The best air purifiers can handle all impurities, including odors, harmful chemicals, and will also keep dangerous VOCs at bay. Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs for short, can irritate multiple organs, including the eyes and the skin. Some of these VOCs can even be carcinogenic.
Although stopping these airborne chemicals from entering is the best way to keep the indoor air quality intact, it is not always possible. Not all households have premium ventilation systems with a dedicated air quality sensor to monitor active air quality. An air purifier that can handle air pollutants at a molecular level while also dealing with the VOCs is a must for every household these days.
Air purifiers come in different shapes and sizes, and all of them offer various features to deal with different types of air. The list is endless, and going through an array of products can be very hectic and confusing, so we’ve prepared a list of the seven best air purifiers for VOCs.
7 Best Air Purifier for VOCs
Here are the best air purifiers for VOCs reviewed for you. VOCs are in gaseous form and require specialized filters that can absorb or neutralize the compounds with ease. All the following air purifiers are capable of filtering off VOCs and Formaldehyde with ease. The best 7 air purifiers for VOCs include:
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | DETAILS | Price |
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Top pick  |
Dimensions: 16 x 15 x 28 inches Area: 1,125 sq. ft. Weight: 29 pounds Warranty: 10 years |
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Dimensions: 14.8 x 22.91 x 14.8 inches Area: 780 sq. ft. Weight: 24.7 Pounds Warranty: 30-day money-back guarantee |
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Dimensions: 14.5 x 14.5 x 23 inches Area: 938 sq. ft. Weight: 47 pounds Warranty: 5 years |
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Dimensions: 17 x 10 x 19 inches Area: 1,250 sq. ft. Weight: 24 pounds Warranty: 10 years |
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Dimensions: 19 x 15 x 15 inches Area: 1,000 sq. ft. Weight: 38 pounds Warranty: 5 years |
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Dimensions: 12.9 x 7.1 x 19.4 inches Area: 800 sq. ft. Weight: 13.68 pounds Warranty: 5 years |
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Dimensions: 19 x 16 x 28 inches Area: 700 sq. ft. Weight: 15 pounds Warranty: Lifetime |
Also Read: 5 Best Air Purifier For Bird Owners In 2022
1. IQAir GC MultiGas Air Purifier
IQAir GC MultiGas air purifier can give you the best air quality in your indoor setup by removing volatile organic compounds (VOCs), dust, smoke, odors, and other air pollutants almost instantly.
IQAir GC MultiGas air purifier is designed such that it has both HyperHEPA filters and gas cartridges. These filters and cartridges operate in unison to deliver clean air in a closed space.
Air filters present in the IQAir GC MultiGas model can be divided into four categories making it one of the best household products to handle a wide range of organic chemicals, toxic chemicals, airborne pollutants, and harmful gases. These filters include HyperHEPA filters, cartridge-based activated carbon filters, post-filter sleeves, and cartridge-based chemisorption.
Usually, HEPA filters remove 99% of particles of variable sizes and can even capture minuscule particles measuring 0.3 microns. But as IQAir GC MultiGas has HyperHEPA filters, it has more purification power and can remove even smaller particles. It cleans the air by removing a wide array of particles with sizes as small as 0.003microns. In addition, the secure sealing of filters and the sturdy build ensure that all the air in your closed space is safe and free from VOCs and other dangerous chemicals.
Gas cartridges on the GC MultiGas are based on either an activated carbon filter or chemisorption. Cartridges with 12 pounds of granular activated carbon are made up of ABS plastics. It can clean the air by removing any odors and VOCs efficiently. Another absorbent material IQAir MultiHas features are the impregnated alumina which makes cartridge-based chemisorption possible. The alumina pellet tackles possible harmful chemicals, including Formaldehyde, by oxidation.
The IQAir GC MultiGas air purifier can operate at a maximum speed of 300 cfm and can easily cover a room with a surface area of up to 1125 square feet (104.5 square meters). The model uses 27 watts of power when operated at the lowest speed. However, when IQAir GC MultiGas air purifier operates at the highest speed, it uses about 215 watts of power and can quickly bring down the levels of VOCs and other airborne pollutants. In addition, the cost for its operation is merely a few cents per day.
The IQAir GC MultiGas air purifier disperses purified air in all directions and makes negligible noise even when used at the highest speed. The remote control enables the user to set a schedule for air purification. Users can set time, airflow units, speed of operation, and select a filter for operation. Controls make it convenient for the user to monitor when a filter needs a change and help in determining filter life.
