Aprilaire 213 vs Aprilaire 413
Bottom line
In our scoring this is a tie at 6.0/10, so the choice is about fit, not performance. Pick whichever model matches your furnace cabinet, since that is the real variable here. The 213 has the slightly lower published static pressure drop (0.15 vs 0.17 in. w.c. at 1200 CFM), which in our view is a marginal airflow edge but not enough to override cabinet fit. Both share the same genuine strength we credit them for: honest MERV labeling with the ASHRAE 52.2 test method published, which is why each earns 8.0/10 on rating honesty. Both share the same weak spot too, total cost of ownership at 3.5/10.
These two are the same filter in different cabinet sizes, and our scoring treats them that way. Both are 4-inch Aprilaire media rated true MERV 13 on the ANSI/ASHRAE 52.2 scale, both replace about once a year for roughly $65 annually, and both score 6.0/10 in our rubric. The only published difference we see is the static pressure drop Aprilaire reports for each: 0.15 in. w.c. at 1200 CFM on the 213 versus 0.17 in. w.c. at 1200 CFM on the 413. Neither carries any product certification in our data, and neither is AHRI certified.
| MERV 13 | True MERV (ANSI/ASHRAE 52.2) | MERV 13 |
| 7.0 | Verified Filtration30% | 7.0 |
| 3.5 | Total Cost of Ownership25% | 3.5 |
| 8.0 | Rating Honesty20% | 8.0 |
| 6.0 | Airflow Fit15% | 6.0 |
| 5.0 | Practical Fit10% | 5.0 |
FAQ
- Is the Aprilaire 213 (4-inch media, MERV 13) better than the Aprilaire 413 (4-inch media, MERV 13)?
- In our scoring the Aprilaire 213 (4-inch media, MERV 13) rates 6.0/10 and the Aprilaire 413 (4-inch media, MERV 13) 6.0/10. In our scoring this is a tie at 6.0/10, so the choice is about fit, not performance. Pick whichever model matches your furnace cabinet, since that is the real variable here. The 213 has the slightly lower published static pressure drop (0.15 vs 0.17 in. w.c. at 1200 CFM), which in our view is a marginal airflow edge but not enough to override cabinet fit. Both share the same genuine strength we credit them for: honest MERV labeling with the ASHRAE 52.2 test method published, which is why each earns 8.0/10 on rating honesty. Both share the same weak spot too, total cost of ownership at 3.5/10.
- Is the 213 better than the 413?
- Not in our scoring. Both earn 6.0/10 on identical data: true MERV 13, about $65 a year, annual replacement, no product certifications. The 213 reports a slightly lower static pressure drop (0.15 vs 0.17 in. w.c. at 1200 CFM), but the deciding factor is which cabinet size fits your furnace, not the score.
- Why do both score only 6.0/10 if they are true MERV 13?
- In our view the MERV 13 rating is the strong part, and it lifts both to 8.0/10 on rating honesty. The score is held down elsewhere: their weakest area in our scoring is total cost of ownership at 3.5/10, and neither carries any accredited product certification in our data.
- Are these filters AHRI certified?
- In our data, no. We found no AHRI certification for either the 213 or the 413. Aprilaire does publish the ASHRAE 52.2 test method and a per-model static pressure drop, which is why we credit both on rating honesty, but that is a published test method, not a third-party product certification.