The 5 Best Shop Air Filtration Systems – [Reviews & Rankings]

Without a shop air filtration system in your workshop, you could be spending a lot of time in a space with poor air quality. Dust, soot, and other airborne pollutants can infiltrate your respiratory system and make you sick (Source). The best shop air filtration systems ensure that the air in your workshop is clean.

A shop air filtration system, sometimes called an air purifier, is a device that sucks up air and rids it of contaminants using internal and external filters before circulating it back into the room (Source).

However, the best air filtration systems have a heavier airflow than a standard residential filtration system. Airflow is measured in cubic feet per minute (CFM) and is sometimes adjustable based on your needs.

Shop air filtration systems can be portable, however, industrial units are often hung from the ceiling for optimal results. They should be positioned near where you spend the most time and should be constantly operational.

Aside from occasionally having to change filters, shop air filtration systems require little maintenance and are easy to operate. Whether you’re a professional tradesman or a hobbyist, every workshop should have one.

Prior to purchasing a shop air filtration system, you’ll need to consider its air filter efficiency in microns. This number dictates the smallest particle it’s capable of trapping, so the smaller the better. You’ll also want to consider its airflow in CFM, its clean air delivery rate, and its size. 

Don’t spend another minute in your workshop without one of these top-rated shop air filtration systems.

What is an Air Shop Filtration System?

An air filtration system is simply a solution that is primarily designed to purify the air in a shop setting. This is often achieved through a specialized filtering process to get rid of harmful microscopic particles from the air. However, different shop air filtration systems function differently.

For instance, a particulate filter consists of porous or fibrous materials that are meant to remove such solid particles as pollen, dust, bacteria, and mold from the air. Some of the best shop air filtration systems feature a catalyst or an absorbent material like charcoal.

Such systems are capable of removing gaseous pollutants like ozone and organic compounds from the air as well. Air filtration systems find their application in places where air quality is important, such as in ventilation systems.

How Much Does a Shop Air Filtration System Cost?

The cost of shop air filtration systems varies significantly from one model to another. The portable filtration models are the cheapest, ranging between $80 and $180 apiece.

For extended media filters, the cost including installation fees will be $400 to $600 per system. Electronic shop air filtration systems, on the other hand, are priced between $400 and $1,000 apiece.

Comparing the Best Shop Air Filtration Systems

1. WEN 3410 3-Speed Remote-Controlled Air Filtration System – The Best Shop Air Filtration System Overall

This WEN shop air filtration system features cleanable filters that are designed to eliminate airborne particles in your woodworking shop. The variable 3-speed settings of the unit may be controlled remotely from a distance of up to 26 feet.

The model is lightweight, weighing about 31 pounds, and is fitted with a handle as well as mounting hooks. These allow for the easy installation of the unit on any ceiling. Using the included remote controller, you can easily choose your preferred airflow setting to 300, 350 or 400 CFM.

The integrated timer lets you preset the automatic shutdown of the unit to a specific time. With such a feature, you can just leave the filtration system running at the end of the day and it will shut itself down at the preset time. The 5-micron outer filter removes larger dust particles, while the 1-micron inner filter catches the rest, eliminating 99% of airborne particulates.

2. JET 708620B AFS-1000B 550/702/1044 CFM 3-Speed Air Filtration System – The Best Electrostatic Shop Air Filtration System

Although thus WEN shop air filtration system can achieve a flow rate of up to 1,044 CFM, it is only suited for use in smaller spaces. The model is essentially a 3-Speed Air Filtration System with Remote and Electrostatic Pre-Filter.

The lightweight design and mounted hooks make its installation on ceilings rather easy. It may be used with or without a JET dust collector, depending on the quality of air. The unit comes to complete a remote control, timer, and three-speed capability for powerful performance.

For enhanced efficiency, the unit is fitted with a two-filter system, capable of removing a range of microparticles from the air. This design eliminates about 85 percent of the one-micron particles and up to 98 percent of the larger five-micron particles. You will also find its ball bearing motor to be powerful, fast and highly efficient.

3. VIVOSUN Air Filtration Kit – The Best Shop Air Filtration System Below $100

Though affordable, this shop air filtration kit comprises of a 203 CFM inline fan, 8-foot ducting and a 4” carbon filter, all in one package. The premium-quality carbon filter features interior and exterior mesh construction.

This construction is meant to offer 53 percent of open area for free airflow. Item comes fully assembled with easy on/off pre-filter and reversible flange. The high-quality 1050+ RC 48 Activated Carbon is designed to deliver 100 percent filtered airflow performance.

Its inline fan is rated 68W, 0.62 A and is powerful enough to deliver a speed of up to 2,500 RPM. The kit also comes with a sturdy ducting system. The ducting comprises of 2 Stainless Clamps and strong, flexible steel wire to support the heavy-duty triple-layer duct walls.

4. POWERTEC AF4000 Remote Controlled 3-Speed Air Filtration System – The Best Ceiling-Hung Air Filtration System

This low-cost Powertec shop air filter system delivers exceptional results, and effectively, eliminating up to 99 percent of airborne particulates in your workshop. It uses its high caliber inner and outer filters to catch and abolish contaminants while circulating clean air into your working area at the same time.

Depending on the level of contamination, you will be able to choose any of its variable 3-speed settings, 300, 350 and 400 CFM. You will also like the rather quiet performance delivered by the filtration system. Its filtration mechanism couples a five-micron disposable outer filter to a one-micron easy cleaning filter.

