Median AQI
51
Moderate
Oklahoma · County air quality · 2025
Tulsa County, Oklahoma
Median AQI 51 (Moderate). 46.0% of monitored days rated Good, direct from EPA Air Quality System stations.
- 51
- Median AQI
- 46.0%
- Good-air days
- 1
- Unhealthy days
- 5%
- Cleaner than US counties
The verdict
According to EPA Air Quality System monitoring data, Tulsa County's air is moderate on balance, among the most polluted counties nationally, a median AQI of 51 with 46.0% of 274 monitored days in the Good band, driven mainly by PM2.5.
- 51
- median AQI · Moderate
- 46.0%
- days rated Good
- PM2.5
- main pollutant
- 5%
- cleaner than US counties
1 day reached Unhealthy or worse; the worst single reading hit AQI 508 - a reading beyond the EPA’s standard 0–500 AQI scale, reflecting an extreme wildfire-smoke event or a transient monitor anomaly.
Data updated July 2026
- Good · 126 d · 46.0%
- Moderate · 147 d · 53.6%
- Hazardous · 1 d · 0.4%
How did Tulsa County's air break down in 2025?
Across 274 monitored days, 126 fell in the Good band (AQI 0–50) and 1 reached Unhealthy or worse. The worst single day peaked at AQI 508 (Hazardous) - a reading beyond the EPA’s standard 0–500 AQI scale, reflecting an extreme wildfire-smoke event or a transient monitor anomaly.
EPA AQS →Air quality data from EPA Air Quality System (2025). 274 days monitored. Median AQI: 51 (Moderate).
Insights: Tulsa County, Oklahoma. EPA monitors recorded a median Air Quality Index of 51 across 274 measured days in 2025, earning a Moderate classification and a Poor health grade. Of those days, 126 (46%) fell in the Good band (AQI 0–50), 147 (54%) registered Moderate readings, and 0 (0%) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups. The 90th-percentile AQI settled at 77, while the worst single-day peak hit 508 (Hazardous). Residents averaged about 13.8 clean-air days per 30-day window during the monitoring year.
The full pollutant mix ranks as PM2.5 (143 days), Ozone (126 days), PM10 (4 days), CO (1 days). Across the 2020–2025 trend window, good days shifted by -74 and the median AQI moved +2 points, placing the multi-year trajectory at worsening. Residents and visitors experienced 1 unhealthy-or-worse days combined, periods when the EPA recommends sensitive groups limit prolonged outdoor exertion. Nearby counties show comparable readings: Adair (59.2% good, AQI 45); Canadian (78.0% good, AQI 44); Carter (80.9% good, AQI 33); Cleveland (53.7% good, AQI 49); Comanche (63.8% good, AQI 45); Creek (80.1% good, AQI 43).
Air Quality Summary
Good Days
46.0%
126 of 274 monitored days
-29.0pp vs 75% target
Max AQI Recorded
508
Hazardous
Health Grade
Poor
90th-pct AQI 77
Tulsa County, Good days share 46.0%
National avg
Share of monitored days at AQI 0-50 (Good band).
Tulsa County, Unhealthy-or-worse share 0.4%
National avg
Share of monitored days above AQI 150 (Unhealthy or worse). Bar maxes at 10% (worst-county ceiling).
AQI Day Breakdown (2025)
Distribution of 274 monitored days across EPA AQI categories.
Good
126
46%
Moderate
147
54%
USG
0
0%
Unhealthy
0
0%
Very Unhealthy
0
0%
Hazardous
1
0%
Pollutant Breakdown
Days where each pollutant was the primary driver of AQI readings in Tulsa County.
- PM2.5 · 143 days · 52.2%
- Ozone · 126 days · 46.0%
- PM10 · 4 days · 1.5%
- CO · 1 days · 0.4%
Health Impact Assessment
Poor
Tulsa County's air quality is rated Poor based on 46.0% good air days. There were 1 unhealthy days in 2025 when outdoor activity should be limited.
Air quality posed significant health risk in 2025. Sensitive groups, including people with asthma, COPD, cardiovascular conditions, children, pregnant women, and adults over 65, should monitor AirNow.gov alerts and limit outdoor activity on Unhealthy (AQI 151+) and Very Unhealthy (201+) days. Peak readings reached AQI 508, beyond EPA's standard 0-500 scale, indicating an extreme event.
Sensitive group advisory
People with asthma, COPD, heart disease, children, pregnant women, and adults 65+ should follow EPA AQI alerts daily and limit outdoor exertion when AQI exceeds 100. Real-time conditions: airnow.gov.
Note: EPA's standard AQI scale caps at 500 (Hazardous category 301-500). The 508 peak reading represents an extreme event, typically wildfire smoke, extrapolated beyond the index's design range. See EPA wildfire smoke guidance.
