T he air you breathe is not always the cleanest, nor the safest, especially if you live in an agglomerated city, with lots of cars and other pollutants around. It can be even more disturbing if you suffer from allergies and you have to be on a constant lookout for anything harmful present in the air. An air quality monitor will quickly inform you about the air you have in your house, or the outside environment, measuring possible harmful substances and letting you know if it’s safe to leave your house or not. So, to help you decide upon the piece of equipment that is exactly what you’re looking for, we offer you our best recommendations.
Photo |
Product Name |
Range |
Type |
Sensor for |
Color-coded |
Warranty |
Price |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() Best Overall |
1000 sq.ft |
Indoor |
Fine Dust (PM 2/5), chemicals (VOCs), CO2, Humidity and Temperature |
1 year |
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N/A |
Indoor / Outdoor |
Temperature,humidity, concentrations of formaldehyde, TVOC or fine particles of dust PM2.5/PM1.0/PM10. |
1 year |
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300 sq. ft. |
Indoor / Outdoor |
PM2.5, temperature, weather, and relative humidity |
N/A |
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1076 sq. ft |
Indoor / Outdoor |
PM2.5 and CO2, temperature, humidity. |
N/A |
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N/A |
Indoor / Outdoor |
Formaldehyde, PM2.5 and PM10, CO2 and HCHO particles, TVOC, AQI, temperature, and humidity |
7 days return |
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Mid-range |
Indoor |
CO2, Humidity and Temperature |
3 years |
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1400 sq. ft |
Indoor |
VOCs, PM2.5, CO2, temperature, and humidity. |
1 year |
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N/A |
Indoor |
Radon, TVOCs, CO2, humidity, temperature and air pressure |
1 year |
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1,000 sq ft |
Indoor |
VOCs, temperature, humidity and CO2 |
1 year |
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Mid-range |
Indoor |
CO2, Relative Humidity and Temperature |
1 year |
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Small range |
Indoors |
Temperature, humidity and VOCs |
1 year |
Awair 2nd Edition
Despite it having a homey-vintage look, it comes equipped with the ability to synchronize with your smartphone or tablet via Bluetooth 4.1 – running iOS 9 or later and Android 4.4 or later, with an app to provide you with enhanced details about your environment. When you first launch the app, you will see the score prominently in the middle of your phone, with the quality factors presented below it. The color-coding scheme will help you easily determine when levels start moving into dangerous zones: green – good, yellow – fair and red – poor. It even has graphs to let you observe the ups and downs through a day. You can even pair it up with Google Assistant and Alexa, to give it vocal commands if you don’t have your phone with you or with any other HVAC systems in your house to clean your air thoroughly.
Its front display uses a set of LED lights shining through a grid of holes, showing you not only the graph for the 5 quality features but the score of your air quality as well. Additionally, it has a colored dot in the upper right corner, linked with the colored dots from the app – red, yellow or green, for easier reading. Moreover, its sensors are laser-based, with light scattering particle sensing technology, so you can be sure it will be able to correctly read and diagnose your environment. Moreover, it is able to detect even ambient noise, with a sensitivity of -26dB and a signal to noise ratio of 61dB.
Able to alert you about the air quality from your room, it connects directly with your phone, sending you notifications when the conditions change. It can even be linked with Google Assistant and Alexa, thus allowing you to always be in control of your environment.
EG Air EGVOC-100
It has a built-in fan to quickly draw in ambient air to allow real-time measurements while thanks to its incorporated laser sensor it can accurately measure the dust levels. Moreover, it has color-coded information, ranging from green – good, yellow – slight, red – moderate and purple – serious, thus alerting you when you should take action. Additionally, it has a second electrochemical semiconductor sensor to measure formaldehyde. Even more, it auto calibrates in the fresh air, so you won’t have to reset it manually. So, be sure to keep it outdoors 10+ minutes before the 1st use to calibrate itself. It comes with an eBook where you can find interesting information regarding air quality hazards and their impact and with a 1-year warranty from the moment of your purchase.
Dependable when it comes to air quality readings, it will help you keep an eye on airborne particles and other possibly harmful substances present in the air. IT will calibrate itself as soon as you place it in clean fresh air for more than 10 minutes, so you don’t have to worry about manually resetting it.
