What Is A CADR Rating In Air Purifiers? [Explained ]

Last Updated on May 22, 2023

Do you get the first product you see in the market? No, right? We look into every significant detail. So, it’s fair enough if you want to be sure about the air cleaner’s performance before buying it. While attempting to research, you will definitely hear about the CADR rating term. So, what is a CADR rating in air purifiers?

CADR is a rating system that shows the volume of air filters in CFM. This will help you with the efficiency level of the purifier. Moreover, with the help of this rating, you’ll also know if the air purifier is strong enough to cover your living area. This also represents the size capacity of the air cleaner.

In a nutshell, the higher the CDR rating, the better the air purifier range.  

We know many other questions regarding the fact of eating you alive right now. So here, with this blog, we’ll aid you with all the possible solutions. Without further ado, let’s binge on!

What’s CADR and What’s the Difference with Airflow? 

CADR and Airflow of an air purifier are different from chalk and cheese. By airflow, we mean the amount of air that goes inside the machine in cubic feet per minute. On the contrary, CADR estimates an air cleaner’s efficiency. 

It measures the range and size of pollutants and the overall air purifier’s effectiveness. If you see numbers, you’ll always find airflow higher than the CADR rating.

Nonetheless, airflow describes how clean the air is after coming out of the machine, the efficiency of mixing the air in the room, and most importantly, the competence of the machine.

The only similarity between these two terms is that both are used to describe the cleaner’s performance. But airflow values are much more narrated and clear than CADR. 

How to Calculate CADR from an Air Purifier Airflow?

CADR shows us the numbers by taking the details from the purifier’s airflow. It measures 3 sizes of 3 different particles to indicate the purifier’s efficiency. It also tells about the cleaner’s capacity to eliminate smaller and larger particles. Below we’ve shortlisted the numbers that’ll give you a crystal-clear idea:

  • Smoke CADR 0.09- 1 Micron
  • Dust CADR 0.5- 3 Microns
  • Pollen CADR 5- 11 Microns

The filtering efficiency and airflow through the purifier primarily influence the CADR scale. Together they tell you how much pure air you’ll get from the machine.

Moreover, the CADR also represents the calculation of the highest fan speed. So, it’s no rocket science that if you run the purifier in lower mode, you will get lower airflow. 

Here’s an example that might help. If your air purifier produces 100 CFM and the filter efficiency is 80%, the CADR rating of the purifier will be 80. In most countries, the CADR is shown in CFM. 

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. What is a good CADR rating for an air purifier?

A good CADR rating is based on the purifier’s dust CADR range. CADR is measured to know the ability of your air purifier to cover the whole room. It is divided into three sections. Dust CADR, pollen CADR, and smoke CADR.

Here, the dust CADR is responsible for the overall performance rate of the purifier. Usually, the best dust CADR rating is twice the power of the highest speedy fan. 

  1. How much CADR do I need?

The amount of CADR you require depends on your room’s total area. You need to divide the total area of your room by 1.55, and you will get the CADR rating you need. For this, smoke CADR is the best process; the average range of smoke CADR is 80 for medium-sized rooms. 

  1. Is CADR important for air purifier?

CADR is essential not for an air purifier but for its user. CADR stands for (Clean Air Delivery Rate). It lets the user know what kind of air purifier they need. The CADR rate varies from person to person as it depends on the area of the user’s room.

That’s not all; it is essential to know the difference between the air purifier’s ability and the amount of purifying you need. 

  1. What is a good air purifier reading?

Although the required CADR depends on the user’s selected area, it’s for the better if you choose a purifier with a CADR rate that’s higher than your need. It is because you will get served with cleaner and thoroughly purified air if you have an air purifier of higher CADR.

Since the minimum rate of CADR is 100, so, ensure you get something with a CADR higher than 100. 

  1. How do you read the CADR rating?

A CADR is measured by the air-flowing ability and the efficiency of the air purifier’s filter. It is measured by testing the purifier’s power on the highest speedy fan. You need a clean filter for the CADR rating. After the test is over, you will get your results by the CADR rating scale. 

  1. Is a higher CADR rating better?

Yes, it’s better to have a higher CADR. To understand the reason behind this, you need to know that the CADR rating is about how much purifying your selected area requires and how much the purifier actually provides you.

If you get a purifier with a higher CADR rate than you need, then you get thoroughly purified air every time you use your purifier.

  1. What CADR is best?

The three main air pollutants are the primary concerns when buying an air purifier. Moreover, the CADR rate also depends on these three pollutants. For smoke and pollen, the highest rate of CADR is 450, while on the other hand, dust bears 400 as the highest CADR rate.

This CADR range is considered to be the best range for an air purifier. 

Wrapping Up! 

So, after going through this blog, we believe you should now know what is a CADR rating in air purifiers. Remember, the rating scale makes it easier to understand a purifier better, but rating the Airflow in the air purifier seems more convenient to us because it provides many other significant details.

But make sure you check either of them before purchasing an air purifier. 

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Paul M Walker

I, Paul M Walker, am the founder and the author of this little site you are currently on. I work to provide readers with no-fuss and easy-to-follow solutions regarding common air purifier and humidifier problems.

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