Affiliate Disclosure:This Old House’s Reviews Team is committed to delivering honest, objective, and independent reviews on home products and services. To support this business model, This Old House may be compensated if you purchase through links on our website.
A clean furnace filter keeps your HVAC system running smoothly, which can lead to lower electricity bills and better air quality. Keep reading to learn about the best furnace filters on Amazon.
Top 5 Furnace Filters
- Best For Large Systems: Filtrete 20x25x1 AC Furnace Air Filter
- Best Value: Filtrete 10x20x1 AC Furnace Air Filter
- Best For Small Particles: Aerostar 12x12x1 MERV 13 Pleated Air Filter
- Best For Allergies: Nordic Pure 16x25x1 MERV 12 Pleated AC Furnace Air Filter
- Best For Warm Homes: FilterBuy 16x25x1 Pleated HVAC AC Furnace Air Filter
Best For Large Systems: Filtrete 20x25x1 AC Furnace Air Filter
This furnace air filter promises to last up to three months and outperform filters that are made with fiberglass. The product can capture up to 64% of airborne particles from pet dander to pollen. In addition, the product comes with easy-to-follow installation instructions for large HVAC systems that require filters that are 20 by 25 by 1 inches in size.
Key Features
- 20 by 25 by 1 inches
- Two-pack
- MERV rating of 12
What Customers Are Saying
Customers said that this furnace filter was easy to install and sturdy. They also said that it was a great value. Those who weren’t satisfied with the product stated that they experienced difficulties with Filtrete’s app.
Best Value: Filtrete 10x20x1 AC Furnace Air Filter
The Filtrete 10x20x1 AC Furnace Air Filter can capture most large particles in the air. It is compatible with most HVAC systems and comes in an affordable six-pack for whole-home protection.
Key Features
- 10 by 20 by 1 inches
- Six-pack
- MERV rating of 5
What Customers Are Saying
Customers liked this product’s ease of installation. Some customers also said that it was a high-quality filter that saved them money in the long run because it lasted a long time and was affordable. Dissatisfied customers said that the frame was lightweight and sometimes sustained damage.
Best For Small Particles: Aerostar 12x12x1 MERV 13 Pleated Air Filter
Mold, pet dander, pollen, dust mites, and bacteria are only a few of the microscopic particles that this filter can capture. The high MERV rating of this product is close to that of an N95 mask, keeping the air in your home clean.
Key Features
- 12 by 12 by 1 inches
- Six-pack
- MERV rating of 13
What Customers Are Saying
Satisfied customers liked this furnace filter because it was sturdy and effective. They also said that the product was a good alternative to other popular brands. However, a handful of customers found the filter to be slightly smaller than advertised.
Best For Allergies: Nordic Pure 16x25x1 MERV 12 Pleated AC Furnace Air Filter
This product attracts most airborne pollutants. Made with pleated carbon material, the filter can also fight against heavy odors, such as those caused by cooking or owning pets. In addition to being efficient, the product has a frame made with recycled beverage board paper, making it eco-friendly.
Key Features
- 16 by 25 by 1 inches
- Six-pack
- MERV rating of 12
What Customers Are Saying
Customers said that this filter worked well, providing them with clean, high-quality air. However, a common complaint among unsatisfied customers was that the product didn’t filter dust as well as they wanted it to.
Best For Warm Homes: FilterBuy 16x25x1 Pleated HVAC AC Furnace Air Filter
With a dual wire backing and an ability to withstand high temperatures, this product is one of the most durable filters in this review. Because of its durability, the FilterBuy 16x25x1 Pleated HVAC AC Furnace Air Filter can last three times longer than other filters. It’s also made with recycled materials.
Key Features
- 16 by 25 by 1 inches
- Four-pack
- MERV rating of 8
What Customers Are Saying
Customers said that the product was high-quality and high-performing. They also praised the product for being comparable to other prominent brands. However, some customers said that they received the wrong filter size.
Buyer’s Guide
Before choosing a furnace air filter, consider its size, filtration level, and material.
Size
You’ll want a filter that’s the same size as the one that’s currently being used in your HVAC system. A filter’s size is expressed in inches as width by height by thickness. Most filters are one inch thick, but some are two, four, or five inches thick.
Filtration Level
Furnace filters are rated according to the MERV (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value) scale. The higher the number, the finer the filter and the smaller the particles it can capture. The MERV rating given to a filter is usually based on its type.
- Disposable: Disposable filters are usually between MERV 6 and MERV 13. However, experts recommend using at least a MERV 8 filter, with MERV 11 and MERV 12 filters working better for odor elimination.
- Commercial: Commercial filters have higher MERV ratings between 17 and 20.
- Washable: While washable filters don’t use MERV ratings, some claim to trap a certain percentage of airborne particles.
Material
A furnace filter can be separated into two parts—a frame and a filter—that are made of different materials.
- Frame: The frame that holds the filter together is usually made of aluminum, steel, plastic, or paper.
- Filter: The filter inside of the frame is typically made of fiberglass, polyester, cotton, or paper.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are electrostatic furnace filters?
Electrostatic furnace filters have an electrostatic charge. They work best in homes with allergy sufferers, smokers, or pets because they’re better at filtering out contaminants.
How much are furnace filters?
Disposable filters cost anywhere from $5 to $20 depending on how large they are, while washable filters cost around $30-$50.
How often should I replace my disposable filter?
Your furnace or HVAC manual will give you guidelines on how frequently you need to change your filter. In general, a one-inch filter should be changed every 90 days. If you have a pet, suffer from allergies, or are a smoker, you might want to change your filter every 30-60 days.
Why Trust The This Old House Reviews Team
This Old House has empowered homeowners for more than four decades with top-notch home improvement content in the form of television programs, print media, and digital content on its website and social media platforms. The This Old House Reviews Team focuses on creating in-depth product and service review content to help inform your purchasing decision for just about any item or resource that you might need for your home. The This Old House Reviews Team has written over 1,000 reviews on products in the home space, from cordless drills to kitchen trash cans, lawn mowers, and dining room decorations.
We recommend products in each review using an intensive research process, spending hours combing through the best available models on Amazon. For a product to make our list of top picks, it must hold a solid sales record on Amazon, have consistently positive customer reviews, and offer unique features, among other factors. After narrowing down our list of recommendations, we conduct additional research and sometimes in-person testing to ensure that the products meet our standards. Once we conclude the research phase, we craft a well-rounded, user-friendly article that includes our recommended products and additional information to help homeowners like you make the right purchase.
To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews Team at reviews@thisoldhousereviews.com.