Buying guide · Air monitors
The best PM2.5 monitors for smoke and smog at home
Our top picks: the Qingping Air Monitor 2, the IQAir AirVisual Pro and the Temtop M2000 (2nd gen). Airleaf shows the outdoor AQI; a PM2.5 monitor shows what reaches inside. It's the quickest way to know whether to shut the windows, and whether your purifier is coping.
Every pick reads PM2.5 with a laser particle sensor; the better ones add CO₂, which tells you when a room shut against smog needs airing.
Updated · 6 picks · figures from AHAM, Energy Star, NIOSH and the makers · no brand pays to be listed
Our 6 picks at a glance
Qingping Air Monitor 2Best overall
$149.99at qingping.co
Amazon(opens in a new tab)
IQAir AirVisual ProIndoor vs outdoor
$329.99at iqair.com
Amazon(opens in a new tab)
Temtop M2000 (2nd gen)Handheld
$209.99at temtopus.com
Amazon(opens in a new tab)
Qingping Air Monitor LiteApple Home
$76.00at qingping.co
Amazon(opens in a new tab)
GoveeLife Smart Air Quality Monitor H5106Budget PM2.5
$39.99at govee.com
Amazon(opens in a new tab)
Airthings View PlusRadon too
$329.99at airthings.com
Amazon(opens in a new tab)
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Best overall
Qingping Air Monitor 2
PM2.5 and CO₂ on a sharp touch screen, with Wi-Fi history.
$149.99at qingping.co
Indoor vs outdoor
IQAir AirVisual Pro
Puts indoor PM2.5 beside the nearest outdoor station's reading.
$329.99at iqair.com
Handheld
Temtop M2000 (2nd gen)
A handheld meter for PM2.5, CO₂ and formaldehyde, room by room.
$209.99at temtopus.com · sale price, was $229.99
Budget PM2.5
GoveeLife Smart Air Quality Monitor H5106
The low-cost PM2.5-only pick, refreshing every 2 seconds.
$39.99at govee.com
Radon too
Airthings View Plus
PM2.5 and CO₂, plus radon for ground-floor homes.
$329.99at airthings.com
How we chose
Laser PM2.5 sensor
The sensor type that tracks fine particles in real time.
A screen you'll read
Readings visible at a glance, with history in an app.
CO₂ as a bonus
Shutting out smog lets CO₂ build up; monitors that read both cover both sides.
We haven't lab-tested these ourselves. The rankings rest on independent ratings (AHAM's verified CADR, Energy Star's listings, NIOSH approvals) and the makers' own figures, each shown on the product's page with where it's from. No brand pays to be listed, and the order doesn't change with commission. We earn a small commission when you buy through our links.
Questions
- How accurate are home PM2.5 monitors?
- Good at showing change: up when someone cooks or smoke gets in, down as a purifier works. Treat an exact figure as approximate, as reference monitors cost thousands.
- What is a good indoor PM2.5 level?
- Under 9 µg/m³ is within the US EPA's annual standard. With a purifier running and windows shut, indoor PM2.5 on a smoggy day should sit far below outdoor levels.
Before you buy
Check how bad the air gets where you live
A purifier matters most where the air is often unhealthy. See today's reading and the past week for your city, from the nearest ground stations.