People are increasingly investing in air purifiers to get cleaner air in their homes. Air purifiers are marvelous for those dealing with asthma, allergies, toxic fumes from tobacco smoke, or for those simply trying to improve air quality as a preventive measure, but not all of us have the space or the need for a big industrial unit.

Thank goodness, then, that mini air purifiers exist! Mini air purifiers are relatively new to the air purifier market and function as convenient, effective, budget-friendly alternatives for consumers looking for a compact and portable air purifier that doesn’t have the bulky, immobile profile of traditional larger units. They’re perfect for settings where space is limited, such as apartments, dorm rooms, RVs, kitchens, offices, bedrooms, and more. Their diverse designs allow them to be used in a variety of places including tabletops, shelves, or on the floor.

Regardless of when and where you’re planning to use your air purifier, you can be sure there’s one out there to suit your lifestyle!

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1Hamilton Beach TrueAir Pet Air Purifier (04384)

  • 3-Stage Filtration System (All permanent filters)
  • 3 Fan Speeds
  • Eliminates Pet Odors
  • Ultra-Quiet
  • 1-Year Warranty

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2Levoit LV-H132

  • 3-stage Filtration
  • 3 Fan Speeds
  • Night light Function
  • Filter Indicator
  • 2-year Warranty

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3GermGuardian AC4100

  • 3-Stage Filtration System
  • 3 Fan Speeds
  • Filter Indicator
  • Optional UV Light
  • 1-year Warranty

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4hOmeLabs 3 in 1 Compact

  • 4-Stage Filtration System
  • Filter Indicator Light
  • Ultra-Quiet Operation
  • One Touch Button Operation
  • 2-Year Warranty (Option For Extra 6 Months)


1

Hamilton Beach TrueAir Pet Air Purifier (04384)

The Hamilton Beach TrueAir Pet Air Purifier (04384) is no doubt one of the most popular mini air purifiers out there. With more than 1,000 5-star reviews on Amazon, you can be sure that the 04384 is small in size but doesn’t lose out in performance!

The 3-stage filtration system consists of a washable pre-filter for large particles like pet hair and dust, a washable HEPA-type filter capable of filtering out 99% of pollen, mold, and dander, and finally 2 carbon zeolite filters for heavy duty odor and VOCs removal.

One of the biggest advantages to the 04384 is that all its filters are permanent. This makes the 04384 extremely affordable both upfront and long term, and makes maintenance a lot easier. It lacks a filter change indicator, though, so it’s harder to determine when the filters need to be cleaned.

For a mini air purifier, the 04384 also has a relatively larger room coverage compared to all the other mini air purifiers in this list. It is capable of covering a space of up to 140 sq. ft. so you can place it in slightly larger rooms without having to worry about its performance wavering. Its compact versatile design also allows you to place it either horizontally or vertically on any surface without it taking up too much space.

The only real disadvantages to the 04384 are the lack of a True HEPA filter and filter indicator, and the very short 1-year warranty. However, at its price and considering how powerful it is, the 04384 is definitely a steal. It’s compact, quiet, affordable, and does its job very well.

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Pros

  • Affordable (upfront and long term)
  • Good for allergens and odors
  • Versatile design
  • Larger room coverage
  • 3-Stage filtration

Cons

  • Not a True HEPA filter
  • No Filter Indicator
  • Short warranty

2

Levoit LV-H132

The Levoit LV-H132 is definitely one of the most beautifully designed mini air purifiers in this list. With its sleek, white exterior, it can easily blend in with any type of room decor regardless of where you put it.

But don’t be fooled by its small size: it is fully equipped with a powerful 3-stage filtration system. Unlike most mini air purifiers, the LV-H132 has a True HEPA filter, giving it the advantage of being more efficient at removing particles as small as 0.3 microns in size. Its dedicated carbon filter is also sufficient to remove common household odors such as pet odors, cigarette fumes, and cooking smells. In addition, it has a filter change indicator which takes the guesswork out of cleaning and maintaining it. It has a night light feature which is great as well, creating a more pleasing ambiance in the room.

However, its efficiency is greatly limited by its small room coverage. It is only able to cover 86 sq. ft. of space. While it’s perfect for small bedrooms, it loses its efficiency in larger areas like living rooms or large master bedrooms. Though considered very affordable for an air purifier, it is slightly more expensive than other mini air purifiers of its size and calibre. Luckily, its replacement filters come relatively cheap so you’re saving more in the long run.

