turned off.)

Differences Between Each Device

Fortunately, the differences that you’ll find in these Holmes desktop air purifiers is so small that you may not have even noticed them unless they were pointed out to you.

In fact, the biggest differences are style and design. Our suggestion when comparing these Holmes air purifier reviews is that you choose the model that has the best style for your taste. However, here is a list of how they do compare:

  • The HAP242-NUC uses an older style of slider controls to adjust the fan speed and to turn on the ionizer. The HAP9240 uses a rotary knob for the fan speed and push button for the ionizer.
  • The HAP242-NUC is rated to purify a space up to 110 square feet, while the HAP9240 can only handle 100 square feet. This difference is negligible.
  • Product Dimensions: HAP242-NUC measures 14.8 x 11.4 x 7.2 inches. This is about 2 inches wider and deeper than the HAP9240, which measures 13 x 9.5 x 6.2 in.

See HAP242-NUC Reviews on Amazon.com

See HAP9240 Reviews on Amazon.com

Holmes Mini Tower Air Purifier Reviews

The other popular type of air purifiers that Holmes produces for small areas and rooms come in a mini tower design.

This style also includes two competing models:

Photo of Holmes HAPY706-U and HPA412BNSSimilarities Between Both Models

You’ll find that with the mini tower design air cleaners that they have an almost even mix of similarities and differences in features.

No matter which Holmes product you choose, you’ll enjoy these benefits:

  • Washable pre-filter that captures larger particles and extends the life of the main HEPA filter
  • 3 fan speeds
  • Optional ionizer to help freshen the air. (Note: As mentioned above in the desktop section, people with asthma may feel lung irritation using this function. It can be turned on or off.)
  • Enhanced Arm & Hammer filter that helps eliminate common household odors
  • Dimensions 11.4 x 8.2 x 15.7 inches

Differences Between Each Tower

The major differences between these two Holmes mini tower air purifiers are the main filter type that it comes bundled with and the maximum room coverage it can handle.

When it comes to buying an air purifier, these two factors are pretty significant and should sway your decision one way or the other. Here is how they compare:

HAP412BNS

  • Comes with a HEPA-type filter, which removes 99% of airborne particles only as small as 2 microns. This doesn’t include the finer dust or allergens that cause breathing problems. However, it can be replaced with a Holmes AER1 True HEPA filter as mentioned below in the HAP706-U for an additional cost.
  • Recommended for spaces up to 120 sq. ft.

HAP706-U

  • Comes with a True HEPA filter that’s certified to remove 99.97% airborne particles as small as 0.3 microns. This includes the widest range of airborne allergens, dust, pollen, pet dander, etc. that harm your health. This is the best type of air purifying filter you can get.
  • Recommended for rooms up to 204 square feet

As you can see above, the HAP706-U is a far superior air purifier because it uses a top-of-the-line True HEPA filter and can purify a lot larger space. We highly recommend buying this unit over the HAP412BNS.

See HAP706-U Reviews on Amazon.com

We hope you enjoyed these Holmes air purifier reviews and comparison guide and find the one that’s right for you.