Best air purifier for mold control in homes and businesses

More and more consumers are turning to an air purifier for mold to combat poor indoor air quality. Recent studies confirm that approximately 70% of homes have a mold issue of some sort. While this often goes unnoticed and without harming people or animals, some mold spores are toxic to humans and pets. 

In addition to removing airborne mold spores, air purifiers designed for mold are also effective against many other airborne contaminants. So, there’s benefits to an air purifier for mold beyond the specific threat of black mold or a persistent mold problem. 

Recommended air purifiers for mold

Best Overall | Small Room | Medium/Large Room | Extra-large Room | Medical Grade Air Purifier

Best Overall: AirDoctor Air Purifiers

One of the longer-term and most respected players in the air purifier world, AirDoctor has found a way to be effective while maintaining simplicity. They have four air purifier models, and each has been tested to remove mold spores as well as other airborne contaminants including viruses and even COVID-19.

Best Air Purifier for. Mold
Top recommended air purifier for mold models: AirDoctor air purifiers

Each AirDoctor air purifier includes an air quality sensor that allows use of an automatic mode which adjusts the unit’s air flow based on the current air quality indoors. Each unit also has a visible air quality indicator atop the unit. We recommend air purifiers have an air quality sensor, automatic operation and a visible air quality indicator which every AirDoctor air purifier has.

Cleaner air for rooms of all sizes

The air purifiers AirDoctor sells are the 1000, 2000, 3000 and 5000. As far as their capability to trap mold spores, dust, pet dander and other microscopic organisms they all share the same level of effectiveness. Choosing the right air purifier is based on the square feet of indoor air you want to purify. The 1000 model is for small rooms, the 2000 for medium-sized rooms, the 3000 is for large rooms and the 5000 is designed for very large rooms.

Tip: We have found that you can shave hundreds on AirDoctor air purifiers by purchasing directly from AirDoctor when compared to what Amazon charges for the same model.

All AirDoctor air purifiers have an activated carbon filter which removes odors from the air. That means they’re not only a good choice for removing airborne mold in bedrooms, living rooms and family rooms, they’re also great for kitchens and dining rooms too, where they eliminate odors.

Ease of use

While most new air purifier models have pivoted to Smart air purifiers which are setup and controlled with a mobile phone app, AirDoctor has kept things simple. Controls are located on the top of each unit. While some prefer a so-called “Smart air purifier,” we believe many choose AirDoctor air purifiers specifically because they are so easy to use.

AirDoctor model chart

1000200030004000
ManufacturerAirDoctorAirDoctorAirDoctorAirDoctor
ModelAD1000AD2000AD3000AD4000
Room Size (4 ACH)285 sq. ft.305 sq. ft.638 sq. ft.1,001 sq. ft.
CADR (Smoke)152 CFM162 CFM340 CFM534 CFM
Pre-FilterYesYesYesYes
HEPA FilterYesYesYesYes
VOC/Carbon FilterYesYesYesYes
Captures Mold SporesYesYesYesYes
PM 2.5 MonitorYesYesYesYes
Air Quality IndicatorYesYesYesYes
Auto ModeYesYesYesYes
Fan Speeds4446
ColorWhiteWhiteWhiteWhite
Energy Star CertifiedYesYesYesYes
AirDoctor Air Purifier Model Comparison Chart

Editor’s note: We recommend AirDoctor air purifiers for mold as well as general indoor air quality. AirDoctor air purifiers are also a great value when compared with the competition.

While the air purifiers above handle the lion’s share of home and office needs, we’ve also included a number of other air purifiers below which are also great at handling mold. 


Best air purifier for small rooms: Blueair Blue Pure 411 Auto air purifier

Best Small Air Purifier for Mold

The Blueair Blue Pure 411 Auto is a PM 2.5 air purifier for mold which is recommended for rooms up to 190 sq. ft. It has three levels of filtration: a washable fabric pre-filter, main filter and an activated carbon filter to handle odors from cooking, smoke and pets. 

