IKEA is a Swedish furniture retailer offering a range of home products, including air purifiers. The company provides a variety of air purifiers designed to clean and improve the air quality in homes and other indoor spaces.
The main features of IKEA’s air purifiers are compact and stylish designs that can blend seamlessly into various interior spaces. When choosing an air purifier, you must consider factors such as the size of the room where it will be used, the type of pollutants you want to remove, and your budget. IKEA air purifiers are an excellent choice for those looking for affordable, great-quality air purifiers that are easy to use and maintain.
Table of Contents
The IKEA UPPÅTVIND is a compact and stylish air purifier designed to improve the air quality in small-sized rooms. Its high-efficiency filters effectively remove pollutants such as dust, allergens, and odors from the air, leaving you with clean and fresh-smelling indoor air. The air purifier is easy to use and maintain and features adjustable speed settings to control the flow of purified air to meet your needs. The sleek and modern design of the UPPÅTVIND makes it an excellent choice for those looking for an air purifier that will complement their home décor.
I used UPPÅTVIND for a while; tested its performance, noise levels, and operating costs, and based on that, I gave the final rating for this air purifier. With that in mind, keep reading and find out what makes this air purifier special, how good it is, and of course, whether it’s worth buying.
Short on Time? Here’s My Short Summary of The IKEA UPPÅTVIND!
- The IKEA UPPÅTVIND air purifier covers rooms up to 75 sq. ft. and cleans the air in a room this size 4.8 times in one hour.
- This air purifier uses a 2-stage filtration technology consisting of a pre-filter and a particulate filter.
- IKEA is a small air purifier with a well-optimized motor with a power of only 19W.
- IKEA UPPÅTVIND has no warranty.
Specifications
See the specifications of the IKEA UPPÅTVIND air purifier in the table below.
| Manufacturer | IKEA |
| Model | UPPÅTVIND |
| Dimensions | 11 x 8.8 x 4.9 inches (28,0 x 22,5 x 12,5 cm) |
| Weight | 3.52 lb (1,6 kg) |
| Filters | Pre-filter and Particle Filter |
| Filter Longevity | up to 6 months |
| Room Coverage (4.8 ACH) | 75 sq. ft. (7 m²) |
| Number of Fan Speeds | 3 – Speed 1, Speed 2, and Speed 3 |
| Power Consumption | 19W |
| Warranty | No |
| User manual |
Setup and Installation
Before you start using this appliance, you need to make specific preparations. Basically, you just need to prepare the filter.
The filter comes with the device, already installed, but packed in a protection sheet. So you need to open the cover on the front of the air purifier, pull out the filter, unpack it from the plastic wrap, and then put it back in the air purifier.
This is basically everything you need to do before starting the IKEA air purifier for the first time. Now, you can place it in the desired location, but keep in mind to place it at least 10 inches (about 25 cm) away from the wall or other objects, plug it in, and turn it on.
Design
At first glance, the IKEA UPPÅTVIND looks like a larger speaker. It is rectangular in shape, with a carrying handle attached to the top of the unit. This air purifier was designed by David Wahl. The same person also designed the IKEA FÖRNUFTIG, which I also thoroughly tested and reviewed not so long ago.
What I like about the UPPÅTVIND is its simple, clean, and minimalist design, which gives the impression that this device fits almost anywhere you place it.
As far as build quality is concerned, I am satisfied with both the device assembly and the plastic quality. I would also point out that this air purifier is very light, compact and you can carry it from one location to another without any problems.
In general, I really like the design of the UPPÅTVIND, and I give this air purifier a positive review.
Device Control
The IKEA UPPÅTVIND differs from the FÖRNUFTIG in many ways, but what I find most interesting is that the UPPÅTVIND uses an electronic control knob, as opposed to the latter’s mechanical knob. This means that you won’t be able to connect the UPPÅTVIND to a smart plug, so you won’t be able to plug in some extra options.
Basically, you control the IKEA UPPÅTVIND via a button on the top of the device. Each button press changes the fan speed until you reach the third speed, then the next press turns the device off, and so in a circle.
