The Best Air Purifiers Under £60 in the UK (2025 Review)

Finding an effective air purifier on a tight budget can feel like a challenge, but you don't need to spend hundreds of pounds to improve the air quality in your personal space. For under £60, you can find compact, efficient devices perfect for a desk, bedside table, or a very small room. These models are designed to create a bubble of cleaner air around you, helping to capture dust, pollen, and other common allergens.

This guide focuses on the best air purifiers under £60 in the UK, breaking down what you can realistically expect for your money. We'll review the top models, explain their running costs, and help you choose the right one for your needs. If you find your room is larger or your requirements more demanding, you may want to explore our guide to the best air purifiers under £150.

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Quick Summary: Our Top Picks Under £60

Pressed for time? Here are the best budget-friendly air purifiers at a glance. These are best suited for personal use in very small spaces.

  • Best for Desks & Quiet Spaces: Levoit Core Mini — A whisper-quiet and energy-efficient purifier with the unique addition of an aromatherapy pad for essential oils. It offers balanced performance for its tiny footprint.
  • Best Smart Features on a Budget: GoveeLife Smart Air Purifier Lite — Uniquely offers app and voice control in this price bracket, making it the smartest choice if you want remote control and scheduling, and it's often on sale for under £60.
  • Best for Bedside Tables: Russell Hobbs Clean Air Mini Aroma — An exceptionally quiet model that is barely audible on its lowest setting, making it ideal for light sleepers. However, finding replacement filters can be a significant challenge.

 

The Best Air Purifiers Under £60 in Detail

Here we take a closer look at the top-performing air purifiers available for under £60. Each is suited to a slightly different need, from smart home integration to near-silent operation.

 

Levoit Core Mini — Best for Desks and Quiet Spaces

 

  • Best for: Creating a zone of clean air in a personal space like an office desk or a small bedside area, especially for those sensitive to noise.
  • Key features:
    • CADR (Clean Air Delivery Rate): 78 m³/h
    • Compact and portable design.
    • 3-stage filtration system (Pre-filter, HEPA-like, Activated Carbon).
    • Integrated aroma pad for adding your own essential oils.
    • Extremely quiet operation, with noise levels as low as 25dB.
  • Performance/Results: The Levoit Core Mini is highly effective for its recommended room size of up to 17 m². Its 3-in-1 filter captures common airborne particles like dust and pollen, while the carbon layer helps with light odours. The 7W motor is very energy-efficient, making it cheap to run continuously.
  • Drawbacks: Lacks any smart features or an auto mode; control is manual with a simple one-touch button for three fan speeds.
  • Ongoing cost/maintenance: Filters are recommended for replacement every 4–6 months. A two-pack of official third-party replacement filters costs approximately £25.

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GoveeLife Smart Air Purifier Lite — Best Smart Features on a Budget

 

  • Best for: Users who want the convenience of app or voice control without spending a fortune. Ideal for a small bedroom or home office.
    • Key features:
    • CADR (Clean Air Delivery Rate): 85 m³/h
    • App control for remote operation and scheduling.
    • Voice control compatible with smart home systems.
    • 3-in-1 HEPA filter design.
    • Built-in timer function.
  • Performance/Results: While its retail price can be slightly over the £60 mark, this model is frequently on sale, bringing it into the budget category. Its smart functionality is its standout feature, offering a level of control that is unheard of at this price point. It performs well for its stated room size of 16.9 m².
  • Drawbacks: The included aromatherapy feature was found to be underwhelming in tests.
  • Ongoing cost/maintenance: Official replacement filters cost £19.99. The recommended lifespan is not stated, but similar filters typically last 6-8 months, making for a reasonable annual running cost.

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Russell Hobbs Clean Air Mini Aroma — Best for Bedside Tables

 

  • Best for: Light sleepers who need an air purifier for their bedside table, as it is exceptionally quiet on its lowest setting.
  • Key features:
    • CADR (Clean Air Delivery Rate): 100 m³/h
    • Extremely quiet operation, described as almost undetectable.
    • Integrated diffuser pad for essential oils.
    • 3-layer filter system claiming 99.95% capture of airborne allergens.
    • Timer with 2, 4, or 8-hour settings.
  • Performance/Results: With its solid CADR performance, this unit is effective for its recommended room size of up to 12 m². Its main strength is its near-silent performance, which makes it perfect for night-time use without causing any disturbance.
  • Drawbacks: The most significant issue is the difficulty in finding official replacement filters. The brand website does not appear to list them for sale, which could create a major problem for long-term use.
  • Ongoing cost/maintenance: Due to the lack of available information on replacement filters, the long-term running cost is unknown and potentially problematic.

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What to Realistically Expect from an Air Purifier Under £60

It's important to set the right expectations for a budget air purifier. These are not whole-house solutions but are highly effective within their intended limits. Here’s what you get for your money.

 

Performance and Room Size

Models in this price range are best described as "personal" air purifiers. With a Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) typically between 75-100 m³/h, they are designed to clean the air effectively in a very small area, such as around your desk or bedside table (up to around 17 m²). They lack the power to clean an entire living room but excel at creating a bubble of fresh air where you need it most. You can learn more about how to match performance to your space in our detailed guide to air flow metrics.

 

Filtration Quality

Most units under £60 use a 3-stage filtration system: a pre-filter for large particles like pet hair, a main filter for smaller allergens, and an activated carbon layer for light odours. While effective, the main filter is often "HEPA-like" rather than a certified True HEPA filter, which must capture 99.95% of particles. For personal use, this is generally sufficient, but for severe allergies, you may need to invest more. For a deeper dive, read our full guide to air filter types.

 

Noise and Energy Use

A major advantage of these smaller purifiers is their quiet operation and low energy consumption. With minimum noise levels around 25dB (the equivalent of a whisper), they are ideal for bedrooms and offices where noise is a concern. Their small motors are also highly efficient, often using less than 10W of power, meaning they cost very little to run 24/7. Explore the details in our guides to air purifier noise and energy consumption.

 

Long-Term Running Costs

The single biggest consideration at this price point is the cost and availability of replacement filters. A filter typically lasts 4-8 months, and a replacement can cost £20-£30 per year, or more. Before buying, always check if filters are easy to find and purchase. As seen with the Russell Hobbs model, a cheap initial price can be a trap if you can't maintain the device affordably.

 

How We Chose These Models

Our recommendations are based on a combination of in-depth research into technical specifications, analysis of long-term owner reviews, and a focus on real-world value. We prioritised models with a proven track record, clear performance metrics (like CADR), and a reasonable total cost of ownership. Critically, we considered the availability of replacement filters, as a purifier is only as good as its last filter.

 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

 

Are cheap air purifiers worth it?

Yes, if your expectations are realistic. A sub-£60 air purifier is excellent for improving the air quality in a small, personal space like around a desk or by your bed. They are not powerful enough to clean an entire large room.

 

What is the best budget air purifier in the UK?

For personal spaces under £60, the Levoit Core Mini is our top recommendation due to its quiet operation, low running costs, and readily available filters, offering the best overall balance of performance and long-term usability.

 

Can a small air purifier clean a room?

It depends on the size. A small purifier is effective for a very small room (e.g., up to 17 m²). For a standard UK living room or master bedroom, you would need a larger, more powerful model. Always check the manufacturer's recommended room size.

 

How much does it cost to run a cheap air purifier?

Running costs have two parts. Electricity usage is minimal, often less than a low-wattage lightbulb, costing only a few pounds a month to run 24/7. The main cost is filter replacement, which typically ranges from £25 to £40 per year for models in this price range.

 

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