Quiet operation

Compared with its peers, we found this to also be one of the quietest air purifiers you can buy. Using what Blueair calls HEPASilent technology, the unit can operate from a high of 48 dBA all the way down to a whisper-quiet 18 dBA. This is possible by way of electrostatic particle charging combined with traditional mechanical filtration.

Beyond mold spores

Beyond being tested for effectiveness at removing mold spores, the 411 Auto has also been tested on SARS-COV-2 (COVID-19) and found to remove 99.99% of the airborne virus.

The onboard particle sensor allows for automatic operation, and a LED indicator provides a visual air quality status on the unit. This is another air purifier which is simple to use with a 4 modes: Auto, and 3 fan speed settings. 

Choose this air purifier if: You are looking for a very quiet, small room air purifier for mold without Smart features at a reasonable price. 

  • Recommended room size: 190 sq. ft. (max)
  • CADR: 96 CFM (pollen), 107 CFM (dust), 123 CFM (smoke)
  • Filtration: Washable pre-filter, Main filter, Activated carbon filter
  • Air filters: 2
  • Best use: Air purification in small rooms including control of mold, dust, pollen, pet dander, bacteria, viruses, dust mites, VOCs, smoke and cooking odors
  • Smart/App operation: No
  • PM 2.5 Monitor: Yes
  • Air quality indicator: Yes
  • Fan speeds: 3 
  • Dimensions/weight: 16.7″ x 7.9″ x 7.9″ / 3.8 lbs.
  • Energy Star Certified: Yes
  • Warranty: 2 years (with registration) 

Best air purifier for medium and large rooms: Coway Airmega 400/400S 

Coway Airmega 400 and 400S Air Purifiers

The Coway Airmega 400 and 400S models are an excellent choice for use in medium and large sized rooms. They both have 3-stage filtration system, coined the Max2 filter system, which is adept at capturing airborne mold spores. 

The difference in the two Coway units is that the S model is a Smart air purifier. This means the 400S model can be controlled by voice and with a mobile phone app.

We think this was a clever approach as Smart features are a polarizing feature which varies by age and tech-savvy. Beyond Smart features, both Coway Airmega 400 models are the same size and weight, and service the same square footage.

Tip: Although Coway’s literature states that each 400 model is good for up-to 1,560 square feet, that rating is at 2 air changes per hour (ACH). We recommend you instead make your purchase based on 4 ACH which rates both Airmega 400 models at 780 square feet. 

Choose this air purifier if: If your budget allows spending a bit more, and you are looking for a mold-capable air purifier that performs well and also has a more stylish design.

  • Recommended room size: 780 sq. ft. (max) (4 ACH)
  • CADR: 400 CFM (pollen), 328 CFM (dust), 328 CFM (smoke) 
  • Filtration: Pre-filter, HEPA filter, carbon filter
  • Air filters: 2
  • Best use: Controlling mold and other common particulates as well as VOC compounds (Volatile Organic Compounds) and fumes including NH3 and CH3CHO.
  • Smart/App operation: Yes (400S model)
  • PM 2.5 Monitor: Yes
  • Air quality indicator: Yes
  • Fan speeds: 4 
  • Dimensions/weight: 14.9″ x 14.8″ x 22.8″ / 24.4 lbs.
  • Energy Star Certified: No
  • Warranty: 5 years 

Best air purifier for extra large rooms an Businesses: Medify Air MA-125

For extra large rooms in homes, schools, doctors offices and other businesses we recommend the Medify Air MA-125. This air purifier handles mold spores as well as just about any other airborne particles one can think of.

This air purifier is capable of treating the largest area by square footage.

At our preferred 4 ACH (air changes per hour) the MA-125 is capable or removing mold spores in rooms up to an astonishing 1,250 square feet. In addition to it’s 3-stage air purification which features a True HEPA filter, the unit also has optional UV light filtration.

Choose this air purifier if: You are looking to control mold and other allergens and irritants in large spaces, especially schools, doctors offices and other businesses.