The IQAir GC MultiGas air purifier also comes with an 8-foot long cord with two-prong cords enabling the user to use it by plugging it into different types of switches. This air purifier has wheels and is easily moveable around the house, and each wheel has a lock in place to fix it in one location and avoid unwanted incidents. The Heron Handle at the top makes it easy for the user to pick it up and move.
2. Coway Airmega 400 Smart Air Purifier
Coway Airmega 400 Smart Air Purifier has a well-developed automatic system that ensures your closed space remains pollutant-free. The body of the air purifier can fit in any tight spot and will add to the aesthetics of the place. The Coway Airmega 400 Smart Air Purifier is elegantly designed and is suitable for placing in the living room, lounge, TV room, bedroom, hall, or any closed space of 784 square feet with an 8-foot ceiling.
This air purifier removes pet hair, pollen, smoke, and any other debris with its highly efficient HEPA filters and carbon filters with carbon pellets. HEPA filters remove particles of variable sizes and carbon filters with carbon pellets, remove the smell of smoke, and purify the air from chemicals, including VOCs.
EPA recommends carbon filters for VOC removal. The carbon filters on the Airmega 400 have activated impregnated carbon that reacts with VOCs and binds them. In addition, the carbon pellets attached to carbon filters boost the activity of carbon filters and enhance their absorption power. Thus, carbon filters with carbon pellets remove volatile compounds, toxic gasses, and hazardous fumes of chemicals promptly.
The Coway Airmega 400 Smart Air Purifier has an LED display on its outer surface. The LED changes color and indicates air pollution levels in the surrounding area. The blue coloration of LED indicates air is of good quality and safe for health. Red coloration represents that the air around the Coway Airmega 400 Smart Air Purifier is of poor quality, has a high concentration of air pollutants, and is unhealthy.
When the air purifier detects poor air quality, it automatically begins to operate and clean the air.
Similarly, when the air in the surroundings of the Coway Airmega 400 Smart Air Purifier is purified, it automatically stops working. Usually, it takes 10 minutes or less to filter the entire air in a closed space.
The Coway Airmega 400 Smart Air Purifier does not make any noise when it is in use. The automatic system of operation helps users to save electricity bills. This air purifier works at a rate of 24960 cubic feet per hour. At 66W peak consumption, Coway is not the most energy-efficient device but is highly effective.
The Coway Airmega 400 Smart Air Purifier operates in three different modes. A user can select the desired mode by touching the touch screen, and touch sensors will detect the finger and work at the chosen mode. In addition, you can choose a time to stop the air purifier from working. The timer allows the user to turn off the air purifier automatically after every hour, four hours, or eight hours.
The maintenance is easy and simple. The model Coway Airmega 400 Smart Air Purifier has filter indicators that help users know when filters need cleaning and washing. The filters are easily washable and usually require cleaning after two weeks of use. However, the cleaning frequency can vary depending upon the pollution levels. Users can clean the vents and pollution sensors every two months with a dry cloth.
3. Austin Air HealthMate Plus Air Purifier
Austin Air HealthMate Plus Air Purifier has a metal casing, wheels, HEPA filters, lower maintenance requirements, and adsorbent materials. People looking for an efficient air purifier with the ability to remove the smallest possible particles from a 375 square foot room can use the Austin Air HealthMate Plus Air Purifier. It can purify air from a beauty salon, laundry room, laboratory, smoking zone, kitchen, vaping zone, or basement promptly.
Austin Air HealthMate Plus Air Purifier is well-designed to purify air via mechanical filtration technology using filters and cartridges. There are filters for different sizes. Air passes through all filters so that air can be purified with 99.97% efficiency and is free from particles of size above 0.3 microns.
Large particles are removed when air passes large particle pre-filters. Medium particle pre-filters remove medium-sized particles. Activated carbon filters have 15 pounds of impregnated carbon with zeolite and potassium iodide to purify the air by removing VOCs and odors. The ratio of impregnated carbon, potassium iodide, and zeolite is 10:1:1.
According to EPA, HEPA filters remove particles of size as small as 0.3 microns with 99.97% efficiency. The total surface area of HEPA filters on this air purifier is 60 square feet. The filters and cartridges clean the air at a rate of 250 cubic feet per minute. Air filters have a long life span of five years. But the life span reduces if the air purifier is placed in a heavily polluted space. The fan of the model Austin Air HealthMate Plus Air Purifier operates at three speeds and consumes 135-watt power on average.
The Austin Air HealthMate Plus Air Purifier is available for sale in four different colors and is designed to be of a suitable size. It has wheels that can move with ease on carpets, rugs, hardwood floors, and tiled floors. The fan speed is adjustable at the lowest, medium, or highest value. The user can turn on the knob to select the desired speed. Air enters from all directions into the Austin Air HealthMate Plus Air Purifier, and filtered air is released from a side outlet located at the top.
4. Oransi EJ120 Air Purifier
Oransi EJ120 air purifier boasts an excellent performance rating while also costing less than the Oransi Erik 650A before it. The improved performance rating is coupled with a whisper-quiet operation and granular activated carbon (GAC) filter. As a result, this setup is suitable for households and even small to medium-sized offices.
Having a similar design to the more expensive Oransi Erik 650A, the EJ120 design is minimalistic and highly functional. A compact build allows the air purifier to be super portable, and at 17″ height and 19″ width, it will fit comfortably into most spaces. Oransi also nailed it with the choice of color, as white can blend in with the background.
Oransi went back to the drawing board to get the EJ120 right; there is no intricate airflow. The air flows in from all the sides in a 360-degree fashion and is quietly let out through the top next to where the controls are.
The back of the air purifier houses the power cord input jack and the power button right next to it. Near the top, a convenient handle sits flush with the back casing and allows for easy handling.
Most gases, chemicals, and smoke are handled by 1″ Activated Carbon, which has 3.5 pounds of carbon to combat medium to strong VOCs, among other air pollutants.
The primary air purifying ‘True HEPA filter’ can filter the air at a microscopic level and stop most viruses, bacteria, mites, dust, and other allergens and tiny particles. At 3″, it is one of the thickest MERV17 grade filters offered at this price point. Thanks to this nifty combination, independent tests indicate that the EJ120 can handle 99.9% of Formaldehyde, all sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide in any closed space with ease. If you want stricter VOC control and want to take care of odors, you can swap out the True HEPA filter for two additional carbon ones.
With a 99.97% accuracy of particle filtering, the EJ120 ranks among the best air purifiers out there to handle VOCs with ease. In addition, both the filters have a life of up to 12 months, and while the carbon filter is cheaper than the True HEPA filter, changing the filters can be costly.
For particle filtration, Oransi EJ120 comes with a 3-inch deep MERV 17 grade HEPA filter, which is more efficient than True HEPA, as they claim.
5. EnviroKlenz Mobile Air System Air Purifier
EnviroKlenz Mobile Air System Air Purifier brings innovation and filtration together for the best results. EnviroKlenz Air Cartridge-based EnviroKlenz Mobile Air System is one of the best Air Purifiers out there as they deal with pollutants in a 2-step process.
Air enters the system through the top and makes its way towards the bottom vent to ensure maximum dust particles and gaseous elements are filtered. A 1″ thick EnviroKlenz Air Cartridge is responsible for keeping VOCs, cooking odors, and other harmful gases at bay. Activated carbon-based filters contain activated carbon that acts as an absorbent. Still, the EnviroKlenz Mobile Air System Air Purifier has an improved absorbent system that contains natural adsorbent materials, including:
- Magnesium Oxide (MgO),
- Zinc Oxide (ZnO), and
- Titanium Dioxide (TiO2).
These materials treat Formaldehyde, odors, VOCs, unwanted airborne gases, and unwanted chemicals by chemically neutralizing them. Activated carbon filters only absorb and can have the issue of off-gassing. On the other hand, these minerals chemically destroy the pollutants and leave no chance of any flue gases. The mineral-based pre-filter that treats VOCs, tobacco smoke, and other gaseous pollutants can last six months before needing a replacement.
After the pre-filter saves you from cigarette smoke and other gaseous pollutants, the air is pushed through the 4″ thick HEPA filter. It filters out all types of particulate pollutants, including pollen, pet dander, ultrafine dust, other fine particles, bacteria, and even viruses, with a 99.97% accuracy.
EnviroKlenz Air System Plus also employs an electronic filtration system in the form of two 9 watt UV bulbs. The bulbs are placed on the collection side of the filters allowing them to sterilize collected pollutants.
The lamps are mercury-based and produce 254 nanometers of UV light that is 99.99% effective against germs, viruses, and bacterial DNA. The life of the HEPA filter is also increased to 2 years, thanks to the constant UV exposure. The long filter life coupled with a durable powder-coated metal build makes the EnviroKlenz Air System a minimal maintenance air purifier. In addition, the air purifier can be moved around quickly thanks to the caster wheels making it an excellent VOC Air Purifier.
You can easily remove the back panel by removing the two thumbscrews to replace the filters or if the UV lights need replacement.
6. Okaysou Air Purifier AirMax8L
If you’re looking for an air purifier that can handle VOCs, odors, and won’t bother you in your sleep, then Okaysou AirMax8L is just the thing for you.
