MERV Rating Chart
Compare MERV 1–16 by particle size, see what 8, 11 and 13 actually mean, and check the limits of a filter upgrade.
Compare two MERV ratings
Full chart ↓MERV 13 requires ≥50% capture at 0.3–1 µm, ≥85% at 1–3 µm and ≥90% at 3–10 µm. EPA recommends MERV 13 or the highest rating your system accommodates. These are laboratory thresholds; check filter airflow resistance separately.
MERV 8 vs MERV 13: In the 1–3 µm band, the minimum rises from 20% to 85%; in the 3–10 µm band, from 70% to 90%. MERV 13 also specifies at least 50% in the 0.3–1 µm band, where MERV 8 has no specified minimum.
Compare minimum capture requirements across the three tested particle-size bands.
Complete MERV rating chart: 1 through 16
Percentages are the minimum composite average capture requirements for each particle band, except the “less than 20%” criterion for MERV 1–4. No specified minimum does not mean zero capture. Arrestance is a different test based on the mass of coarse test dust captured.
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| MERV 1 | No specified minimum | No specified minimum | <20% | <65% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MERV 2 | No specified minimum | No specified minimum | <20% | ≥65% |
| MERV 3 | No specified minimum | No specified minimum | <20% | ≥70% |
| MERV 4 | No specified minimum | No specified minimum | <20% | ≥75% |
| MERV 5 | No specified minimum | No specified minimum | ≥20% | — |
| MERV 6 | No specified minimum | No specified minimum | ≥35% | — |
| MERV 7 | No specified minimum | No specified minimum | ≥50% | — |
| MERV 8 | No specified minimum | ≥20% | ≥70% | — |
| MERV 9 | No specified minimum | ≥35% | ≥75% | — |
| MERV 10 | No specified minimum | ≥50% | ≥80% | — |
| MERV 11 | ≥20% | ≥65% | ≥85% | — |
| MERV 12 | ≥35% | ≥80% | ≥90% | — |
| MERV 13 | ≥50% | ≥85% | ≥90% | — |
| MERV 14 | ≥75% | ≥90% | ≥95% | — |
| MERV 15 | ≥85% | ≥90% | ≥95% | — |
| MERV 16 | ≥95% | ≥95% | ≥95% | — |
Sources: EPA MERV table and ASHRAE Handbook, Table 1. The three particle bands are often called E1, E2 and E3. Values are laboratory rating criteria, not a guarantee that the same percentage of all particles in a room will disappear.
MERV Rating Chart — all 16 reference rows. Read the stated conditions and sources.
On this page
MERV 8 vs 11 vs 13 vs 16
The biggest difference is not just a higher number. It is the capture requirement in each size band. A useful comparison keeps those three bands separate:
| Rating | 0.3–1.0 µm | 1.0–3.0 µm | 3.0–10.0 µm |
|---|---|---|---|
| MERV 8 | No specified minimum | ≥20% | ≥70% |
| MERV 11 | ≥20% | ≥65% | ≥85% |
| MERV 13 | ≥50% | ≥85% | ≥90% |
| MERV 16 | ≥95% | ≥95% | ≥95% |
For example, the minimum in the 1–3 µm band increases by 65 percentage points from MERV 8 to MERV 13. This comparison describes the rating threshold, not the measured improvement in a particular home. The filter’s actual test report may show performance above the minimum. EPA rating criteria.
What MERV measures—and what it leaves out
MERV means Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value. ASHRAE’s test evaluates a filter across particle sizes from 0.3 to 10 micrometers and reports performance in three groups. One micrometer is one-millionth of a meter. The rating provides a way to compare particle capture under a defined test.
MERV 1–4 are also distinguished using coarse-dust arrestance. That percentage is measured by dust mass and is not interchangeable with the smaller-particle efficiencies. Do not read “75% arrestance” as “75% removal of fine smoke particles.” ASHRAE’s rating table shows the tests in separate columns.
MERV does not supply a filter’s airflow resistance, service life, noise, dimensions or clean air delivery rate for a room. Two filters with the same rating can therefore behave differently in an installation. The product’s pressure-drop curve and the HVAC system’s operating conditions answer questions the MERV number cannot.
How to choose a filter your HVAC system can use
Start with the required frame dimensions and the equipment or filter-cabinet instructions. Check the actual dimensions as well as the nominal size printed on packaging. A filter that bends, leaves gaps or allows bypass air cannot deliver its intended installed performance.
Then check resistance at the system’s airflow. A technician can compare the filter pressure drop, total external static pressure and blower performance. Filter depth, media construction, face area and loading all influence resistance; a MERV number alone cannot predict it. PNNL’s high-MERV guidance treats capture and pressure drop as separate design requirements.
