A detailed guide on buying the best air purifier for garage in 2021

Last updated on: March 1, 2024.

Want the best air purifier for your garage? Read this before buying.

Homes now come with an attached garage. Homeowners prefer having an enclosed space for at least one vehicle, although many garages can house more than one vehicle. So, builders construct an attached garage that sometimes also serves as an entry point into homes. But, once we move in, we barely give the garage a thought as to its air quality or any other finish that we require inside our homes.

Over time, the garage is put to many uses, including as an exercise space, a place for pursuing a hobby or interest, somewhere people can retire to smoke, and even as a storage space. 

People pay a lot more attention to indoor air quality and buy air purifiers to ensure that they get to breathe cleaner air when they are inside. As we spend time in the garage for different reasons, it is necessary to have one in our garages, too.

a) We store our vehicles in the garage

cars in garage

Our cars release greenhouse gases like methane and carbon dioxide. That doesn’t do much for our environment, nor for the air we breathe. These gases can build up over time making their way into our homes as we usually start the car even before it leaves the garage. Therefore, an air purifier in our garage is as necessary as in the rest of our homes.

b) Garages offer a main access point

A single door that separates our home and the garage gets opened frequently throughout the day. We park our car in the garage and go inside through this door rather than go out to the front door. We also tend to leave the door open as we carry things from the car, clearing the path for air pollutants to enter our homes. In some cases, the garages do not have drywall, or their walls and ceilings remain unfinished to save money.

Such unfinished surfaces attract air pollutants that can make their way into our homes. While finishing up the garage construction may be a good idea, an air purifier can filter the air and release cleaner air.

c) Place for hobbies and interests

We generally find the garage useful to pursue our interests and use it as a working space or a place where we can store the tools and supplies used in such pursuits. Families allow children to use garages as a space for their exploration, too, especially those that are musically inclined. Instead of having the children blast music inside homes, they are given the garage space. And, when the floor of the garage is made of concrete, sidewalk chalk is used freely.

Obviously, anyone using the garage for extended periods of time needs clean air. It makes sense to place an air purifier to ensure that air pollutants are kept out. 

d) Garages for exercising

It is a perfect place for our exercise equipment, and as we don’t move the equipment in and out of our homes, garages become convenient. While we may store our vehicles and our lawn care tools, we also tend to put weights and treadmills in the garage. Exercising makes us breathe more deeply, and our lungs take in as much air as they can.

Why would we take in polluted air, especially when we are trying to improve our health and fitness? An air purifier can make the garage safe for our exercise routines. 

e) Garages to retire to, for smoking or grilling

Yes, smoking is frowned upon, and those that continue to smoke do not smoke indoors as it can be harmful to others in the family. It also leaves a foul odor throughout the house. Smokers retire to the garage when they wish to smoke. And, if they don’t have a deck or patio space for the barbecue, or if it is too cold, the garage is used. Vehicles are moved out, and the grill is set up. Although the garage doors are left open on such occasions, the smoke remains and can seep into our homes. 

With so many reasons for having an air purifier in the garage, deciding to buy one is elementary and as necessary as buying one for the rooms inside our home.

Important Things To Keep In Mind Before You Buy an air purifier for garage

garage door

With so many models of air purifiers in the market, choosing the right one can be daunting. Here are a few points that you could keep in mind:

1. Filters

There are different types of filters in air purifiers. They have pre-filters and filters. As the air passes through the pre-filter, larger particles such as pet hair, dander, and other debris get trapped. It is best to buy a unit with washable pre-filters.

HEPA filters eliminate the maximum amount of microscopic pollutants such as dust, dust mites, mold spores, pollen, bacteria, and pet dander. These filters usually have activated carbon filters and help remove harmful chemicals. UV filtration and ionization filters tend to emit ozone that is harmful to health.

2. Size

The size of an air purifier depends on the coverage area. If you are looking for maximum efficiency, you need to look for a unit that exceeds the size of the room. It may be best to pick an air purifier with caster wheels so that it can be moved from room to room.

Air change per hour (ACH): ACH is the number of times the purifying unit can clean the total air volume in an hour. Units that have a rate of more than 4 ACH can remove microscopic allergens from the air.

3. CADR

Clean air delivery rate measures the volume of air that can be purified at its highest speed setting. The higher the CADR, the faster the unit can purify the air. 

4. Noise levels

Air purifiers are beneficial when placed in bedrooms as they enable sound sleep. Therefore, you would want an air purifier that makes as little noise as possible. Quiet air purifiers that have a noise rating lower than 50dB are ideal.

Some features you may want to look into include energy star rating for efficiency, dirt sensors, and air quality indicators available in premium models, and they give you real-time updates on air quality. In addition, WiFi-enabled units can be controlled with your smartphone.

