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Reviewed / Emily Midgley
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Credit:
Reviewed / Emily Midgley
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Our top choice air quality monitor measures seven household pollutants, has an easy-to-use app, and is compatible with smart home technology. Read More
A user-friendly air quality monitor that covers the common pollutants, has smart home integrations, and provides tips to improve air quality. Read More
Easily incorporate the Amazon Smart Air Quality Monitor into your Alexa Routines to seamlessly control the air quality in your home. Read More
AirKnight is a simple, portable, comprehensive air quality monitor that doesn’t require Wi-Fi and has one large screen for all of the outputs. Read More
A compact air quality monitor that is affordable, but lacks the bells and whistles of its competitors. Read More
How often do you think about your indoor air quality? Cooking, cleaning, and wood-burning stoves are just a few everyday activities that can impact the level of pollutants in your indoor air. If you’re concerned about the air quality in your home or are just curious about how your air stacks up against recommended norms, an indoor air quality monitor can help you identify any areas of concern.
Most air quality monitors will test for particulate matter and volatile organic compounds, but many offer even more comprehensive coverage. VOCs include airborne pollutants such as kitchen gasses, fumes, and cleaning products. We tested the best indoor air quality monitors, considering factors like user experience, value, and pollutant coverage options. Our testing found that the Airthings View Plus (available at Amazon for $299.00) is the best indoor air quality monitor. It offers coverage of an impressive seven household air quality elements. Plus, it features Bluetooth and connects to multiple smart home platforms.
For something more affordable, check out the Awair Element (available at Amazon). In addition to this top pick, we found several other air quality monitors offering impressive features at varying price points.
The Airthings View Plus monitors seven key air quality components, local outdoor pollen counts, and is Bluetooth/Wi-Fi enabled.
The Airthings View Plus landed at the top of our list not only for the number of pollutants it monitors but also for its impressive comprehensive compatibility with smart home systems and an easy-to-navigate app.
The View Plus measures radon gas, PMs, carbon dioxide, VOCs, humidity, temperature, and air pressure. Not all monitors offer radon detection, but since it's such a powerful and harmful pollutant, it is comforting to have this extra feature.
Its simple, rounded design takes up minimal space on a counter or shelf. The screen only shows two pollutants at a time, but you can use the app to adjust which settings are shown on the E-ink screen. The View Plus is powered using six AAA batteries or by using the included USB cord. We don’t like that the USB intake is hidden underneath the battery compartment lid and the awkward placement makes it tricky to install the cord. Also, a power adapter is not included, so you have to provide your own.
One of our favorite features is the accompanying smartphone app. The app provides a list of pollutants with color-coded indicators. It notes each item as being good, fair, or poor. You can select a reading to get more details and you can also look back at data for the past 30 days. If you wave your hand over the View Plus unit, it lights up in the corresponding colors, green, yellow, or red, and gives you a quick message about your air quality. When the CO2 reading turned to fair, we opened a window to improve ventilation and it was cool to watch in real time as the CO2 levels went down.
Once you register your account, Airthings sends you a series of helpful emails, giving you tips for placement, and helping you understand different pollutants. They also let you know when your unit is calibrated as some measurements take several days to get up to speed.
While the Airthings View Plus is one of the most expensive options available, the ease of use and the number of pollutants measured make it worthwhile. We also really appreciate the customer service emails offering an extra level of support.
Seven sensors
Integrates with smart home platforms
Easy to use
None we could find
The Awair Element monitors five key air quality components, is Wi-Fi enabled and has a user-friendly app to review outputs.
There is a lot to like about the Awair Element indoor air quality monitor. While it doesn’t provide radon or pressure detection like the View Plus, it still offers detection of the three main pollutants—PMs, CO2, and VOCs—in addition to temperature and humidity. A USB cord and adapter are provided as a power source. There is no battery option for the Element.
The Element doesn’t have a screen display. You’ll see an overall air quality score and a small color-coded indication light in the top right corner indicating if the number means good, fair, or poor. It also shows a series of dots that light up to indicate measurement levels; One dot means healthy and five dots mean unhealthy. You have to log into the app to see which element corresponds to which row of dots. However, the app is extremely comprehensive and houses all the details you need to understand your air quality.
Connecting your device to the app is simple and only takes a few steps. The app is very user-friendly and provides readings that are easy to understand and tips to take action should you need to. We really liked the detailed range scale for each pollutant so we could understand not just the status of the air quality, but where it fell on the overall scale.
The Awair Element offers many of the same features as the Airthings View Plus, at a slightly lower price point. The Element is a solid choice if you don’t plan to move your air quality monitor from room to room and you’re fine without a battery option and radon detection.
Integrates with smart home platforms
Provides tips for improving air quality
User-friendly app
Five sensors
Constant power source required
Lacks display screen
The Amazon Smart Air Quality Monitor measures five key air quality components and seamlessly integrates with Alexa Routines.
The Amazon Smart Indoor Air Quality Monitor is a top option if you use Alexa. The smallest in size of the devices we tested, it measures five of the key air quality components. Absent from the Smart monitor are carbon dioxide and radon sensors. Instead, there is a reading for carbon monoxide, which we didn’t see on the other models we tested. It is important to note that it is not meant to replace a stand-alone CO detector.
