The 5 Best Home Oxygen Concentrators of 2023

According to the American Thoracic Society, the air we breathe consists of roughly 21% oxygen. The rest is nitrogen and trace amounts of other gases. Most people can get enough oxygen from the air around them, even with lung disease. However, they may require supplemental oxygen if they have an advanced lung disease, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis, pneumonia, severe asthma or even COVID-19. That’s where home oxygen concentrators can help. An oxygen machine for home helps people receive at-home oxygen therapy with comfort, convenience, and privacy. Unlike portable oxygen concentrators, home oxygen concentrators are designed to stay in a person’s home, which is why they’re sometimes called stationary oxygen concentrators.

When selecting a home oxygen concentrator, there are several factors to consider. We created our roundup of the best home oxygen concentrators of 2023 by analyzing various key features, including maximum oxygen output, power consumption and noise level, among others.

Home oxygen concentrators draw air through filters to remove nitrogen, dust, bacteria, and other particles, according to an article published in the journal Breathe. The nitrogen and other gases are desorbed and released back into the air, while the concentrated oxygen is pumped through a nasal cannula the person wears. This lets the person breathe a continuous flow of near-pure oxygen. The best continuous flow home oxygen concentrators will provide oxygen purity levels of about 90%.

Oxygen machines measure the flow of oxygen in liters per minute. They’re often referred to as low-flow or high-flow, with an output of 5 or 10 liters per minute, respectively. Of our recommendations for the best home oxygen concentrators of 2023, three are low-flow and two are high-flow.

• Most Budget-Friendly 5-Liter: CAIRE Companion 5
• Quietest 5-Liter: Respironics EverFlo
• Most Energy-Efficient 5-Liter: Inogen At Home 5L
• Best 10-Liter for High-Volume Oxygen Needs: AirSep Newlife Intensity 10
• Quietest 10-Liter: Respironics Millennium M10

Most Budget-Friendly 5-Liter Home Oxygen Concentrator: CAIRE Companion 5

Pros

• Proprietary technology reduces power consumption on low settings
• Delivers oxygen at half-liter increments
• Small and compact design

Cons

• Heaviest and loudest 5-liter home oxygen unit on our list

Cost: $695

Weight: 36 pounds

Noise level: 50 decibels

Energy usage: 250 to 350 watts

Maximum oxygen output: 5 liters per minute

Oxygen purity: 85% to 95%

The CAIRE Companion 5 is one of the highest-tech home oxygen concentrators from the online retailer Oxygen Concentrator Store. It has several unique features, including proprietary autoFLOW technology that reduces the home oxygen concentrator’s power by about 15% when it operates at 2 liters per minute. Even on higher settings, the CAIRE Companion 5 will never use more than 350 watts of power.

The machine is small and compact, only 12.5 inches wide and 21.5 inches high. People with highly specific prescriptions or oxygen needs can also benefit from the half-liter increment dosing options as well.

Quietest 5-Liter Oxygen Machine for Home: Respironics EverFlo

Pros

• Noise level never gets above 45 decibels
• Offers the highest levels of oxygen purity, starting at 90%
• 5-year warranty available

Cons

• Uses the most power of all 5-liter home oxygen concentrators on our list

Cost: $895

Weight: 31 pounds

Noise level: 45 decibels

Energy usage: 350 watts

Maximum oxygen output: 5 liters per minute

Oxygen purity: 90% to 96%

If peace and quiet are your priorities for a household oxygen generator, the Respironics EverFlo can be a good choice for providing in-home oxygen therapy.

Although the Inogen At Home 5-liter concentrator is between 40 and 45 decibels, that’s only when it operates at level 2. The brand doesn’t advertise how loud it is at higher output levels. Our contact at the Oxygen Concentrator Store clarified that the Respironics EverFlo was the quietest home oxygen machine on the market since it never gets above 45 decibels. That’s about the same level of noise you would expect to hear inside a library.

The Respironics EverFlo is also easy to use, with only two filters that require replacing and a large, easy-to-read interface panel. It’s only 15 inches wide and 23 inches tall, so in addition to keeping quiet, this home oxygen system keeps a low profile as well.

Most Energy-Efficient 5-Liter Home Oxygen Concentrator: Inogen At Home 5L

Pros

• Uses only 275 watts of energy
• Small and lightweight at only 18 pounds
• Quiet when running on 2 liters per minute

Cons

• Most expensive 5-liter home oxygen concentrator on this list
• No wheels or carrying handle

Cost: $1,295

Weight: 18 pounds

Noise level: 45 decibels

Energy usage: 275 watts

Maximum oxygen output: 5 liters per minute

Oxygen purity: 87% to 96%

The Oxygen Concentrator Store states that this home oxygen unit can save you up to $300 per year in electricity costs. By using less than 300 watts, the Inogen At Home 5L earns its spot on our list as the most energy-efficient option for an oxygen machine for home. When running on 2 liters per minute, it is also quiet at only 40 to 45 decibels.

