It’s Wildfire Season So We Tested 25 Indoor Air Quality Monitors — These Are Ones We Recommend

We started with a deep dive into today’s most popular and highly rated air quality monitors, then brought 25 of them into our own homes to see how they performed in real life. From accuracy and responsiveness to app experience, readability, noise, and overall value, we narrowed the field to the 11 monitors we recommend for cleaner, healthier air at home.

• Best for no app required: AQITech Professional Indoor Air Quality Monitor
• Best for smart integration: Qingping Air Quality Monitor Lite
• Best portable air quality monitor: Temtop M2000 2nd Generation Air Quality Monitor
• Best multifunction design: Qingping Air Monitor 2
• Best for beginners: INKBIRD Digital 6-in-1 CO2 Detector PTH-9A
• Best with radon test: Airthings Wave Plus
• Best budget: LifeBasis 10 in 1 Air Quality Monitor
• Best for sleek design: Govee Smart Air Quality Monitor
• Best for data accuracy: PurpleAir Zen

Sensibo Elements Smart Air Quality Monitor: Sensibo monitors to work as a bundled system — you can buy up to four at a slight discount. You link all the monitors and connect them to Sensibo’s purifiers through one app. The monitors signal the purifiers to kick on automatically, corresponding to whichever room needs cleaning. This gives you an easy way to monitor and purify your entire home with one swipe. The detailed app also explains pollutants, provides graphical data for your home, and offers outdoor AQI readings.

IKEA ALPSTUGA: Swanson tested an earlier version of IKEA’s current air quality sensor, the ALPSTUGA. She found it less sensitive than some of the other monitors she’d tried. But she actually appreciated this, because the readings felt less jumpy and anxiety-inducing. Like its predecessor, the ALPSTUGA can be used together with IKEA’s smart-home ecosystem, including the IKEA Home smart app and compatible air purifiers. Or it can function quietly on its own. Instead of sending constant alerts, it provides a simple, color-coded snapshot of your indoor air quality.

We researched the best indoor air quality monitors on the market and narrowed our selection to 25. Then, we had 18 Everyday Health writers, editors and experts test out one or more monitors. We looked at ease of use, instructions, which pollutants were tested for, and, of course, how well the monitors responded to changes in air quality from factors like cooking, purifiers, or placement in poorly ventilated areas. Based on these factors, we chose 10 monitors we felt were outstanding in overall performance and excelled in specific parameters, such as appearance or ease of installation.

We also consulted the following experts to better understand the risks associated with poor indoor air quality and the best ways to mitigate them: Melanie Carver, the chief mission officer for the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), and Brian Christman, MD, a spokesperson for the American Lung Association.

There are several factors to take into account when choosing an indoor air quality monitor. What pollutants it monitors, how easy it is to read, its appearance, whether it connects to Wi-Fi, and whether it provides alerts are all elements to consider when making your decision.

• Pollutants Monitored This is partly a matter of personal preference. Would you rather have a single, simple reading or indicator color, or be able to view individual metrics for each pollutant? How detailed you want your information to be is up to you, as some monitors measure five or six pollutants, while others measure just one. Another factor to consider is the source of your pollution. Do you live in the middle of a smoggy city? A monitor that measures only PM will alert you when poor outdoor air quality is seeping into your home. If you live somewhere without much outdoor pollution, but your windows are constantly shut because of temperature issues, you’re going to want a monitor that tests for poisonous gases that may be building up indoors. A general idea of what you are testing for and how in-depth you want your information to be should guide your selection in terms of what pollutants to monitor.
• Appearance If you’re getting something that lives on your counter permanently, it's best to get something that is not only practical but also aesthetically pleasing. Whether you want something sleek and minimalist or big and bright, there are plenty of designs to suit your personal style.
• Wi-Fi Some monitors connect to Wi-Fi, allowing you to access your readings from your phone when you’re not home. If you have pets or plants, or want to be able to monitor your space while you’re away, this is a convenient function. If that doesn’t appeal to you, the extra steps involved in connecting your device, downloading the app, and perhaps only being able to read your metrics through your phone might be more trouble than it’s worth.
• Alerts Some monitors provide audio alerts when your air quality falls below ideal levels. Some people may find this essential, while others might find the beeping anxiety-producing or just plain annoying. Whether you want to hear from your monitor or just have it silently judging your air is something to consider when making a decision.

