Awair Element Review: A Design-Led Monitor, Sold Direct
Awair Element review: PM2.5, CO2, TVOC, temperature and humidity, Awair's stated accuracy and integrations, no Amazon listing, and better-documented rivals.
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Specs at a glance
- Measures
- PM2.5, CO2, TVOC, temperature, humidity
- PM2.5 (Awair)
- Laser sensor, 0 to 1,000 µg/m³, ±15 µg/m³ or ±15%
- CO2 (Awair)
- 400 to 5,000 ppm, ±75 ppm or 10%
- TVOC (Awair)
- 0 to 60,000 ppb, ±10%; 24 to 48 hours to calibrate
- Temperature and humidity (Awair)
- ±0.2°C; ±2% RH
- App
- Free Awair app; no subscription mentioned
- Integrations (Awair)
- IFTTT, Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa
- Connectivity
- 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, Bluetooth LE; 5V/2.0A plug-in adapter
- Where to buy
- Awair's store ($299 list); not on Amazon US when we checked
The Awair Element is a well-designed home monitor that measures PM2.5, CO2, total VOCs, temperature and humidity, with an app that turns readings into a simple score. Awair's product page lists a laser particle sensor (0 to 1,000 µg/m³, ±15 µg/m³ or ±15%), CO2 from 400 to 5,000 ppm (±75 ppm or 10%) and VOCs from 0 to 60,000 ppb, and Awair sells it on its own store for $299, with no subscription mentioned.
It was not on Amazon US when we checked, and we did not find it in South Coast AQMD's AQ-SPEC summary of particle sensors, so its accuracy rests on Awair's own figures. Awair's pages also do not name the CO2 sensor technology. For independently tested particles at a lower price, the Qingping Air Monitor Lite is the better documented choice; for radon too, the Airthings View Plus.
What the Element measures
| Measurement | Range and stated accuracy |
|---|---|
| PM2.5 | 0 to 1,000 µg/m³, ±15 µg/m³ or ±15% (laser sensor) |
| CO2 | 400 to 5,000 ppm, ±75 ppm or 10% |
| TVOC | 0 to 60,000 ppb, ±10% |
| Temperature | -40 to 125°C, ±0.2°C |
| Humidity | 0 to 100% RH, ±2% |
Awair notes that the VOC sensor needs 24 to 48 hours to calibrate. Its CO2 accuracy of ±75 ppm or 10% is looser than the ±50 ppm ±5% Airthings states for its NDIR sensors, but adequate for judging ventilation. Awair's page describes a fan and laser sensor for particles; it does not say whether the CO2 sensor is NDIR.
The Awair score and app
The Element's display and app combine the five readings into an overall score, which is easy to understand at a glance. The trade-off of a single score is that it can hide which factor is driving a bad result; the app shows the individual readings too, which are what you need to decide whether to ventilate, run a purifier or adjust humidity. Our guide to the indoor AQI explains why one number can mislead.
Buying it
Awair's product page lists the Element at $299, the free Awair app and integrations with IFTTT, Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. It runs from a 5V/2.0A plug-in adapter and connects over 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi and Bluetooth LE, so it stays in one place rather than moving room to room on a battery. Awair's page also showed sale pricing when we read it, and prices change.
We found no new Element listed on Amazon US on November 3, 2026, so the link below goes to Awair. Before buying, check Awair's current support and app-compatibility notes, since smart home integrations on any connected monitor can change over time.
Awair Element vs the alternatives
| Monitor | PM2.5 | CO2 | VOC | Radon | AQ-SPEC PM2.5 field R² |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awair Element | Laser | Type not stated | Yes | No | Not listed |
| Airthings View Plus | Laser | NDIR | Yes | Yes | Not listed |
| Qingping Air Monitor Lite | Yes | Type not stated | No | No | 0.85 to 0.93 |
| IQAir AirVisual Pro | Optical counter | NDIR | Main US page | No | 0.63 to 0.81 |
Who should buy the Awair Element
- Buy it if design matters and you want five core readings with a simple score.
- Skip it if you want independently tested accuracy; the Qingping Lite has AQ-SPEC results for less.
- Skip it if you want radon; see the Airthings View Plus.
For more choices, see the best air quality monitors.
For offices and shared workspaces, Awair's business monitor is covered in our Awair Omni review.
Frequently asked questions
What does the Awair Element measure?
PM2.5 with a laser sensor, CO2, total VOCs, temperature and humidity, according to Awair's product page.
How accurate is the Awair Element?
Awair states ±15 µg/m³ or ±15% for PM2.5, ±75 ppm or 10% for CO2 and ±10% for VOCs. We did not find it in South Coast AQMD's AQ-SPEC summary, so there is no independent field result to compare.
Does the Awair Element need a subscription?
Awair's page describes the app as free and mentions no subscription.
Where can I buy the Awair Element?
Awair's own store lists it at $299. We found no new Element on Amazon US on November 3, 2026.
Is the Awair Element better than Airthings?
It is more design-focused and costs less than the Airthings View Plus, but the View Plus adds radon and specifies an NDIR CO2 sensor.
Sources
- Awair Element: Air Quality Monitor For Your House, Awair
- How to read Awair Element's Display, Awair
- AQ-SPEC Sensor Evaluations: Summary of PM Sensors, South Coast Air Quality Management District
- Volatile Organic Compounds' Impact on Indoor Air Quality, US Environmental Protection Agency
Related guides
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