Aprilaire 213 (MERV 13) vs Honeywell FC100A1037 (MERV 11)
Bottom line
In our scoring this is a tie - both land at 6.0/10 in the Limited band, so we split it by use case. The Aprilaire 213 is our pick if you want the higher filtration grade, since it is verified true MERV 13 on the ANSI/ASHRAE 52.2 scale with a published static pressure drop of 0.15 in. w.c. at 1200 CFM. The Honeywell FC100A1037 is our pick on price, running about $26 a year cheaper, though its genuine grade is MERV 11 and we kept its confidence at Partial because of the self-contradictory datasheet. Neither carries any accredited certification beyond the MERV rating itself, and both score weakest on cost of ownership and verified filtration respectively.
The main difference is filtration grade versus price. The Aprilaire 213 is a true MERV 13 4-inch media filter at $65 a year; the Honeywell FC100A1037 is MERV 11 at $39 a year. Both are deep 4-inch media that we score for low airflow restriction and honest MERV labeling, and both replace once a year. We hold the Honeywell at Partial confidence because its own F100 datasheet contradicts itself - the cover and parts list say MERV 11, but the efficiency table on the same sheet lists this part as MERV 10.
| MERV 13 | True MERV (ANSI/ASHRAE 52.2) | MERV 11 |
| 7.0 | Verified Filtration30% | 5.0 |
| 3.5 | Total Cost of Ownership25% | 6.0 |
| 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 Honeywell FC100A1037 (4-inch media, MERV 11)?
- In our scoring the Aprilaire 213 (4-inch media, MERV 13) rates 6.0/10 and the Honeywell FC100A1037 (4-inch media, MERV 11) 6.0/10. In our scoring this is a tie - both land at 6.0/10 in the Limited band, so we split it by use case. The Aprilaire 213 is our pick if you want the higher filtration grade, since it is verified true MERV 13 on the ANSI/ASHRAE 52.2 scale with a published static pressure drop of 0.15 in. w.c. at 1200 CFM. The Honeywell FC100A1037 is our pick on price, running about $26 a year cheaper, though its genuine grade is MERV 11 and we kept its confidence at Partial because of the self-contradictory datasheet. Neither carries any accredited certification beyond the MERV rating itself, and both score weakest on cost of ownership and verified filtration respectively.
- Which one filters finer particles?
- The Aprilaire 213, in our view. It is verified true MERV 13 on the ANSI/ASHRAE 52.2 scale, a higher grade than the Honeywell FC100A1037's MERV 11. Higher MERV captures a larger share of small particles, so for finer filtration the Aprilaire is the stronger pick on the data we scored.
- Is the Aprilaire worth the extra money?
- That depends on whether you want the higher grade. The Aprilaire 213 runs about $65 a year versus roughly $39 for the Honeywell, a difference of about $26. In our scoring you are paying that for true MERV 13 instead of MERV 11. If you specifically want MERV 13, we think it is worth it; if MERV 11 meets your need, the Honeywell is the cheaper route and scores the same 6.0/10 overall.
- Why is the Honeywell only at Partial confidence?
- Honeywell's own F100 datasheet is self-contradictory. The cover and parts list label this part MERV 11, but the efficiency table on the same sheet lists it as MERV 10. Because the manufacturer's documentation disagrees with itself, we held our confidence at Partial rather than Verified. We score it as true MERV 11, the labeled grade, but flag the discrepancy.