For a forced-air heating or central HVAC system, start with a filter rated MERV 13—or choose the highest MERV rating your system can accommodate. Then match the filter’s dimensions and thickness to the slot and make sure it fits snugly. A higher rating is not automatically suitable: check the equipment manual or ask an HVAC technician if you are unsure.
What makes a furnace filter a good choice for allergies?
Look for a pleated furnace or HVAC filter with a MERV rating of at least 13, provided your system can use it. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) advises selecting a filter rated “at least MERV 13 or as high as your system will accommodate.” The right choice depends on both particle capture and your equipment’s ability to accommodate the filter.
There is no universally best brand or model for every home. EPA does not certify or recommend specific filter brands or models, and a filter’s rating alone cannot establish how much it will improve indoor air or allergy symptoms in a particular house.
What MERV ratings mean
MERV, or Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value, is a particle-capture rating—not a brand ranking. EPA says it describes a filter’s ability to capture particles between 0.3 and 10 microns, using a test method developed by ASHRAE. Higher ratings indicate better capture in the specified particle-size bands.
#1 Best Overall
- MAKE YOUR HOME YOUR SANCTUARY: 2-pack of 3-month pleated Filtrete 16x25x1 MERV 11 MPR 1000 AC Furnace Air Filter helps capture unwanted particles from your household air to contribute to a cleaner, fresher home environment
- EXCLUSIVE TECHNOLOGY: Designed with Filtrete 3-in-1 technology to pull in and trap unwanted particles, allowing cleaner air to flow through (Compared to MERV 11 minimum filter requirements; microparticles are 0.3 – 1.0 in size)
- COUNTLESS MICROPARTICLES: With a 1000 MPR and MERV 11 rating, your Filtrete Filter will help capture many microparticles from the air passing through it
- CERTIFIED: This furnace filter is CERTIFIED asthma and allergy-friendly (2) and helps capture dust, lint and other allergens in your household air
- CHANGE YOUR FILTER OFTEN: For optimal performance, make sure to change your filter at least once every 90 days
EPA’s table gives these average capture efficiencies for the listed particle sizes:
| MERV rating | 0.30–1.0 µm | 1.0–3.0 µm | 3.0–10.0 µm |
|---|---|---|---|
| MERV 8 | Not stated | At least 20% | At least 70% |
| MERV 11 | At least 20% | At least 65% | At least 85% |
| MERV 13 | At least 50% | At least 85% | At least 90% |
| MERV 16 | At least 95% | At least 95% | At least 95% |
These figures are EPA’s stated average capture efficiencies for each size band, not a prediction of the reduction in airborne particles or allergy symptoms in your home. Source: EPA, “What is a MERV rating?”
Rank #2
- SIZE & COMPATIBILITY: Nominal 16x20x1 (Actual 15.75 x 19.75 x 0.75 in). Select nominal size based on your current filter's frame or measurements. Fits standard furnaces, ACs & HVAC return grilles
- ENHANCED AIR QUALITY: Merv 8 rating air filters effectively captures household irritants like lint, dust, and pollen, to help provide cleaner and healthier air in your home
- IMPROVED FURNACE EFFICIENCY: Designed to promote furnace efficiency and optimization, this furnace air filter traps particles that can cause system wear and tear
- DURABLE CONSTRUCTION & EASY INSTALL: Made with a beverage board frame and wire mesh support, this home air filter provides reliable, long-lasting performance. Insert with the airflow arrow pointing toward the furnace/blower (away from the return grille) for a snug fit
- ELECTROSTATICALLY CHARGED MATERIAL: The air filters are made with synthetic material that is electrostatically charged to attract and capture allergens as small as 3 microns
Check compatibility before choosing a higher rating
A higher-efficiency filter can add airflow resistance. Whether a system can accommodate MERV 13 or a higher rating depends on the equipment and filter setup; do not assume that a filter with a higher number is an upgrade your furnace can handle.
- Check the furnace or HVAC manual for the permitted filter rating and required dimensions.
- If the manual is unclear, ask an HVAC technician to confirm compatibility. A system may need modification to use a higher-efficiency filter.
- Use the highest rating the system can accommodate without exceeding its requirements.
EPA’s guidance on choosing and checking HVAC filters is in its Guide to Air Cleaners in the Home.
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- Universally Compatible: Measuring 16" x 25" x 1", with an actual size of 15.75"x24.75" x 0.75", Simply Filters works with almost any brand. Comparable to 3M Filtrete MPR 600, Filterbuy AFB Silver, and Honey well FPR 5.
