Charlotte Air Quality in 2020
In 2020, Charlotte's air quality (Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC area) had a median daily AQI of 48 (Good) across 366 monitored days. 2 days (0.5%) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, 205 were Good, and the year's peak AQI was 112 (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups). Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 243 of those days. The cleanest month of 2020 was February (median AQI 40, 0 days above 100) and the worst was July (median 53, 2 days above 100, peak 112).
- Good: 56.0%
- Moderate: 43.4%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 0.5%
- Unhealthy or worse: 0.0%
Improve Indoor Air Quality
Even with good outdoor air in Charlotte, indoor PM2.5, dust and allergens build up. A True-HEPA purifier keeps a bedroom or office consistently clean.
Recommended: Levoit Core 400S — True HEPA · CADR ~141 CFM · rooms up to 219 sq ft
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
How was Charlotte's air quality in 2020?
Good on a typical day: median AQI 48, with 2 days above AQI 100 out of 366 monitored — the 2nd cleanest of 7 years on record for the area.
- ✓Peak AQI in 2020: 112 (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups).
- ✓Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) was the main pollutant on 243 days.
- ✓Cleanest month: February; worst: July.
Frequently asked questions
What was the average AQI in Charlotte in 2020?▾
EPA's Air Quality System puts Charlotte's (Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC) median daily AQI for 2020 at 48, which is Good. 2 days were Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse and the year's highest AQI was 112.
Which month had the worst air quality in Charlotte in 2020?▾
The cleanest month of 2020 was February (median AQI 40, 0 days above 100) and the worst was July (median 53, 2 days above 100, peak 112).
Was 2020 a good or bad year for Charlotte's air?▾
Among the 7 years EPA has published for the area (2019–2025), 2020 ranks 2nd cleanest by days above AQI 100. 2020's median of 48 is below the area's typical annual median of 52.
Charlotte month by month in 2020
Charlotte air quality month by month, 2020 (Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Month | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 31 | 46 | 0 | 58 | PM2.5 |
| Februarycleanest | 29 | 40 | 0 | 60 | PM2.5 |
| March | 31 | 46 | 0 | 64 | PM2.5 |
| April | 30 | 46 | 0 | 60 | O3 |
| May | 31 | 47 | 0 | 61 | PM2.5 |
| June | 30 | 53 | 0 | 96 | PM2.5 |
| Julyworst | 31 | 53 | 2 | 112 | PM2.5 |
| August | 31 | 50 | 0 | 90 | PM2.5 |
| September | 30 | 43 | 0 | 69 | PM2.5 |
| October | 31 | 52 | 0 | 61 | PM2.5 |
| November | 30 | 53 | 0 | 74 | PM2.5 |
| December | 31 | 53 | 0 | 74 | PM2.5 |
How 2020 compares
Among the 7 years EPA has published for the area (2019–2025), 2020 ranks 2nd cleanest by days above AQI 100.
2020's median of 48 is below the area's typical annual median of 52.
Activity-specific thresholds: running, cycling, kids' sports.
Right now in Charlotte
The latest EPA AirNow observation puts Charlotte's AQI at 36 (PM2.5). The figures above are multi-year annual statistics, not today's reading.
View current Charlotte air quality →Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) pre-generated Daily AQI by CBSA files — daily AQI by CBSA (Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC), 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.