Okaysou AirMax8L air purifier incorporates a 5 stage mechanical filtration process to purify indoor air allowing it to filter out airborne particles and tackle any strong odor.
The Ultra and Duo filter combination on Okaysou Air Purifier is highly effective even for formaldehyde removal and can help limit the adverse health effects of bad air quality. The Ultra filters filter large-sized particles that have a size of as little as 0.3 microns. These include a true HEPA filter and a pre-filter net that has an antibacterial coating. The pre-filter traps larger ones while the True HEPA filter takes care of microparticles with a 99.97% accuracy. Although the Achilles heel of any filter is the growth of mold and other bacteria, the AirMax handles it with the help of an antibacterial coating on the pre-filter.
On the other hand, the Duo filters improve the quality of air by removing household odors, chemical gases, and other foul odors. The filters have an innovative honeycomb structured activated carbon filter with a specialized cold catalyst filter layer. Activated carbon absorbs VOCs, Formaldehyde and is perfect for unwanted gas removal from the air. In addition, the cold catalyst layer neutralizes gases like ammonia and VOCs. The filters are highly efficient and need replacement every 6 to 8 months, depending on the concentration level of airborne particulates and contaminants. Also, there is a universal filter reset display light for the filters, and a dedicated child lock mode that makes sure your settings are not tampered with.
The 22 decibels noise level makes the overall operation quiet and soothing. Despite the low fan noise, the Okaysou AirMax8L can quickly achieve 125 cubic feet per minute clean air delivery rate making it one of the best air cleaning machines. The air purifier can conveniently clean a 185 square feet room in under 15 minutes.
The Okaysou checks a lot of boxes and has CE, ETL, CARB, and FCC certifications. Moreover, it comes with a 5-year warranty, so your investment is safe.
7. Alen BreatheSmart Flex-Heavy-Smoke
Alen BreatheSmart is an innovative line of air purifiers from Alen. The Flex Heavy is capable and the most affordable of the BreatheSmart series.
Alen air purifiers are known for their durability and quality, and the Flex is no different. The high CADR rating on the Flex allows it to cover 700 sq ft room several times per hour while ensuring good quality of air, whatever the type of air you had before turning it on. In addition, the air purifier is one of the quietest air purifiers on the market, thanks to its quiet operation. Moreover, the addition of the light out mode completely turns off all the lights so you can enjoy a peaceful sleep.
Be it VOCs or odors, the Alen BreathSmart flex can handle it all and is a capable formaldehyde air purifier as well. In addition, there are options to set timers for 2, 4, or 12 hours and a dedicated filter replacement indicator that tells you when to replace the H13 HEPA filters.
The air purifier is extremely capable and has three different advanced activated carbon filters. These filters can absorb unpleasant odors, neutralize harmful gases, and remove VOCs from the air seamlessly. Even the smallest particles can’t get through the H13 HEPA filter.
The flex series offers three variations
- Pure – for light dust
- Light smoke – for light smoke and dust
- Heavy smoke – for heavy smoke, and can even handle wildfire smoke
Alen BreatheSmart’s Energy Star certification means that you don’t have to worry about the electricity costs as in sleep mode, it only consumes as low as 0.8 watts of electricity. Statistics place the BreathSmart Flex Heavy at under $1 per week cost point.
FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions
What are the disadvantages of an air purifier?
Air purifiers can become ineffective if not maintained properly. Annual filter replacements are the only downside of owning an air purifier because advanced filters can be costly to replace. If no corrective action is taken, the filters can accumulate bacteria and mold over time, worsening the air quality. Air purifiers usually have a maintenance indicator to alert the user if any maintenance is needed.
Are HEPA air purifier filters effective against VOCs?
No, HEPA filters are designed to capture large particles like dust mites, pet dander, and allergens. VOCs are gasses, and their particle size is 1000 times smaller than what the HEPA filters are designed to trap. VOCs are best filtered using highly porous activated carbon/activated charcoal filters.
Can HEPA air purifiers capture the coronavirus?
Yes. HEPA filters are not 100% efficient in capturing the coronavirus in just one passing, but the specialized placement of filters and configurations can help reduce the chance of infection significantly. Although there is little scientific evidence for the same, picking the right place and using the right purifier can help reduce the transmission.
Final Thoughts
Exposure to VOCs can have detrimental effects on health. Ample ventilation has helped keep them at bay in the past, but with high pollution levels out in the open, clean air delivery indoors is only possible with the help of a good air purifier. So, choosing the best air purifier for VOCs is more important than ever.
