Is the air quality good in Detroit?
On August 20, 2025, at 8:19 AM PT, air quality in Detroit, Michigan is in the “good” range. At that time, Detroit was ranked as the cleanest major city in the world.
In prior weeks, the city had frequently been among the ten most polluted major cities in the world due to wildfire smoke.
Major cities ranking list showing Detroit, Michigan as the least polluted city. August 20, 2025, 8:19 AM. Source: IQAir.
Air quality is dynamic and, like the weather, can frequently change. Click here for a real-time air quality map of Detroit.
Air quality conditions on August 20 are similar to the average PM2.5 concentration in 2024 for Detroit which was 8.4 µg/m3. This corresponds to an AQI of 47, which falls into the “good” category and was about 1.7 times the WHO annual guideline of 5 µg/m.
Why is the air quality good in Detroit?
Wildfires in Canada had recently produced plumes of smoke that drifted south into other areas of Canada, and into the United States. However, rain and cooler temperatures have helped dampen and control wildfires in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Ontario in the past week (1)(2).
Hourly forecast of Detroit, Michigan on August 20, 8:19 AM. Source: IQAir.
Air quality map of Detroit, Michigan as of August 20, 8:19 AM. Source: IQAir.
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How can I protect myself from poor air quality?
Though air quality is currently good in Detroit, air quality can change. Wildfires may reignite and smoke could return to the region.
There are steps that people can take to stay safe when air quality conditions are poor.
- Get a free air quality app for real-time air quality alerts and forecasts.
- Shut doors and windows and set the HVAC to recirculate mode.
- Contribute to your community’s outdoor air quality data.
- Stay indoors when air quality is poor; if you do need to go outdoors, wear a KN95/FFP2 mask.
- Run a high-performance air purifier to filter particles, gases, and other pollutants.