5 Best Air Purifiers for Garage (March 2024)

Image PRODUCT/ Features Rating  
Our Top PickWinix Airpurifier Winix 5500-2 Air Purifier with True HEPA✦ 4 Stage Filtration With PlasmaWave Technology
✦ Smart Sensors
✦ Air Quality Indicator
9.8
Runner UpCoway Airpurifier Coway AP-1512HH Mighty Air Purifier with True HEPA✦ Pollution sensor 
✦ Energy efficient air purifier
✦ Filter replacement indicator
9.6
Budget PickLevoit Air Purifier LEVOIT Air Purifier for Home Allergies ✦ Ozone Free
✦ Most Silent Air Cleaner
✦ True HEPA Filter
9.1
Germ Guardian Germ Guardian True HEPA Filter Air Purifier✦ Activated charcoal filter
✦ Can cover 743 sq. feet
✦ Helps kill airborne viruses
8.9
Toppin Air Purifier TOPPIN HEPA Air Purifiers for Home✦ 360° All-Round Filtration
✦ Filter Change Indicator
✦ Silent Operation
8.7


1. Winix Air Purifier With True HEPA Filter – Our Top Pick

Our top pick is the Winix 5500-2 air purifier with a True HEPA filter, PlasmaWave, and odor-reducing washable AOC carbon filters. 

The True HEPA filter catches 99.97% of all airborne particles, including pet dander, dust mites, pollen, mold spores, microbes, and other allergens. It has a washable fine mesh pre-filter that traps the larger particles. This pre-filter helps in increasing the lifespan of the True HEPA filter.

The Winix 5500-2 model has a washable AOC (advanced odor control) carbon filter made from activated carbon granulars to eliminate household odors from cooking, smoking, pets, etc. It also has a PlasmaWave air cleaning technology that creates hydroxyls to neutralize all viruses and bacteria floating in the air. 

Moreover, this model comes with dual smart sensors to gauge the air quality so the Auto Mode adjusts the fan to filter as needed. The LED light displays the changes in air quality in real-time. The Rest Easy feature acts on the room’s brightness as it activates the Sleep Mode when the room is darkened, allowing a continuous, quiet, and energy-efficient operation. It automatically changes to Auto Mode when there is light in the room. The Winix 5500-2 also comes with convenient remote control. 

Winix Air Purifier For Garage

Things we liked:

1. The Winix 5500-2 has a 4-level filtration system.
2. Permanent and washable pre-filter, True HEPA particle filter
3. A washable activated carbon filter
4. In-built odor sensor that detects pollution
5. Auto-activated sleep mode based on room’s lighting
6. AHAM-verified CADR, CARB approved for ozone safety

Things we didn’t like:

1. No backlight on the remote control
2. Comes in only one color

2. Coway AP-1512HH Mighty Air Purifier with True HEPA and Eco Mode

The Coway Mighty air purifier is compact and has cutting-edge features to keep your indoor air clean. With a HEPA efficiency rating of 99.97 %, it uses a four-stage filtration system to effectively eliminate odors and air pollutants. The pollution sensor in the unit communicates air quality in real-time so the unit can adjust the fan to clean air as needed.

If pollution is not detected in 30 minutes, the fan will stop automatically and switch to eco-mode to save energy. It is an energy-efficient machine with three manual fan speeds and an auto mode to optimize the fan speed by gauging the indoor air quality. The Coway Mighty air purifier also features a timer and filter-lifetime indicator. The timer allows the unit to run 1/4/8 hours before automatically powering off. It is a quiet air purifier with a noise level range from 24.4 decibels to 53.8 decibels. 

Coway Air Purifier

Things we liked:

1. True HEPA filter
2. Washable and permanent pre-filter
3. CADR rating for medium-sized rooms
4. Compact design
5. In-built particle sensor, real-time air quality indicator
6. Auto turn-off when pollution is not detected in 30 minutes
7. Energy-star certified

Things we didn’t like:

1. Less effective impregnated carbon filter
2. No child/ pet lock feature
3. CADR not certified by AHAM.

3. Levoit Air Purifier For Home – Budget Pick

The Levoit air purifier for home is ozone-free as it doesn’t use UV-C light that is known to produce secondary pollution and ozone. It has a Core 300 True HEPA filter with VortexAir technology and 360-degrees air intake. The H13 True HEPA Filter works alongside the Pre-Filter and High-Efficiency Activated Carbon Filter to capture 99.97% of airborne particles.

It offers different filter choices – Toxin Absorber filter to handle wildfire, smoke, and VOCs, Pet Allergy filter if you have pets to capture pet dander and absorb pet odors. With a Sleep Mode feature, the QuietKEAP technology reduces noise levels to 24dB, and the display light can be turned off, allowing you to sleep undisturbed. The Levoit air purifier for homes is Energy Star verified and FCC certified. 

Levoit Purifier

Things we liked:

1. 3-stage HEPA filter
2. Granular activated carbon filter
3. 100% ozone-free
4. Moderate CADR
5. Compact design
6. Low maintenance
7. Energy star and FCC certified

Things we didn’t like:

1. Odor removal is not very efficient
2. Pre-filter is not washable

4. Germ Guardian Air Purifier

The Germ Guardian air purifier has a 4-in-1 True HEPA filter that removes 99.97% of air pollutants, including pet dander, dust, dust mites, mold spores, and other allergens as small as 0.3 microns. The UV C light kills germs such as airborne viruses like staph, influenza, rhinovirus and uses Titanium Dioxide to reduce VOCs. The pre-filter traps large particles, pet hair, dust, extending the life of the HEPA filter.

