Best Air Filters for Allergies: 7 HVAC and Furnace Picks

MERV, MPR and fit: what to check before you buy

• MERV reports a filter's ability to capture particles between 0.3 and 10 microns, according to EPA. In its table, the average capture efficiency for 0.30 to 1.0 micron particles is at least 20 percent for MERV 11, 35 percent for MERV 12, 50 percent for MERV 13 and 75 percent for MERV 14.
• EPA's advice for upgrading is to choose a filter with at least a MERV 13 rating, or as high a rating as your system fan and filter slot can accommodate. Most furnaces and HVAC systems can take a MERV 13 filter without equipment problems if it is replaced frequently, but EPA says a professional HVAC technician can confirm what your system can use.
• MPR (Filtrete's rating) and FPR are proprietary, while MERV is based on a national consensus standard, according to EPA. For all of the methods, a higher rating means higher removal efficiency for most particle sizes, but compare MPR numbers only within one brand.
• Fit matters. EPA says filters come in thicknesses of 1 to 5 inches and the filter should fit snugly, so air does not leak around it and you do not have to bend or crush it. The listings here give actual sizes that differ from the nominal size, so match your own filter's size and thickness.
• Change on schedule. AAFA says to change filters every 30 to 90 days. EPA says manufacturers typically recommend every 60 to 90 days and suggests changing sooner if filters look heavily soiled. The Filtrete 1-inch listings say at least every 90 days and the 4-inch listing says at least every 12 months.
• Window air conditioners and wall-mounted ductless units usually have limited filtration meant to keep the unit clean, not to remove fine particles, according to EPA, so these filters are for central heating and cooling.

If allergy symptoms are severe or persistent, see a doctor. A filter is not a treatment, and this guide is shopping research rather than medical advice.

What AAFA certification covers for furnace filters

• AAFA's air filter page says certified HVAC and furnace filters must meet standards when the filter's ability to remove allergens and irritants from the air flow is evaluated, when fiber shedding during use is monitored and when the seals are analyzed.
• AAFA's dust mite page says to use a Certified Asthma & Allergy Friendly filter with your central furnace and air conditioning unit, which can help trap dust mites from your entire home, and to use freestanding air cleaners in the bedroom.
• At time of writing, AAFA's HVAC and furnace filter list names Filtrete lines from MPR 1000 to MPR 2500 and Kleenex Elite Allergen filters in MERV 13 and MERV 12. Nordic Pure is not on that list.

7 picks and who each one suits

1. Filtrete 20x25x1 Air Filter, MERV 13, MPR 1900, 2-Pack

   Best for: A system with a 1-inch, 20x25 filter slot that can take MERV 13.

   AAFA's HVAC and furnace filter list names Filtrete MPR 1900 Premium Allergen Bacteria and Virus filters (MERV 13) in 1-inch sizes, and the listing says this filter is certified asthma and allergy friendly and should be changed at least once every 90 days. The listing gives an actual size of 19.62 by 24.62 by 0.78 inches and says it captures particles such as pollen, dust mite debris and pet dander.

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2. Kleenex Elite Allergen Air Filter, 20x25x1, MERV 13, 2-Pack

   Best for: The same slot as the Filtrete 1900, if you want another AAFA-listed MERV 13.

   AAFA's list names the Kleenex Elite Allergen Air Filters in MERV 13, and the listing says they are certified Asthma and Allergy Friendly. It also says the fibers are electrostatically charged, that it helps capture dust mite debris, pollen, pet dander and mold spores, and that you should change it after 90 days.

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3. Filtrete 20x25x1 Air Filter, MERV 12, MPR 1500, 2-Pack

   Best for: A system where a technician advises MERV 12 or lower, or where you want a step below MERV 13.

   AAFA's list names Filtrete MPR 1500 Allergen Bacteria and Virus filters (MERV 12) in 1-inch sizes. The listing says the filter is certified asthma and allergy friendly, captures 54 percent of small particles by ASHRAE 52.2 testing for 0.3 to 1 micron particles, and should be changed at least every 90 days for 1-inch filters.

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4. Filtrete 20x25x1 Air Filter, MERV 11, MPR 1000, 2-Pack

   Best for: A system that struggles with higher-rated filters, or a first step up in rating.

   AAFA's list names Filtrete MPR 1000 Allergen Defense filters (MERV 11) in 1-inch sizes, and the listing says this filter is certified asthma and allergy friendly and helps capture dust, lint and other allergens. EPA's table puts MERV 11 at an average of at least 20 percent for 0.30 to 1.0 micron particles, so it filters the smallest particles less than the higher MERV picks.