The dominant pollutant is PM2.5, driving AQI on 143 of 274 monitored days.
5-Year Air Quality Trend
Air quality is worsening in Tulsa County. Best year: 2020 (200 good days).
| Year | Good | Moderate | USG | Unhealthy | Median AQI | Max AQI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 200 | 164 | 2 | 0 | 49 | 129 |
| 2021 | 143 | 212 | 8 | 2 | 53 | 168 |
| 2022 | 163 | 190 | 10 | 2 | 52 | 185 |
| 2023 | 142 | 205 | 16 | 2 | 53 | 197 |
| 2024 | 177 | 181 | 8 | 0 | 51 | 140 |
| 2025 | 126 | 147 | 0 | 0 | 51 | 508 |
How does Tulsa County compare?
How Tulsa County compares
Good-day share worse than US avg
Tulsa County 46.0%
Adair County, Oklahoma 59.2%
US average 76.5%
Median AQI worse than US avg
Tulsa County 51
Adair County, Oklahoma 45
US average 38
Unhealthy days / yr worse than US avg
Tulsa County 1
Adair County, Oklahoma 2
US average 0
Other Counties in Oklahoma
Air quality comparison for nearby counties in Oklahoma.
Counties with Similar Air Quality
Counties across the US with a similar median AQI to Tulsa County.
Arapahoe County, Colorado
AQI 51 · 47.3% good
Bibb County, Georgia
AQI 51 · 49.5% good
East Baton Rouge County, Louisiana
AQI 51 · 49.3% good
Eddy County, New Mexico
AQI 51 · 46.9% good
Hillsborough County, Florida
AQI 51 · 49.3% good
Jefferson County, Colorado
AQI 51 · 46.5% good
What Tulsa County's air means for you
On most days the air here is fine, but PM2.5 drives 1 unhealthy-or-worse day a year that sensitive groups should plan around.
- Sensitive groups (asthma, heart conditions, children, older adults) should check the AQI on high-PM2.5 days, the guide explains what a median of 51 means for exposure. Health guidance
- See how Tulsa County ranks against every monitored U.S. county on Good-day share. County rankings
- Compare Tulsa County with its Oklahoma neighbours before drawing a conclusion about the region. All of Oklahoma
Based on 274 EPA-monitored days in 2025; figures reflect only days the monitors reported. Source: EPA Air Quality System annual summaries.
More Air Quality Data
Air Quality Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the air quality in Tulsa County, Oklahoma? ▼
Tulsa County has a median Air Quality Index (AQI) of 51, rated "Moderate." 46.0% of monitored days (126 out of 274) had good air quality in 2025.
What is the main pollutant in Tulsa County? ▼
The primary pollutant in Tulsa County is Fine Particles (PM2.5), which was the main AQI driver on 143 days (52% of monitored days). Penetrates deep into lungs and bloodstream. Linked to heart disease and premature death.
How many unhealthy air days does Tulsa County have? ▼
In 2025, Tulsa County recorded 1 unhealthy air days (0 Unhealthy, 0 Very Unhealthy, 1 Hazardous). The maximum AQI reached 508 - a reading beyond the EPA’s standard 0–500 AQI scale, reflecting an extreme wildfire-smoke event or a transient monitor anomaly.
Is the air quality in Tulsa County getting better or worse? ▼
Air quality in Tulsa County is worsening based on 5-year trends (2020-2025). Best year: 2020 with 200 good days. Worst year: 2025 with 126 good days.
What does AQI 51 mean for health? ▼
Tulsa County's median AQI of 51 falls in the "Moderate" category. See the <a href="/guides/understanding-aqi" class="underline">AQI category guide</a> for what each range means for health.
How does Tulsa County compare to other counties in Oklahoma? ▼
Tulsa County has 46.0% good air days. Nearby counties in Oklahoma: Adair (59.2% good), Canadian (78.0% good), Carter (80.9% good), Cleveland (53.7% good), Comanche (63.8% good), Creek (80.1% good).
What is the 90th percentile AQI in Tulsa County? ▼
The 90th percentile AQI for Tulsa County is 77, meaning 90% of monitored days had an AQI at or below this level. The maximum AQI recorded was 508 - a reading beyond the EPA’s standard 0–500 AQI scale, reflecting an extreme wildfire-smoke event or a transient monitor anomaly (Hazardous).
Data Sources
Primary Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Air Quality System (AQS), Annual AQI by County dataset, 2020–2025 (aqs.epa.gov). For current conditions (not shown here — this page is historical annual data), see EPA AirNow (airnow.gov). See our methodology for how AQI, median, and coverage figures are computed.
Informational only, not professional advice. Data from EPA AQS. See our disclaimer.
Every figure on PlainAir is rendered directly from EPA AQS air-quality monitoring data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on EPA AQS air-quality monitoring data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.