Best Air Purifiers for 800 Square Feet 2023

Air quality worldwide has been experiencing a downward trend, and active air-cleaning devices are at an all-time high. But do you need to use an air purifier or active air purification if you have a large room, say 800 sq. ft.?

Air purifiers are nifty little devices that can easily handle most airborne contaminants, ensuring you breathe in clean, harmless air free from allergens.

But do you need a purifier for an 800 sq. ft. room, or is the HVAC system enough?

The simple answer is yes; you might need a dedicated air purifier for your indoor space even if you have a shared HVAC system in the building. Age-old HVAC systems do not have advanced purification capabilities like modern air purifiers. Moreover, the central filters are not cleaned or maintained properly, making the system more of a hazard than a blessing.

We’ve tested a ton of air purifiers but air purifiers for large spaces like 800 sq. ft. need to have certain qualities that air purifiers for small spaces just lack. We’ve prepared a shortlist of the best air purifiers for 800 sq. ft. space and discussed everything you need to know below.

Do I Need an Air Purifier for 800 sq Ft?

Yes, having an air purifier for any space will improve indoor air quality, ensuring you’re safe from allergy flare-ups and problems like a stuffy nose. A centralized HVAC filter doesn’t provide the same level of safety as a dedicated air purifier can.

800 sq. ft. space is a big area that needs active purification using advanced filters that good air purifiers feature. If you live in an area where the AQI stays under 10, you might only need an air purifier under the following circumstances.

• Dusty nearby neighborhood
• Fine materials being released into the air near your place
• Odors and dangerous VOCs being used around the space (nail salons)
• Wildfire/bushfire area nearby
• The high Pollen count in the area

3 Best Air Purifiers for 800 Square Feet (Comparison Table)

Need to make a quick decision? Our brief comparison table is enough for you to make the right decision within seconds. However, if you are a picky buyer like us, we completely understand, and this is why we have penned down our first hands-on experience to make your journey smooth and hassle-free.

1. Best Medical Grade Air Purifier: Medify MA-40 Air Purifier

Medify has been producing some of the best air purifiers for quite some time now, and the MA40 is no different. When testing it in the lab, we found the MA40 to be as capable as its other medical-grade siblings.

The purifier brings the same 4 stage filtration as the other Medify MA series purifiers in a tried and tested tower design that is both sturdy and durable. There is nothing too much exciting or extraordinary about the design or the choice of materials. Still, Medify has gone with the saying, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, ” which is working very well for the manufacturer.

Design and Aesthetics

Available in both a black or all-white finish, the MA40 is tall at 22 inches and about 10 inches wide. The front plate is hallowed to allow the air to flow in and through the filters. The boxy design might not be for everyone, but it works flawlessly and helps improve the purifier’s efficiency.

Up top are the glass-covered controls that help make it a bit scratch-resistant. The touch panel also adds to the overall look and feel of the purifier. Even the air quality sensor is nicely tucked under glass protection.

Filtration

Our testing got us an average CADR of 223, meaning it could easily replace the air in an 800 sq. ft. space at least once. But expecting more than 2 air changes per hour would be a stretch.

The purification starts with the Prefilter. Here’s what all the filters bring to the purifier:

Pre Filter

A pre-filter traps large particles like pet hair, human hair, and big dust specks.

True HEPA Filter

The True HEPA filter is graded H13, brings medical-grade protection against microbes and can trap tiny particles as little as 0.3 microns.

Activated Carbon Filter

The Activated carbon filter helps deal with odors and dangerous organic compounds that one might find around medicines or in salons. The activated carbon filter can handle pet odors, or diaper smells most easily.

Ionizer

You can always turn the ionizer off, of course, but during our testing, we found it to be capable, and it helped reduce the number of airborne particles.

Throughout our testing, the air purifier cycled the air in an 800 sq. ft. setting at least once but got a bit too noisy for our liking at the peak settings.

In-depth Review: Medify MA-40 Air Purifier

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2. Best Value: Alen BreatheSmart 45i

Testing a long list of air purifiers day in and day out sets the bar a tad bit too high for the average air purifier, but one of the air purifiers that withstood the test of time while packing all the necessary bells and whistles is the BreatheSmart 45i.

The BreatheSmart series of air purifiers has impressed us, and the 45i is no different as it packs the necessary tech and purification prowess that you’d expect from a large space air purifier.

The whole design is a treat for the eyes as it drifts away from the conventional air purifier look and feels. The design is futuristic and at the first sight, most of our visitors thought it to be some kind of an advanced gadget (which it is).

Design and Aesthetics

We loved the design of the BreatheSmart 45i. In our opinion, it’s the right mix of appealing and discreet, just like an air purifier should be. The front side is plain without any vents or touch panels giving it a very polished look that is hard to beat.

The front panel is offered in various colors, or if you have a minimalist approach to design, little can go wrong with the white and wooden texture. We commended the aesthetic appeal, but the 25 x 15 x 8.5-inch dimensions can prove too much for some people, especially those who want a tabletop air purifier.

The touch panel up top also adds to the overall design as it isn’t too flashy or distracting that you would find your eye drifting towards the LED indicators on some air purifiers. The level of attention to detail is quite impressive.

At almost 9 inches deep, it isn’t the most compact air purifier out there (something Alen could’ve worked on), but the minimal noise and sturdy feel more than make up for it.

Filtration

With a CADR of 245, the BreatheSmart 45i ranks among the best air purifiers out there, and during our testing, we found out that it lives up to the claims that Alen makes about their air purifier.

The manufacturer offers different variations for their all-in-one air filter so that the user can opt for the most appropriate one depending on their living setting.

You can choose between:

Pure Filter

A True HEPA filter infused with antibacterial properties. The HEPA makes it excellent against most airborne contaminants, while the antibacterial coating protects you from most microbes.

Fresh Filter

A True HEPA filter with the antibacterial prowess of the pure filter while also bringing added protection against smoke, cooking odors, and dangerous gas emissions.

OdorCell Filter

The OdorCell Filter brings a True HEPA filter paired with an odor neutralizer. The filter can easily handle airborne contaminants and can even easily neutralize pets, babies, or any other odor.

Heavy Smoke Filter

The Heavy Smoke Filter is the ultimate filter that takes no chances. Two pounds of activated carbon is infused with True HEPA and antibacterial properties to provide the best protection against contaminants, microbes, and VOCs.

During our time with the air purifier, we found it sufficient for 800 square feet and below and easily got at least two air changes an hour at the highest setting at about 800 sq. ft. of space.

The advanced sensors on the BreatheSmart 45i monitor the air quality in the vicinity and control the fan speed accordingly. The LED indicator up top indicates the ambient air quality. During our testing, we calculated that the air filter would require yearly replacement.

The BreatheSmart 45i also offers an optional ionizer that releases negative ions that latch onto the contaminants making them too heavy to stay airborne. While the feature has mixed opinions from the masses, we found it to be thoroughly effective and add to the efficiency of the HEPA filter.

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3. Best Style: RabbitAir MinusA2 SPA-780A

As hundreds of air purifiers go through the test lab, even we grow tired of certain air purifiers’ monotonous look and feel. Testing a long list of air purifiers day in and day out sets the bar a tad bit too high for the average air purifier, but one of the air purifiers that withstood the test of time while packing all the necessary bells and whistles is the BreatheSmart 45i.

The BreatheSmart series of air purifiers has impressed us, and the 45i is no different as it packs the necessary tech and purification prowess that you’d expect from a large space air purifier.

The whole design is a treat for the eyes as it drifts away from the conventional air purifier look and feels. The design is futuristic, and at first sight, most of our visitors thought it to be some advanced gadget (which it is).

Design and Aesthetics

Even at first sight, the Rabbit Air MinusA2 stands out. We found it to be one of the unique air purifiers we have tested, as it has a sleek wall mount design that will add a futuristic touch to any indoor space.

The mixture of black and white metal gives it a very attractive look, and all the control buttons are laid out on the right-hand side in a columnar fashion. The flat square design allows the air purifier to pull in air through the vents that go around the air purifier and reduces the amount of work the fan has to put in to pull the air in.

The front panel can also be decorated with a replica of some of the most popular artworks around the globe, making it look like a painting on the wall. The overall design is flat and elegant and measures about 21 inches wide and 19 inches high.