5. Enerzen by OION Technologies LB-444 Commercial HEPA Air Purifier – The Best ETL Intertek and ARB certified Air Filtration System

Not only is this model certified but is also backed by a 3-year manufacturer warranty, both of which are proof of quality and durability. The commercial-grade permanent HEPA shop air filtration system applies ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) technology for air sanitization.

This is coupled with an electrostatic purification system for removing airborne pollutants and a carbon filter to reduce odors. You will find the permanent HEPA filter on this model rather easy to remove and clean.

When combines, these air filtration, and cleansing technologies have been proven to remove particles as small as 0.01 microns effectively. It is also capable of killing the germ, making the air breathable, especially for people with respiratory problems.

Factors to Consider Before Buying a Shop Air Filtration System

If you would like to improve the quality of air in your shop, you should consider buying a good filtration system. Most of the modern filtration systems feature high-quality construction, powerful motors and an assortment of modern air filtration features. To choose the right system for your shop, here are some of the key considerations you need to make:

Type of Filter

Though designed to accomplish the same thing, the various residential and commercial air filtration systems are designed differently. Here are the three different types you should consider:

• Air Purifiers

An air purifier is essentially a device that suctions up small quantities of air and traps any contaminants using super-fine filters. The filtered air is then expelled from a chute into the room where the device is placed.

These systems are designed to do this repeatedly, continuously cleaning the air of a room. They are suited for small rooms as they can only purify a limited amount of air at a time.

• Industrial-Strength Air Filtration Systems

Though costly, these are some of the most effective air purifies in the industry. These tend to have larger capacities and most of them are designed for permanent installation in commercial and residential buildings.

• Ion Generators

These are portable shop air filtration systems. In their functioning, in generators are designed to produce minor ‘shocks’  into the air. This charges the airborne particles using static energy, which ate then attracted to nearby objects, such as walls, carpets, and furniture.

This means that you need to wipe every surface in the room thoroughly after using an ionic generator. However, there are newer models that are designed to attract the charged airborne particles to the filtration system itself.

Since they only have limited air filtration capacities, these air ionizers may only be used in a single room at a time.

Airflow (CFM)

How much air can the system clean per unit time? This is one of the important considerations you need to make in order to get a system if the right capacity for space you will be using it in. The airflow of a filtration system is expressed as the number of cubic feet of air it can filter per minute (CFM).

To arrive at the right CFM value, you should work out the changes per hour for the room ( length of the room x width x height x air changes per hour). Most rooms, including living rooms, offices, and bedrooms require about 6 air changes per hour.

Heavily polluted rooms like smoking rooms, restrooms and lobbies need about 12 to 15 changes per hour. Units with lower airflow ratings are suited for single rooms. If you need a model that will clean air for the entire home or larger shops, you should go for higher CFM values.

Air Filter efficiency

The efficiency of an air filter is expressed by the size of the smallest particles it can trap. For air purification systems, you should go for filters with an efficiency of 0.3 microns or less.

This is most air pollutants, including pollen, mold, pet dander, dust mites, and bacteria are between 0.3 to 5 microns large.

The best HEPA filters are very efficient at trapping airborne particle that is larger than 0.3 microns. To filter particles smaller than 0.3 microns, such as chemical fumes, cigarette smoke, and viruses, you should go for activated carbon filters, ultraviolet air purifies or an ionizer.

Clean Air Delivery Rate

The Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) is essentially the total volume of air that an air purification system can cleanse of a specific pollutant in one hour.

It is expressed in cubic feet per minute (CFM). The higher the CADR value, the more efficient a system is at removing that particular pollutant from the air.

The leading shop air filtration systems have a CADR rating of between 350 and 400 CPM.

How to Use a Shop Air Filtration System

Knowing which air purifier is best for your home is great, but is just the beginning. The best air purifier will have to be used properly for enhanced efficiency and durability. These tips will help you get the most benefit out of your shop air filtration system:

• Choosing the Location

Air filtration systems should be installed free of any obstruction. It is advisable to set the unit a few feet away from the nearest objects.

This is meant to offer free circulation air into and out of the system. Again, you need to ensure that the filtration system is of the right size, depending on the size of your shop.

• Proper Positioning

You also need to point the shop air filtration system in the right direction. If installed in a larger room, make sure the flow of clean air from your purifier is directed towards the occupants. When installing the unit in a smaller room, positioning may not be important as the air can circulate throughout the room with ease.

• Leave it Running

In woodworking shops, most of the routine tasks are known to produce sawdust that pollutes the air, despite having the greatest dust collection hoses. In such areas that re heavily contaminated, you may need to run the best shop air filtration system continually.

This is one of the reasons why a considerable number of modern filtration systems are energy efficient. This allows you to purify the air for long hours without hurting your electricity bills.

• Change Air Filters Regularly

Be sure to read and follow the manufacturer’s repair and maintenance instructions for the system. Generally, carbon air filters need to be replaced annually. Washable filters, on the other hand, should be cleaned after every ten days of use.

This will keep the unit functioning at optimal efficiency.

Our Final Verdict

Different shop air purifiers apply different purifying and cleaning technologies. Before choosing the best hanging shop air cleaner, you need to ascertain the main air quality problem you are trying to resolve.

Additionally, you need to get the ideal system depending on the size of the room.

Just as is the case with the five systems reviewed above, your preferred unit needs to have the right filter efficiency, airflow, and filtration technology for the intended application.

With this guide at your disposal, you should have an easy time choosing the best shop air filtration system.