5-Liter Oxygen Concentrator Review

Updated: February 3, 2026

Home Oxygen Concentrator Review

5 Liter Oxygen Concentrators provide medium oxygen flow for home therapy and supply enough oxygen for most long-term users. In many cases, flow in this range supports adequate oxygen saturation for more than 90% of oxygen patients. Normal oxygen saturation of hemoglobin (SpO2) usually ranges from 95% to 98%, while levels at or above 90% are often considered acceptable. When saturation drops below 90%, clinicians may prescribe oxygen therapy to help maintain safer levels.¹

Too little oxygen can be life-threatening, but excess oxygen can also create risk. High oxygen levels may reduce the respiratory drive and can be associated with headaches, sleepiness, and confusion. For many patients, maintaining an SpO2 of 90% or higher is an appropriate goal. A large share of long-term oxygen users require 2 liters per minute (LPM) or less to reach their target saturation. A licensed prescriber should determine the correct oxygen flow and duration for each patient, which is why a prescription is required for oxygen use in the United States.²

This review examines top-selling 5-liter concentrators that provide at least 5 liters of oxygen per minute. Models are listed in alphabetical order and include the Inogen At Home 5, Caire Companion 5, DeVilbiss 5 Liter, Precision Medical Easy Flow 5, Respironics EverFlo and EverFlo Q, AirSep NewLife Elite, Nidek Nuvo Lite Mark 5, and the Invacare Perfecto 2.

A side-by-side comparison chart of the Best Home Oxygen Concentrators appears below the review.

Additional oxygen concentrator reviews, rankings, and comparison charts are available in the resources below:

• High Flow Oxygen Concentrator Review – reviews 8- and 10-liter oxygen generators.
• Low Flow Oxygen Concentrator Rankings – compares leading home oxygen concentrators that deliver 3 liters or less of oxygen.
• Portable Oxygen Concentrator Reviews – organizes portable units by brand.
• Portable Oxygen Concentrator Comparison – provides a side-by-side chart of popular pulse-flow portable devices.
• Ranking the Continuous/Pulse Flow Portable Concentrators – ranks portable concentrators that offer both continuous and pulse flow.

Ranking Determination Factors

This comparison ranks home oxygen concentrators using twelve factors grouped into performance, size, and dependability. Performance factors include oxygen concentration, outlet pressure, maximum operating altitude, power use, and noise level. Size factors include cabinet volume and weight. Dependability factors cover country of manufacture, warranty, sales trends, search interest, and recall history.

Best Home Oxygen Concentrator (5-Liter) Performance

Performance is central when selecting any oxygen concentrator. A device must meet prescribed oxygen needs in daily use. This review evaluates five key performance measurements.

1. Oxygen Concentration Level

Oxygen concentration describes the percentage of oxygen in the gas delivered from the concentrator. Manufacturer specifications in this group range from 87% to 96%. The highest concentration ranges in this review are provided by three units: the DeVilbiss 5 and both EverFlo models. Each of these has a stated concentration range of 90% to 96%.

2. Oxygen Outlet Pressure

Outlet pressure affects how far oxygen can travel through tubing while still delivering adequate flow at the cannula or mask. Higher outlet pressure generally allows longer tubing runs, which can help patients move from room to room without relocating the concentrator. The At Home provides the highest outlet pressure in this group at a reported 28.9 psi, followed by the DeVilbiss 5 at 8.5 psi.

3. Maximum Operating Altitude

Performance at altitude is important for patients living or traveling in higher-elevation regions. Some concentrators lose efficiency as elevation increases. In this comparison, the DeVilbiss 5 offers the widest stated operating range at 0 to 13,123 feet above sea level. The At Home and NewLife Elite follow with stated operating ranges of 0 to 10,000 feet.

The chart below compares maximum operating altitude for each concentrator. The red horizontal line marks the average operating height across all models. Units above that line offer better-than-average altitude performance, while those below it provide more limited elevation ranges.

Comparison Chart for Operating Altitude

4. Power Consumption

Power use directly affects long-term operating cost, especially for concentrators used around the clock. The average retail electricity rate in the United States is a little over 13 cents per kilowatt-hour, with some states below 10 cents and others above 30 cents. Higher-wattage concentrators draw more power and contribute more to monthly utility bills, particularly when operated 24 hours per day.³

The concentrators in this review use an average of 291 watts during operation. The At Home 5 ranks first with a listed power draw of 110 watts, followed by the Companion 5 at 250 watts. The Inogen At Home model uses less than half the wattage of the second-ranked device. Three concentrators tie for the highest wattage at 350 watts.

