Philadelphia Air Quality in 2021
In 2021, Philadelphia's air quality (Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD area) had a median daily AQI of 56 (Moderate) across 365 monitored days. 15 days (4.1%) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, 98 were Good, and the year's peak AQI was 153 (Unhealthy). Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 275 of those days. The cleanest month of 2021 was March (median AQI 52, 0 days above 100) and the worst was July (median 67, 6 days above 100, peak 153).
- Good: 26.8%
- Moderate: 69.0%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 3.6%
- Unhealthy or worse: 0.5%
Extra Protection for Philadelphia Homes
Air quality in Philadelphia is moderate (AQI 53), with fine particles (PM2.5) the main concern. A True-HEPA purifier gives sensitive groups — kids, seniors and anyone with asthma or allergies — cleaner air indoors on days like today.
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How was Philadelphia's air quality in 2021?
Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 56, with 15 days above AQI 100 out of 365 monitored — the 5th cleanest of 7 years on record for the area.
- ✓Peak AQI in 2021: 153 (Unhealthy).
- ✓Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) was the main pollutant on 275 days.
- ✓Cleanest month: March; worst: July.
Frequently asked questions
What was the average AQI in Philadelphia in 2021?▾
EPA's Air Quality System puts Philadelphia's (Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD) median daily AQI for 2021 at 56, which is Moderate. 15 days were Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse and the year's highest AQI was 153.
Which month had the worst air quality in Philadelphia in 2021?▾
The cleanest month of 2021 was March (median AQI 52, 0 days above 100) and the worst was July (median 67, 6 days above 100, peak 153).
Was 2021 a good or bad year for Philadelphia's air?▾
Among the 7 years EPA has published for the area (2019–2025), 2021 ranks 5th cleanest by days above AQI 100. 2021's median of 56 is in line with the area's typical annual median of 56.
Philadelphia month by month in 2021
Philadelphia air quality month by month, 2021 (Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Month | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 31 | 56 | 0 | 99 | PM2.5 |
| February | 28 | 56 | 0 | 76 | PM2.5 |
| Marchcleanest | 31 | 52 | 0 | 88 | PM2.5 |
| April | 30 | 54 | 0 | 90 | PM2.5 |
| May | 31 | 53 | 1 | 108 | O3 |
| June | 30 | 54 | 4 | 115 | PM2.5 |
| Julyworst | 31 | 67 | 6 | 153 | PM2.5 |
| August | 31 | 60 | 4 | 151 | PM2.5 |
| September | 30 | 53 | 0 | 79 | PM2.5 |
| October | 31 | 53 | 0 | 82 | PM2.5 |
| November | 30 | 60 | 0 | 88 | PM2.5 |
| December | 31 | 63 | 0 | 84 | PM2.5 |
How 2021 compares
Among the 7 years EPA has published for the area (2019–2025), 2021 ranks 5th cleanest by days above AQI 100.
2021'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 Philadelphia
The latest EPA AirNow observation puts Philadelphia's AQI at 53 (PM2.5). The figures above are multi-year annual statistics, not today's reading.
View current Philadelphia air quality →Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) pre-generated Daily AQI by CBSA files — daily AQI by CBSA (Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD), 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.