The filter reset indicator button is one more button on this air purifier, which is located just below the filter. So you have to remove the filter to get to this button.
Airflow
The IKEA UPPÅTVIND is a rectangular-shaped air purifier, but with a slightly unusual design, so the airflow is interesting in this model. Basically, the UPPÅTVIND draws air through vents on the front cover, which is then filtered and exits through vents on the top left side (when viewed from the front).
Please, keep in mind that it is extremely important to pay attention to the air inlet and outlet openings when placing the air purifier. You mustn’t block these openings!
Size and Dimensions
The air purifier weighs 3.52 lb (1,6 kg). The device dimensions are 11 x 8.8 x 4.9 inches (28,0 x 22,5 x 12,5 cm). The IKEA UPPÅTVIND is an extremely light, compact, and relatively small air purifier that will not take up much space wherever you put it.
What’s in the box?
When you buy the purifier, you get an IKEA UPPÅTVIND air purifier, particle filter, power cord, and user manual.
I noticed that the biggest concern among users is whether the filter is included with the device. The answer is that the filter is included with the UPPÅTVIND air purifier, which means you don’t need to buy it until it’s time to replace it.
Features Overview
As I already pointed out in the review, the IKEA UPPÅTVIND does not have any features. It’s basically a very minimalistic air purifier that reminds me a lot of the Blueair 411, mainly because of the control knob that works in the same way.
But not everything is that dark. The IKEA has a filter reset indicator that lights up when it’s time to change the filter, letting you know that you need to replace the old/soiled filter as soon as possible. Apart from this indicator, I have nothing else to add as a feature of this device.
The only thing that is also important to mention is that the IKEA UPPÅTVIND comes without a warranty. This may be slightly strange information, but I have received confirmation of this information from IKEA’s support and in the store. Even if it is a durable device that not easily breaks down, the lack of a warranty seems to me to be a big concern that IKEA definitely needs to work on.
All in all, maybe the IKEA UPPÅTVIND’s minimalism is what people love and why it is so popular.
IKEA UPPÅTVIND Video Review
Check out in the video above all the things you should know about IKEA UPPÅTVIND. See it in action and how it behaves in a room while providing fresh, clean air.
Room Coverage
The IKEA UPPÅTVIND is a very small air purifier that covers rooms up to 75 sq. ft. (7 m²). This air purifier cleans the air in a room of these dimensions 4.8 times in one hour. It is an industry standard and one of the basic parameters to look out for when choosing an air purifier. The IKEA UPPÅTVIND has a maximum CADR of 95 m³/h, which is solid for such a small machine. The GermGuardian AC4200W is in a similar category but with slightly more coverage, which I have also tested in detail. I recommend you read that review as well.
I would recommend this air purifier for some smaller rooms, such as offices, small bedrooms, children’s rooms, or any other room of similar dimensions. I would not recommend this air purifier for rooms larger than 100 sq. ft., especially as there are many air purifiers on the market for larger rooms, many of which I have tested and reviewed here on the Air Purifier First website.
Filtration Technology
When it comes to filtration technology, I can’t say that it’s the UPPÅTVIND’s trump card, and it’s something that this air purifier can boast about.
This air purifier uses a very basic 2-stage filtration technology and does not have a carbon filter, making it less effective in eliminating VOCs and fighting odors.
Pre-filter
The pre-filter is the first stage of filtration, it is a nylon mesh attached to the front cover.
The primary purpose of the pre-filter is to collect any large particles of dust, hair, pet hair, and other large particles, thus preserving and extending the life of the HEPA filter.
The pre-filter is washable and should not be changed, and it is recommended to clean it with a vacuum cleaner or wash it at least once every two weeks.
Particle Filter
Basically, the UPPÅTVIND uses a HEPA H12 filter, which is much less efficient than the True HEPA filter we are used to seeing in many air purifiers tested so far. This particulate filter on the IKEA air purifier can help remove more than 99.5% of small airborne particles, such as PM2.5, dust, and pollen.
