Bissell air 400 vs 320 | Air purifier comparison

In this post, I will be comparing Bissell Air 400 vs 320. These are two of the most popular and known air purifiers from the Bissell brand, with the air 400 model being the newer release. We are looking at two very similarly-priced air purifiers that surprisingly have quite a few differences between them. Since they are not very cheap and are most likely long-term investments, it is that much more important to select the one that fits your needs best!

This comparison will follow my usual structure when it comes to comparing two air purifiers: an overview, followed by a more in-depth analysis. My end goal is to help you figure out which one of these two is the correct choice for your specific situation. Let us immediately dive in.

Bissell air 400 vs 320: Product specifications

I am starting this comparison with an overview of the basic product specifications for both of these air purifiers. Under the comparison table, you will find some of my notes and important distinctions.

Both of these models are quite similar regarding the dimensions, but Bissell Air 320 is a bit “chunkier” of the two and the 4 legs make it a bit less versatile/convenient (in terms of positioning) than the model 400. An interesting difference is that air 400 is listed as Energy Certified, while Air 320 is not and it consumes just a few extra watts. This means that long-term you will have a similar electricity bill – no distinct winner here.

Another unique aspect of Bissell air purifiers is that they are not covered with the same warrant. Instead, each model has its own warranty – in this case, 2 years for model 400 and 5 years for model 320.

Bissell air 400 vs 320: Features and effectiveness

The bread and butter of this comparison. First, I will list the major differences in the comparison chart below, which I will then further elaborate on and explain which model wins in each subcategory. This is will be a pretty lengthy segment, with a lot of information.

Filtration system

In my other similar comparisons, I usually split this section into multiple paragraphs, one for each of the two air purifiers that I am comparing. In this case, I will do an exception and not do separate paragraphs. This is because both Bissell air 400 and 300 use the same 3-stage filtration system that consists of a pre-filter, carbon activated filter, and a strong HEPA filter. While this is quite a basic filtration system, it is most popular for a reason – it simply works. One key difference here is that the HEPA filter of the air 400 model seems to be a bit better. Multiple individual testings have shown a slightly higher particle removal efficiency compared to air 320 (99.9% vs 99.7%, to be exact). For this reason alone, I give Bissell Air400 a very slight advantage over 320. That being said, both have a high-quality HEPA filter in the top tier and good component materials.

Room coverage

Bissell Air 400 has a listed CADR rating of 307 for dust, 279 for smoke, and for 206 Pollen (cfm). The manufacturer recommends using it for rooms of up to 432 square feet (oddly specific!). If you run through a quick manual CADR calculation, you can easily confirm that model 400 can be used in medium and large-sized rooms without an issue. ACH of Bissell 400 is between 1x-5x. This means that it can provide you with clean air up to five times in an hour (at max fan speed). You can use this air purifier for spaces that are even as big as 1200 square feet, but the ACH will only be 1x, so you are quite limited in ineffectiveness. The thing that surprised me most about model 400 is that the CADR for pollen is significantly lower than the other two. This makes it not the most ideal choice for anyone that suffers from allergies. This is especially true against pollen and in rooms larger than the suggested 432 square feet.

On the other hand, we have Bissell Air 320 which has a listed CADR of 206 for dust, 198 for smoke, and 241 Pollen – all measured in cfm. These numbers make it effective for spaces of up to 320 square feet. An ideal air purifier for small and medium-sized rooms. ACH is also between 1x to 5x, so not much difference here. Similar to model 400, you can use model 320 in rooms that are as big as 1000 square feet. The only downside to this is that ACH will be 1x, which is a very low number. The CADR for pollen is surprisingly high, which is great news for anyone that has hay fever or is allergic to pollen.

