Indianapolis Air Quality in 2020
In 2020, Indianapolis's air quality (Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN area) had a median daily AQI of 56 (Moderate) across 366 monitored days. 7 days (1.9%) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, 106 were Good, and the year's peak AQI was 144 (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups). Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 297 of those days. The cleanest month of 2020 was May (median AQI 51, 0 days above 100) and the worst was June (median 61, 2 days above 100, peak 115).
- Good: 29.0%
- Moderate: 69.1%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 1.9%
- Unhealthy or worse: 0.0%
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How was Indianapolis's air quality in 2020?
Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 56, with 7 days above AQI 100 out of 366 monitored — the 3rd cleanest of 7 years on record for the area.
- ✓Peak AQI in 2020: 144 (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups).
- ✓Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) was the main pollutant on 297 days.
- ✓Cleanest month: May; worst: June.
Frequently asked questions
What was the average AQI in Indianapolis in 2020?▾
EPA's Air Quality System puts Indianapolis's (Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN) median daily AQI for 2020 at 56, which is Moderate. 7 days were Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse and the year's highest AQI was 144.
Which month had the worst air quality in Indianapolis in 2020?▾
The cleanest month of 2020 was May (median AQI 51, 0 days above 100) and the worst was June (median 61, 2 days above 100, peak 115).
Was 2020 a good or bad year for Indianapolis's air?▾
Among the 7 years EPA has published for the area (2019–2025), 2020 ranks 3rd cleanest by days above AQI 100. 2020's median of 56 is in line with the area's typical annual median of 56.
Indianapolis month by month in 2020
Indianapolis air quality month by month, 2020 (Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Month | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 31 | 58 | 0 | 74 | PM2.5 |
| February | 29 | 56 | 0 | 72 | PM2.5 |
| March | 31 | 56 | 0 | 76 | PM2.5 |
| April | 30 | 58 | 0 | 71 | PM2.5 |
| Maycleanest | 31 | 51 | 0 | 71 | PM2.5 |
| Juneworst | 30 | 61 | 2 | 115 | O3 |
| July | 31 | 57 | 2 | 108 | O3 |
| August | 31 | 53 | 0 | 84 | PM2.5 |
| September | 30 | 55 | 0 | 66 | PM2.5 |
| October | 31 | 51 | 0 | 68 | PM2.5 |
| November | 30 | 56 | 2 | 144 | PM2.5 |
| December | 31 | 59 | 1 | 101 | PM2.5 |
How 2020 compares
Among the 7 years EPA has published for the area (2019–2025), 2020 ranks 3rd cleanest by days above AQI 100.
2020's median of 56 is in line with the area's typical annual median of 56.
Activity-specific thresholds: running, cycling, kids' sports.
Right now in Indianapolis
The latest EPA AirNow observation puts Indianapolis's AQI at 44 (PM2.5). The figures above are multi-year annual statistics, not today's reading.
View current Indianapolis air quality →Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) pre-generated Daily AQI by CBSA files — daily AQI by CBSA (Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN), 2019–2025. Daily AQI per CBSA is the highest AQI reported by any monitor in the area that day; the defining parameter is the pollutant that set it. Month and season statistics pool every such day in the period across all years listed. Retrieved 2026-09-09.