Despite these flaws, however, the LV-H132 remains one of the top contenders in the mini air purifiers category with its beautifully designed exterior, powerful filtration system, and energy efficient performance.

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Pros

  • True HEPA filter allows it to be more efficient
  • Attractive design
  • Energy efficient
  • Easier to maintain
  • Affordable replacement filters

Cons

  • Small room coverage
  • Slightly expensive (upfront)

3

GermGuardian AC4100

The GermGuardian AC4100 definitely has an eye-catching design. Reminiscent of a speaker, the simple design comes in a neutral gray color which blends in easily with any type of room decor. Housed within this very light unit is a 3-stage filtration system which targets all types of household pollutants ranging from allergens to odors to bacteria.

Unlike the LV-H132, the AC4100 does not have a True HEPA filter. Rather, it has a HEPA-type filter which is capable of removing 99% of particles as small as 0.7 microns in size. The true power of the AC4100, however, lies in its ability to remove odors. Its carbon pre-filter is not only capable of removing large particles like pet hair and dust, but can remove odors from pets, cooking, and smoke as well. The AC4100 is also great for creating a more sanitary environment by being able to eliminate airborne bacteria, viruses, and mold spores using its UV light treatment. The UV light treatment is optional and can be turned off when not needed to reduce the unit’s electricity consumption.

The biggest downside to the AC4100 is it has an incredibly small room coverage. Rated at only 60 sq. ft., this mini air purifier has one of the smallest room coverages out of the air purifiers in this list. This is an incredibly limiting factor and should be taken into serious consideration. Replacement filters for the AC4100 are also slightly more expensive compared to other mini air purifiers. Furthermore, the AC4100 is only covered by a measly 1-year warranty.

However, at its price and size, you can count on the AC4100 to be an affordable and energy-efficient mini air purifier. It is also a great option if you’re only looking to cover a small space while removing odors and bacteria at the same time!

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Pros

  • Very lightweight and portable
  • Attractive design
  • Good for odors and bacteria
  • Energy efficient
  • Affordable (upfront)s

Cons

  • Not a True HEPA filter
  • Small room coverage
  • Short warranty
  • Slightly expensive replacement filters


4

hOmeLabs 3 in 1 Compact

This hOmeLabs 3 in 1 Compact air purifier may not command the same sales numbers of the Levoit or the GermGuardian, but it has a healthy 500 plus reviews on Amazon.

It boasts 4-stage filtrations, consisting of a pre-filter for larger particles, a HEPA filter, an activated carbon filter, and a UV-C sanitizer that kills airborne germs and bacteria. This compact purifier measures 6.7 inches by 7.5 inches, and has a room coverage of 50 sq.ft, making it ideal for dorm rooms, offices and smaller workspaces.

This purifier also benefits from adjustable fan speeds so you can be sure that it is whisper quiet on the lowest fan setting for peaceful nights, and when the filter needs replacing a handy indicator light will come on to let you know.

The Hepa filter captures 99.7 percent of pollutants up to the size of 3 microns, and with a simple one-touch button operation, this hOmeLabs product is easy to use.

It also has a 2 year warranty with the option to extend that warranty by 6 months if you sign up to hOmeLAbs website.

Because it is so compact, some may find that the coverage is a little too small, and for the price you could invest another $20 and get the Hamilton Beach with a room coverage of 140 sq.ft instead.

But for a more personal approach to air purification, placing one of these on your desk or in your compact room will still be effective.

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Pros

  • 4-Stage filtration system
  • Compact
  • Simple operation
  • Adjustable fan speeds
  • Filter indicator light

Cons

  • Very small room coverage
  • Noisy on the highest fan setting
  • Frequent filter replacement means more expense

Comparison Chart

FEATURESLevoit LV-H132GermGuardian AC4100Hamilton Beach TrueAir Pet Air Purifier (04383)hOmeLabs 3 in 1 Compact
TypeCompact, plug-inCompact, plug-inCompact, plug-inCompact, plug-in
Size8.5 x 8.5 x 14.57.5 x 6.38 x 10.3810.8 x 8.1 x 16.46.7 x 6.7 x 7.5
Weight6.61 lbs4.85 lbs6.3 lbs2.9 lbs
Filters/
Technology		Pre + True HEPA + CarbonCarbon Pre + HEPA-type + UV lightPre + Carbon + HEPA-typePre + HEPA + Carbon + UV light
Room Coverage 86 sq. ft.60 sq. ft.140 sq. ft.50 sq. ft.