Although the home oxygen concentrator is small and lightweight, it lacks wheels and handles, so you’d have to pick it up to move it from place to place. If portability is a concern, you can look into some of Inogen’s portable models.

Best 10-Liter Home Oxygen Concentrator for High-Volume Oxygen Needs: AirSep Newlife Intensity 10

Pros

• Offers high-volume and high-pressure oxygen delivery
• Can support other home oxygen equipment
• Quiet for a 10-liter model

Cons

• High energy demands at 590 watts
• Heaviest 10-liter model on our list

Cost: $1,895

Weight: 58 pounds

Noise level: 55 decibels

Energy usage: 590 watts

Maximum oxygen output: 10 liters per minute

Oxygen purity: 89% to 95% at 2 to 9 liters per minute, 87% to 93% at 10 liters per minute

The AirSep Newlife Intensity 10 consistently earns high ratings from Oxygen Concentrator Store customers. This home oxygen generator has a pressure output of 20 pounds per square inch, which is twice as much as most oxygen concentrators on the market today. That’s enough pressure to provide oxygen to other home oxygen equipment, such as nebulizers for asthmatic patients.

Although it is relatively quiet for a 10-liter model, at 55 decibels, it is heavy and weighs 58 pounds. Despite its weight and energy demands, this home oxygen system may be a worthy investment for someone with long-term, high-volume oxygen therapy needs.

Quietest 10-Liter Oxygen Machine for Home: Respironics Millennium M10

Pros

• As quiet as a 5-liter home oxygen concentrator
• Simple design with few parts

Cons

• Consumes more energy than the AirSep Newlife Intensity 10
• Cannot support other home oxygen equipment

Cost: $1,995

Weight: 53 pounds

Noise level: 50 decibels

Energy usage: 600 watts

Maximum oxygen output: 10 liters per minute

Oxygen purity: 88% to 96% at 1 to 2 liters per minute, 92% to 96% at 3 to 7 liters per minute, 88% to 96% at 8 to 10 liters per minute

Respironics once again delivers with one of the quietest oxygen generators for home. At 50 decibels, the noise level is just above that of birds chirping, or a little bit quieter than normal conversation. The home oxygen concentrator is also simply designed, with fewer parts and greater durability than others of its kind.

Although it can’t support nebulizers or venti-masks like the AirSep Newlife Intensity 10 does, it may be a good investment if you need quiet, high-flow oxygen therapy at home without additional support.

When searching for the best home oxygen concentrator for your needs, there are a few things you should consider:

• Oxygen purity: Most oxygen concentrators will provide oxygen at roughly 90% purity, but some may be higher or lower. Your health care provider may recommend a certain level of oxygen purity depending on your prescription or health needs.
• Maximum oxygen output: Your health care provider will let you know whether you need a low-flow or high-flow home oxygen concentrator. A high-flow home oxygen concentrator will deliver up to 10 liters of oxygen per minute, which is double that of a low-flow model.
• Noise level: Noise level can be an important factor to consider. A home oxygen system that is too loud can be disruptive while watching TV, sleeping, or having conversations with others.
• Energy usage: Generally, a home oxygen concentrator should not raise your energy bill by more than 5% to 10%. Most 5-liter home oxygen concentrators will not use more than 350 watts of power per hour, a little more than four light bulbs. In contrast, a 10-liter home oxygen concentrator may use up to 600 watts of power per hour.
• Weight and size: Will you need to move your home oxygen concentrator from room to room? Do you want a home O2 machine that takes up less space, or are you okay with something bigger and heavier? High-level 10-liter home oxygen concentrators tend to be larger and heavier than low-level 5-liter concentrators.

If your blood has low oxygen levels and breathing is difficult, your doctor may recommend home oxygen therapy to help ease symptoms and improve your quality of life.

People use home oxygen concentrators to help treat a variety of health conditions, such as the following:

• Bronchitis
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• COVID-19
• Cystic fibrosis
• Emphysema
• Heart failure
• Pneumonia
• Severe asthma
• Sleep apnea

• Oxygen Therapy | American Thoracic Society
• Hardavella, G., Karampinis, I., Frille, A., Sreter, K., & Rousalova, I. (2019). Oxygen devices and delivery systems. Breathe, 15(3), e108–e116.
• Oxygen Therapy | National Library of Medicine
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) | American Thoracic Society
• Pulse Oximeters and Oxygen Concentrators: What to Know About At-Home Oxygen Therapy | Food and Drug Administration