PM2.5 is a small, inhalable particle measuring 0.1-2.5 micrometers. Given that the traditional True HEPA filter removes 99.97% of airborne particles, I can’t help but point out that I expected more from IKEA and that a higher-quality filter would have taken this air purifier up a notch.
How To Change the IKEA UPPÅTVIND Filter?
As I already said, the pre-filter is washable and doesn’t need to be changed. All needed is to wash this filter every now and then, approximately between 2-4 weeks, or vacuum the dust off it with a vacuum cleaner.
As far as the particle filter is concerned, it is not washable and needs to be changed periodically, more specifically, approximately every 6 months.
Fortunately, the IKEA UPPÅTVIND has a filter reset indicator that lets you know when it’s time to change the filter. The process of changing the filter on this air purifier is straightforward.
Noise Test
When I test noise levels, I always test the noise at each speed separately, then compare the results with noise level tests of competing air purifiers.
The IKEA UPPÅTVIND has only 3 fan speeds, which made this test very simple. Using a special tool that measures the sound volume on a dBA scale, I tested the volume at all three speeds separately.
I noticed (even without testing) that the UPPÅTVIND is a very quiet air purifier. Namely, on the first speed, it produces a sound volume of only 42.5 dBA, making it an ideal choice for the bedroom.
At maximum speed, the situation is equally good; I can say much better than some competing devices. At this speed, IKEA produces a sound of only 53.8 dBA.
| Speed | Value (dBA) |
|---|---|
| Speed 1 | 42.5 dBA |
| Speed 2 | 47.2 dBA |
| Speed 3 | 53.8 dBA |
Overall, I am delighted with the noise test results and can confirm that this is an extremely quiet air purifier.
Performance Tests
I mentioned several times in the review that the IKEA UPPÅTVIND covers rooms up to 75 sq. ft. This includes very small rooms, which are slightly different from the rooms I usually test air purifiers in.
Therefore, I tested UPPÅTVIND in rooms 120 and 194 sq. ft.
In addition, I have used this air purifier for some time throughout the day, subjecting it to various tests, including, for example, lighting matches, the speed at which dust is removed from the air, working in the kitchen, and so on. I have noticed, and it is vital to point out, that the IKEA UPPÅTVIND has a slightly worse performance in removing odors and VOCs, so I would not recommend it for these specific situations.
120 sq. ft. Room Test
In the first room of 120 sq. ft., which is so close to the recommended dimensions for this air purifier, I tested it for 60 minutes.
| # | Starting Baseline | After 60min |
|---|---|---|
| PM 2.5 | 105.9 | 18.1 |
| PM 10 | 148.3 | 25.4 |
| Particles | 153606 | 26375 |
| AQI | 138 | 25 |
During this time, running the UPPÅTVIND at maximum speed improved the air quality by about 82%, which is a commendable result, but OK considering the device’s power and the fact that it does not use a True HEPA filter.
194 sq. ft. Room Test
In a second test, this time in a slightly larger room, almost 3 times the recommended dimensions, to be precise, the UPPÅTVIND improved air quality by about 75% in 60 minutes. This is a slightly weaker result than in the previous test. Still, it should be remembered that the room is also much larger than the recommended dimensions.
| # | Starting Baseline | After 60min |
|---|---|---|
| PM 2.5 | 101.9 | 23.3 |
| PM 10 | 142.7 | 32.6 |
| Particles | 147830 | 33867 |
| AQI | 133 | 33 |
Overall, IKEA has not achieved perfect results, but it is okay considering the price/quality ratio.
Operating Costs
Where IKEA has undoubtedly done a good job is in optimizing the motor. IKEA UPPÅTVIND uses a motor with a power of only 19W.
I tested the power consumption of this air purifier at all speeds, and what caught my eye was that it consumes only 6.7W at maximum speed. This translates into the fact that if you were to use the IKEA UPPÅTVIND at full speed, 24 hours a day, for one month, your electricity bill would increase by approximately $0.6. This is an extremely small cost, not to say unnoticeable.
| Speed | Power Usage (W) |
|---|---|
| Standby | 0W |
| Speed 1 | 1.7W |
| Speed 2 | 3.5W |
| Speed 3 | 6.7W |
Suppose you add the price of a replacement filter to the electricity consumption, which I can safely say is one of the most affordable on the market. In that case, the IKEA UPPÅTVIND is undoubtedly one of the most affordable air purifiers to maintain, if not the most affordable of all I have seen so far.
