5 Best Air Purifier and Humidifier Combo Units of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

In extensive Lab tests, the Dyson was incredibly effective at cleaning the air and it also does a superb job maintaining ideal relative humidity. "You're paying a premium for the performance, but this Dyson is the best of the best when it comes to multitaskers," says DiClerico.

The superb air cleaning is a result of its True HEPA filtration (a must for air purifiers we recommend), which can remove particles down to 0.3 microns in size. In our Lab tests, the Dyson had no trouble reducing PM2.5 and PM10 particles by more than 95% in just 30 minutes. PM stands for particulate matter, and the number that follows is a measure of the particle's diameter in microns. PM2.5 and PM10 particles have the potential to enter airways and even the bloodstream, causing adverse health effects.

We also found this purifier to be the best of the ones we've tested at reducing air formaldehyde concentrations — in half an hour, it removed 75% of the formaldehyde in our test chamber. This combo unit is compatible with the Dyson app, providing real-time analysis of the different types of air pollutants present, and allowing for easy remote control of the fans, humidifier component and timer settings.

When it comes to adding moisture back into the air, the Dyson also excelled. Its gallon-sized humidifier tank is able to provide moisture for up to 36 hours. Choose between auto mode, which monitors moisture levels for you, or manual mode, which is useful when you want to add a quick infusion of moisture into the air, say, on a cold winter night before going to bed.

All of this functionality comes with a hefty price tag, not including the $80 filter replacements and $30 cleaning kits, which will be needed to keep the machine running smoothly, so this purifier may not be for everyone. It's also fairly large. That said, if you're looking for peak performance and all the bells and whistles, go for the Dyson.

While you can spend top dollar on a powerful two-in-one unit, you don't have to. That's what our experts like about this Afloia. "It's very well priced, plus its compact housing makes it a great fit for tight spaces, like a small bedroom or home office," says DiClerico.

The unit features a multi-stage HEPA filter, which is designed to remove 99.97% of particles that are 0.3 microns in diameter or larger. Its activated carbon filter, meanwhile. helps adsorb bad-smelling particles in the air that the HEPA filter doesn't catch.

While we didn't test this unit in our Lab, we were impressed with its modular design. The humidifier sits atop the purifier component when in use and can be removed and stored when not needed. Standing under 2 feet tall, this unit is smaller than other picks on our list, and the manufacturer claims whisper-quiet operation at only 24dB. Some reviewers noted that the machine isn't as durable as they'd like, and remarked that the plastic felt cheap, but for the price we can't complain.

This unit packs five types of filters into its relatively compact housing to combat an array of air pollutants. While we haven't tested this model in the Lab, our engineers were impressed with its specs: Of the unit's five filters, there are two True HEPA filters that can each capture particles down to 0.3 microns in size. For allergy sufferers, this could be a game changer as the additional filtration component can help further reduce air pollen and allergen content. There's also an on-unit indicator light that shows you how the air quality stacks up in real time and functions like an auto-off setting that can save energy and money.

While we love the auto-humidification feature that adjusts the humidifier's output based on the room's humidity levels, we wish the humidifier component was a bit more robust. It disburses water into the air at a maximum rate of 350 mL per hour so those living in dryer climates or requiring more intensive humidification may want to check out other units on this list, or consider a stand-alone humidifier.

Air purifier-humidifier combos on the market that are rated for large spaces are hard to come by. This model from Sharp is the exception, effective in rooms up to 2,603 square feet. The unit includes both a True HEPA and activated carbon filter as well as a 0.53 gallon reservoir for effective purification and humidification. "It's also fully featured," says DiClerico, "including a weekly scheduler available in the companion app, additional app-only programming and Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa control."

One important caveat: This purifier-humidifier combo is defaulted to have its ionization turned on, a feature we strongly recommend turning off before operating. While this unit has had third-party testing to ensure its ionizer doesn't release more ozone (an irritant that can exacerbate existing respiratory conditions) than permissible per the California Air Resource Board (0.05 ppm), the science on ionizer efficacy and safety is still inconclusive. We haven't tested this unit in our Lab, but upon reviewing the instruction manual, our engineers found the process to turn off ionization fairly straightforward, though we wish it wasn't the default setting.

Floor space is a premium in a tight bedroom. The cylindrical ORB, at only 7.7 inches in diameter, packs a lot of multifunctional power into a compact body. The unit features the True HEPA filtration we require in our air purifier picks as well as an activated carbon filter to adsorb foul-smelling particles. It also has a similar modular design to our best value pick, so you can save even more space by storing the humidifier component when you don't need it.

Besides its compact design, our engineers like the ORB's simple, intuitive controls. We also like that it provides True HEPA, an air quality indicator light and a remote control for convenient operation. Some customers noted that it was difficult to track down replacement filters for this model so you might need to do a deep dive to keep your unit working.