The Germ Guardian air purifier also reduces odor from pets, smoke, cooking, etc., with its activated carbon filter. For a quiet operation, the setting can be at its lowest. There are three-speed settings available and an optional UV C light. It is AHAM Verified, Energy Star certified, and CARB compliant.

Germ Guardian main

Things we liked:

1. Small and compact design
2. Pre-filter to trap large particles
3. Activated carbon filter to remove odors
4. True HEPA filter
5. UV-C technology to kill airborne viruses and bacteria
6. Energy Star certified

Things we didn’t like:

1. It doesn’t have smart features
2. Noise levels are high at the highest setting

5. Toppin Hepa Air Purifier

The Toppin HEPA air purifier has a 3-in-1 efficient filter to remove 99.97% of all airborne particles. The pre-filter and activated carbon layer filter pollen, pet dander, dust, smoke, and odors. It runs at low noise levels ranging from less than 21dB at its lowest and 45 dB at its highest. It has a CADR rating of 170m³/h and 360° all-round filtration.

The Toppin HEPA air purifier also has a filter change indicator to alert you when it is time to change the filter. The display screen can also be switched off. The unit has LED indicators for easy view, and a timer to set for purification.

Toppin Air Purifier for home

Things we liked:

1. Carbon layer to remove smoke and other unpleasant odors
2. UV light and blue net to keep the air fresh and clean
3. Compact design

Things we didn’t like:

1. Most suitable for small rooms

Our Verdict

Winner: The Winix Air Purifier With True HEPA Filter

We have analysed all the above products and can verify that the Winix air purifier is the best value for your money. It has all the necessary features, such as the 4-level filtration system, permanent and washable pre-filter, True HEPA filter, in-built odor sensor that detects pollution, has an auto-activated sleep mode, and has an AHAM-verified CADR.

>> Click here to see the latest price <<

How to purify garage air naturally? [7 Easy Ways]

car coming from garage

There are quite a few ways to improve the air quality in your garages. It can be done without the use of chemicals and by more natural methods.

✔ Declutter and clean your garage regularly. 
✔ Avoid idling your vehicles inside the garage as it will release benzene and carbon monoxide into the air. Also, avoid running gas-powered tools inside the garage.
✔ Install garage ventilation systems to help remove VOCs and reduce condensation levels that can cause mold and mildew.
✔ Periodically air out the garage by keeping the door open or using a fan or dehumidifier. This will lower the level of VOCs and get rid of stale and musty odors. 
✔ An eco-friendly flooring in your garage can help as polyaspartic floor coatings can ensure that only the lowest level of VOCs is released in the air. 
✔ Avoid using the garage for garbage cans. If you must use this space, then make sure that the garbage cans are always kept tightly closed. 
✔ If possible, use a supplementary storage area to store your garden supplies or other household products such as cleaning material. Storing them in the garage can also release unwanted VOCs.

FAQ Section

1. Why you should add an air purifier to your home gym?

You should add an air purifier to your home gym because exercising makes us breathe more deeply, and our lungs take in as much air as they can. A certain level of exertion occurs due to exercise, and the need to take in clean air is high. Air purifiers ensure that the air we breathe is clean.

2. Is it bad to workout in bad air quality?

It can be bad to work out if the air quality is poor. The small particulate matter circulating in the air will get into our lungs and lead to breathing difficulties. For those already suffering from underlying respiratory conditions, working out in bad air can cause respiratory diseases.  

3. How do I filter my garage for dust?

An air purifier will help filter airborne dust particles from your garage. Keeping it clean and uncluttered also will prevent dust from settling on any surface within the garage. 

4. How long does it take for air to purify?

The time taken for purifying air depends on the selected power setting, filters, and ACH (rate of air changes per hour) of the air purifier. Generally, an air purifier can purify most of the air in a room within the first 45 minutes to 3 hours. 

5. Is it healthy to workout in a garage?

Working out in the garage can be healthy provided you keep it clean and free of toxic supplies. Garages usually become storage spaces for a lot of materials that you don’t want to keep inside your home, and they may be toxic. Other things that need to be removed are gas-powered tools and vehicles when working out. 

Final Words:

In the final analysis, air purifiers serve a powerful purpose in keeping clean and healthy air you breathe. While the choice of air purifiers is yours to make, having pertinent information on the above-listed air purifiers should give you a clear idea of what to look for. The importance of good air quality cannot be underestimated, as the welfare of your family depends on it. 

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About The Author

Olivia — a self-confessed air quality addict — is a home climate enthusiast, fresh air advocate, and someone with deep personal experience and knowledge about mold extermination. Her work was mentioned in countless notable humidity publications. Previously she was an editor at Mold Remediation.