The dimming of lights as the surroundings dim and the front screen all look extremely aesthetic.

Filtration

The Rabbit Air Minus A2 boasts an average CADR of 200, which isn’t much but gets the job done. The CADR numbers are acceptable with an air purifier with such a sleek profile. The magic happens with the unique six-stage filtration system.

Like other high-end purifiers, Rabbit Air also offers different variants of its filters that will help keep specialized kinds of allergens away. Users can choose Germ Defense, Pet Allergy, Odor Remover, or Toxin Absorber as their customizable filter.

Apart from the specialized customizable filter, there are 5 more stages of filtration. We tested the purifier and found it extremely well-adapted to all kinds of airborne contaminants.

Pre-filter

The first filter the air is forced through is the prefilter that traps most large particles like dust specks and pet hair. The washable build ensures that the more sensitive filters that follow are not rendered useless before time.

Medium Filter

The medium filter traps finer particles that pass through the prefilter, including pet dander, mold particles, and even pollen.

Advanced BioGS HEPA Filter

The advanced BioGS HEPA filter traps particles down to a size of 0.3 microns with an accuracy of 99.97%. Throughout our testing, it was during this stage that most contaminants like fungi, fine pollen, and any other microbes were successfully removed.

Customized Filter

With the unique card that Rabbit Air introduced, the customized filter allows you to choose between Germ Defense, Pet Allergy, Odor Remover, or Toxin Absorber.

Activated Carbon Filter

Like in any other air purifier, the activated carbon filter helps remove odors, persistent smoke/cooking smells, and even dangerous organic compounds like VOCs.

Ion Generator

The ion generator isn’t a very popular choice because of the misunderstanding some people have regarding them; hence, Rabbit Air has made it an optional stage that can be easily turned off.

The ion generator releases negative ions into the air that cause heavy airborne contaminants to become too heavy to stay airborne. This results in additional dust over indoor surfaces during the initial few days of usage but helps improve the overall air quality.

Throughout our testing, the purifier conveniently operated at a CADR of 200, ensuring 2 air changes per hour in a 300 sq. ft. space. That rating is not up to the same standards the other manufacturers set.

Although Rabbit Air suggests this purifier can conveniently clean 800 sq. ft. of space multiple times an hour, our testing reported otherwise and we believe it will cycle the air through it between 1 and 2 times.

Other than the difference of opinion regarding space coverage, the Rabbit Air MinusA2 has all the bells and whistles that make it an advanced air purifier. Advanced sensors that trigger the fan speed as soon as contaminants are detected, auto night mode, wifi connectivity, and a long filter life all make it an excellent choice if you’re in the market for a whole-room air purifier.

The filters require replacements every 2 years, thanks to the multiple layers that reduce the wear and tear on each individual layer.

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Frequently Asked Questions – FAQs

Will a small air purifier work in a large room?

Not really. A small room air purifier will keep working round the clock at the highest settings as it does not have enough power to clean a room of a large size. Operating at peak settings increases wear and tear and clogs the filters faster.

Can I use a whole-house air purifier for an 800 sq. ft. room?

Yes, a whole-house air purifier that covers a large space will be more than sufficient for 800 sq. ft., but it can be costly. You can save hundreds of dollars by opting for the right size air purifier.

Is it better to have two smaller air purifiers or a big one?

It is recommended to use separate air purifiers for different rooms. This is because different rooms can have different kinds of contaminants, and choosing an air purifier that works in all places means you might be risking reducing the air filter’s life. An air purifier for cooking smells is not as effective against mold particles and vice versa.

Takeaways

Air purifiers have become necessary, and rightly so, as the air quality everywhere is experiencing a downward trend. For a space as big as 800 sq. ft., we suggest using an air purifier even if you have an HVAC system.

While HVAC systems can have a dedicated filter that is meant to keep the components of the HVAC safe from dust and grime to ensure optimal operation, air purifier filters, on the other hand,, remove airborne contaminants, as explained.

We hope our review of the top 3 air purifiers for 800 sq. ft. of space helped you decide. All 3 bring something unique to the table and will improve indoor air quality in no time.