What an air purifier needs over three years
Last checked 2026-10-03.
Over 3 years at 8 hours a day (an example to change), the replacement filters and the electricity use at rated power, in kWh, can be worked out for all 3 purifiers from their makers' own figures; enter your electricity price and the purifier and filter prices you see in the calculator for a total. The Blueair's filter count is a floor: its manual says its filter lasts up to 9 months, so a shorter life means more filters.
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| Purifier | Replacement filter | Interval | Rated power | 3-year scenario | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blueair Blue Pure 211i Max | Blue Pure 211i Max Particle + Carbon Filter (F2MAX) | up to 9 months | 46 W | at least 3 filters 403.0 kWh at rated power That assumes each filter lasts the full 9 months. At 6 months, the low end in Blueair's Blue Pure 211i Max support article, which says filters “generally have a lifetime of 6-9 months” (read 2026-10-03): 5 filters. | Amazon › |
| Levoit Vital 200S-P | Vital 200S Replacement Filter | 12 months | 50 W | 2 filters 438.0 kWh at rated power | Amazon › |
| Winix 5510 | Winix Filter Q (1712-0123-00) | 12 months | 65 W | 2 filters 569.4 kWh at rated power | Amazon › |
total = purchase price + replacement filters (the one in the box counted once) × filter price + rated power × hours a day × 365 × years × price per kWh. Rated power is the maker's stated maximum, not measured average use, so the kWh figure is an upper-end scenario. No price is shown or preset: the calculator uses the electricity, purifier and filter prices you enter.
Kinds of claim on this page: CADR and room size are product evidence, certified values from the AHAM Verifide directory (read 2026-10-03); rated power and filter intervals are each maker's manual or product-page statement, a manufacturer claim about its own product; anything no source states is unknown. CADR measures particles only, not gases or odors.
Calculator
Without JavaScript the calculator does not update; the table above is complete. For a cost, multiply the kWh by your own electricity price.
We tested nothing: no noise, air-quality or health measurements, and nothing here says a purifier prevents allergies or illness. Makers' own “square feet in one hour” figures use different air-change assumptions and are not compared here.
The purifiers themselves: Blueair Blue Pure 211i Max alternatives and Levoit Vital 200S vs Winix 5510.