Las Vegas Air Quality in 2021

In 2021, Las Vegas's air quality (Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV area) had a median daily AQI of 62 (Moderate) across 365 monitored days. 34 days (9.3%) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, 87 were Good, and the year's peak AQI was 183 (Unhealthy). Ground-level ozone set the daily AQI on 214 of those days. The cleanest month of 2021 was February (median AQI 46, 0 days above 100) and the worst was August (median 100, 12 days above 100, peak 183).

62
Median AQI
Moderate
34
Days above AQI 100
9.3% of 365 days
100
90th percentile AQI
worst 1 day in 10
183
Peak AQI
Unhealthy
O3
Main pollutant
214 of 365 days
87
Good days
23.8% of days
  • Good: 23.8%
  • Moderate: 66.8%
  • Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 8.5%
  • Unhealthy or worse: 0.8%

Reduce Indoor Ozone in Las Vegas

Today's main pollutant in Las Vegas is ground-level ozone (AQI 42). Important: standard HEPA filters do NOT remove ozone — only a purifier with a substantial activated-carbon bed adsorbs it. The biggest wins are cutting indoor sources (gas appliances, certain "ionizer" purifiers) and ventilating when outdoor ozone is low (early morning). A high-carbon unit helps with the gases and VOCs that linger indoors.

Recommended: Levoit Core 300True HEPA + activated carbon · CADR ~141 CFM · rooms up to 219 sq ft

Check Price on Amazon →

As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

QUICK ANSWER

How was Las Vegas's air quality in 2021?

Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 62, with 34 days above AQI 100 out of 365 monitored — the 6th cleanest of 7 years on record for the area.

  • Peak AQI in 2021: 183 (Unhealthy).
  • Ground-level ozone was the main pollutant on 214 days.
  • Cleanest month: February; worst: August.

Frequently asked questions

What was the average AQI in Las Vegas in 2021?

EPA's Air Quality System puts Las Vegas's (Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV) median daily AQI for 2021 at 62, which is Moderate. 34 days were Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse and the year's highest AQI was 183.

Which month had the worst air quality in Las Vegas in 2021?

The cleanest month of 2021 was February (median AQI 46, 0 days above 100) and the worst was August (median 100, 12 days above 100, peak 183).

Was 2021 a good or bad year for Las Vegas's air?

Among the 7 years EPA has published for the area (2019–2025), 2021 ranks 6th cleanest by days above AQI 100. 2021's median of 62 is in line with the area's typical annual median of 62.

Las Vegas month by month in 2021

Las Vegas air quality month by month, 2021 (Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV, EPA AQS daily AQI)

MonthDays monitoredMedian AQIDays above 100Peak AQIMain pollutant
January31631112PM2.5
Februarycleanest2846077PM2.5
March3149063O3
April3055083O3
May31713112O3
June30829115O3
July31776118O3
Augustworst3110012183O3
September30691108O3
October31501126PM2.5
November3059092PM2.5
December31571104PM2.5

How 2021 compares

Among the 7 years EPA has published for the area (2019–2025), 2021 ranks 6th cleanest by days above AQI 100.

2021's median of 62 is in line with the area's typical annual median of 62.

Activity-specific thresholds: running, cycling, kids' sports.

Right now in Las Vegas

The latest EPA AirNow observation puts Las Vegas's AQI at 42 (O3). The figures above are multi-year annual statistics, not today's reading.

View current Las Vegas air quality →

Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) pre-generated Daily AQI by CBSA files — daily AQI by CBSA (Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV), 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.