CADR Calculator for Pet Dander & Odor
Find the minimum Clean Air Delivery Rate for your room.
Pet owners need more CADR than the average household. Pet dander (skin flakes) is microscopic (2.5–10 μm), stays airborne for hours, and is a potent allergen. Combined with pet hair, litter box odors, and the general increase in particulate load, you should size up.
For rooms where your pet spends significant time, we recommend the standard 4.8 ACH plus 15–20% headroom. This calculator accounts for that overhead automatically.
If odor is your primary concern (litter boxes, wet dog, bird cages), CADR alone won't solve it — you also need a substantial activated carbon filter. Look for purifiers with at least 2–3 lbs of activated carbon for meaningful odor control.
📐 How CADR Is Calculated
Formula: CADR = (Sq Ft × Ceiling × ACH) ÷ 60
AHAM recommends ≥ 4.8 ACH. Allergies: 6 ACH. Smoke/Asthma: 8 ACH.
Based on 240 CFM minimum Smoke CADR:
💡 Tips for Pets
- ✓ Vacuum pre-filters every 2–4 weeks in pet households — hair clogs them fast.
- ✓ For cat litter odor, position the purifier within 6 feet of the litter box.
- ✓ HEPA handles dander and hair; activated carbon handles odors. You need both.
- ✓ In multi-pet homes, consider one purifier per room where pets spend time.