ECOWITT WH0290
It measures 5 by 4.5 by 3.3 inches and it can be recharged either by replacing the 2 NI-MH batteries – they are included – or via USB cable. Additionally, it comes with a built-in solar panel as backup whenever it doesn’t have enough power. Moreover, it can measure the indoor temperature from 14 to 140 °F and humidity from 1% to 99%. It can cover a range of 300 feet inside and outside, with a frequency of 433 MHz and an update rate of 60 seconds. It can even calibrate with a weather station for more precise information regarding the weather, and relative humidity. However, it is not weatherproof, so you will have to shelter it from elements.
A quick and accurate device, it will alert you to the air quality inside and outside your room. With a large range, and color-coded readings you can easily turn your other HVAC units in your house to make your environment safe again.
IQAir AVPRO
It features a smartphone app which allows you to connect with your unit, as it will provide you with all the details you need directly on your phone and a unique IFTTT System (If This, Then, That) which will make your device act based on certain parameters, sending you notifications when the normal parameters of your air had changed. Thus, you can use other HVAC devices from your home to correct the readings. It has color-coded images to allow you to quickly read the measures, the colors ranging from green, yellow, red and purple, allowing you to compare your indoor air with the outdoor one.
Additionally, it allows you to foresee with 72-hours ahead, the level of pollution and weather forecasts, and it has a coverage area of 1076 sq. ft. It is able to be used outside as well, but since it’s not weatherproofed, you will have to keep it away from elements. It will even send you advice on what the most productive and cost-effective recommendations are. Moreover, it has a rechargeable Li-Ion battery with a micro USB charger for when the battery won’t last anymore and it has a power saving mode, to allow you to use it even when you sleep.
It will immediately send you alerts when the air quality changes, allowing you to take action by using the corresponding HVAC unit in your house. It can be used both indoors and outdoors and will provide you with advice and tips about how to improve your air quality, as well.
Temtop M2000
It has a histogram function, an audio alarm and a colorful TFT display, with color coded information regarding the air status: green for good, yellow for moderate, orange for unhealthy for sensitive groups, red for unhealthy, blood read for very unhealthy and brown for hazardous. Thus you can read the information you need at a glance. It has an internal 2200mAh rechargeable lithium battery, which makes it able to run up to 6 hours continuously without charging. Moreover, it requires no calibration, and has a return warranty of 7 days and an exchange warranty for 30 days.
A great way to not only stay informed about the quality of the air you have in your house but to also have it purified and cleaned. Able to function silently, you won’t notice it as it will work hard to keep your environment safe. There will be less dust and airborne particles, and no increase on your power bills.
GAIN EXPRESS CO22
It will provide you with simultaneous aspects regarding CO2 levels, temperature, and humidity. For the CO2 levels, it uses a stable, non-dispersive infrared (NDIR) sensor, which has a range between 0 up to 2000 ppm. The temperature sensor allows you to select the degrees in either Celsius or Fahrenheit, depending on your preferences, and it has a range that goes from -10.0 ° C up to 60.0 °C, and from 14 °F up to 140 °F respectively. When humidity levels are involved, it has a range that goes from 0.0 up to 99.9%, thus you’ll always be able to tell how humid the air in your room is.
It needs 30 seconds to warm up, and a short-term exposure limit of 15 minutes to accommodate to the environment, to provide you with readings. Moreover, it has built-in relay which will be able to access and control the ventilation system in your house, to always maintain the CO2 level that you set or specified. Even more, it will alert you when it will do so, thus you don’t have to keep an eye on it at all times. It has a baseline calibration, which won’t require you to move it or change its position, as well as manual calibration, to provide you with the option of taking care of it if you want to.
Furthermore, thanks to its large triple-function LCD, you will be able to easily read the digital numbers, while it will provide you with continuous monitoring. It can transmit the data acquired to your computer, so you’ll be able to create your history of air reading and use the necessary appliances to rectify any possible anomalies in the parameters.
Thanks to its large LCD display, you’ll be able to read the levels even from across the room, and it requires no manual calibration as it will automatically do so. You can easily transfer the data to a computer, so you’ll be able to monitor the air quality easier, and it can be mounted on the wall or placed on the desk, according to your preferences.
