The Clean Air Gift Guide: Air Purifier and Humidifier Gifts for Everyone on Your List

Every year it's the same struggle. You want to give something thoughtful, something useful, something that won't end up in a drawer by February. And every year you end up staring at the same scented candles and gadget gift sets.

Here's an idea that's a little different: give better air. An air purifier or humidifier is one of those gifts people don't always think to buy for themselves, but use every single day once they have one. Especially in winter, when the windows are shut, the heat is running and everyone's spending more time indoors.

Here's our guide to clean air gifts for different people on your list.

For new parents

New parents spend a lot of time in the nursery, often at 3 a.m., and they think about the air their baby breathes more than most of us. A quiet air purifier and a cool-mist humidifier are both genuinely useful here.

Our pick: the Total Air Comfort Bundle ($279). It pairs the Klarta Forste air purifier, which runs at 20 dB(A) in Sleep mode with the lights off, and the Klarta Humea evaporative humidifier, which has a dimmable night light and lets them set the humidity they want. Both can be controlled from a phone, so they don't have to tiptoe into a sleeping baby's room. It saves $47 compared with buying them separately.

For new homeowners

A new house comes with new paint, new furniture, maybe new flooring, and all the dust from moving in. It's a great time for an air purifier with real activated carbon to help with the new-house smell.

Our pick: the Klarta Stor ($349) for an open living room or great room. It delivers about 371 CFM of clean air, has an H13 filter plus a separate carbon filter, and comes in White, Silver or Full Black.

For the pet lover

Anyone who shares the sofa with a dog or cat knows the struggle: fur on everything, a lingering pet smell, and maybe a guest or two who start sneezing. A purifier with a pre-filter for hair, an H13 filter for dander and carbon for odors handles all three.

Our pick: the Klarta Forste ($229). Its pre-filter catches pet hair, and the six finishes, including Wood Black and Gold, mean it looks like décor, not an appliance.

For the light sleeper

If someone on your list can hear a pin drop at night, noise is everything. They'll appreciate a purifier with a true sleep mode that's quieter than a whisper and turns the lights off.

Our pick: the Klarta Forste, at 20 dB(A) in Sleep mode. If they wake up with a dry throat in winter, add a Klarta Humea too.

For the allergy sufferer

Pollen, dust mites, pet dander. A good air purifier in the bedroom can make a real difference in how someone with allergies feels in their own home.

Our pick: the Klarta Forste for a bedroom or the Klarta Stor for a larger space. Both use H13 filtration and a laser PM2.5 sensor for Auto mode.

For the person who lives somewhere dry

Friends and family in Colorado, Arizona, Utah, Nevada or anywhere with a cold winter will know the feeling of cracked lips, static shocks and dry skin. A humidifier is the gift they didn't know they needed.

Our pick: the Klarta Humea ($97). It's evaporative, so there's no white dust from hard water, and it eases off automatically when the room reaches the humidity they set. It comes in Beige or White, and is small enough for a nightstand or dresser.

For the work-from-home friend

Home offices are often small, closed-up rooms where the air gets stale by mid-afternoon. A good-looking, quiet purifier is a gift they'll appreciate every workday, and it'll look great in their video calls.

Our pick: the Klarta Forste in a finish that matches their space.

For someone who already has a Klarta

A spare filter set is a surprisingly welcome gift. Most people forget to reorder until the alert comes on.

• Forste Genuine Filter Replacement Set ($48)
• Stor Genuine Filter Replacement Set ($68)
• Humea PRO Evaporative Filter two-pack ($32)

For grandparents and older relatives

Older adults often spend more time at home, and many of them feel winter dryness and stuffy air more than they let on. Simple controls matter here. Both Klarta purifiers work right out of the box in Auto mode, and Humea's controls are all on the unit, so nobody has to set up an app unless they want to.

Our pick: the Total Air Comfort Bundle for their bedroom, or a Klarta Humea on its own if dry air is the main complaint.

Gifts by budget

• Under $50: a replacement filter set or a Humea filter two-pack for someone who already owns a Klarta.
• Under $100: the Klarta Humea humidifier ($97).
• Under $250: the Klarta Forste air purifier ($229).
• Under $300: the Total Air Comfort Bundle with Forste and Humea ($279).
• Splurge: the Klarta Stor for a big, open living space ($349).

Tips for giving an air purifier

• Think about the room. A bedroom or office usually suits the Forste. A big open living area suits the Stor. Our comparison page can help.
• Consider their style. This is going to sit in their home every day. Pick a finish that fits.
• Include a note about filters. Let them know filters should be replaced about once a year, so they're not surprised.
• Order early. Holiday shipping gets busy, so give yourself a cushion.

Every Klarta comes with free standard US shipping, 30-day returns on undamaged items and a 2-year US warranty, so it's an easy gift to feel good about.

A gift they'll use every day

The best gifts are the ones that quietly make life better. Cleaner air and comfortable humidity do exactly that, every day, all winter long.