Breville Viral Protect Max
The fastest unit we cover, with a proper carbon stage and a PM2.5 sensor that reacts when smoke drifts in.
Winix Zero+ Pro
Big coverage for less. Its carbon stage is lighter than the Breville's, so it's better on particles than smell.
Levoit Core 400S
The budget pick for a bedroom or smaller living room. Put it in your clean room and run it on high.
What matters for smoke
- Speed. Smoke needs about five air changes an hour, so size for that. Size calculator.
- Carbon. HEPA catches the particles; only activated carbon deals with the smell. More is better.
- A clean room. One room, door shut, purifier on high beats a unit trying to clean the whole house.
- Close up first. Windows shut and the evaporative cooler off.
Questions
Does a purifier really help with bushfire smoke?
Yes. In a Canadian study of smoke-affected homes, portable HEPA purifiers cut indoor fine particles by 55 to 65% on average. More on the evidence.
What about burn-off season?
The same units work. Burn-off smoke often settles overnight, so run the purifier in the bedroom. Burn-off season guide.