Foobot Model 21
Moreover, it will tell you how you can get rid of them, as well as signalizing you through its LED color display when the air quality dropped. It uses a light scattering system to detect fine particles in the air, providing readings from 0 to 1300 µg per cubic meter, and MOS sensors to detect VOCs, which include toluene, methane, formaldehyde, benzene, ammonia, iso-butane, and others. When the temperature is concerned, it can work well between 15° and 45° C, and it needs a humidity level between 30 and 85% to be able to provide you with accurate readings. However, it will need 6 days to calibrate itself and adjust to its surroundings, and it has a coverage area of 1400 sq. ft.
Additionally, it comes with a non-detachable USB 2-meter long cable, and it is able to connect to your home, 2.4GHz, Wi-Fi network or dual-band routers. It can work with IFTTT, Nest, Ecobee, Honeywell, Warmup, Amazon Echo, and others, thus it allows you to easily switch on the right HVAC unit when needed. It comes with a 1-year warranty from the moment of your purchase, and 30-day money-back guarantee.
It provides you with an in-depth air quality reading, allowing you to tell from a glance how bad the air is, thanks to its colored LEDs. Thanks to its app, you can receive data in real time, and it can even register and create a history with the events you store. It will tell you the CO2, VOCs, temperature and humidity levels, comparing the air inside your house with the outside one, as well.
Airthings Wave Plus 2930
Additionally, it allows you to easily tell with a wave how the air inside your house fares, as the unit comes with a color-coded light ring, which will turn green when the air is good, yellow to warn you and red when it’s dangerous, as soon as you wave your hand in front of it. Moreover, it can connect with any intelligent home-devices like Alexa, Google Home, and IFTTT, so they will be able to alert you when there is a change in the quality of the air.
It can be placed on a wall, and you can secure it there with the mounting plate, as it will attach to the mount magnetically. It requires 2 AA batteries which will last you up to 16 months before they’ll need to be changed, and it needs an environmental temperature between 4° C to 40 ° C, to work out properly. It can detect up to 6 air factors: radon ( up to 4 pCi/L), airborne chemicals ( up to 500 ppb), CO2 ( up to 1000 ppm), humidity, temperature( from 0°F to 77 °F) and air pressure (up to 0.15hPa). It needs a 7-day period for the sensors to adjust to the environment and 1 week to be able to create a template of your routine. It comes with a limited 1-year warranty from the moment of your purchase.
It is easy to install and use, as it will provide you with accurate readings right on your phone or tablet, allowing you to even create a history database to see how the quality of the air had changed. It comes with a color-coded light, which will quickly tell you how good or bad the air in your house is, but it will need a week to calibrate and adjust to its environment.
Awair AQMG2001A
Additionally, it can connect to your smartphone, thanks to the app it comes with, which will allow you to remotely keep an eye on the readings, and track the differences present in your house over several days. Through its app, you can also choose to keep its nightlight on or off or switch it to start when it detects movement, as well as turn on specific appliances if the air quality deteriorates, as soon as you plug them into it.
Furthermore, it comes with a color-coded light, thus it provides you with the possibility of telling with only a glance how the environment in your house fares. It works with iPhone iOS 8 or newer versions, Android Jelly Bean 4.3 or newer, and it is capable of connecting to any 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi. It requires a power of 100-125V AC, 50/60Hz, and it has a limited 1-year warranty from the moment of your purchase.
It provides you with a way of keeping track of your home environment, as well as turn on different appliances when the air quality deteriorates. Additionally, you can always be in contact with it, thanks to the app it comes with, and it will also provide you with different tips about how to maintain the best quality possible.
CO2Meter 7Z-RWZ2-K2NX
It provides you with a max and min function, and it has programmable CO2 levels. Additionally, it will alert you whenever the CO2 goes over 1000 ppm, or over the limit, you’ve set. For it to operate at its full capacity, it needs to be between -10 °C – 50 °C, 5-80% RH, and it is recommended to avoid condense. It comes with automatic baseline calibration, so you don’t have to manually calibrate it, unless you want to, while thanks to its NDIR sensor, you’ll be provided with updated and real readings.
It measures 4.5 inches in height, 4.5 inches in length, .35 inches in width, and it weighs 6.3 ounces, with a rounded shape and white housing. It can be used with power supplies ranging from 100 up to 240V AC input, and it comes with a limited 1-year warranty from the moment of your purchase.
