Where Should I Place My Air Purifier – 9 Tips From Experts

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Location, location, location.

Finding the best place to put an air purifier will allow you to maximize the air cleaning properties of your air purifier with better results, higher energy efficiency and improved savings. 

Where is the best place to put an air purifier? Where should I place my air purifier? Many buyers have these questions after getting their air purifier but find that the information online is vague and usually inconsistent. Therefore, we created this guide by getting opinions and recommendations from established air purifier companies about the best place to put an air purifier. 

There was general consensus on some aspects but also some differing opinions on certain aspects of placement. We compiled them for you and ran our own analysis to come up with our verdict on where to place an air purifier. Read on to find out!

What Is The Best Room To Place An Air Purifier?

Closest To The Odor Source

Recommendation Source: Rabbit Air

Their rationale is that the closer the air purifier to the contaminant, the faster it will trap the particles that are causing you discomfort and grief. Therefore, if you have a neighbor who smokes, the best placement for an air purifier would be near the vent or the doorway where the odor is coming from.

Bedroom Or Areas With High Human Traffic

Recommendation Source: Alen Air

We spend about ⅓ of our lives sleeping and therefore the bedroom is one of the rooms we spend the most time in. Having the air purifier in the bedroom overnight will maximize the utilization and gives us the best value for our money. In addition, clean air during sleep will improve our sleep quality by reducing any rude awakenings from dust or odors. 

Another possible location would be rooms with high human traffic such as the living room. With high human traffic comes the possibility on increased air quality disruption. It is not uncommon for visitors to bring in contaminants such as pollen or animal hair into the home and the living room is the place where these contaminants congregate. Having an air purifier there would help to remove these particles and keep the air fresh and clean.

best room for air purifier

Our Verdict

Both camps have a lot of logic in their arguments but we don’t necessarily have to choose one over the other. Most air purifiers in the market now are fairly portable and can be transported easily between rooms. We can easily place them in the living room to combat the cigarette smoke and then bring it to the bedroom when it is night time. 

Should The Air Purifier Be Elevated Or On The Ground


Recommendation Source: Rabbit Air, Airfree

Keeping the air purifier in an elevated position not only prevents a tripping hazard but it also improves the cleaning efficiency by trapping airborne particles that are near the ceiling more effectively. They recommend elevating it 3 to 5 feet off the ground by placing it on a piece of furniture like a dresser.

On the Ground

Recommendation Source: Alen Air

Alen Air believes that placing the air purifier on the ground will improve the efficiency as the floor is where the dust resides. By placing the air purifier near the contaminant source, it can remove the contaminant (dust) faster and better with less difficulty. The video below demonstrates how dust accumulates at a low elevation and get drawn in by the air purifier.

Our Verdict 

It depends on what is the main contributor to your poor quality. If you are a pet owner struggling with fur on the floor or if you have just moved into an apartment that has been vacant and collecting dust for a while then floor placement is your best bet. However, if you are having issues with smoke or soot then you should place it on a raised surface to capture the airborne particles.

Distance From Walls And Furniture

Alen AirBlueairCoway
Recommended Distance From Walls Or Furniture1 foot4 inches8 inches 

All air purifiers require good air circulation around it to maximize the air cleansing properties of the machines. There is usually an inlet for air to enter and get purified through the different filters before being released back into the room via the air outlet. By placing it in a corner or behind an obstruction will reduce the airflow significantly and cause a drop in its performances. By giving it a clear berth of space all round, an air purifier can pull in air from all directions and work at maximum efficiency.

Our Verdict

We shall seek middle ground here and also recommend that an air purifier be placed about 8 inches away from walls and furniture. However, if you live in a tight space, you can possibly go as low as 4 inches away. 

Distance From  Electronic Appliances

Recommended distance from electronic appliances80 inches12 – 18 inches

These air purifiers manufacturers have recommended a safety distance between their air purifiers and other electronic appliances. This is because the electromagnetic interferences from certain electronics may cause product malfunction in the air purifier. The most common culprits in the home are the TV, radio and microwave. 

