AQI Improvement Calculator
Discover exactly how much your air purifier will improve your indoor Air Quality Index (AQI). Get precise predictions, health benefit timelines, and optimization strategies.
Room & Air Quality Setup
ft
8 ft30 ft
ft
8 ft30 ft
ft
7 ft12 ft
CFM
100 CFM800 CFM
AQI
10 AQI300 AQI
AQI Improvement Results
Current Indoor AQI
76
Moderate
With Air Purifier
29.488
Good
-47 AQI
61% improvement
7 min to noticeable improvement
Room ACH:10.0
Outdoor AQI:85
Windows:Closed
Room: 1,792 ft³ • 300 CFM purifier
Environmental Factors Affecting AQI
Expected Health Benefits
Reduced respiratory irritation
Better sleep quality
Improved cardiovascular health
Enhanced cognitive function
AQI Improvement: 47 points
Health benefits typically become noticeable within 7 minof continuous purifier operation with proper room sealing.
Health benefits typically become noticeable within 7 minof continuous purifier operation with proper room sealing.
AQI Scale & Health Implications
0-50
Good
Satisfactory air quality. Little to no health risk.
51-100
Moderate
Acceptable for most people. Sensitive individuals may experience minor issues.
101-150
Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups
Children, elderly, and people with heart/lung disease should limit exposure.
151-200
Unhealthy
Everyone may experience health effects. Sensitive groups more seriously affected.
201-300
Very Unhealthy
Health warnings. Everyone may experience more serious effects.
301-500
Hazardous
Emergency conditions. Entire population likely to be affected.
Your improvement: From 76 (Moderate) to 29.488 (Good) = 47 point reduction (61% improvement)
AQI Improvement Optimization Strategies
Maximize Purifier Effectiveness
- Keep windows and doors closed during operation
- Seal air leaks around windows and doors
- Size purifier for 5+ air changes per hour
- Place purifier away from walls for optimal airflow
Control Indoor Sources
- Use range hood when cooking to remove particles
- Vacuum regularly with HEPA filter vacuum
- Eliminate smoking indoors completely
- Choose low-emission furniture and materials
Timing & Strategy
- Run purifier 24/7 during high outdoor AQI days
- Pre-filter rooms before outdoor AQI spikes
- Monitor local AQI forecasts and air quality alerts
- Use multiple purifiers for whole-home protection
Expected Timeline for AQI Improvement
0-30 minutes:
Large particles removed, immediate air freshening
1-3 hours:
Noticeable AQI improvement, cleaner air feeling
6-12 hours:
Significant particle reduction, health benefits begin
24+ hours:
Maximum AQI improvement achieved, stabilized air quality
Real AQI Improvement Examples: 5 Common Scenarios
Example 1: Moderate Outdoor Pollution Day (Sealed Home)
Scenario
• 14×16 ft bedroom (1,792 ft³)
• Levoit Core 400S (300 CFM)
• Outdoor AQI: 85 (Moderate)
• Well-sealed room, windows closed
• Levoit Core 400S (300 CFM)
• Outdoor AQI: 85 (Moderate)
• Well-sealed room, windows closed
AQI Improvement
72 → 28
44 point reduction
Moderate → Good (61% improvement)
Health Timeline
2.5 hours
to noticeable relief
Reduced respiratory irritation
Ideal Conditions Success
Well-sealed room with properly sized purifier achieves excellent results. The 10+ ACH rate enables dramatic AQI improvement from Moderate to Good air quality within hours.
Example 2: Wildfire Smoke Day (Leaky House)
Scenario
• 20×25 ft living room (4,000 ft³)
• Coway AP-1512HH (246 CFM)
• Outdoor AQI: 165 (Unhealthy)
• Old house, poor sealing, HVAC running
• Coway AP-1512HH (246 CFM)
• Outdoor AQI: 165 (Unhealthy)
• Old house, poor sealing, HVAC running
AQI Improvement
142 → 98
44 point reduction
Unhealthy → Moderate (31% improvement)
Limitations
Limited
protection
Undersized for space + leaky building
Challenging Conditions
Undersized purifier in leaky house during wildfire provides limited protection. Still helpful but needs building improvements and larger/multiple purifiers for optimal results.
Example 3: Urban Apartment (Windows Open)
Scenario
• 12×14 ft bedroom (1,344 ft³)
• Dyson TP07 (312 CFM)
• Outdoor AQI: 95 (Moderate)
• Windows open for "fresh air"
• Dyson TP07 (312 CFM)
• Outdoor AQI: 95 (Moderate)
• Windows open for "fresh air"
AQI Improvement
90 → 78
12 point reduction
Moderate → Moderate (13% improvement)
Key Issue
Open Windows
defeat purifier
70% effectiveness loss
Common Mistake
Opening windows for "fresh air" during poor air quality days defeats the purifier. Minimal improvement achieved. Close windows and rely on purifier for clean air.
Example 4: Heavy Indoor Pollution (Cooking + Pets)
Scenario
• 16×20 ft kitchen/living (2,560 ft³)
• Austin Air HealthMate (400 CFM)
• Outdoor AQI: 65 (Moderate)
• Daily cooking, 3 pets, poor range hood
• Austin Air HealthMate (400 CFM)
• Outdoor AQI: 65 (Moderate)
• Daily cooking, 3 pets, poor range hood
AQI Improvement
125 → 85
40 point reduction
Unhealthy for Sensitive → Moderate (32% improvement)
Challenge
Continuous
pollution sources
Indoor sources elevate baseline AQI
Indoor Source Management
High-capacity purifier provides good improvement despite heavy indoor pollution sources. Source control (better range hood, pet grooming) would enhance results significantly.