It has a rounded shape, which allows it to easily blend in any home décor, and it comes with a large LCD screen, to help you quickly read the air quality levels. It comes with an alarm which will alert you when the CO2 levels rise over the limit you’ve set up, and it provides you with constant, real readings, thanks to its auto-calibration.
Eve Room 10EAM9901
Its operating range goes from 0°C to 50°C / 32°F to 122°F when the temperature is concerned while it detects humidity when it goes from 5% up to 95%. It works with Siri, and it features a built-in USB-rechargeable 5V battery to provide you with a hassle-free way of always keeping it up. Made from aluminum, it is sturdy, resistant and won’t rust nor corrode with time.
Small, compact and easy to use, it will connect directly to your phone to provide you with all the necessary information and history of the air quality from your house. It comes with a rechargeable battery which will make it easy to charge, while its ability to also work with Siri will let you always be informed about the quality of your air.
If you’re wondering what you can do to prevent such poor air quality ratings, firstly, you have to be aware of them. An air quality monitor can help you become aware of your environment and of possible aspects that, if left unsupervised, might lead, in the future to health issues. There are two types of sensors already on the market: metal oxide electrochemical (MOS) and light scattering sensors.
While the first category will provide you with an inexpensive, widely available sensor, it is not specific to one element and its readings can be quickly influenced by other external factors, thus making its reliability questionable. The light scattering ones, however, provide you with a versatile gadget that can provide you with highly accurate readings. Varying in shapes and sizes, they can measure different types of particles, offering you instant readings, thus providing you with a sure way to detect certain levels of pollutants and their source.
They have a light source, which often comes from a laser, which sends a ray of light in the environment. As soon as the light touches a dust particle, it shatters away, the process repeating itself for all dust particles it finds in its range. Some sensors are able to receive readings every second, or every minute, but others are able to be customized to their user’s needs. You might think that fewer updates mean a report lacking in quality, but it’s the contrary. If the laser doesn’t get readings as often, it will require less calibration, thus giving you fewer chances of inaccurate readings.
What you should pay attention to, especially if you want to have a clear air are the following, common pollutants:
When you plan on investing into a sensor, you should pay attention to how often you plan on using it and for what, how repeatable is the measurement, what detection limit or range it has, how long it will take to measure and how accurate and reliable it is. To simply put it, depending on what type of sensor and monitor you are looking for, for education and information, for hotspot identification, for supplemental monitoring or for your own personal use, there are several options to choose from. Simply pick one that fits your needs best.
Best Overall:
Awair 2nd Edition
Awair 2nd Edition is a great choice if you wish to constantly monitor how the air your home fares, as it is able not only to connect with your phone and tablet, therefore providing you with accurate, real-time information, but it can connect with Alexa and Google Assistant as well. So, whenever the air reaches critical levels, it will automatically turn on the corresponding appliance.
Our Choice:
EG Air EGVOC-100
If you want to be able to move the air monitor around, and take it with you wherever you go, then EG Air EGVOC-100 is another great choice. It comes with a large LCD screen, on which you can easily monitor the different air pollutants and their levels, and it comes with 2 ways of charging it up, by battery or with a USB cable. It comes with a built-in fan to access the surrounding air, and it auto-calibrates in the fresh air, so you won’t have to reset it manually.
Best Detection Area for Air Quality Monitor:
Foobot Model 21
If you wish to be able to analyze a large area in the shortest amount of time possible, then you should consider Foobot Model 21. It has a range of 1400 sq. ft. more than enough to cover your entire house. It comes with a smartphone app that will alert you of any significant changes, and it will automatically turn on the necessary HVAC if the situation turns critical. It features an LED color display that will let you know with only one glance how it fares, and it can be placed both inside and outside.
Best for Allergies:
Awair AQMG2001A
Perfect if you suffer from allergies, Awair AQMG2001A will make sure your home climate is safe. It will connect directly with your phone to provide you with exact readings while the unit will instantly turn on the right HVAC units to remedy dangerous changes. Additionally, it comes with a nightlight to help you easily locate it while its color-coded LED lights will let you know with only a glance if the quality has worsened with time.