Are Kmart air purifiers any good?

Anula Wiwatowska
Apr 19, 2024
Icon Time To Read4 min read
// Surprisingly fresh

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Kmart is known for cheap appliances and homewares, but you may be wondering if the products themselves are actually any good. When it comes to Kmart air purifiers, the specs suggest that these budget options may actually be worth considering. We know, it is truly surprising.

Even though they are low on features, the filters on these cheap air purifiers are up to scratch. Of course there are some compromises for the low price, but if you’re fine with them, Kmart air purifiers may actually be worth your money.

What to look for in an air purifier

Pin

Filtering

Look for a HEPA filter at the absolute minimum.
PRO TIP: Avoid "washable filters"

Info Box

Air quality readouts

If you're purifying your air then you'll want to be able to see that in action. Look for air purifiers that have simple readout information to help you make better decisions about how the device needs to be used.

Light Bulb

Coverage

You'll need an air purifier that can handle the right amount of space for the room you're hoping to cover.

Megaphone

Replacement filter price

Every six months or so you'll need to buy a replacement filter for your air purifier. Look in to the cost of this consistent upkeep to make sure you're not signing up for an expensive run.

Kmart air purifiers: Filtering

Regardless of the size, all Kmart air purifiers have the same triple filtering system; a pre filter, a HEPA filter, and an activated carbon filter. The filter here that matters the most in air purification is the HEPA filter. Short for high-efficiency particulate absorbing filter, all HEPA filters need to remove 99.95% of airborne particles to use the term.

Kmart air purifiers all have a H13 HEPA filter, which is deemed “medical grade”. These filters are some of the highest tier air filtration and can remove 99.95% of particles measuring just 0.2 microns in diameter, which is smaller than the typical PM2.5 particles air purifiers tend to talk about. According to Kmart’s product documentation, these particular filters are graded for 0.3 microns but still retain the H13 grading. This means that with the right upkeep, Kmart air purifiers should be able to filter out most dust, pollen, viruses, and bacteria.

On top of the HEPA filter, all purifiers from the big-box store come with a pre-filter that catches larger dander like pet fur, and an activated carbon filter that traps odours.

Kmart air purifiers: Coverage

None of Kmart’s air purifiers are particularly powerful, so their effectiveness is limited to relatively small areas. The Small Air Purifier covers just 3.9m2, the Medium covers 13m2, and the Large 27m2- respectively these would work at full efficiency in rooms sized 2m x 2m, 3.6m x 3.3m, and 5.2m x 5.2m.

Both the Small and Medium units cover significantly less area than most other air purifiers on the market. They may still be able to filter a room but it will take much longer, and ultimately be less effective, but could still be worth considering for small spaces. The Large and most powerful Kmart unit is still well below the 51.5m2 average coverage for air purifiers we have reviewed.

Kmart air purifiers: Operational features

The more you pay, the more features you’ll get from your Kmart air purifier. Starting off the Small version has no additional features- you’ll get two fan speeds, but that's it. Step up to the Medium and you’ll get a timer, and the Large will get you three fan speeds, timers, a 30-minute auto-off function, and a remote control.

Notably, none of the models have air quality readouts which is a pretty significant downside. Without one it can be difficult to identify when you may actually need to turn the air purifier on, or amp up its speed. All but two of the air purifiers we have reviewed use a basic traffic-light indication system to show air quality, so it is disappointing to see such a glaring omission from Kmart’s range.

Kmart air purifiers: Outright price and running costs

Kmart is synonymous with cheap, and oh boy do these air purifiers live up to that comparison. Starting at just $49, and going up to $149 for the outright units, these are by far some of the most affordable options out there.

Their ongoing running costs are consistently low with replacement filters starting from as little as $14 and capping out at $29 for the Large filter. We just have to hope that Kmart will continue to stock these filters for some time to come. At the time of writing a handful of older filters were on clearance, or entirely out of stock, so there may come a time when it is much harder to source replacements.

So, are Kmart air purifiers good?

Kmart air purifiers have their downsides, but on paper they are a great entry-level device for the price. If you’re looking to handle a small space, and don’t mind being a bit in the dark on the current air quality then these present a low-cost way to purify the air in your home. Just remember that support stock like replacement filters may not be available forever, so the ongoing upkeep costs are liable to change. But by the time you need a new air filter, you might be ready to invest in something more powerful.

Kmart air purifiers compared

Air purifier
HEPA Filter
Coverage
Filter price
Price
Kmart Small Air PurifierSmall air purifier kmartHEPA 133.9m2$14
Kmart Medium Air PurifierMedium air purifier kmartHEPA 1313m2$19
Kmart Large Air PurifierLarge air purifier kmartHEPA 1327m2$29
Anula Wiwatowska
Written by
Anula is the Home and Lifestyle Tech Editor within the Reviews.org extended universe. Working in the tech space since 2020, she covers phone and internet plans, gadgets, smart devices, and the intersection of technology and culture. Anula was a finalist for Best Feature Writer at the 2022 Consensus Awards, and an eight time finalist across categories at the IT Journalism Awards. Her work contributed to WhistleOut's Best Consumer Coverage win in 2023.

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