FAQ on IKEA UPPÅTVIND
Does IKEA UPPÅTVIND produce ozone?
No. This air purifier doesn’t use an ionizer or any other filter technology that could produce ozone, which means it is ozone-free and entirely safe for use.
What is the IKEA UPPÅTVIND warranty?
Unfortunately, IKEA doesn’t guarantee the UPPÅTVIND air purifier.
Does IKEA UPPÅTVIND have a carbon filter?
It doesn’t. The IKEA UPPÅTVIND does not have a filter upgrade option nor the option to add a carbon filter, which makes its performance in neutralizing odors much worse than expected.
Pros and Cons
To revise, here are the advantages and disadvantages of the IKEA UPPÅTVIND:
Just bought this today from my testing it has a “power loss memory” so to say. That means for example if I unplug it while it was running at Speed 2 or turn it off with a smart plug, then it will turn on back at Speed 2 once I plug it back in or switch on the smart plug.
Hi Milan,
I’ve had a few more thoughts that might help.
If you can take a few more readings of PM throughout the test, you could plot these with a line of best-fit. This should be exponential in nature, so a log scale might be best. Thus would allow easier comparison of modes/models etc., but it is more work! This would also reduce the bias of just having a few data points.
If you really want to be more technical, you could also calculate expected values. For example, if we assume an air volume of 50m^3 and a CADR of 200m^3/hr, we’d expect 200/50=4 air changes per hour. For 1 hour, we can then calculate e^(-4*1) ~= 0.0183. If we start at say 105 µg/m^3 with expected settling level of 5µg/m^3, we have 105-5=100 µg/m^3 that could be removed. 100*0.0183 = 1.832. Adding on the 5µg/m^3 again gives an expected 6.832µg/m^3. In theory, in a sealed room we’d expect the value to trend to 0, but I doubt that would happen in the real world. Likewise, to work the other way, we could take the natural log of the ratio we obtain, for example ln(0.0183)~=-4, indicating 4 air changes.
For the 120ft^2 test:
ln(18.1/105.9)~=-1.767 air changes.
Assuming 26.6m^3 over 1hr: (26.6*1.767)/1 ~= 47m^3/hr.
It would be interesting to know how well a simplified model like this, that assumes ideal conditions, works. It may be inaccurate in practice, particularly if the room is not well sealed.
I think sound levels are usually measured at 1M.
This is all more technical work, but hopefully it sparks some ideas that might help.
Thanks for the review! There’s some useful data here.
There’s some conflicting information here, such as:
“The pre-filter is not washable”
“As I already said, the pre-filter is washable and doesn’t need to be changed.”
The noise test also does not mention the distance the SPL was measured at.
Interestingly, the 194 ft^2 test (about 18m^2) seems rather slow. Assuming 2.4m high ceiling, that’s about 43m^3. A reduction from 101.9 to 23.3 for PM2.5 (I assume this is µg/m^3, but it’s not stated) over an hour corresponds to a time constant of about 41 minutes, or an estimated CADR of 63m^3/hr, less than claimed by Ikea, although this does not account for any other air exchange in the room, and is just for 2 data points, so maybe that doesn’t mean much. It would be interesting to see if this holds true in repeated tests with more data points and a least-squares regression.
Hi Anon,
Thanks for your suggestions. I’ve corrected the typo related to the pre-filter.
I also appreciate your detailed analysis of my tests. Your insights have provided me with ideas for content improvements. I realize that adding information such as “how we measured” could be beneficial for readers and should be placed near the test results. Thanks again.
It comes with a handle so it could be hung
Yes, it comes with a handle, but it’s not very practical to use it for hanging on the wall or elsewhere.
Does this come with the ability to wall-mount the air purifier?
No, it doesn’t. But, the IKEA FÖRNUFTIG does.