A practical purchase comparison records size, MERV, pressure drop at the relevant CFM, cabinet fit and maintenance requirements. If the system cannot accommodate the desired filter, assess a cabinet or airflow change with the HVAC professional, or use a correctly sized portable cleaner for the room. Do not stack filters to imitate a higher rating.
Dust, pollen, smoke and odors: read the claim carefully
Particles of different origins occupy overlapping size ranges. A single label such as “dust” or “smoke” does not identify one particle diameter. The three-band chart is more reliable than a list claiming that every filter of one rating completely stops a named contaminant.
Particle filtration can help with airborne particulate matter, but a MERV-rated filter is not a general gas-removal device. Smoke can contain both particles and gases. Odor or gas control requires suitable sorbent media and application-specific performance information; the particle rating does not establish that capability. EPA’s air-cleaner guide explains this distinction.
The useful question is: which particle band matters, how much air passes through the filter, and does the air bypass it? A high rating on an undersized or poorly fitted filter is not a complete indoor-air-quality plan. Source control and appropriate ventilation still matter.
MERV vs HEPA, MPR, FPR and CADR
HEPA uses a different efficiency classification; EPA describes HEPA filters as capturing at least 99.97% at 0.3 µm. The HEPA entry is not another row of the ordinary MERV 1–16 table. Do not label a residential HEPA product “MERV 17” merely to extend this chart. EPA: MERV and HEPA distinction.
MPR and FPR are proprietary filter-rating systems. Use the MERV printed on the exact product or its technical sheet when comparing it with this table. A broad conversion chart cannot certify that every product with one proprietary label has the same MERV.
CADR describes the volume of cleaned air delivered by a complete portable air cleaner. MERV describes the filter’s capture rating. A filter rating alone cannot establish a room-cleaning rate because the air volume, runtime and leakage remain unknown. EPA: filter ratings and portable cleaners.
Installation and replacement checks that matter
Orient the filter according to its airflow arrow and the actual return-air path. Keep the access panel secure and the frame seated. Record the product and replacement date so the next filter can be compared with the same specifications.
Follow the product and equipment maintenance instructions; loading varies with use, airborne dust, pets, construction and smoke conditions. Inspect sooner when conditions change rather than treating a calendar interval as a guarantee. A washable filter should be maintained only as its manufacturer directs. PNNL: filter installation and maintenance.
After changing filter type, an unexpected airflow reduction, new noise or altered heating/cooling behavior is a reason to check the installation and operating pressure. Do not assume the MERV label alone explains the cause. Keep the old and new product specifications available for that comparison.
MERV Rating Chart FAQs
Is MERV 13 better than MERV 8?
MERV 13 has higher minimum particle-capture requirements in all three chart bands, including a 50% minimum for 0.3–1 µm particles. Whether it is the appropriate replacement also depends on fit, pressure drop and the system’s airflow capability.
Will MERV 13 restrict airflow too much?
That cannot be determined from MERV alone. Compare the exact filter’s pressure drop at the system airflow and verify the cabinet and blower limits. Filter construction, size, depth and dust loading also affect resistance.
What is the best MERV rating for a home?
EPA recommends MERV 13 or as high a rating as the system can accommodate. Use the equipment instructions and an airflow/pressure assessment to establish that limit rather than buying solely by the highest number.
Does a dash mean the filter captures none of those particles?
No. “No specified minimum” means that rating does not establish a minimum in that particular band. The filter may capture particles there; its measured efficiency requires the product’s test data.
Is MERV 16 the same as HEPA?
No. MERV 16 requires at least 95% in each of the three MERV particle bands. HEPA is a separate classification with a different efficiency requirement and test basis; it is not simply a synonym for MERV 16.
Can a MERV filter remove odors or carbon monoxide?
The MERV rating evaluates particles, not gases. It does not certify odor removal or protection from carbon monoxide. Use the appropriate gas-control measures and product specifications instead of interpreting a particle rating as a gas-removal claim.
Sources and Data Basis
Reference basis reviewed October 25, 2026. Follow the scope and conditions given with each table and lookup result.
- U.S. EPA — What is a MERV rating?Current complete MERV1–16 minimum efficiency thresholds by particle band and separate HEPA definition; MERV13 or highest system accommodates.
- ASHRAE Handbook — In-Room Air Cleaners, Table1MERV1–4 arrestance criteria and three-band minimum requirements, based on ASHRAE52.2-2017 table.
- PNNL — High-MERV FiltersCapture efficiency and pressure drop are separate; account for airflow resistance, correct installation, filter fit and accessible maintenance.
- U.S. EPA — Guide to Air Cleaners in the HomeMERV13 system fit; CADR versus MERV, proprietary MPR/FPR scales; particulate filter not gas/odor control; source control and ventilation; replacement per manufacturer.