Buyer’s Guide:

Mini Air Purifiers

Mini air purifiers are, on the whole, great value for money. A tower or console purifier could cost as much as $600 or $700 for a high-specification model, while at the cheaper end, you could spend a couple of hundred dollars. Mini air purifiers are typically less than $100, so are much more affordable, and because they are compact, they are perfect for small space environments.

They use the same technology as the larger purifiers and often have HEPA or HEPA-type filters, so still extract 99 percent of allergens and pollutants from our homes. The only difference is their size and the area that they cover to be effective. Typically, a compact purifier will comfortably purify a space of around 50 to 150 sq.ft, whereas a more substantial unit can easily handle rooms more than 600 sq ft in size.

People who live in small spaces will undoubtedly benefit from a mini air purifier, and typically those people are on a budget or have no need of the extra purifying capacity of a larger, more expensive purifiers.

Students and office workers would also benefit because the compact nature of the purifier would be ideal for dorm rooms and personal desk spaces within a larger setting.

Pros:
  • Cost-effective – As we’ve already touched on, mini air purifiers are excellent value for money. They cost a fraction of their larger counterparts and still offer the chance of clean air on a budget.
  • Compact –  As their name suggests, they are mini, so therefore if you live in a small apartment or dorm room, a compact purifier would be ideal. If space is a consideration, you have to find creative ways of achieving clean air without filling the room with bulky purifiers that take up valuable space.
  • Portable –  Because they are so small, moving them from room to room, or even taking them to the office is easy. It means that no matter where you are, clean air is a possibility.
Cons:
  • Coverage –  Small purifiers are not going to give you the same coverage as other, larger purifiers. These mini models are designed for a specific type of use rather than family-size functions seen on tower and console varieties.
  • Frequent filter replacement –  The filters in mini air purifiers are small and therefore prone to replacement more often. A filter on a standard size purifier might typically need replacing every 6 to 9 months, but on a mini purifier, some have reported the need to replace the filter as often as every 2 months.
  • Filter replacement costs –  Don’t be fooled into thinking that the costs of replacing a filter for a mini air purifiers cost heaps less than the standard filters, because you could be in for a shock. Some estimate that if the filter needs replacing every 2 months, it could equate to an annual cost of over $140 in filters alone!
Mini Air Purifier

Pros

  • Cost effective
  • Compact
  • Portable

Cons

  • Coverage
  • Frequent filter replacement
  • High annual costs of filter replacement

  • Will a mini air purifier remove smells and odors?

  • Yes, it will. It will remove pet odors, cigarette smoke odors, and the smell of pollution from nearby roads. It will also remove most kitchen cooking smells too.

  • How often is a filter change recommended?

  • Typically, the filter should be replaced every 6 months, although that does depend on how heavily the filter gets used. In areas where the air is cleaner, you might extend the filter life by a month or so, but in environments where the filter is working hard all the time, expect that life span to decrease somewhat.

  • Can I run the purifier continuously?

  • You can keep it on 24/7 but expect your filter replacement costs to escalate significantly, especially if you are in an area with poor air quality, which suggests the reasons why you would need to run the purifier continuously.

  • Are they easy to clean?

  • The filters are replaceable on most models, and the components of the purifier don’t need cleaning as such, however, you will need to keep the fan vents from clogging with dust and pet hair. Use a vacuum nozzle to extract the debris, and wipe clean with an anti-static wipe for added effectiveness.

    If the filter is a vacuum-clean variety, then you should aim to do this every 2 weeks. Failing that, once a month would be the absolute limit if you want the unit to keep working effectively.

Final Thoughts

A mini air purifier isn’t going to be for everyone. The capacity and room coverage could prove to be too small, but for those on a budget, or living in small spaces, these mini purifiers are perfect and give the option of clean air to all.

And because they are compact, they take up very little space, which is another important consideration when you live in a compact property.

Further Reading

Rainbow RainMate Air Purifier Review
Change My Air Purifier Filter
How Often Should I Change My Air Purifier Filter?
Personal Air Purifier
Best Wearable Personal Air Purifiers