Metro area air quality · 2025

Columbus, OH

Median AQI 54 (Moderate). 39.0% of monitored days rated Good across this metro's EPA monitoring network.

54
Median AQI
39.0%
Good-air days
1
Unhealthy days
5%
Cleaner than US metros

Aggregated from EPA Air Quality System (2025), 274 monitored days. EPA AQS →

The verdict

The Columbus, OH metro runs moderate on the EPA scale, among the more polluted US metros, a median AQI of 54 with 39.0% of 274 monitored days in the Good band.

54
median AQI · Moderate
39.0%
days rated Good
5%
cleaner than US metros
156
worst single reading

1 day reached Unhealthy or worse across the metro's monitors in 2025.

Insights: Columbus, OH metro. Aggregated EPA AQS monitors across this Core-Based Statistical Area logged a median Air Quality Index of 54 over 274 measured days in 2025, which corresponds to a Moderate band and a Poor metro-wide health grade. The monitored-day split lands at 107 Good days (39%), 159 Moderate (58%), and 7 Unhealthy-for-Sensitive-Groups (3%). The 90th-percentile AQI finished at 84 while the highest single-day reading hit 156 (Unhealthy). Metro residents averaged roughly 11.7 clean-air days per 30-day window across the reporting year.

Across the 2020–2025 trend window, good days shifted by -121 and the median AQI moved +9 points, which classifies the multi-year trajectory as worsening. The metro recorded 1 unhealthy-or-worse days combined, on those days the EPA recommends that sensitive groups limit prolonged outdoor exertion, and many schools and athletic programs adjust outdoor activity accordingly. Metros with comparable AQI profiles include Baton Rouge, LA (35.0% good, AQI 54); Bishop, CA (40.7% good, AQI 54); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI (34.3% good, AQI 54).

Air Quality Summary

Median AQI

54

Moderate

Good Days

39.0%

107 of 274 days

Max AQI

156

Unhealthy

Health Grade

Poor

90th pct: 84

AQI Day Breakdown (2025)

Distribution of 274 monitored days across EPA AQI categories.

Good

107

39%

Moderate

159

58%

USG

7

3%

Unhealthy

1

0%

Very Unhealthy

0

0%

Hazardous

0

0%

Health Impact Assessment

Poor

The Columbus, OH metro area's air quality is rated Poor based on 39.0% good air days. There were 1 unhealthy days in 2025 when outdoor activity should be limited.

Air quality is acceptable most days, but 7 days reached "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups" and peak AQI reached 156. Sensitive groups should monitor real-time conditions at AirNow.gov.

How does the Columbus, OH metro compare?

How Columbus, OH compares

Good-day share worse than US avg
Columbus, OH 39.0%
Baton Rouge, LA 35.0%
US average 71.3%
Median AQI worse than US avg
Columbus, OH 54
Baton Rouge, LA 54
US average 41
Unhealthy days / yr about average
Columbus, OH 1
Baton Rouge, LA 0
US average 1

5-Year Air Quality Trend

Air quality is worsening in the Columbus, OH metro. Best year: 2020 (228 good days).

Year Good Moderate Unhealthy Median AQI
2020 228 135 0 45
2021 170 195 0 52
2022 205 157 0 48
2023 135 217 3 54
2024 150 211 0 54
2025 107 159 1 54

Metros with Similar Air Quality

Metro areas across the US with a similar median AQI to Columbus, OH.

Baton Rouge, LA

AQI 54 · 35.0% good

54

Bishop, CA

AQI 54 · 40.7% good

54

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI

AQI 54 · 34.3% good

54

Cleveland-Elyria, OH

AQI 54 · 42.6% good

54

Fort Collins, CO

AQI 54 · 40.1% good

54

Fresno, CA

AQI 54 · 40.1% good

54

More Air Quality Data

Explore EPA air quality rankings and guides across U.S. metros and counties.

Cleanest Metro Areas

U.S. metros ranked by their share of Good air-quality days.

Worst Air Quality

Counties and metros with the most unhealthy air days.

All Metro Areas

Annual AQI by CBSA for every monitored U.S. metro area.

Best and Worst City Air

What drives urban air quality and how metro areas compare.

Air Quality Guides

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the air quality in the Columbus, OH metro area? ▼
The Columbus, OH metro area has a median Air Quality Index (AQI) of 54, rated "Moderate." 39.0% of monitored days (107 out of 274) had good air quality in 2025.
How many unhealthy air days does Columbus, OH have? ▼
In 2025, the Columbus, OH metro area recorded 1 unhealthy air days (1 Unhealthy, 0 Very Unhealthy, 0 Hazardous). The maximum AQI reached 156.
Is air quality in Columbus, OH getting better or worse? ▼
Air quality in the Columbus, OH metro is worsening based on 5-year trends (2020-2025). Best year: 2020 with 228 good days. Worst year: 2025 with 107 good days.
What does AQI 54 mean for health? ▼
An AQI of 54 is "Moderate", air quality is acceptable, but some pollutants may pose a moderate health concern for a small number of sensitive individuals.
What is the 90th percentile AQI for Columbus, OH? ▼
The 90th percentile AQI for the Columbus, OH metro area is 84, meaning 90% of monitored days had an AQI at or below this level. The maximum AQI recorded was 156 (Unhealthy).
How does Columbus, OH compare to other metro areas? ▼
The Columbus, OH metro has 39.0% good air days. Similar metros: Baton Rouge, LA (35.0% good), Bishop, CA (40.7% good), Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI (34.3% good).

Data Sources

Primary Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Air Quality System (AQS), Annual AQI by CBSA dataset, 2020–2025. See our methodology for how AQI, median, and coverage figures are computed.

Read our methodology , how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Source: U.S. EPA Air Quality System (AQS) Annual AQI by CBSA summary files (metro-level) · 2020–2025

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.