- Cleaner Air Everywhere: Our filters capture dust, mold, pet dander, and pollen in homes, offices, schools, hospitals, and commercial spaces, trapping 90% of airborne particles, promoting a healthier living environment with clean and fresh indoor air.
- Advanced Pleated Technology: With a higher pleat count than most retail, our meticulously crafted filters offer superior capture coverage, optimizing airflow and efficiency.
- Long-lasting Filtration & Easy Installation: Enjoy up to 3 months of resilient filtration. Hassle-free replacement for air conditioning units or HVAC systems. Follow airflow arrows and insert into the filter slot for central units or return grilles.
- Made in USA: Our filters are made using 100% American components, including recycled materials, ensuring superior performance and quality. Experience exceptional filtration and support local manufacturing.
Match the filter size and fit
Buy the dimensions and thickness required by the filter slot, rather than choosing a size based only on a product description or a similar-looking filter. The filter should sit snugly in its frame so air does not bypass it at the edges. It should not need to be bent or crushed to fit.
- Find the size and thickness specified for the system, or check the existing filter’s label.
- Compare those dimensions with the replacement filter before buying.
- After installation, check that the filter sits securely with no obvious gaps around its edges.
When to replace the filter
Follow the filter and equipment manufacturers’ maintenance guidance. EPA says manufacturers typically recommend replacement every 60 to 90 days, but conditions affect how quickly a filter gets dirty. Inspect it and replace it sooner if it is visibly heavily soiled or the manufacturer calls for a shorter interval.
Rank #4
- DIFFERENT FROM NOMINAL SIZE: Slightly different from the nominal size, this air filter’s exact dimensions are 19.88 in x 24.63 in x 4.31 in, This item is a 2-pack of 12-month Filtrete Air Filters
- DESIGNED TO FIT: Honeywell and AprilAire Space-Gard brand media air cleaners
- MAKE YOUR HOME YOUR SANCTUARY: MPR 1550 + MERV 12 AC Furnace Air Filter helps capture 50% of small particles from the air passing through it. (1)
- EXCLUSIVE TECHNOLOGY: Designed with exclusive Filtrete 3-in-1 technology to pull in and trap unwanted particles, allowing cleaner air to flow through
- CERTIFIED: This furnace filter is CERTIFIED asthma and allergy-friendly (2) and helps capture dust, lint and other allergens in your household air
What furnace filtration can—and cannot—do
A central HVAC filter only filters air while the system is operating. EPA notes that HVAC systems typically run less than 25% of the time during heating and cooling seasons; that is a general figure, not a measurement for every home. A filter can supplement efforts to reduce pollutant sources and ventilate with clean outdoor air, but it cannot remove all indoor pollutants.
Filtration may help improve indoor air quality, but allergy or asthma symptom improvement is possible, not guaranteed. EPA’s discussion of portable-air-cleaner studies reports improvement in one or more symptoms in some cases, while symptoms did not improve consistently. Those study findings are not a promise of results from a furnace filter.
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Best Value
- MAKE YOUR HOME YOUR SANCTUARY: 2-pack of 3-month pleated Filtrete 20x25x1 MERV 11 MPR 1000 AC Furnace Air Filter helps capture unwanted particles from your household air to contribute to a cleaner, fresher home environment
- EXCLUSIVE TECHNOLOGY: Designed with Filtrete 3-in-1 technology to pull in and trap unwanted particles, allowing cleaner air to flow through
- COUNTLESS MICROPARTICLES: With a 1000 MPR and MERV 11 rating, your Filtrete Filter will help capture many microparticles from the air passing through it
- CERTIFIED: This furnace filter is CERTIFIED asthma and allergy-friendly (2) and helps capture dust, lint and other allergens in your household air
- CHANGE YOUR FILTER OFTEN: For optimal performance, make sure to change your filter at least once every 90 days
Filters can capture some particles associated with pollen or mold, but they do not fix the moisture that allows mold to grow. Address the moisture source and clean the mold; filtration is not a substitute for those steps. See EPA’s guidance on air cleaners and filters in the home for more on filtration’s role alongside source control and ventilation.
When a portable air cleaner may make more sense
A room air cleaner is a separate option if your home has no forced-air system or if you want additional filtration in a particular room. Choose a unit based on the room’s area and its clean air delivery rate (CADR), using EPA’s sizing guidance rather than treating it as a replacement for a compatible furnace filter. Avoid devices that intentionally produce ozone.
EPA’s Indoor Air Filtration resource discusses HVAC filtration and portable cleaners as alternatives or supplements.
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