Best Air-Purifying Indoor Plants for Apartments

Apartments don’t always come with great light or a forgiving watering schedule, which rules out a lot of “easy” houseplants pretty fast. These six are the ones that keep showing up on NASA’s Clean Air Study and decades of houseplant-care advice for a reason — they tolerate real apartment conditions and still earn their reputation for cleaner-feeling indoor air.

#1 Best Overall: Costa Farms Snake Plant

The snake plant’s stiff, upright leaves give it a sculptural look that works in almost any room style, and it tolerates low light and irregular watering far better than most houseplants. That’s exactly why it shows up on every “impossible to kill” list. The self-watering pot takes some of the guesswork out of care if you don’t have a green thumb yet.

#2 Best for Low Light: Costa Farms ZZ Plant

Glossy, dark-green leaflets that look almost artificial they’re so uniform — and the ZZ genuinely thrives in dim corners where other plants stall out. It only needs watering about every two weeks, which makes it one of the more forgiving picks for anyone who travels often.

#3 Best for Beginners: Costa Farms Golden Pothos

Pothos is famous for being nearly impossible to kill, and its trailing vines with creamy-yellow variegation add instant texture to a bookshelf or hanging hook. It tolerates everything from bright indirect light to dim corners, and a forgotten watering or two won’t set it back much.

#4 Best for Pet Owners: Costa Farms Spider Plant

Spider plants are one of the few popular houseplants considered non-toxic to cats and dogs, which matters if your pets like to nibble on leaves. The arching, striped foliage and dangling “spiderette” babies give it more movement than flat-leafed plants.

#5 Best Air Purifier: Costa Farms Peace Lily

Peace lilies are a longtime NASA Clean Air Study favorite, and the white blooms add a softer look than most air-purifying plants. It dramatically droops when thirsty, then perks back up within hours of watering — a built-in reminder that’s hard to ignore.

#6 Best Statement Plant: Costa Farms Burgundy Rubber Plant

Thick, glossy burgundy-to-near-black leaves give this one a bold, sculptural presence that smaller tabletop plants can’t match. At 2–3 feet tall it works well as a floor plant beside a sofa or in an empty corner that needs visual weight.

What to Look for in an Apartment-Friendly Houseplant

Light tolerance

Most apartments don’t have the bright, unobstructed light a plant tag photo implies. Favor plants explicitly rated for low-to-medium indirect light unless you have a clear south- or west-facing window.

Watering forgiveness

A plant that bounces back from a missed week is worth more than a fussier one with slightly better air-cleaning stats. Snake plants and ZZ plants are the most forgiving on this list.

Pet safety

If cats or dogs share the apartment, check toxicity before falling for a plant on looks alone — spider plants are the only fully pet-safe pick here.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do air-purifying plants actually make a measurable difference in a small apartment?

NASA's original study used sealed chambers, so real-world impact in an open apartment is modest. The bigger, well-documented benefit is the houseplants' tolerance for low light and inconsistent care, which is why they're still worth having.

Which of these is hardest to kill?

Snake plant and ZZ plant are the two most forgiving — both tolerate low light and can go two to three weeks between waterings without complaint.

Are any of these safe if I have a cat?

The spider plant is the only one on this list considered non-toxic to cats and dogs. The others are mildly toxic if chewed, so keep them out of reach or skip them in a pet-heavy household.

You might also like

indoor plants

Best Indoor Plant Stands for Living Rooms and Corners

indoor plants

Best Vertical Garden Planters for Indoor Walls

indoor plants

How to Repot a Houseplant Without Killing It