How Much Does an Air Purifier Cost to Run? (UK)
Updated: October 2026 · Ofgem rate: 24.5p/kWh (Q1 2026) · Prices checked 17 Oct 2026
Most UK air purifier guides quote wattage and leave the maths to you. This page does it: running costs for 13 hero models, calculated at the current Ofgem rate, split between electricity and filter costs so you can see exactly where the money goes.
The short answer: electricity costs are almost always the smaller number. For most purifiers, replacing the filter on time determines whether your annual running cost is £30 or £120. Two purifiers with the same price tag can have very different 3-year costs once filters are included.
Running cost table — 13 UK air purifiers
Electricity at 24.5p/kWh (Ofgem price cap, Q1 2026). Filter cost = annual spend at the manufacturer's recommended replacement interval. 3-year total = unit price + (electricity at 12h/day × 3) + (filter cost × 3).
| Model | Unit price | Elec/yr 24h/day |
Elec/yr 12h/day |
Filter/yr | Running cost/yr 12h/day |
3-year total 12h/day |
Filter % of running |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Levoit Core 300S | £84.99 | £17.17 | £8.59 | £39.98 | £48.57 | £230.70 | 85% |
| Levoit Core 400S | £174.99 | £25.75 | £12.88 | £49.98 | £62.86 | £363.57 | 80% |
| Levoit Core 200S | £69.99 | £12.88 | £6.44 | £29.98 | £36.42 | £179.25 | 82% |
| Coway Airmega Mighty | £219.99 | £42.92 | £21.46 | £39.99 | £61.45 | £404.34 | 65% |
| Coway Airmega 150 | £149.99 | £21.46 | £10.73 | £34.99 | £45.72 | £287.15 | 77% |
| Blueair Blue Max 3250i | £129.00 | £42.92 | £21.46 | £70.00 | £91.46 | £403.38 | 77% * |
| Blueair Blue Pure 211i Max | £301.30 | £98.73 | £49.36 | £69.00 | £118.36 | £656.38 | 58% * |
| Blueair Blue Pure Mini Max | £79.00 | £10.73 | £5.37 | £59.98 | £65.35 | £275.05 | 92% |
| Shark NeverChange5 HP072UK | £299.99 | £64.39 | £32.19 | £10.00 | £42.19 | £426.56 | 24% * |
| Philips 600 AC0651/10 | £89.99 | £21.46 | £10.73 | £44.99 | £55.72 | £257.15 | 81% |
| Philips 3200 AC3220/10 | £249.99 | £32.19 | £16.10 | £64.99 | £81.09 | £493.26 | 80% |
| Philips 2200 Series AC2220/10 | £219.99 | £60.09 | £30.05 | £15.00 | £45.05 | £355.13 | 33% * |
* Shark NeverChange5: filter % assumes the manufacturer's 5-year claim holds. If the filter needs replacing at 2.5 years (heavy use), annual filter cost doubles and the 3-year total rises to approximately £456. See our Shark review for the full three-scenario breakdown.
Electricity vs filter: where the money actually goes
For almost every purifier on this list, the filter dominates running costs. The Blueair Blue Max 3250i is a clear example: electricity costs £21.46/year at 12h/day, but the filter adds another £70.00 — making the filter bill roughly 3× the electricity cost. The contrast at the other extreme is the Philips 2200 AC2220: its 36-month filter interval drops filter cost to £15/yr, making it one of the few models where electricity (£30.05/yr) actually exceeds filter spend.
The exception is the Shark NeverChange5. Its 5-year filter claim keeps the filter cost at roughly £10/year (if the claim holds), so electricity becomes the dominant expense at 76% of annual costs. The trade-off: it uses 30W typically, compared to 8W for the Levoit Core 300S — roughly £24 more per year in electricity at 12h/day.
The Levoit Core 300S has the lowest 3-year total of any purifier with a credible room-size claim at 3 ACH. The Core 200S costs less in total but covers a smaller room. Whether either beats the Coway Mighty for your situation depends on the room — which is what the room size calculator resolves.
How the numbers are calculated
- Electricity: typical wattage × annual hours ÷ 1,000 × £0.245/kWh (Ofgem rate)
- Filter: replacement filter price ÷ stated interval in months × 12. Uses the manufacturer's recommended interval.
- 3-year total: unit price + (electricity at 12h/day × 3) + (filter cost × 3)
- Wattage source: manufacturer UK spec sheets. Typical wattage is used, not maximum. Manufacturers who publish only maximum wattage are noted.
- Ofgem rate: 24.5p/kWh — the price cap for Q1 2026. This page is updated when the cap changes.
The Meaco Arete Two — a different calculation
The Meaco Arete Two is a hybrid dehumidifier-purifier and is excluded from the main table because its power profile does not compare directly. At 195W (compressor running), a straight 12h/day calculation gives £209/year in electricity — about 24× the Core 300S. Over 3 years, the unit and running costs combine to over £1,000.
In practice, the Meaco runs at 195W only while dehumidifying, then drops to lower-draw purifier mode. Real electricity cost will be lower than this ceiling figure. We discuss the actual running cost in context in the Meaco Arete Two review — specifically against the cost of a standalone dehumidifier, which is the correct comparison for UK buyers with damp problems.
Not sure what CADR you need?
Running cost is only one side of the decision. A cheap model that cannot clean your room is no saving. Use the room coverage tool to find the minimum m³/h for your room size first, then compare costs only for models that meet it.
Prices and filter costs checked 17 October 2026. Ofgem rate: 24.5p/kWh (Q1 2026). Updated when the Ofgem price cap changes or when product prices shift materially. Affiliate disclosure.