What you need to know about CADR ratings

What does CADR stand for?

CADR stands for Clean Air Delivery Rate and indicates the volume of filtered air delivered by the air cleaner.  This rating is independently tested and certified by the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM).  You can typically find the AHAM seal on the back of the air cleaners box.  You can visit AHAM's website by clicking HERE for more information and to find a list of all rated air cleaners.

How do I use the CADR ratings to purchase the right air cleaner?

On the CADR seal there will be three numbers - one for tobacco smoke, one for pollen and one for dust.  The higher the numbers, the faster the unit filters the air.  Typically you should follow the 2/3 Rule, meaning you should always purchase an air cleaner with a tobacco smoke CADR at least 2/3 your room's area.  For example, a 12' X 12' room (144 square feet) would require a smoke CADR of at least 96.  If the room size is smaller, a higher rated unit will simply clean the room faster.  Please keep in mind that if you have high or vaulted ceilings, you'll want an air cleaner rated for a larger room.  All Winix Air Cleaners are rated by AHAM using this standard and our recommended room ratings use this calculation.  Click HERE to view our CADR AHAM seal for the WAC5300 Air Cleaner.

Are there limitations to CADR ratings?

CADR ratings do an excellent job of allowing you to compare air cleaners to one another.  However, you should keep in mind that CADR ratings do NOT take into account the type of filtration or the level of filtration, only the amount of air that passes through the unit.  This means that while one air cleaner may have an extremely high CADR rating, it may not be filtering your air effectively, or in some cases, at all. 

For example, an air cleaner with a high CADR rating may seem to effectively clean a large room.  However, without taking the type of filtration into account, you may not be filtering the type of particles that you are concerned about, such as pet dander, pollen and smoke.  This is why it is always important to consider CADR ratings AND filtration type when purchasing an air cleaner.

Winix Air Cleaners ALL use True-HEPA, the most effective filtration media.  Winix Air Cleaners are voluntarily submitted for testing.  We do this because we want to be as honest and educational as we can with the performance of all of our products and make the decision easier for you.