Furnace · Best-of

Cheapest Furnace Filter to Run

The sticker price on a furnace filter hides the real cost: a cheap 1-inch filter replaced every 90 days can cost more per year than a pricier 4-inch filter replaced once. We compute annual cost as per-filter price times the manufacturer's replacement cadence and rank by it here.

How we score: We rank by computed annual filter cost (per-filter price times replacements per year), lowest first, across all depth classes.

1. 15.9

   Aerostar MERV 13 (1-inch)$18/yr

   The Aerostar MERV 13 (1-inch) is a 1-inch panel furnace filter rated MERV 13 on the standardized ANSI/ASHRAE 52.2 scale, which captures fine particles including smoke and many bacteria-size particles. It labels its true MERV with no proprietary scale. Because it is high MERV in a thin 1-inch panel, it also restricts airflow more than the same MERV in deep media - worth checking against your system's static-pressure tolerance. Replaced about 4 times a year, it runs roughly $18 per year.

   • True MERV (ASHRAE 52.2): MERV 13
   • Depth: 1 inch (panel)
   • Annual filter cost: $18/yr
2. 23.7

   Flanders EZ-Flow II Fiberglass (throwaway)$30/yr

   The Flanders EZ-Flow II Fiberglass (throwaway) is a 1-inch panel furnace filter rated MERV 1 on the standardized ANSI/ASHRAE 52.2 scale, which captures coarse particles (equipment protection, not air cleaning). It labels its true MERV with no proprietary scale. Replaced about 12 times a year, it runs roughly $30 per year.

   • True MERV (ASHRAE 52.2): MERV 1
   • Depth: 1 inch (panel)
   • Annual filter cost: $30/yr
3. 35.2

   Amazon Basics MERV 11 (1-inch)$34/yr

   The Amazon Basics MERV 11 (1-inch) is a 1-inch panel furnace filter rated MERV 11 on the standardized ANSI/ASHRAE 52.2 scale, which captures fine dust, pollen, and pet dander. It labels its true MERV with no proprietary scale. Replaced about 4 times a year, it runs roughly $34 per year.

   • True MERV (ASHRAE 52.2): MERV 11
   • Depth: 1 inch (panel)
   • Annual filter cost: $34/yr
4. 45.2

   Nordic Pure MERV 12 (1-inch)$36/yr

   The Nordic Pure MERV 12 (1-inch) is a 1-inch panel furnace filter rated MERV 12 on the standardized ANSI/ASHRAE 52.2 scale, which captures fine dust, pollen, and pet dander. It labels its true MERV with no proprietary scale. Replaced about 4 times a year, it runs roughly $36 per year.

   • True MERV (ASHRAE 52.2): MERV 12
   • Depth: 1 inch (panel)
   • Annual filter cost: $36/yr
5. 56.0

   Honeywell FC100A1037 (4-inch media, MERV 11)$65/yr

   The Honeywell FC100A1037 (4-inch media, MERV 11) is a 4-inch deep-media furnace filter rated MERV 11 on the standardized ANSI/ASHRAE 52.2 scale, which captures fine dust, pollen, and pet dander. It labels its true MERV with no proprietary scale. Its deep media keeps airflow restriction low even at this MERV. Replaced about 1 time a year, it runs roughly $65 per year.

   • True MERV (ASHRAE 52.2): MERV 11
   • Depth: 4 inch (deep media, low airflow restriction)
   • Annual filter cost: $65/yr
6. 66.6

   Aprilaire 213 (4-inch media, MERV 13)$69/yr

   The Aprilaire 213 (4-inch media, MERV 13) is a 4-inch deep-media furnace filter rated MERV 13 on the standardized ANSI/ASHRAE 52.2 scale, which captures fine particles including smoke and many bacteria-size particles. It labels its true MERV with no proprietary scale. Its deep media keeps airflow restriction low even at this MERV. Replaced about 1 time a year, it runs roughly $69 per year.

   • True MERV (ASHRAE 52.2): MERV 13
   • Depth: 4 inch (deep media, low airflow restriction)
   • Annual filter cost: $69/yr
7. 76.6

   Aprilaire 413 (4-inch media, MERV 13)$69/yr

   The Aprilaire 413 (4-inch media, MERV 13) is a 4-inch deep-media furnace filter rated MERV 13 on the standardized ANSI/ASHRAE 52.2 scale, which captures fine particles including smoke and many bacteria-size particles. It labels its true MERV with no proprietary scale. Its deep media keeps airflow restriction low even at this MERV. Replaced about 1 time a year, it runs roughly $69 per year.

   • True MERV (ASHRAE 52.2): MERV 13
   • Depth: 4 inch (deep media, low airflow restriction)
   • Annual filter cost: $69/yr
8. 85.4

   Lennox Healthy Climate X6673 (5-inch media, MERV 11)$72/yr

   The Lennox Healthy Climate X6673 (5-inch media, MERV 11) is a 5-inch deep-media furnace filter rated MERV 11 on the standardized ANSI/ASHRAE 52.2 scale, which captures fine dust, pollen, and pet dander. It labels its true MERV with no proprietary scale. Its deep media keeps airflow restriction low even at this MERV. Replaced about 1 time a year, it runs roughly $72 per year.

   • True MERV (ASHRAE 52.2): MERV 11
   • Depth: 5 inch (deep media, low airflow restriction)
   • Annual filter cost: $72/yr
9. 93.3

   3M Filtrete MPR 1500 (Allergen)$72/yr

   The 3M Filtrete MPR 1500 (Allergen) is a 1-inch panel furnace filter rated MERV 12 on the standardized ANSI/ASHRAE 52.2 scale, which captures fine dust, pollen, and pet dander. It markets a proprietary MPR 1500 rating but also prints the true MERV. Replaced about 4 times a year, it runs roughly $72 per year.

   • True MERV (ASHRAE 52.2): MERV 12
   • Depth: 1 inch (panel)
   • Annual filter cost: $72/yr
10. 103.3

    3M Filtrete MPR 1900 (Premium Allergen)$80/yr

    The 3M Filtrete MPR 1900 (Premium Allergen) is a 1-inch panel furnace filter rated MERV 13 on the standardized ANSI/ASHRAE 52.2 scale, which captures fine particles including smoke and many bacteria-size particles. It markets a proprietary MPR 1900 rating but also prints the true MERV. Because it is high MERV in a thin 1-inch panel, it also restricts airflow more than the same MERV in deep media - worth checking against your system's static-pressure tolerance. Replaced about 4 times a year, it runs roughly $80 per year.

    • True MERV (ASHRAE 52.2): MERV 13
    • Depth: 1 inch (panel)
    • Annual filter cost: $80/yr
11. 112.3

    Honeywell Home Elite Allergen FPR 10 (1-inch)$108/yr

    The Honeywell Home Elite Allergen FPR 10 (1-inch) is a 1-inch panel furnace filter rated MERV 13 on the standardized ANSI/ASHRAE 52.2 scale, which captures fine particles including smoke and many bacteria-size particles. It markets a proprietary FPR 10 rating without plainly disclosing the true MERV. Because it is high MERV in a thin 1-inch panel, it also restricts airflow more than the same MERV in deep media - worth checking against your system's static-pressure tolerance. Replaced about 4 times a year, it runs roughly $108 per year.

    • True MERV (ASHRAE 52.2): MERV 13
    • Depth: 1 inch (panel)
    • Annual filter cost: $108/yr