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5. Filtrete 20x25x1 Air Filter, MERV 14, MPR 2500, 2-Pack

   Best for: A system your technician confirms can handle a higher-rated 1-inch filter.

   AAFA's list names the Filtrete MPR 2500 Premium Allergen and Ultrafine Particles filters (MERV 14) in 1-inch sizes. The listing quotes a 77 percent small particle capture rate and a 90-day change interval. EPA says to use the highest-rated filter your system fan and filter slot can accommodate, which is why a technician's confirmation matters at this rating.

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6. Filtrete 20x25x4 Air Filter, MERV 12, MPR 1550, 2-Pack

   Best for: A system with a 4-inch media cabinet, such as the Honeywell and AprilAire Space-Gard units the listing names.

   AAFA's list names Filtrete MPR 1550 Allergen Bacteria and Virus filters (MERV 12) in 4-inch to 6-inch sizes, and the listing says this filter is certified asthma and allergy friendly. It gives an actual size of 19.88 by 24.63 by 4.31 inches, a 12-month change interval and a design that fits Honeywell and AprilAire Space-Gard media air cleaners. Check that your cabinet takes this size.

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7. Nordic Pure 20x25x2 Pleated MERV 13 Air Filters, 3-Pack

   Best for: A system with a 2-inch filter slot that can take MERV 13.

   The listing gives a nominal size of 20x25x2 and an actual size of 19.5 by 24.5 by 1.75 inches, says the filters are made in the USA, and says Nordic Pure MERV 13 is equivalent to MPR 2200 to 2400. This brand is not on AAFA's HVAC filter list at time of writing, so its allergen claims are the seller's own.

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Frequently asked questions

What MERV rating is best for allergies?

EPA says to choose a filter with at least a MERV 13 rating, or as high a rating as your system fan and filter slot can accommodate, and notes that MERV 13 and above must show at least 50 percent removal efficiency for the smallest particles tested. A technician can confirm the highest rating your system can use.

Can a MERV 13 filter damage my furnace or air conditioner?

EPA says most furnaces and HVAC systems can accommodate a MERV 13 filter without creating equipment problems, provided the filter is replaced frequently. Systems are not commonly labeled with filter recommendations, so EPA suggests consulting a professional HVAC technician to be certain.

How often should I change an HVAC filter?

AAFA says to change furnace and HVAC filters every 30 to 90 days, and EPA says manufacturers typically recommend every 60 to 90 days, sooner if the filter looks heavily soiled. The Filtrete listings say at least every 90 days for 1-inch filters and at least every 12 months for 4-inch filters.

Do electrostatic filters make ozone?

EPA says to avoid air cleaners and furnace filters that intentionally produce ozone, and notes that air cleaners containing electrostatic precipitators or ionizers may emit it. The Filtrete and Kleenex filters here are pleated filters whose listings describe electrostatically charged fibers, and none of the listings describes ozone generation.

Does an HVAC filter replace an air purifier?

They do different jobs. AAFA says a Certified filter on your central furnace and air conditioning unit can help trap dust mites from the whole home, while freestanding air cleaners only filter air in a limited area, so it suggests using them in the bedroom. EPA says both can filter particles.

How we chose

This guide is desk research. We compared the Amazon listing for each filter with EPA's pages on MERV ratings and on air cleaners and HVAC filters in the home, AAFA's air filter standards, its certified HVAC and furnace filter list and its dust mite page. We chose common 1-inch, 2-inch and 4-inch 20x25 sizes with a published MERV rating, led by the lines that AAFA names. We did not test any of these filters; ratings and certification statements come from the listings and the named sources, and Filtrete's MPR scale is the maker's own.

Listings, sellers and sizes change quickly, and the right size depends on your system. At time of writing (October 29, 2026), every "Check price on Amazon" button on this page went to an exact Amazon listing for the product named, new and in stock, in the size named in the pick; other sizes are separate listings. Prices are not shown because they change. Confirm the size and thickness before you buy.

Related guides

• Air purifiers for pollen: HEPA purifiers sorted by room size.
• Air purifiers for dust-mite allergies: what a purifier can and cannot do for dust mites.
• Air purifiers for mold: HEPA picks for musty rooms, and why moisture comes first.
• Dehumidifiers for mold: humidity control for damp rooms.
• Dehumidifiers for every room: dehumidifiers by room size.
• HEPA vacuums for allergies: vacuums with sealed HEPA filtration.
• Allergy mattress and pillow covers: zippered covers for the bed.