Example 5: Extreme Pollution Emergency (Hazardous AQI)
Scenario
• 10×12 ft bedroom (960 ft³)
• IQAir HealthPro Plus (300 CFM)
• Outdoor AQI: 285 (Hazardous)
• Sealed safe room, emergency conditions
• IQAir HealthPro Plus (300 CFM)
• Outdoor AQI: 285 (Hazardous)
• Sealed safe room, emergency conditions
AQI Improvement
245 → 125
120 point reduction
Hazardous → Unhealthy for Sensitive (49% improvement)
Protection Level
Partial
life-saving reduction
Still unhealthy but much safer
Emergency Protection
Even medical-grade purifier in sealed room cannot achieve "Good" AQI during hazardous conditions. However, the 120-point reduction provides crucial protection and makes indoor air much safer than outdoors.
Best Air Purifiers for Maximum AQI Improvement
📊
Maximum AQI Improvement
High CADR + Large Rooms
IQAir HealthPro Plus
$899 → 425 CFM
HyperHEPA medical grade
Removes 99.5% of particles down to 0.003 microns
Typical AQI reduction:60-80 points
Room coverage:Up to 1,125 sq ft
Best for:Extreme conditions
💰
Best Value AQI Improvement
Great Results + Affordable
Levoit Core 400S
$199 → 300 CFM
True HEPA + Smart features
App control, air quality monitoring
Typical AQI reduction:40-60 points
Room coverage:Up to 400 sq ft
Best for:Most homes
📱
Smart AQI Monitoring
Real-time AQI Display
Dyson Pure Cool TP07
$449 → 312 CFM
HEPA + Carbon + Fan
Real-time AQI display and app reporting
Typical AQI reduction:35-55 points
Room coverage:Up to 350 sq ft
Best for:AQI tracking
Maximizing AQI Improvement
- High CADR Essential: 300+ CFM for meaningful AQI reduction
- Room Sealing Critical: Seal air leaks for maximum effectiveness
- Size Properly: Target 5+ air changes per hour
- Control Sources: Minimize indoor pollution generation
AQI Improvement Limitations
- Cannot eliminate outdoor pollution: Always some infiltration
- Continuous sources: Indoor pollution constantly regenerates
- HVAC interference: Can spread particles between rooms
- Extreme conditions: May not achieve "Good" AQI during emergencies
How to Predict Your AQI Improvement
Step 1: Establish Your Baseline Indoor AQI
Get Outdoor AQI
Check AirNow.gov, weather apps, or local air quality monitors for current outdoor AQI.
Assess Indoor Sources
Cooking, pets, smoking, and cleaning add 10-75 AQI points depending on intensity.
Evaluate Building Envelope
Well-sealed homes reduce outdoor infiltration by 15-45%. Leaky homes offer minimal protection.
Step 2: Calculate Purifier Effectiveness
Determine Air Changes per Hour
ACH = (CADR × 60) ÷ Room Volume. Target 5+ ACH for significant AQI improvement.
Account for Real-World Factors
Open windows reduce effectiveness 70%. Poor sealing reduces effectiveness 20-40%.
Estimate Maximum Improvement
Well-sized purifiers typically achieve 40-80 point AQI reductions in optimal conditions.
AQI Improvement Formula
Expected AQI Improvement =
Baseline Indoor AQI
× Purifier Efficiency (based on ACH)
× Room Sealing Factor
× Window Status Factor
- Minimum AQI Floor (5-15)
Example: 85 outdoor AQI → 72 indoor baseline
72 × 0.8 (purifier efficiency) × 0.9 (good sealing) × 1.0 (windows closed) = 52 point reduction
Result: 72 → 20 AQI (Moderate → Good)
72 × 0.8 (purifier efficiency) × 0.9 (good sealing) × 1.0 (windows closed) = 52 point reduction
Result: 72 → 20 AQI (Moderate → Good)
Advanced AQI Science & Optimization
AQI Components
PM2.5 (Most Critical)
Fine particles. Primary AQI driver. HEPA filters 99.97% effective.
PM10 (Coarse Particles)
Dust, pollen. Easier to filter. HEPA removes 99.9%+.
Gases (O₃, NO₂, SO₂)
Require activated carbon. HEPA ineffective for gases.
Purifier Physics
Exponential Decay
Particle removal follows exponential curve. 90% improvement takes 3x longer than 50%.
Mixing Efficiency
Room air must mix well. Poor circulation reduces effectiveness significantly.
Steady State
Balance between cleaning rate and infiltration rate determines final AQI.
Monitoring & Validation
Air Quality Monitors
Purple Air, IQAir, Awair provide real-time indoor/outdoor AQI comparison.
Particle Counters
Professional tools measure actual particle reduction in real-time.
Health Tracking
Sleep quality, respiratory symptoms often improve within days of AQI improvement.
Expected AQI Improvement by Outdoor Conditions
| Outdoor AQI | Typical Indoor (no purifier) | With Good Purifier | Improvement |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50 (Good) | 35-45 | 15-25 | 15-25 points |
| 100 (Moderate) | 70-85 | 25-40 | 40-50 points |
| 150 (Unhealthy for Sensitive) | 110-130 | 45-70 | 55-70 points |
| 200 (Unhealthy) | 150-175 | 70-100 | 65-85 points |
| 300 (Hazardous) | 220-260 | 100-150 | 100-130 points |