In this Kärcher AF 20 vs AF 30 vs AF 50 review, we will compare the three recently revealed air purifiers from the German brand known for its high-quality cleaning equipment.
How well does the entry-level Kärcher Air Purifier AF 20 keep up with the two bigger models? What are the differences between the similar looking Kärcher Air Purifier AF 30 and the high-end device for personal use, the Kärcher Air Purifier AF 50?
This side-by-side comparison will help you find out.
Kärcher AF 20
Kärcher AF 30
Kärcher AF 50
Coverage Area
20 m²
30 m²
50 m²
CADR (Particles)
220 m³/h
320 m³/h
520 m³/h
CADR (Formaldehyde)
?
?
?
Working Noise
27 – 52 dB(A)
26 – 51 dB(A)
29 – 53 dB(A)
PM 2.5 Sensor
Yes
Yes
Yes
Comparison: Kärcher AF 20 vs AF 30 vs AF 50 – What are the Differences?
Coverage Area & Efficiency
Like you have probably already guessed, the Kärcher Air Purifier AF 20 is ideal for small rooms and individual workspaces with a surface area of up to 20 m² (269 ft²). The AF 30 is suitable for rooms of up to 30 m² (323 ft²), while the AF 50 covers up to 50 m² (538 ft²).
The recommendations are based on a ceiling height of 3 m (10 ft) and three air changes per hour (ACH) at the highest speed setting. It is of course possible to use all three air purifiers in larger rooms than recommended, but the number of ACH would decrease accordingly.
Winner: AF 50
20 m²
30 m²
50 m²
Clean Air Delivery Rate
A dual air inlet system allows the Kärcher AF 20, AF 30, and AF 50 to take in air from two sides. Then, H13 filtration is combined with activated carbon to remove 99.95 % of particles as small as 0,3 µm including pathogens, fine dust, allergens and odours.
The AF 20 does all of this at a rate of 220 m³/h (130 CFM). The AF 30 comes with a Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) of 320 m³/h (188 CFM). As expected, the AF 50 has the highest CADR of the three devices at an impressive 520 m³/h (306 CFM).
Winner: AF 50
220 m³/h
320 m³/h
520 m³/h
Working Noise
Operating at just 26 decibel (dB), it is the Kärcher AF 30 that is the quietest device of the three when set to night mode. Running at full speed, it generates around 51 dB – once again, making it slightly less noisy than its two competitors.
There are three different speed settings for the AF 20 and five for the AF 30 and AF 50. They all support automatic mode, in which they will only run as fast and therefore as loud as needed to keep pollution levels at a healthy level. Lastly, they all come with a timer function as well.
Winner: AF 30
27 – 52 dB(A)
26 – 51 dB(A)
29 – 53 dB(A)
Sensors & Display
Laser sensor technology inside the three air purifiers enables them to monitor the air quality in real-time and act as input for the automatic mode (see above). The Kärcher AF 30 and AF 50 are also able to track temperature and humidity.
Together with the filter and device status, this information is shown on an integrated display. There is also a three-colour indicator that allows you to quickly check the current air quality, even when you are standing across the room.
Winner: Draw
Yes / Yes
Yes / Yes
Yes / Yes
Connectivity & Compatibility
Unlike a lot of competing devices on the market, the Kärcher AF 20, AF 30, and AF 50 can not be connected to your smartphone or smart home assistant via Wi-Fi. Therefore, you will have to make all changes and monitoring on the device itself.
Winner: Draw
No
No
No
Weight & Dimensions
In the last round of this Kärcher AF 20 vs AF 30 vs AF 50 comparison, we will have a quick look at the weight and dimensions of the three air purifiers. Unsurprisingly, the AF 20 is both the lightest and smallest of the three. That said, the AF 50 does come with wheels, which make it easier to move around.
Winner: AF 20
3.0 kg, 220 x 220 x 346 mm
5.8 kg, 260 x 260 x 486 mm
7.7 kg, 290 x 290 x 580 mm
Conclusion: Kärcher AF 20 vs AF 30 vs AF 50 – Which is the Best Air Purifier?
Obviously, each of the three air purifiers was developed with a different room size in mind. While the Kärcher Air Purifier AF 20 may nominally have the lowest coverage area and CADR of the three, it is perfectly capable of purifying the air in a small room.
For middle-sized spaces, opt for the slightly more powerful Kärcher Air Purifier AF 30. It is also the device that operates at the lowest noise-level, although it is admittedly hard to notice the small difference without the help of technology.
Lastly, the Kärcher Air Purifier AF 50 is the best choice for larger spaces such as living rooms. It has both the highest coverage area and CADR, and just like the AF 30, is able to monitor temperature and humidity in addition to pollution levels.
Kärcher AF 20
Kärcher AF 30
Kärcher AF 50
Looking for an even more powerful air purifier? See how the Kärcher Air Purifier AF 50 differs from the brand’s model for commercial use in our comparison Kärcher AF 50 vs AF 100.