The small cube does not have a screen. Instead, a color-coded indicator light at the top notifies the user of the current air quality. All of the insights are provided via the Alexa app. It was a tad frustrating navigating all of the different components in the app to find the Smart Air Monitor data. Ideally, we would prefer if the Smart monitor had its own app.
However, we like that insights are provided on an hourly, daily, and weekly basis, allowing you to drill down into the data for a better understanding. Amazon also provides tips for creating cleaner air in your home.
What makes the Smart air quality monitor stand out is its ability to integrate with Alexa Routines and with the Amazon Echo. Being able to have the device communicate with an air purifier to turn on automatically is a game changer. With all of the high-tech features and the low price point, the Amazon Smart air quality monitor is a great value.
Read our full review of the Amazon Smart Indoor Air Quality Monitor.
Integrates with Alexa smart home and Alexa Routines
Compact size
Five sensors
No stand-alone app
Constant power source required
The Airknight AK1000 is the best indoor air quality monitor for formaldehyde.
The AirKnight indoor air quality monitor features a large screen so you can see all of the eight air quality components it detects at once.
The included quick start guide is a wealth of information and clearly explains each of the eight components. You’ll also find general tips for why the readings may be high. While the data is real-time, you won’t receive real-time advice on improving your air quality. One big complaint is that the guide’s font size is minuscule and requires a magnifying glass to be able to read it.
AirKnight uses color-coding and smiley face indicators for their four air-quality categories, good, acceptable, unhealthy, and very unhealthy. If you are standing in front of the monitor, it is easy to see if adjustments need to be made. However, since there is no online component, there is also no historical data to reference should you need it. The unit features a USB power cord and adaptor but also has the convenience of a rechargeable battery that lasts up to 11 hours.
The large size and busy screen are far from discreet on a counter, but if you like being able to see your air quality readings in one place without using a phone, this is a good mid-range option.
Eight sensors
Portable
No Wi-Fi needed
No historical data
Larger size
Four sensors
Compact size
No Wi-Fi needed
Small screen
Toggle button for data
Easy to see large digital display
Displays outdoor weather readings
Cumbersome set-up process
While testing our indoor air quality monitors we paid close attention to user experience, connectivity, performance and more.
When testing indoor air quality monitors we looked at multiple variables, including how many types of sensors are included, the overall user experience, and the connectivity/compatibility with Wi-Fi and smart home technology. Each model is scored numerically and then ranked to determine which options you should consider.
Each unit was set up on the kitchen counter. We chose the kitchen as it is a highly frequented space equipped with a gas stove. We monitored the readings of each unit when the burners and oven were in use to see how the measurements of each key factor changed.
An indoor air quality monitor allows you to quickly see when certain key air quality elements drop below normal.
Yes, they can alert you when certain elements in your air become unhealthy so you can quickly take action to improve it.
If anyone in your home has environmental allergies, there is poor ventilation, or you often run a wood-burning stove, we recommend getting an indoor air quality monitor.
For the most part, our indoor air quality remained good during our weeks of testing. However, there were several times when the carbon dioxide levels dipped into the fair category and we received tips to open a window to let fresh air in. We also received alerts that the particulate matter increased significantly and we should turn on an air purifier.
Amazon’s Smart Air Quality monitor takes its integration even further and can alert your air purifier to turn on when conditions become poor. That kind of seamless integration makes life easier and is one less thing to have to worry about.
Indoor air quality monitors check for different pollutants and environmental factors inside of your home to see how clean the air is. The sensors check for certain factors that can impact air quality, giving you useful information to keep the indoor environment healthy.
Indoor air quality monitors have a range of sensors, but these are the most common types you'll find:
These sensors play a key role in understanding the air you breathe and spotting potential health risks. By monitoring these factors, you can make smart choices to improve ventilation, reduce harmful substances, and keep your indoor air healthier.
The best way to monitor indoor air quality is to use an indoor air quality monitor. A good air quality monitor will measure key pollutants like particulate matter, VOCs, carbon dioxide, and humidity levels in real time. You can easily find monitors that sync with your smartphone, allowing you to track your indoor air quality trends and receive alerts if anything goes out of the safe range. Alongside using a monitor, you should regularly change your air filters, ventilate your space, and reduce sources of indoor pollution, like using certain cleaning products or tobacco smoke. With an indoor air quality monitor, you have a clear picture of your indoor environment, which can help you take action before issues arise.
Common signs to watch out for include frequent headaches, dizziness, or more tiredness than usual. You might notice that you or others in the house are coughing more often, have irritated eyes, nose, or throat, or are struggling with allergies or asthma symptoms. Poor indoor air quality can also cause musty odors or make the air feel stale and stuffy. If you or your family are experiencing these symptoms, especially when spending a lot of time indoors, it’s worth checking your home’s air quality to see if something’s wrong.
AQI, or Air Quality Index, is a standardized system that measures and shares data about how clean or polluted the outdoor air is on any given day. The United States Environmental Protection Agency created the AQI in 1976. It’s a simple scale from 0 to 500, where lower numbers indicate better air quality and higher numbers mean the air is more polluted and potentially harmful to your health. The AQI focuses on major pollutants like ozone, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide. Each pollutant is given a score, and the overall AQI is based on the highest scores. So, when you see an AQI number, it’s a quick way to understand whether it’s a good day to be outside or limit your exposure.
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Emily Midgley
Contributor
Emily Midgley is a former marketing executive turned editorial project manager. She's also a home-organization enthusiast and avid scrapbooker.
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