The comparison chart below shows average power consumption for all eight models. The red horizontal line marks the group average of 291 watts. Units with bars below the line consume less power than average, while those above it use more.

The next chart illustrates estimated energy cost for 24/7 operation using national average rates. Over one year of continuous use, the At Home concentrator is projected to cost about $162 less than the second-best device and roughly $279 less than models that draw 350 watts.

Comparison Chart for Lowest Power Consumption

5. Lowest Noise

Sound level is another key comfort factor. Even if the oxygen user tolerates machine noise, family members or caregivers may not. Manufacturers have worked to decrease decibel levels in modern concentrators. In this comparison, a four-way tie exists for the lowest listed sound level at 40 decibels (dBA). The Caire Companion 5, EverFlo Q, Nuvo Lite Mark 5, and At Home 5 fall into this group. The chart below shows the safe sound region between 1 and 50 decibels in green and higher non-hazardous ranges in yellow. All models in this review fall within the green zone at or below 50 dBA.

Comparison Chart for Lowest Noise

The next performance chart displays each measurement for every model and ranks the concentrators on overall performance. Highlighted cells mark first-place results in each category.

Comparison Chart for Concentrator Performance

Size Comparison

Size and weight affect how easily a concentrator can be moved and where it can be placed in the home. Larger, heavier units can be harder to roll between rooms and may contact furniture or door frames. Smaller, lighter devices are generally easier to position and ship. Shipping cost can vary by size and weight, although some vendors provide free shipping on many concentrators purchased online.

Machine Size and Weight Comparison

The smallest concentrator in this review is the At Home 5, which weighs 18 pounds and measures 1501.5 cubic inches. The next smallest unit, the Nuvo Lite, has a cabinet volume of 2898 cubic inches and weighs 37 pounds. The Inogen At Home device is therefore much lighter and more compact than other models in this group.

EverFlo concentrators have the second-lowest weight at 31 pounds but a larger cabinet size of 3277 cubic inches. At the other end of the range, the AirSep NewLife Elite weighs 54 pounds and occupies nearly 6500 cubic inches, roughly triple the weight of the At Home and more than four times its size.

The size comparison chart ranks concentrators by cabinet volume and weight. The smallest units appear toward the bottom of the chart, while larger units appear toward the top. The red horizontal line marks the average cabinet size of about 3643 cubic inches. Five concentrators fall below this average size, while three – DeVilbiss 5L, Perfecto 2 V, and NewLife Elite – are larger than average. The vertical red line marks the average weight of about 35.3 pounds.

The At Home concentrator ranks first for both lowest weight and smallest size. The Nuvo Lite Mark 5 ranks second at 32 pounds and 2898 cubic inches. Both Respironics EverFlo models weigh 31 pounds and have below-average cabinet volumes of 3277.5 cubic inches. The shaded red area in the chart highlights concentrators that are better than average in both size and weight.

Size Comparison Chart

Concentrator Dependability

1. Made in the USA

Country of origin is one indicator some buyers consider when evaluating product quality. In this review, each manufacturer reports that these oxygen concentrators are made in the United States.

2. Product Warranty

Warranty length can reflect the manufacturer’s expectations for product life. Short warranty periods may indicate a shorter projected service life, while longer coverage may signal additional testing and confidence in reliability. All three major manufacturers in this group offer a 3-year warranty on the concentrators reviewed here.

3. Recall History

Recall history provides another lens on product reliability. A pattern of recalls may raise questions about design or quality control, while isolated events that have been corrected may be less concerning. In this review, only one product, the Nidek Nuvo Lite Mark 5, has a documented recall. In 2012 the FDA announced a Class I recall of several models, covering 7,889 units related to a capacitor issue that could create a fire hazard.⁴ The recall applied to devices manufactured and distributed from January 2004 through May 2010 with serial numbers 042-10000 to 102-09335. The manufacturer replaced the affected capacitors, and no patient injuries were reported.⁵

4. Best Selling 5-Liter Oxygen Concentrators

Sales activity can reflect a mix of factors, including price, features, and familiarity among prescribers and equipment providers. At Vitality Medical, the DeVilbiss 5-liter concentrator remains the top-selling home oxygen unit in this group. Its combination of price and feature set has contributed to sustained demand. The Invacare Perfecto2 V is the second-best seller and has gained volume as its price has become more competitive. As pricing changes over time, sales rankings may shift among these models.