  • Recommended room size: up-to 1,250 sq. ft. (4 ACH)
  • CADR: 559 CFM (average for pollen, smoke and dust)
  • Filtration: Pre-filter, True HEPA filter, Carbon filter, UV light filter
  • Air filters: 3
  • Best use: Extra large rooms as an air purifier for mold, dust, pollen virus, bacteria, odors and smoke
  • Smart/App operation: No
  • PM 2.5 Monitor: Yes
  • Air quality indicator: Yes
  • Fan speeds: 9 
  • Dimensions/weight: 16.6″ x 15.7″ x 23.4″ / 32 lbs.
  • Colors: Black, White
  • Energy Star Certified: Yes
  • Warranty: Lifetime*

Tip: Use the coupon code FAIRERAIR15 to get $15 off your purchase at Medify Air.

* Lifetime warranty requires using genuine filters at the manufacturer recommended replacement schedule (see website).


Best medical grade air purifier: IQAir HealthPro Plus

Medical Grade Air Purifier

The most modern looking air purifier as well as the most capable is also the most expensive, making the IQAir HealthPro Plus only for certain buyers. This air purifier goes far beyond the capability of any other air purifier we’ve mentioned thus far. 

Marketed as a medical-grade air purifier, the HealthPro Plus has a Medical Grade H14 HyperHEPA filter. Beyond capturing mold spores, bacteria, dust, pollen, pet dander and smoke, it is also effective against harmful chemicals including formaldehyde and other VOCs.

The IQAir HealthPro Plus can do all this because its filtration system goes far beyond True HEPA, trapping particles as small as 0.003 microns! At that size, it is capable of trapping particles that are 10x smaller than viruses.

While pricey, it is worth noting that IQAir air purifiers cary a 10 year warranty.

Choose this air purifier if: We recommend this air purifier for homes and businesses where air quality needs to be at the highest possible level.

  • Recommended room size: 1,125 sq. ft.
  • Filtration: Pre filter, V5 Cell Filter (for gases), HyperHEPA
  • Air filters: 3
  • Best use: this, that, the other
  • Smart/App operation: No
  • PM 2.5 Monitor: Yes
  • Air quality indicator: Yes
  • Fan speeds: 6 
  • Dimensions/weight: 28″ x 15″ x 16″ / 35 lbs.
  • Energy Star Certified: No
  • Warranty: 10 years 

Methods air purifiers use to provide cleaner air

Filter types 

  • Pre-filters – Pre-filters capture the larger particles before they have a chance to reach the HEPA filter. This extends the life of the HEPA filter by preventing it from being clogged or damaged by larger particles. Many units have a washable pre-filter which further extends its life.
  • HEPA filters – HEPA stands for “high efficiency particulate air” filter. HEPA filters can remove at least 99.97% of bacteria, dust, mold spores and other airborne contaminants with a size of 0.3 microns, or µm. They are often branded as a true HEPA filter.
  • Activated carbon filters – An activated carbon filter is designed to remove odors, further improving indoor air quality. Another name for the same type of filter is an activated charcoal filter.

UV light

Another less-common method air purification method is UV-C light. When used in HVAC systems, UV, or ultraviolet light, is used to control microbial growth. In air purifiers UV-C light is used to kill airborne mold and mildew. Most air purifiers do not have UV-C light.

Risk of prolonged exposure to black mold

Disclaimer: Nothing in this article, or on this website, should be considered medically sound. We are not doctors. If you or someone you know is suffering from what you believe to be black mold exposure or any other condition, please seek professional medical advice. 

Among the various types of molds there is a set which release mycotoxins. Mycotoxins are toxic chemical substances. Among the many types of mycotoxins are six which are known to be toxic to living cells, or cytotoxic.

Mycotoxicosis

The toxic effect on human health produced by mycotoxins is called mycotoxicosis. Humans and animals experience mycotoxicosis in different ways depending on the type of mold, level of exposure, and the individual’s health. Most symptoms are similar to an allergic reaction.