Our Verdict

Do not be too alarmed by this recommendation. Electromagnetic interferences (EMI) are rare in the present day due to the many EMI regulations set in place by the relevant authorities. However, to prevent any disruption to the performance of the air purifier, it would be wise to follow the recommendation and place the air purifier at least 12 inches away from any electronics.

distance between air purifier and other objects

Shutting The Windows And Doors

All the air purifier companies we asked agreed that using the air purifier in an enclosed room with the windows and doors closed is the most efficient way to use the air purifier. Keeping the windows and doors closed prevents unclear air from continuously entering the room with the air purifier. Furthermore, this also prevents the sterilized air from leaving the room easily. 

Besides improving the efficiency of the air purifier, this practice also extends the shelf life of the air filters as they get less dirty less often. With some air purifiers that also function as a cooler, this helps to maintain the room at a cool and comfortable temperature for the user. 

Our Verdict

When all the companies agree on something, there must be some truth in it. We also agree that keeping the windows and doors closed while running the air purifier is a wise decision. It improves both air cleaning efficiency and also energy efficiency giving the user better air quality and improved savings.

Avoid Humid Areas And Running Together With A Humidifier

Our experts from Levoit and Winix cautioned against operating a humidifier and an air purifier concurrently in the same room as the mist from the humidifier may get caught in the filter of the air purifier. The moisture from the mist coupled with the residues in the filter may become a breeding ground for mold and fungi if the filter is not maintained regularly. 

Our Verdict

It may sometimes be essential to run these two machines simultaneously due to climate issues. In these situations, it is recommended that these two units be placed at opposite sides of the room with a minimum of 10 feet from each other.

avoid running humidifier and air purifier together

Avoid Direct Sunlight

This probably refers to most other electronic appliances as well as exposure to direct sunlight would reduce the shelf life of these appliances by causing overheating and damaging the components of the appliance. However, the air purifier gets a special mention here as most companies recommend to run the air purifier continuously throughout the day. Therefore, the air purifier has a much higher probability of overheating if placed in direct sunlight.

Our Verdict

This recommendation is definitely spot on. Most electronics don’t do well in direct sunlight. Install away from direct sunlight to get the most out of your air purifier.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: If I place my air purifier in the connecting hallway, will it clean the air in the rooms that connect to the hallway?

A: No. Air purifiers clean the air by creating a current within a room and air circulated around a single room very easily. But an air purifier is not able to create an air current to travel down a hallway, into rooms and then back into the air purifier.

Q: My air purifier sometimes makes abnormal noises with vibrations. What are the possible reasons?

A: Check that your air purifier is not on a flimsy or slanted surface as the vibrations may be the air purifier moving along the unstable surface. The air purifier should always be placed on a firm and flat surface.

Q: Can I place my air purifier near my space heater?

A: No. Air purifiers should not be placed near sources of heat such as space heaters, radiators, fireplaces or ovens. This causes overheating which will damage the air purifier. Some air purifiers will shut off automatically when it overheats.

Q: Can I place my air purifier outdoors?

A: Air purifiers are meant for indoor use only. They are ineffective outdoors as they will never be able to clean the amount of air outdoors.

Q: Should I Sleep With Air Purifier on?

A: Yes you should! Air purifier removes dust particles, pollen, mold, dander from the air and keeps you from feeling the effects of these potential allergens. With that, you can sleep in peace and wake up feeling refreshed.

Q: Does Air Purifier Make Air Dry?

A: No. Air purifier is unable to remove moisture from the air at all. Therefore it cannot dry up the air. Watch out for other possible reasons that might dry out the air such as a strong fan nearby. If low humidity is an issue, consider getting a humidifier.

Q: Will an air purifier make my house smell better?

A: Yes but not all air purifiers can do that. You will need an air purifier that has a activated carbon filter to remove odor.

Wrapping It Up

The localization of an air purifier relies on a few general principles but the exact best location is still down to the individual needs of the user. With the information in this guide, you should be able to make your own informed decision based on the air cleaning needs in your home.

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