The Coway Airmega AP-1512HH(W) HEPA Purifier is our top pick for the best air purifier for smoke in 2025. While the machine is designed to purify large spaces of up to 1,784 square feet within an hour, only one purification cycle runs during this time.
HEPA filters are excellent at capturing particulate matter, including the fine particles found in smoke. Removing these particles can reduce the ``smoky'' smell to some extent because you're physically removing some of the smoke itself from the air.
That said, a HEPA filter will do a very good job of eliminating the cigarette-smoke particles it encounters. That's because the majority of these particles fall in the 0.1 to 0.5 micron range, which HEPA filters are exceptionally good at capturing.
Levoit Core 400S Smart Air Purifier
It's the best air purifier for smoke in a large space, and it's also one of the more tech-forward options on this list. Aspects of it reminded us of our favorite Dyson models—at about half the cost.
Upgrading to a filter rated MERV 13 or higher can be especially important during smoky periods to effectively remove fine particle pollution from smoke in the indoor air. Most furnaces and HVAC systems can accommodate a MERV 13 filter without creating equipment problems, provided that the filter is replaced frequently.
For households working with tight budgets, MERV 8 filters offer cost-effectiveness and minimal upkeep requirements. Superior particle capture and enhanced air quality come with MERV 11 filters, making them suitable for dwellings with pets, allergies, or high pollution.
The most effective type of air purifier to use to remove tobacco smoke is called a 'Hepa' air purifier ( Hepa stands for High Efficient Particulate Arrestor).
Use air cleaners to help remove particles and odors
The HEPA filter will remove 99.97% of particles and VOCs that are bound to particles. Keep air cleaners on until the smells go away, and change the filters according to the manufacturer's instructions.
Besides using white vinegar to scrub the walls and floor, you can also look to your drinks cabinet for a solution. Vodka is a disinfectant and deodoriser. Spray it onto the walls, leave it for a little while and then wipe it off. Or you can simply soak a rag and wipe the walls to get rid of the smoky stench.
One of the most effective ways to clean smoke from indoor environments is to attach a MERV 13 furnace filter to a box fan. The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency tested this method with air monitors and found that a box fan filter reduced airborne particulate matter dramatically.
While most newer systems can accommodate filters with higher MERV ratings, if you have an older system, a filter with a high MERV rating may lower the air pressure too much, which can interfere with the system's function or strain the blower.
Cannot remove air particulates: although carbon filters can trap dangerous VOCs and remove odors, they cannot eliminate air particulates. Air particulates include airborne germs, mold, dust, pollen, as well as airborne contaminants (or toxins?) from secondhand and wildfire smoke.
An HVAC air filter will catch much of the smoke in your home—assuming it's a good one. “You want a filter with a high MERV rating,” says Dave Trezza, an engineer who has tested air filters at Consumer Reports.
Smoke Eater Vs. Air Purifier
However, smoke eaters are more powerful and have a higher Cubic Feet per Minute (CFM) performance, which is perfect for removing gaseous carcinogens fast and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) that are dangerous byproducts of cigar smoke.
Why don't filters work? Filters do not block all the bad chemicals in smoke, and filtered smoke feels milder on the throat, making it easier to take bigger and deeper puffs. Filters only help block the largest tar particles, letting through smaller bits of tar that can travel deeper into your lungs.
According to experts, MERV 13 filters or higher are essential for trapping the fine particulate matter present in wildfire smoke.
To remove the particulate matter in cigarette smoke, we need a HEPA filter. A HEPA filter will remove over 95% of particulate matter within one pass of a filter. Below you can see our real-world HEPA filter tests for the Sqair air purifier.
What are the downsides of air purifiers? There aren't a lot of downsides to having an air purifier in your home aside from the financial investment. Many ionizers, especially older models, can generate ozone when they are operating, which is known to exacerbate asthma.
Airocide is the NASA air purifier. Our technology removed harmful VOCs from the International Space Station and the Columbia shuttle.
While many people know that an air purifier can help with allergens such as mold and pollens, the good news is that using an air purifier can help to remove smoke from the air as well. Not only can an air purifier help to remove smoke odors, but it can capture many of the harmful chemical components as well.
For smoke removal, HEPA filters are recommended as the gold standard for trapping fine particles, filtering out 99.97% of particles 0.3 microns in size.
Ozone generators permanently remove smoke odor resulting from fire damage, cigarette and tobacco smoke. Cigar and cigarette smoke odor removal is easy with the OdorFree smoke odor eliminator and also in buildings that have suffered fire and/or smoke damage.
Room air cleaners are portable, electric appliances that remove fine particles, such as dust and pollen, from indoor air. A standard room air cleaner, operating continuously, uses approximately 450 kWh per year in electricity. This is more than the energy used by some new refrigerators!