There is no universal standard for which pollutants an indoor air quality monitor should test. We’ve listed some of the most common pollutants and their sources to help you select a monitor for the issues your home is most at risk of.

Particulate Matter (PM)

If your monitor detects high PM levels (unless it's from cooking), it’s probably coming from outside, so it's a good idea to close the windows and run an air purifier.

Carbon Dioxide (CO₂)

Volatile Organic Chemicals (VOCs)/Formaldehyde (HCHO)

VOCs are also more likely to originate inside your house than blow in from outside. Formaldehyde is just one specific VOC, but it is often given its own metric on air quality monitors because it is easy to detect and very hazardous. VOCs can come from household items, like that new foam mattress off-gassing into your face as you sleep, or the fresh coat of paint you used in your living room makeover, or even the disinfectants and air fresheners you’re using in your bathroom and kitchen. Try to choose products with low or no VOCs when shopping for your home — think swapping bleach for white vinegar — and let new furniture off-gas in a garage or patio for two weeks before moving it into your living space.

Humidity and Temperature

There’s nothing wrong with humidity or heat on their own; if you were standing in the middle of a rainforest with 100 percent humidity on a 100 degree day, you might be uncomfortable, but still perfectly safe. Indoors, however, high humidity and heat can create a breeding ground for mold. Indoor air quality monitors cannot test for mold, so keeping an eye on the humidity can be an effective way to reduce your risk of a mold issue. “If bathrooms are allowed to remain damp, mold overgrowth can occur,” says Christman. “This can also happen if the AC system is not maintained. When warm, moist air is exposed to the cooling area of your AC, it can no longer keep the water in a vapor state, so it rains out into a drip pan … there can be mold overgrowth that will now blow throughout the home,” he explains.

Carver also emphasized the importance of controlling humidity: “It is best to keep the indoor environment under 50 percent relative humidity to reduce the growth of mold and dust mites,” she said. “Opening a window after a hot shower can help reduce mold.” If your air monitor is picking up a high humidity score, running a dehumidifier is an easy way to dry out your air and the possible mold that comes with it.

Air Quality Index (AQI)

There are both immediate and long-term effects from poor air quality. Immediate effects vary depending on the pollutant — for example, carbon monoxide poisoning can cause “headache, nausea, and abdominal pain but can eventually progress to shortness of breath, chest pain, altered mental status, coma, and even death,” explains Christman, while mold can lead to sinus problems, postnasal drip, increased cough, and worse wheezing for sensitive asthmatics or folks with asthma-COPD overlap syndromes.

While living in Beijing for nearly a decade — where the AQI often topped 500, the highest level the index even measures — I noticed I would have trouble thinking clearly on badly polluted days, felt slightly nauseous and sleepy and had low energy, and I was constantly battling a never-ending series of sinus infections. (Buying a large air purifier for my bedroom was life-changing, but I still moved back to the United States to escape the smog.)

There are several factors to take into account when choosing an indoor air quality monitor. What pollutants it monitors, how easy it is to read, its appearance, whether it connects to WiFi, and whether it provides alerts are all elements to consider when making your decision. 

• Pollutants monitored: This is partly a matter of personal preference. Would you rather have a single, simple reading or indicator color, or be able to view individual metrics for each pollutant? How detailed you want your information to be is up to you, as some monitors measure five or six pollutants, while others measure just one. Another factor to consider is the source of your pollution. Do you live in the middle of a smoggy city? A monitor that measures only PM will alert you when poor outdoor air quality is seeping into your home. If you live somewhere without much outdoor pollution, but your windows are constantly shut due to temperature issues, you’re going to want a monitor that tests for poisonous gases that may be building up indoors. Having a general idea of what you are testing for and how in-depth you want your information to be should guide your selection in terms of what pollutants to monitor.

• Appearance: If you’re getting something that lives on your counter permanently, it's best to get something that is not only practical but also aesthetically pleasing. Whether you want something sleek and minimalist or big and bright, there are plenty of designs to suit your personal style.

• WiFi: Some monitors connect to WiFi, allowing you to access your readings from your phone when you’re not home. If you have pets or plants, or want to be able to monitor your space while you’re away, this is a convenient function. If that doesn’t appeal to you, the extra steps involved in connecting your device, downloading the app, and perhaps only being able to read your metrics through your phone might be more trouble than it’s worth.