In terms of room coverage, Bissell Air 400 can be used in bigger rooms and has an advantage when it comes to the general CADR rating. That being said, Bissell Air 320 does come on top in smaller rooms, when pollen is your biggest issue. Other than that, Air 400 tops Air 320 everywhere else.  Both air purifiers also use the automated CirQulate™ System that automatically increases fan speed as your indoor air quality decreases

Noise levels

Bissell Air 400 has a noise range between 30 dB – 65 dB. It comes with a dedicated Sleep mode, which is why it goes as low as 30 dB. This sleep mode makes it very quiet and practically unnoticeable – a good solution for the bedroom or study room, where you need silence.  65 dB is quite noisy but that is to be expected as the device has 5 different fan speeds. I wrote on the topic of air purifier noise in a different post, which can be found here.

Bissell Air 400 has a noise range between 38 db – 60 dB. It is louder on the lowest fan speed setting and quieter on the max speed setting, which does make sense. This is because model 320 comes with a slightly weaker fan (although overall strong!) than model 400. That being said, 38 dB is unfortunately quite noticeable in a quiet setting, so do not expect complete silence in the room. 60 dB (max fan speed) is noisy, so it should be used only when your air is in need of some serious cleaning.

In terms of noise levels, Bissell Air 400 again comes out on top over Air 320. Although it is a few decibels louder on max speed, the difference is hardly noticeable. But there is a very noticeable difference between 30 dB and 38 dB, which is why Air 400 wins in this category. Even among other air purifiers from Bissell, Air 320 stands out as the loudest one for the noise it makes on lower fan speeds.

Control panel

Bissell Air 400 comes with quite a few adjustable settings, which can be found on the control panel. You can set a timer (1/4/8 hours), 3 fan speeds (low, mid, high), and choose between 3 modes (max, auto, silent). You might be a bit confused at this point – at the start of this article I listed 5 fan speeds, but you can choose only between three on the control panes. So what gives? Well, there are 2 extra speeds, which are basically two of the three modes: max and silent. The third mode is an automatic mode which is a great addition to any air purifier. It is paired up with a good air quality sensor that even detects 2.5 PM particles. This is how the control panel is located on the top and looks like this:

On the other hand, we have Bissell air 320 which does not offer nearly as much variety as the model 400. You actually only get a single button/knob, that serves as a power on/off button and can be twisted to set the fan speed. And that is pretty much it. Bissell really put quality over quantity in this case, and that is not a bad thing at all. Remember – fewer settings also mean less hassle! You will be pleased to know that model 320 also comes with the same automatic mode as its younger brother Air 400. It comes included with a PM 2.5 particle sensor and a night mode. Overall, quite a collection for an air purifier that uses only 1 button. Here is how the control panel looks like:

Looking at the control panel and other adjustable settings, Bissell Air 400 offers a bit more versatility than Bissell Air 320. It comes with more options and has a timer function, which model 320 lacks. Both also come with some smart features such as an automatic model and an air quality sensor – these are a welcome addition and are always welcome to have!

Bissell air400 vs 320 -Operating Costs:

For Bissell air400 the cost of  Pre & HEPA Filter is around $25 for 6 months of usage and the same for the Activated Carbon Filter.

The cost for operation of Bissell air 320 pre & HEPA Filters is $22 for 6 months of usage and  Activated Carbon Filter is $18 for 6 months usage.

Bissell air 400 vs 320- Conclusion

We took a look at two very popular air purifiers from Bissell. So, the main question remains to be answered – which one is better? Taking everything into consideration, Bissell Air 400 comes out on top over Bissell Air 320 (although it does not eclipse it). Model 400 has bigger room coverage, a better overall CADR rating, is quieter, has more settings, and a (little bit) better filtration system. Do not get me wrong, both of these devices are great mid-tier air purifiers! But the price difference is so small that you simply get more bang for your buck with Bissell Air 400. 

Is there a scenario where I would pick Bissell Air 320 over Bissell Air 400? There actually is! I actually caught model 320 on some nice discounts a few times in recent weeks. If you can snag one for around 50$ less, you are looking at a fantastic opportunity. Bissell Air 320 is also a better fit for anyone that has problems with hay fever or allergies, as the CADR rating for pollen is much higher than in model 400.

And with that, we have reached the end! I hope this comparison helped you decide which one of these two air purifiers is a better fit for your situation and needs.

You can check the latest price and availability of Bissell Air 400 here:

You can check the latest price and availability of Bissell Air 320 here: