(Pocket-lint) – Air purifiers represent the perfect way to disarm allergens floating in the home, channeling air through a filter before re-circulating it to you in a vastly cleaner form. 

A more advanced wave of ultraviolet air purifiers is moving things a step on, though, killing viruses and bacteria making their way through the system through UV light and germicidal irradiation. 

Since there are many different ways to treat impurities in the air, modern purifiers will often come ready to fight with multiple systems, with just one of them being UV-C light. There are complex cleaning methods and a wide variance in design, so picking between them, and deciding just how much you value the cleanest air possible, is a tough task. 

Thankfully, we’ll be detailing some top picks for a range of budgets to help you decide. 

Our guide to the best UV air purifier

Germ Guardian

Germ Guardian 1000

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Germ Guardian’s air purifier is one of the most affordable ways to kill germs through the power of UV rays.

The 7-inch design requires power from the wall socket to function, able to rid your home of odors, bacteria, pet allergens, and cooking smells.

Germ Guardian claims the UV purifying technology is able to eliminate airborne viruses like influenza and staph, using Titanium Dioxide to help reduce volatile compounds. Just be aware the UB bulb will need to be replaced around once a year. 

PureMate

PureMate 510

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It’s certainly not a design that fits every home – since it channels some serious early noughties speaker vibes – but PureMate’s 510 is one of the very best options to consider.

It comes with a HEPA filter to take care of airborne allergens, while the UV light, TiO2, active carbon filter, and negative ionizer all work together to take care of viruses, bacteria, and odors. 

There are also five different speed settings to pick between, a timer, LCD display, and a filter replacement indicator to help give you complete control over your air purifying. 

Eureka

Eureka NEA120 Purifier

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Eureka’s mid-level NEA120 is a great example of how you can kill most household impurities without breaking the bank. 

Featuring a HEPA filter to combat allergens, a charcoal filter to tackle odors, and UV light combined with TiO2 to eradicate viruses and bacteria, it’s one of the best value-for-money picks available. 

You’ll have to contend with the 26-inch height, which certainly won’t be for every home, but the three fan modes do make sure this is one purifier that can be very much seen and not heard.

HoMedics

HoMedics Air Purifier

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Teetering on the edge of mid-range air purifiers is HoMedics’ compact model, which fights the air in your home with three different methods. 

The HEPA filter will clean out allergens, while the UV-C light and carbon filter will work to neutralize viruses, bacteria, and odor. And with three speeds, including a night mode for cleaning while you sleep, it can be placed pretty much anywhere in the home for 360-degree cleaning. 

HoMedics also offers larger sizes of the same model, but this compact variation is perfect for those who value discretion and quiet purifying.

Germ Guardian

Germ Guardian 5-in-1 Air Purifier

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If Germ Guardian’s 1000 is one of the most affordable ways to purify the air in your home, its 5-in-1 device is one of the most effective. 

Though it perhaps represents overkill for some, it comes with a wide range of cleaning methods. The HEPA filter tackles 99.97% of allergens, UV-C light traps viruses such as influenza and staph, titanium dioxide handles harsh organic compounds and an activated charcoal filter fights odors.

The sleep mode is also a great feature for those who want to clean the air during the night, with three speeds in total to choose between. 

Bionaire

Bionaire BAP001 Air Purifier

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It’s not for those on a budget, but Bionaire’s 4-in-1 purifier is one of the top ways to rid the air in your home of unwanted bacteria and allergens.

While primarily managing allergens through the HEPA filter, it’s also able to tackle bacteria and viruses through the UV-C and TiO2 filtration, with five different speed settings and a timer function that can range anywhere up to eight hours. 

For when the HEPA filter is also running close to the end, the onboard indicator will also let you know. 

Pure Enrichment

Pure Enrichment PureZone 3-in-1 Air Purifier

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Pure Enrichment’s PureZone air purifier may not be the cheapest on the market, but the tech inside will give you peace of mind that the air is being thoroughly cleaned.

The company claims that the PureZone is able to clean the air from 99.97% of dust, pollen, smoke, and pet dander, and other odors using a three-stage purification process. First, the air hits the pre-filter before activating the carbon filter followed by the HEPA filter.

Throughout the process, the built-in UV-C light is able to inactivate germs that cause illnesses, too, with three fan speeds available to pick between. 

Klarstein

Klarstein Vita Pure

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Klarstein’s Vita Pure gives you all the functionality of a top-tier purifier for a mid-level price, combining a number of cleaning methods into one package. 

Using a pre-filter, HEPA filter, activated carbon filter, UV-C lamp, and ionizer, this is a perfect solution for those who want to rid the air of as many impurities as possible without giving up the earth. 

There’s also a timer setting, different fan modes (for those who want a bit of a quieter run), and also an indicator for when the filter needs replacing. 

Oion Technologies

Oion Technologies B-1000

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Another mid-level UV air purifier is available from Oion Technologies, which churns out cleaner air through its monolith design.

It features UV light, an electrostatic ionizer, carbon filtration, and ozone power that combine to remove airborne pollutants, allergens, and odors, with a quiet mode and night light for cleaning during your sleep.  

Though it does manage to kill off most airborne impurities, it is fair to say that the B-1000 design won’t be for every home, too, and those looking for a device with a HEPA and TiO2 filtration will have to look elsewhere. 

PureMate

PureMate 210

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Not every home or office is designed for chunky floor purifiers, which is where PureMate’s 210 comes in.

It won’t give you the same thoroughness of the company’s other offerings, but it’s enough for those who simply want UV-C light to filter the air.

This treatment should help destroy germs, bacteria, and viruses, with electrostatically-charged dust plates trapping pollutants in the process. 

So, if you just want a simple, compact purifier to run during the day, this is a great consideration. 

Writing by Conor Allison.