Filtrete MPR 1500 vs Aprilaire 213
Bottom line
In our scoring the Aprilaire 213 wins at 6.0/10 to the Filtrete MPR 1500's 4.6/10, and the reasons are labeling and depth more than raw capture. The Aprilaire prints the standardized MERV, rates a step higher at MERV 13, and does it in 4-inch media, which is the way to run a high MERV without choking airflow. The Filtrete's real advantage is that it fits the slot nearly every house already has, and it is $18.49 a filter against $64.99. In our view, if you have the media cabinet, use it; if you do not, the MPR 1500 is a reasonable 1-inch filter that we mark down for leading with a 3M-only number.
Check what your furnace actually takes before anything else, because these two do not go in the same slot. The Aprilaire 213 is a 4-inch deep-media cartridge that lives in a media cabinet; the Filtrete MPR 1500 is a 1-inch panel that slides into a standard filter track. If the 1-inch track is all you have, the Aprilaire is not an option. Where either fits, the numbers separate cleanly. The Aprilaire is a true MERV 13 replaced about once a year for roughly $65, and Aprilaire publishes both its ASHRAE 52.2 test method and a static pressure drop of 0.15 in. w.c. at 1200 CFM, which is more disclosure than this category usually offers. The Filtrete is a true MERV 12 (MPR 1500 is 3M's own scale) replaced four times a year, about $74 a year all in.
| MERV 12 (sold as MPR 1500) | True MERV (ANSI/ASHRAE 52.2) | MERV 13 |
| 5.0 | Verified Filtration30% | 7.0 |
| 5.0 | Total Cost of Ownership25% | 3.5 |
| 5.0 | Rating Honesty20% | 8.0 |
| 4.0 | Airflow Fit15% | 6.0 |
| 2.0 | Practical Fit10% | 5.0 |
FAQ
- Is the 3M Filtrete MPR 1500 (Allergen) better than the Aprilaire 213 (4-inch media, MERV 13)?
- In our scoring the Aprilaire 213 (4-inch media, MERV 13) rates 6.0/10 and the 3M Filtrete MPR 1500 (Allergen) 4.6/10. In our scoring the Aprilaire 213 wins at 6.0/10 to the Filtrete MPR 1500's 4.6/10, and the reasons are labeling and depth more than raw capture. The Aprilaire prints the standardized MERV, rates a step higher at MERV 13, and does it in 4-inch media, which is the way to run a high MERV without choking airflow. The Filtrete's real advantage is that it fits the slot nearly every house already has, and it is $18.49 a filter against $64.99. In our view, if you have the media cabinet, use it; if you do not, the MPR 1500 is a reasonable 1-inch filter that we mark down for leading with a 3M-only number.
- Can the Aprilaire 213 replace my 1-inch Filtrete?
- Only if your system has a 4-inch media cabinet. The Aprilaire 213 is deep media, not a 1-inch panel, so it does not drop into a standard filter track. If you only have the 1-inch slot, your realistic choice is between 1-inch filters, and the honest comparison there is MERV against airflow.
- Which is cheaper to run?
- The Aprilaire, slightly, and it is less work. One $64.99 cartridge a year comes to about $65, while four $18.49 Filtrete panels come to about $74. The bigger practical difference is cadence: once a year against four times a year.
- Is MPR 1500 as good as MERV 13?
- MPR 1500 corresponds to MERV 12 on the standardized scale, one step below the Aprilaire's MERV 13. That is a real difference in what gets captured, though not a large one. The scale itself is the point: MPR is 3M's, MERV is the standard everyone can be measured against.