5. Best Searched Concentrator

Search interest also offers insight into which products attract attention from patients and caregivers. The Respironics EverFlo is currently the most searched 5-liter home oxygen concentrator among the models in this review, followed by the Invacare Perfecto2 and the DeVilbiss 5. The Inogen At Home ranks fourth in search activity.

Overall Best 5-Liter Oxygen Concentrator

In this comparison, the Inogen At Home ranks first overall and moves ahead of the DeVilbiss 5-Liter Oxygen Concentrator. Out of twelve evaluation factors, the At Home holds first place in five. Three of these are performance measures: highest listed outlet pressure, lowest power consumption, and a tie for lowest noise. The At Home also ranks first for smallest cabinet size and lowest weight. All manufacturers in this group report United States manufacturing and provide a 3-year warranty on their devices.

The DeVilbiss 5 ranks second overall. It ties for the highest oxygen concentration range at 90% to 96%, offers the highest stated operating altitude at 13,123 feet, and provides the second-highest outlet pressure at 8.5 psi. Other notable results include the Companion 5, which has the second-lowest power use and ties for lowest noise, and the EverFlo models, which combine high oxygen concentration ranges with relatively low sound levels.

Best 5-Liter Oxygen Concentrator

•   #1 ranking for highest oxygen outlet pressure
•   #1 ranking for lowest noise (tied with three others)
•   #1 ranking for lowest power consumption
•   #1 ranking for smallest cabinet size
•   #1 ranking for lowest weight
•   #2 ranking for maximum operating altitude (tied with one other)
•   Rated for 24/7 operation
•   Manufactured in the United States
•   Inogen At Home

Oxygen Concentrator Comparison Chart – 5 Liter (Side-by-Side)

Footnotes

• ¹ Mayo Clinic Staff, Symptoms Hypoxemia. Mayo Clinic. Last accessed October 18, 2019.
• ² The Need for Supplemental Oxygen. UCSF Health, University of California San Francisco. Last accessed October 18, 2019.
• ³ U.S. Energy Information Administration, Table 5.6.A. Average Price of Electricity to Ultimate Customers by End-Use Sector. Electric Power Monthly. July 2019. Last accessed October 21, 2019.
• ⁴ U.S. Food & Drug Administration. Class 1 Device Recall NIDEK Medical M5C5/MARK5 NUVO/STD, 230 V50/60 Hz 420 W. June 19, 2012. Last accessed October 22, 2019.
• ⁵ MedPage Today. Oxygen devices recalled. WASHINGTON. The FDA has issued a class I recall of several models of oxygen concentrators because of a potential fire hazard. June 20, 2012. Last accessed October 22, 2019.

Medical Studies and Additional Information

•     Petty TL, Bliss PL. Ambulatory oxygen therapy, exercise, and survival with advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (the Nocturnal Oxygen Therapy Trial revisited). Respir Care. 2000;45(2):204–211.
•     McCoy R, Petty T, Gay P. Respironics white paper. Comparison of three portable oxygen concentrators on exercising patients. Andover, MA: Philips Respironics; 2008.
•     Nasilowski J, Przybylowski T, Zielinski J, Chazan R. Comparing supplementary oxygen benefits from a portable oxygen concentrator and a liquid oxygen portable device during a walk test in COPD patients on long-term oxygen therapy. Respir Med. 2008;102(7):1021–1025.
•     Leblanc CJ, Lavallée LG, King JA, Taylor-Sussex RE, Woolnough A, McKim DA. A comparative study of 3 portable oxygen concentrators during a 6-minute walk test in patients with chronic lung disease. Respir Care. 2013 Oct;58(10):1598-1605. doi:10.4187/respcare.02275.
•     Chatburn RL, Williams TJ. Performance comparison of 4 portable oxygen concentrators. Respir Care. 2010;55(4):433–442.
•     Case R, Hausmann R. Use of a portable oxygen concentrator with a fixed minute volume oxygen conserving device to deliver oxygen to exercising pulmonary rehabilitation patients (abstract). Respir Care. 2005;50(11):1510.
•     O'Donnell DE, Hernandez P, Kaplan A, Aaron S, Bourbeau J, Marciniuk D, et al. Canadian Thoracic Society recommendations for management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease – 2008 update – highlights for primary care. Can Respir J. 2008;15(Suppl A):1A–8A.
•     William C. Pruitt. Long-Term Oxygen Therapy: In a Perfect World. Respir Care. 2013;58(10):1711-1713.