Airthings Wave Mini
Dimensions: 3.1 x 1 inches | Warranty: 5 years | Sensors: VOCs, temperature, humidity and mold risk
Pros:
- App provides long-term data to track improvement
- Easy to set up
- Sleek and compact design
Cons:
- Doesn’t measure particulate matter or CO2
- Less effective in extremely large rooms
No air quality monitor, including the Airthings Wave Mini, can confirm the presence of mold; a separate test kit is required for that. Instead, the Wave Mini alerts homeowners to high-risk conditions where mold is likely to grow, thwarting the issue before it arises. Airthings developed a formula called a “Mold Risk Indicator,” which is based on “the combination of temperature and humidity levels in an indoor space over time,” says Tryti. “It’s especially effective in bathrooms, basements, or crawl spaces where humidity levels are often highest.” The Wave Mini can be mounted to a wall or simply placed on a shelf in any room where mold is a concern.
Best Indoor Air Quality Monitor For Allergies
A Professional-Grade Monitor With Accurate Readouts
Temtop LKC-1000S+ 2nd Generation
Dimensions: 6.9 x 1.2 x 2.6 inches | Warranty: 1 year | Sensors: PM2.5, PM10, TVOCs, HCHO (formaldehyde), AQI, temperature and humidity
Pros:
- Measures a wide variety of air quality factors
- Easily portable
- Can export data to computer
Cons:
- Short battery life
- Small display screen
This handheld monitor tracks an immense amount of data but is surprisingly easy to read, so it’s suitable for beginners and experts alike. A major reason why it’s worth purchasing for allergy-prone people is that it detects PM10 in addition to the more common PM2.5. PM10 accounts for larger particles and can include pollen, smoke and dust. “Maintaining optimal indoor air quality helps prevent health issues such as allergies and respiratory problems,” says Lāsma Puķina-Slava, the marketing content manager at Aranet, a company that manufactures home sensors.
Best Portable Indoor Air Quality Monitor
A Pocket-Sized Device That Can Travel Anywhere
Atmotube Pro Air Quality Monitor
Dimensions: 0.9 x 2 x 3.4 inches | Warranty: 1 year | Sensors: VOCs, PM1, PM2.5, PM10, temperature, humidity and barometric pressure
Pros:
- Compact and lightweight
- Works indoors and outdoors
- Long battery life
Cons:
- Expensive
- Can only see data on mobile app
- Doesn’t detect CO or CO2
Measuring just 3.4 inches long, the Atmotube PRO looks more like a flash drive than a high-end air quality monitor. Yet, despite its small size, it has 256 KB of onboard memory and can graph data over days and years. It’s easy to carry in a bag or clip to a backpack or belt loop since it comes with a carabiner. (You can even use it discreetly on public transportation.) Keep in mind that the item rates air quality based on Atmotube’s proprietary scale, “Air Quality Score,” rather than the standard air quality index.
Why Trust Forbes Vetted
- The Forbes Vetted home and kitchen team includes three expert editors: deputy editor Rebekah Lowin, senior editor Amanda Arnold and editor Sholeen Damarwala.
- Author of this piece Derek Rose is a regular contributor with extensive experience covering home, kitchen and lifestyle topics.
- To gather expert insight, Rose spoke with Emma Tryti, CEO of the global tech company Airthings. Rose also interviewed Lāsma Puķina-Slava, the marketing content manager at Aranet.
How We Chose The Best Indoor Air Quality Monitors
To select the best indoor air quality monitors, we researched the top-rated options, compared their specifications and spoke with industry experts to learn about airborne pollutants.
- We considered products from trusted brands like Airthings, Temtop, Kidde and more.
- We noted what pollutants each air quality monitor could detect and researched the accuracy of their measurements.
- We combed through countless customer reviews and only considered products with a minimum rating of four stars.
- The final products on this list reflect in-depth research conducted by our writer and meticulous vetting by the editorial team.
What To Look For In The Best Indoor Air Quality Monitors
Purchasing an indoor air quality monitor may initially seem daunting. They are sophisticated, often expensive devices that track a wide range of seemingly invisible data. However, once you know what to look for, finding an option that fits your needs is easy.
Every air quality monitor detects a different combination of pollutants and environmental conditions. The best pollutants to detect depend on personal health preferences and the home itself. “Everyone’s indoor air environment is different,” says Tryti. For example, she notes that people living in large cities or areas prone to wildfires may deal with increased particulate matter. Furthermore, a person living in the mountains or an older home may want to keep a closer eye on radon levels. “The ‘most important’ pollutant is the one your home may be most prone to seeing elevated levels of over time,” she says.
Even the most accurate and advanced air quality monitor is useless if you can’t figure out how it works. Here are a few questions to consider before buying. Is the data displayed in an organized and accessible way? How easily can users adjust between viewing different pollutants? Is any customization available regarding alerts, ranges or graphs?
Many indoor air quality monitors connect to Bluetooth or WiFi, making it easier to access alerts and measurements and integrate with smart devices. It’s also common for air quality monitor manufacturers to have a mobile app. In fact, some air quality monitors exclusively convey data through an app. The convenience of checking the air quality index from your phone, even when you’re out of the house, is often worth paying extra.
Some air quality monitors are designed to stay in a single room, while others are portable and can measure air quality in various areas. Stationary monitors are usually larger and have big, bright display screens that can be read from across the room; they can be wall-mounted or left freestanding on a shelf or side table. They are a great option if you prioritize simplicity and don’t mind reading the air levels in only one room. On the other hand, portable air quality monitors are more compact and have small screens. They provide more versatility but often require slightly more time and effort. There are cheap and expensive options available in both categories.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Are Indoor Air Quality Monitors Worth It?
Indoor air quality monitors can improve a home’s comfort, health and safety. If a monitor is within your budget, it can improve your quality of life. “We spend more than 90% of our time indoors,” Tryti says, “so having an air quality monitor in your home should be viewed as a necessity for your health rather than a luxury—much like an everyday smoke detector. But that doesn’t mean air quality needs to be scary.” Indoor air quality monitors simply diagnose when conditions are ideal or not ideal, and it’s better to know when conditions aren’t right because there is often a simple solution.
What Do Air Quality Monitors Detect?
Air quality monitors detect a range of environmental conditions and airborne substances. The former includes temperature, humidity and air pressure. The latter covers particulate matter, VOCs, CO, CO2, HCHO, radon and more. Most indoor air quality monitors only detect a portion of these parameters rather than all of them. That’s usually not an issue, though. People prioritize different conditions depending on their health and home, so it’s generally easy to find an air quality monitor that suits your needs.
Where Is The Best Place To Put An Air Quality Monitor?
Placing an air quality monitor in certain areas of the home leads to more accurate measurements than others. “An ideal placement for an air quality monitor is within the human breathing zone,” says Puķina-Slava. “For instance, positioning the sensor on a nightstand at bed level is optimal in a bedroom. It is important to ensure that sensors have unobstructed access to free airflow, so avoid placing them on bookshelves squeezed between books.” She adds that it’s best to avoid “areas with rapidly changing environmental conditions,” like near a window or door, as it can throw off the measurements. Placement may also depend on the pollutants that an air quality monitor detects. Monitors that detect mold should be placed in damp areas, while ones that detect radon are best in basements.