• Alerts: Some monitors provide audio alerts when your air quality falls below ideal levels. Some people may find this essential, while others might find the beeping anxiety-producing or just plain annoying. Whether you want to hear from your monitor or just have it silently judging your air is something to consider when making a decision. 
  

If you’re going to the trouble of monitoring your indoor air quality, it’s a great idea to pair your monitor with a reliable air purifier (filter). Many of the monitors here are compatible with matching air purifiers, and they’ll turn on the purifier when the monitor detects pollutants in the air. Or you can get a combined unit with a purifier and a monitor housed in one device.

In our testing, we liked the Homedics Large Room Smart Air Purifier T200, which monitors PM2.5 and filters out bacteria, viruses, PM 2.5 and VOCs. It also has UV-C purification and HEPA filtration. We also liked the Coway Airmega Mighty AP-1512HH, which adjusts the fan speed based on the detected level of contamination. With a combined monitor-purifier, you’re likely going to get a bare-minimum monitor that’s designed more to inform the purifier than to give you detailed data on your air quality. So don’t expect any numerical data or testing for a wide variety of pollutants.

If you’re looking for information on outdoor air quality, a number of apps are available that provide that information across the entire United States. We liked the EPA’s AirNow app best. It offers a map for particulate matter and ozone, as well as a separate wildfire and smoke map run in conjunction with the U.S. Forest Service.

If your air quality monitor shows a less-than-green result, there are many ways to improve your indoor air quality.

• Filter your air. You can buy an air purifier that filters many pollutants from your indoor air, including PM, pollen, mold, and other contaminants.
• Lower your humidity. To reduce the risk of mold, open your windows after showering to reduce moisture buildup in your bathroom, and buy a dehumidifier if your monitor shows a humidity level over 50 percent.
• Increase ventilation. Replacing stale air with fresh air is essential. If outdoor air quality is good, open your windows and turn on fans to cycle in fresh air and flush out any dangerous gases that may be accumulating in poorly ventilated spaces. If opening the windows isn’t a good option, consider installing an air exchanger.
• Reduce VOCs. While air purifiers and exchangers will help remove VOCs from your air, it's simpler to just keep them out of your house to begin with. Avoid aerosol sprays, and replace harsh cleaners and solvents with nontoxic solutions like dish soap and vinegar. If you do use bleach or other harsh chemical cleaners, make sure to keep the windows open during and after use. “Buy solid wood furniture, rather than pressed wood which tends to outgas for some time. If pressed wood is chosen, unwrap it and store it in the garage for 7 to 10 days prior to assembling and bringing in the home,” says Christman. He also recommends opening dry cleaning bags and letting your clothes air out before bringing them inside.
• Avoid indoor combustion. There’s nothing like a cozy fireplace or woodstove in the winter, but even with proper ventilation, burning things inside is likely to have a negative impact on your air quality. If you do burn fuel indoors, keep a carbon monoxide monitor (an entirely separate device from an air quality monitor) plugged in near your fuel source.

Yes. A general air quality monitor, like those on this list, will not test for everything. Here are some additional pollutants you may want to monitor separately.

• Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas produced through combustion. If you have a woodstove or fireplace, or a gas fireplace, keep a CO monitor plugged in near your fuel source. None of the monitors on this list test for CO. 
• Radon Just one of the monitors on this list tests for radon, a naturally occurring radioactive gas that rises out of the ground and causes cancer. It’s more common in older houses and in basements, since it comes out of the ground. If you live in an old house or have a basement, a dedicated radon monitor plugged into the basement wall will let you know if radon is leaking into your home. If so, you can seal cracks and increase ventilation to get rid of it.
• Mold While every monitor on this list tests for humidity, an excellent indicator of mold, none of them actually tests for mold itself. To get a definitive answer on whether or not you have a mold problem, use a dedicated mold detection kit like this one. 
• Pollen/Dust/Other Allergens Pollen, dust mites, and other allergens may appear in your PM reading but will not appear individually on an air quality monitor. If you think you may be having an allergic response to your indoor air, test yourself for allergies. If you’re positive, you can treat both your air and yourself to reduce the effects on your health.