Prolonged exposure to black mold can be extremely dangerous. There are many documented negative health effects, mostly targeting the respiratory system. Most symptoms are similar to allergy symptoms and often include flu-like symptoms such as:

  • Coughing
  • Headaches
  • Itchy eyes
  • Nasal congestion
  • Wheezing

While there is no definitive evidence that draws a precise line between black mold and health issues, various media sources use the term ‘toxic mold syndrome’ to cover a long list of symptoms that individual exposed to black mold for long periods of time seem to share.

There are, however, people who are people who have a mold allergy. And, those who have a compromised immune system can have extreme, even life-threatening episodes due to mold exposure. People who suffer from asthma attacks should also be wary of mold issues.

While these are common symptoms, there are many more acute and extreme symptoms. 

What to look for when buying air purifiers for mold

First, not all air purifiers are designed to handle indoor mold. At the very least, the best air purifiers have a HEPA filter which is required to trap mold spores. But, just having a HEPA filter isn’t necessarily the entire picture. When looking for an air purifier for mold, take the following into account:

  • Recommended room size / coverage area – All air purifiers have a recommended room size provided by the manufacturer. Some also carry an Energy Star certification which also provides a suggested coverage area based on a number of factors.
  • Clean Air Delivery Rate – Clean Air Delivery Rate, or CADR, is a way of gauging the performance of air purifiers. The higher the Clean Air Delivery Rate, the better the unit’s ability to purify indoor air.
  • Filter types – Whether one, two or three discrete filters, a good air purifier for mold will have (at the least) pre-filters and HEPA filters. A HEPA filter is required to capture the airborne mold particles. Activated carbon filters are not required but are often included as they aid in removing odor from the air.
  • Filter life, cost and maintenance – The filters used by air purifiers which adept at handling mold are often pricey. Check the lifespan of the filters an air purifier needs as well as what maintenance extends filter life.
  • UV Light – While UV lights are not required for mold removal they can provide an additional level of filtration that targets mold as well as other airborne bacteria and organic material. 
  • PM 2.5 monitor – Many air purifiers include a particulate monitor, and more specifically, a particulate monitor that can measure microscopic particles as small as 2.5 micrometers. Particles less than 10 micrometers can get into the lungs and in some cases even into the bloodstream. PM 2.5 particles are even finer particles, roughly 3% the width of a human hair. 
  • Automatic mode – Air purifiers with an automatic mode leverage a PM 2.5 monitor to automatically adjust an air purifier’s fan speed based upon changing air conditions.
  • Smart features – Smart features in air purifiers generally mean monitoring and control using a mobile phone app or web browser. These features can include indoor air quality indicators, advanced scheduling and even tell you when it’s time for a filter change. While some enjoy Smart features, others prefer air purifiers which are simpler to use with straightforward controls and no need for WiFi connectivity.
  • Portable – If you plan on moving the air purifier from room to room, look for a model that is either light or has handles and/or wheels to more easily move it around.
  • Energy efficiency – Since air purifiers are often run continuously, look for models that are energy efficient.
  • Brand and warranty – As with any purchase, choosing a reputable air purifier brand and an air purifer with a long, comprehensive warranty is always recommended. 

When to choose an air scrubber over an air purifier for mold

Both air purifiers and air scrubbers have a role in removing mold spores from a home or office. Air scrubbers and air purifiers work by drawing air by a series of filters to remove airborne particles before returning it to a room. But, each is designed with a specific use in mind.

Air scrubbers

Air scrubbers are specialized equipment used by professionals for mold remediation when there is a widespread mold problem. This level of equipment is necessary when a large infestation of mold has been discovered and clean-up needs to be performed before it is safe for humans and animals to inhabit a space.

They are loud and built for the abuse of constant, daily usage, and look the part.

HEPA air purifiers for mold

Air purifiers are consumer devices used to improve indoor air quality. Some air purifiers are designed to handle mold spores by using HEPA filters and other techniques including UV light. They are often referred to as HEPA air purifiers as HEPA filtration is required for mold removal.

An air purifier for mold looks like any other air purifier, and looks at home in a residential or business setting. While fine for daily use in a home or business, a HEPA air purifier for mold wouldn’t be effective at commercial mold removal.